Construction IT Research Articles

INNOVATIVE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES AS IMPROVEMENT OF ORGANIZATIONAL PROCESSES OF CONSTRUCTION

Purpose. Analysis of the main advantages and proposals for the use of innovative information technologies to increase the efficiency of organizational construction processes. Methodology. Along with the spread of organizational processes of technology and construction organization of modern well-known Ukrainian and foreign IT firms in Ukraine, there is a need to improve the image of construction by using high-tech methods of standard and non-standard construction of civil and industrial buildings and structures. The tasks currently facing the country in the field of capital construction are the revival of renovation and reconstruction of domestic industrial and civil construction, the introduction of advanced technologies on a large scale, the rise of the culture of construction production, the training of a new generation of professional builders who are able to solve these tasks using IT in construction. The successful implementation of such a course is facilitated by measures to improve the technology and organization of construction, the introduction of new IT methods for managing renovations and reconstructions, and solving financing problems. Findings. The paper analyzes the scientific research of IT in construction, in particular during the renovation and reconstruction of buildings and structures, which reflect the advantages of using innovative technologies, VIM technologies at various stages of renovation and reconstruction from the technology of construction organization, and provides examples of the use of innovative technologies. Originality. Analysis of the results of the application of the most common IT components in industrial and civil construction makes it possible to use them at different stages, taking into account various software and technical support. Practical value. Technical, technological and organizational solutions in construction technology and organization, which have already been developed and implemented, allow the use of innovative technologies or their parts regardless of the technical or software equipment of construction organizations in the design and construction of construction objects. The methodological structure of analysis, quantitative evaluation and modeling of processes was developed, which made it possible to identify the dependencies that characterize the level of efficiency of works and allows for variant design of construction works with the help of these technologies.

Use of chatbots in the trade of building materials

The aim of the article is analysing the effectiveness of the use of chatbots in comparison with other e-commerce tools, in particular with websites; determining the functions and capabilities of the chatbot when used in the construction materials trade; indicating the advantages of using chatbots for sellers and for consumers; creation of a basic scheme of chatbot operation in the trade of building materials. Analyses results. Modern types of Internet communications are capable of acting as a virtual interlocutor, repeating and reproducing a written set of human signs, providing a programmed answer to the questions asked. Chatbots use conversational intelligence as a new user interface for e-commerce applications and, accordingly, have significant advantages over other sales channels, increasing sales, improving end-customer service and significantly reducing costs. According to Juniper Research, the total number of chatbot messaging applications available worldwide will grow from 3.5 billion in 2022 to 9.5 billion by 2026. A Ukrainian team of experienced specialists in the construction industry and IT developers developed a chatbot called BMBOT, which is aimed at the digital transformation of the construction industry using artificial intelligence, starting from communication with customers and ending with the collection and analysis of sales data. The article describes the features and capabilities of the chatbot, as well as the advantages of using it for customers and businesses. The authors showed a schematic diagram of a chatbot for a company - a supplier of construction goods, using the example of the selection and calculation of construction materials for the installation of a laminate floor. A chatbot can be developed for all types of system products. This project will be of interest to suppliers, as they will be able to convey to the client important differentials of their products, such as environmental friendliness, European standards, cost efficiency, ease of use, and others. Through the chatbot, you can form a complex customer order with the possibility of delivery, which will save the buyer's time and finances. For the seller, the use of a chatbot will facilitate communication between the client and the supplier, solve the problem of shipment and delivery of goods, and reduce the time and money spent on processing the client. The costs associated with the implementation and use of a chatbot include the initial investment in the creation of the platform and the ongoing costs of maintaining the messaging service. But these costs will be covered by the benefit received in the process of using the chatbot. Conclusions and directions for further research. The advantages of using a chatbot by trading companies: optimization of sales processes, increased decision-making efficiency, assessment and analysis of the target audience, which will lead to cost savings, increased customers, increased conversion, turnover and margins. For further research into the prospects of using chatbots in business, it is necessary to more actively introduce this digital tool into e-commerce of various fields of activity, collect information about the advantages and disadvantages of using chatbots, and improve the theoretical and methodological base of digital marketing and e-commerce.

