Wang, Mudan (2023) Digital technology adoption for improving efficiency of prefabrication construction in China: An application of laser scanning. PhD thesis, University of New South Wales, Australia.
Abstract
Digital technologies could improve the efficiency and productivity of prefabrication construction. However, existing research in this area was halted at the academic research level, and construction practitioners may not have received many direct benefits. Successful technology adoption in construction should start with the industry's practical needs, with consideration of the acceptance level of specific technologies by the construction practitioners, followed by implementing appropriate technologies to address the practical issues. Therefore, this research uses a two-stage research design to identify and implement a selected technology to address a practical issue in prefabrication construction. In the first stage, a systematic literature review and empirical industry investigation were carried out to gain an in-depth understanding of the current status of the technology adoption in prefabrication construction, and the problems faced by the construction practitioners. Based on the findings, a specific technology, laser scanning, was identified to improve the efficiency of installation quality check of prefabricated wall panels. The second stage addressed the issues related to how laser scanning can be effectively implemented in the quality check practice. A streamlined data collection, data processing and quality check process was proposed. The research focused on selecting existing point cloud data processing methods, developing quality check algorithms, and verifying the proposed process by using simulated data. A range of experiments was carried out to determine the most appropriate parameters for point cloud data processing for various types of wall panels, which enabled a streamlined process for effective practical implementation. Point cloud data was then collected on a real construction project in China, and the proposed method was validated. This research proposes and validates an effective laser scanning method to improve the efficiency of installation quality check of prefabrication wall panels, and has significant practical value, but its major contribution goes beyond this. The research proposes and demonstrates an interdisciplinary approach, which combines empirical industry investigation with the technological method, to be used to address practical issues in the construction industry's daily practice. This approach enables the successful adoption and practical implementation of digital technologies in prefabrication construction and can be extended to many other technology applications.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Thesis advisor: | Wang, Changxin; Mohammad EbrahimzadeSepasgozar, Samad and Zlatanova, Sisi |
| Index terms: | research design, investigation, digital technology, construction practitioner, efficiency, appropriate technology, productivity, implementation, technology adoption, China, construction project, point cloud, experiment, data processing, construction industry, systematic literature review, laser scanning, prefabrication |
| Subjects: | contractual arrangements, technological development, Geography, building construction, research design and methodology, analytical methods, professional development, data science, industry analysis, production management, computing systems, performance management, research evaluation and metrics, innovation and technology management, data collection methods, digital design, management |
| Topics: | Research Practice, Project Management, Geographical Context, Procurement, Business Strategy, Engineering Principles, Sustainability, Construction Technology, Digital Applications, Quality Management, 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