Atuahene, B T; Kanjanabootra, S and Gajendra, T (2020) Benefits of big data application experienced in the construction industry: A case of an Australian construction company. In: Scott, L and Neilson, C J (eds.) Proceedings of 36th Annual ARCOM Conference, 7-8 September 2020, Online Event, UK.
Abstract
The fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0) has become the focus of technological innovation in every aspect of the global economy. It is suggested to be the solution to inefficiency and ineffectiveness, and the future for industries. The technologies in the revolution include internet of things, augmented and virtual reality, cloud computing, smart sensors, artificial intelligence, automation, robotics and big data. These have given rise to the high rate of generating massive amount of data and in different format, which are required to be analysed for process improvement: Simply termed as big data. Current studies on big data in the construction industry have recommended some benefits based on inference from other industries. However, the actual benefits of its application appear bleaker in the discourse amongst construction management practitioners and researchers. Using a constructivist philosophical worldview through a single case study, this study answers the question, what are the benefits of big data application to the construction industry? The selected case is a member of the Australian Constructors Association – which is made up of the large construction companies – and known to be a technology-led company in the Australian construction industry. Construction personnel’s in different portfolios, years' of experience and levels of authority were interviewed through semi-structured interview to share their lived experience on big data application as far as their respective practices were concerned. Data were analysed through first level coding and self-reflections. The preliminary findings reveal the benefits of big data in procurement of subcontractors and suppliers, project monitoring and inspection, as well as claims management on projects. By implication, the findings provide real life experiences of big data application in the construction process. This study contribute to the discourse on the promises of big data as an element of the fourth industrial revolution and the future of the construction industry.
| Item Type: | Conference Paper (Paper) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | big data; construction industry; Australia; industry 4.0; qualitative |
| Index terms: | industry 4.0, process improvement, interview, case study, cloud computing, construction personnel, big data, Australia, construction company, inspection, construction process, virtual reality, reflection, practitioner, technological innovation, robotics, fourth industrial revolution, internet, construction industry, automation, project monitoring, subcontractor, artificial intelligence |
| Subjects: | technology adoption, innovation and technology management, artificial intelligence, computing systems, practitioner, control systems, virtual reality, organization, workforce, data collection methods, digital infrastructure, information systems, quality assurance, industry analysis, building construction, professional development, Geography, automation and robotics, management |
| Topics: | Roles and Professions, Engineering Principles, Information Management, Project Management, Geographical Context, Research Practice, Business Strategy, Site Management, Human Resources, Quality Management, Digital Applications |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTE |
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