The Role of Top Management as a Moderator on Project Success during Project Life Cycle

The paper identifies the role of top management as a moderator during planning, monitoring, controlling, and evaluation phases for the success of a project. This study also discusses the novelties of the coordination between role of top management and legitimate power of project manager as significant impact on project performance and success during project life cycle phases. The instrument is adapted to measure planning, monitoring, controlling, evaluation, the role of project manager, project performance, project success, and the role of top management. Managers are targeted for data collection from the construction sector, education sector, and IT sector for the analysis. The findings show that coordination between variables as well as the role of a project manager is like a bridge between top management and other team members in four phases of project life cycle (planning, monitoring, controlling, and evaluation) for ultimate success. This study has a significant advantage for the organization and industries before implementing any project as it will be helpful for the top management to give authority and responsibility to the project managers while considering the scope of the project. For academia, this study helps to enhance the knowledge area of project management by introducing coordination management while discussing the other knowledge areas of project management. 
 Keywords: project planning, project monitoring, project controlling, project evaluation, role of project manager, project performance, project success.
 Jell Classification: H43; O22

Open access to Construction IT research articles – developments over the past 25 years

The Journal of Information Technology in Construction (ITcon), was founded in 1996, using the new innovative open access business model enabled by the World wide web. A quarter century later Open Access (OA) journals have established themselves in all fields of science, in particular in biomedicine, so that around a fifth of all high quality peer reviewed articles are currently published in OA journals. In building and construction there are half a dozen active full OA journals, although ITcon remains the only one dedicated specifically to construction IT research. The development of OA has been slower than anticipated in the early years. An analysis using Michael Porter’s five forces model of the competitive environment of scholarly publishing helps to highlight the reasons for this. Particularly important as a barrier to change is the strong emphasis in academic evaluations on impact factors, which favors old established journals. Despite such hurdles OA continuously grows in importance and pioneering journals like ITcon have helped to pave the way.

Factors of the Technology Acceptance Model for Construction IT

The use of information technology is spreading in the construction field. However, the use of information technology in the construction field does not conform to the requirements and characteristics of users who use information technology. This fact is blindly accepted by the government and client demands, which is an impediment to the dissemination of information technology in the construction field. To improve the use of information technology in the construction field, this study analyzes the factors of acceptance of information technology according to the characteristics of users who use information technology in the construction field based on Davis’ technology acceptance model. As a result of the analysis, we found that if users consider IT in the construction industry easy to use, spontaneous attitude and behavioral intention are to be expected. Moreover, acceptance type, educational satisfaction, usage enjoyment, and usage experience are the factors that impact perceived usefulness, and educational satisfaction and usage enjoyment impact perceived ease of use as well. This study aims to derive factors that maximize the approachability and usefulness of users through the use of a technology acceptance model in construction prior to the application of new information technology in the construction field.

Critical success factors in implementing flexible IT infrastructure in the Malaysian construction industry

Improved IT products and services are continually being introduced around the world. However, although an increasingly common approach in many industries, little is known of the characteristics of flexible IT infrastructure associated with its successful construction industry implementation. To rectify this situation, this study aimed to identify the critical success factors (CSFs) involved in the delivery of Information Technology Infrastructure Flexibility (ITIF) to the construction industry. An initial list of 38 potential factors divided into technical, people, and management dimensions and associated elements were identified by literature review and preliminary interviews with seven Malaysian companies representing a variety of construction industry participants and IT experts. This was followed by a main study comprising a questionnaire survey of 211 construction industry practitioners in Malaysia. Eighteen critical factors contributing to successful ITIF delivery are identified. Of these, two CSFs of hybrid skill and willingness to change appear to be unique to the Malaysian construction industry. Further research is recommended to assess the opinions of a wider variety of experienced practitioners to validate the findings and its applicability in the Malaysian context and beyond.

