Fobiri, G; Musonda, I and Muleya, F (2025) Unlocking the full potential of reality capture for construction project cost monitoring: A mixed review. Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology, 23(3), pp. 830-853. ISSN 1726-0531
Abstract
Purpose: Digital data acquisition is crucial for operations in the digital transformation era. Reality capture (RC) has made an immeasurable contribution to various fields, especially in the built environment. This paper aims to review RC applications, potentials, limitations and the extent to which RC can be adopted for cost monitoring of construction projects. Design/methodology/approach: A mixed-method approach, using Bibliometric analysis and the PRISMA framework, was used to review and analyse 112 peer-reviewed journal articles from the Scopus and Web of Science databases. Findings: The study reveals RC has been applied in various areas in the built environment, but health and safety, cost and labour productivity monitoring have received little or no attention. It is proposed that RC can significantly support cost monitoring owing to its ability to acquire accurate and quick digital as-built 3D point cloud data, which contains rich measurement points for the valuation of work done. Research limitations/implications: The study's conclusions are based only on the Scopus and Web of Science data sets. Only English language documents were approved, whereas others may be in other languages. The research is a non-validation of findings using empirical data to confirm the data obtained from RC literature. Practical implications: This paper highlights the importance of RC for cost monitoring in construction projects, filling knowledge gaps and enhancing project outcomes. Social implications: The implementation of RC in the era of the digital revolution has the potential to improve project delivery around the world today. Every project's success is largely determined by the availability of precise and detailed digital data. RC applications have pushed for more sustainable design, construction and operations in the built environment. Originality/value: The study has given research trends on the extent of RC applications, potentials, limitations and future directions.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | 3D laser scanning; built environment; construction project cost monitoring; cost monitoring; photogrammetry; project cost management; reality capture |
| Index terms: | documents, validation, laser scanning, methodology, construction project, bibliometric analysis, project cost, journal, point cloud, science, health and safety, sustainable design, project delivery, data acquisition, implementation, built environment, labour productivity, monitoring, transformation, database, project outcome |
| Subjects: | data collection methods, business, control systems, project delivery, management, economics, professional development, research evaluation and metrics, data management, infrastructure and transport systems, research dissemination and communication, project completion, specialized education, contractual arrangements, analytical methods, research methods, production management, health safety and environment, digital design, design process |
| Topics: | Business Strategy, Cost Management, Research Practice, Information Management, Site Management, Design Practice, Digital Applications, Urban Studies, Procurement, Health and Safety, Project Management, Engineering Principles, Education |
| 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