Dosumu, O S; Mahame, C; Niyitegeka, S and Hahiirwuwambaza, J A (2023) Applications and challenges of adopting the internet of things (IoT) in the Rwandan construction industry. Journal of Construction in Developing Countries, 28(2), pp. 81-100. ISSN 1823-6499
Abstract
The adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT) is essential because it facilitates project information, saves time and cost and reduces risks on construction sites. The objectives of the study were to investigate the adoption, application and challenges of IoT technologies in the Rwandan construction industry. The survey research design (open- and close-ended questionnaire) was adopted for the study. The questionnaire was administered to registered construction professionals in Rwanda. The stratified random sampling technique was adopted for the study. The data for the study was analysed using frequencies, mean scores and student t-tests. The findings of the study indicated that none of the IoT technologies was welladopted, two were adopted, eleven were averagely adopted and twenty-two were slightly adopted. Also, IoT technologies were used for project management, efficient transportation, time management and production of site plans. The significant challenges with the adoption of IoT technologies were a lack of training centres, lack of IoT awareness, lack of expertise, poor network connectivity, a requirement for extra budget to acquire IoT technologies and poor collaboration among construction stakeholders. The study concluded that the level of adoption of IoT technologies in the Rwandan construction industry was low and there was no difference in the opinions of the respondents on the adoption and challenges of adopting IoT technologies in the construction industry. The study recommends the spread of awareness of the adoption of IoT technologies and enact laws and policies that can foster the adoption of IoT technologies in the construction industry.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Rwanda; construction industry; internet of things |
| Index terms: | time management, research design, sampling, construction professional, project management, internet, construction industry, connectivity, survey, Rwanda, construction site, questionnaire, collaboration |
| Subjects: | computing systems, data collection methods, research design and methodology, work location, Geography, project management theory and practice, professional development, management, industry analysis, project controls, networking |
| Topics: | Digital Applications, Time Control, Organizational Design, Site Management, Research Practice, Project Management, Geographical Context, Information Management |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here