Freeform Architecture Design and Construction Process using Construction IT

Freeform Architecture Design and Construction Process using Construction IT

A study on the effect of ERP Construction strategy and IT Consulting Service Quality on Performance

A study on the effect of ERP Construction strategy and IT Consulting Service Quality on Performance

Alignment of Partnering with Construction IT

Supply Chain Management (SCM) and Building Information Modelling (BIM) are seen as innovations that can manage complexities in construction by focusing on integrating processes and products respectively. Whereas these two innovations have been considered compatible, their practical combination has been mainly anecdotal. The Netherlands was the locale of this study, where both SCM and BIM have been popular approaches. The research objective is to explore their real-world combination and propose strategies for the alignment of SCM and BIM, by viewing Supply Chain (SC) partnering as the inter-organisational proxy of SCM. The main question is: “How to align the SCM philosophy with BIM technologies to achieve integration in the construction industry? What aspects contribute to this alignment?”. The methodology was mixed and both qualitative and quantitative data were analysed. The overarching method was case study research and the unit of analysis was the firm, also referred to as ‘actor’. After a semi-chronological review of the relevant literature, the two constructs of SCM and BIM were found interdependent in product-, process-, and actor-related (P/P/A) dimensions. The study consisted of four other consecutive studies. First, empirical insights into the practical implementation of SC partnering and BIM were obtained via the exploration of five cases. Second, a conceptual model for the quantitative analysis of the product-, process-, and actor-related dimensions was designed. Third, this model and mixed methods were applied to two polar (extreme) cases to analyse the contractual (typically SC-related), digital (typically BIM-related), and informal interactions among the involved actors. Fourth, an additional theoretical exploration of the BIM-enabled SC partnerships took place with focusing also on intra-organisational relations within the involved firms. After the four studies, the findings were systematically combined to create the theoretical synthesis, i.e. generate theory. Three consecutive steps of ‘construct’, ‘internal’, and ‘external’ validity took place after the synthesis, to define the transferability of findings. The systematic combination of findings deduced two routes to achieve SC integration in construction: (a) product-related (emphasis on BIM tools), and (b) actor-related (emphasis on SCM philosophy). The two observed routes to SC integration emerged from the data of the polar cases. Two complementary sets of strategies for SC integration were derived afterwards. These strategies could ease the identification of which route is the ‘closest fit’ to SC integration, and then support the decision-making of how to pursue it. As the concept of BIM is currently a hot topic, it might be wise to undertake a ‘product-related’ route to integration and gradually introduce strategies from the ‘actor-related’ route. However, the ‘actor-related’ route could attain long-term integration and thus, long-lasting relations among the multi-actor networks. The key aspects of the alignment of partnering with construction IT for BIM-enabled SC partnerships are: - The identification of whether the SC complexity is of process-, product- or actor-related nature; - The deployed BIM collaboration patterns, i.e. ad-hoc, linear or distributed; - The SC coordination mechanisms, e.g. centralised or decentralised; - The relation between formal and informal aspects, e.g. symmetric or asymmetric; - The emerging intra-organisational relations due to BIM and SCM implementation; - The hierarchical level that BIM-enabled SC partnership decision-making pertains. As the construction industry evolves into an information-driven sector, the alignment of construction IT with inter-organisational management is preeminent for managing the inherent complexities of the industry. In parallel, embracing inter-organisational approaches for information management such as BIM is a promisingway forward for SCM and construction management.

Paper in architecture: Research by design, engineering and prototyping

Supply Chain Management (SCM) and Building Information Modelling (BIM) are seen as innovations that can manage complexities in construction by focusing on integrating processes and products respectively. Whereas these two innovations have been considered compatible, their practical combination has been mainly anecdotal. The Netherlands was the locale of this study, where both SCM and BIM have been popular approaches. The research objective is to explore their real-world combination and propose strategies for the alignment of SCM and BIM, by viewing Supply Chain (SC) partnering as the inter-organisational proxy of SCM. The main question is: “How to align the SCM philosophy with BIM technologies to achieve integration in the construction industry? What aspects contribute to this alignment?”. The methodology was mixed and both qualitative and quantitative data were analysed. The overarching method was case study research and the unit of analysis was the firm, also referred to as ‘actor’. After a semi-chronological review of the relevant literature, the two constructs of SCM and BIM were found interdependent in product-, process-, and actor-related (P/P/A) dimensions. The study consisted of four other consecutive studies. First, empirical insights into the practical implementation of SC partnering and BIM were obtained via the exploration of five cases. Second, a conceptual model for the quantitative analysis of the product-, process-, and actor-related dimensions was designed. Third, this model and mixed methods were applied to two polar (extreme) cases to analyse the contractual (typically SC-related), digital (typically BIM-related), and informal interactions among the involved actors. Fourth, an additional theoretical exploration of the BIM-enabled SC partnerships took place with focusing also on intra-organisational relations within the involved firms. After the four studies, the findings were systematically combined to create the theoretical synthesis, i.e. generate theory. Three consecutive steps of ‘construct’, ‘internal’, and ‘external’ validity took place after the synthesis, to define the transferability of findings. The systematic combination of findings deduced two routes to achieve SC integration in construction: (a) product-related (emphasis on BIM tools), and (b) actor-related (emphasis on SCM philosophy). The two observed routes to SC integration emerged from the data of the polar cases. Two complementary sets of strategies for SC integration were derived afterwards. These strategies could ease the identification of which route is the ‘closest fit’ to SC integration, and then support the decision-making of how to pursue it. As the concept of BIM is currently a hot topic, it might be wise to undertake a ‘product-related’ route to integration and gradually introduce strategies from the ‘actor-related’ route. However, the ‘actor-related’ route could attain long-term integration and thus, long-lasting relations among the multi-actor networks. The key aspects of the alignment of partnering with construction IT for BIM-enabled SC partnerships are: - The identification of whether the SC complexity is of process-, product- or actor-related nature; - The deployed BIM collaboration patterns, i.e. ad-hoc, linear or distributed; - The SC coordination mechanisms, e.g. centralised or decentralised; - The relation between formal and informal aspects, e.g. symmetric or asymmetric; - The emerging intra-organisational relations due to BIM and SCM implementation; - The hierarchical level that BIM-enabled SC partnership decision-making pertains. As the construction industry evolves into an information-driven sector, the alignment of construction IT with inter-organisational management is preeminent for managing the inherent complexities of the industry. In parallel, embracing inter-organisational approaches for information management such as BIM is a promisingway forward for SCM and construction management.

Facilitating effective green procurement in construction projects: An empirical study of the enablers

Given the urgent need to enhance industry practices in a green, safe, and economical manner, facilitating the wider adoption of green procurement in building developments has been a major concern of the construction industry. This paper aims to provide insight into the factors that are important in enhancing green procurement in the construction process and to suggest recommendations for the effective adoption of green procurement through a questionnaire survey and expert interviews. The top three most significant factors identified are mandatory environmental regulations by the government, client requirements in tendering, and government and non-governmental organization requirements. The results of a factor analysis of 35 variables identify 10 underlying grouped factors for facilitating effective green procurement in Hong Kong's construction industry. The factor group “Regulations and standards of green procurement by the government” is the most significant, followed by “Life-cycle considerations and green construction technology” and “Executive management's commitments and requirements.” Efforts or initiatives undertaken by the community and the government on green procurement, such as competitions/awards, incentive schemes, and executives' green procurement commitments and requirements, are considered important in the green procurement process. The experts interviewed indicated that the government should take a proactive role in pushing green procurement adoption. Advanced construction IT (e.g., BIM) should be employed to stimulate the construction process to incorporate a green design approach and reduce waste. In addition, the establishment of a fully functioning green material market would help to promote the concept of green procurement and gradually lower material costs. Active engagement of suppliers to provide the performance details of construction materials is also necessary.

Specific and Common Features in Fast-growing Companies from the Timiş County (Romania)

This paper presents specific features that enabled certain companies from the Timis County, Romania to grow rapidly during and after the economic crisis. We are convinced that the fast-growing companies have specific features which differentiate them from other companies, which is why they should be studied. We consider the fast-growing companies important for the development of the region, as they create job opportunities. The partial results of this ongoing study indicate several specific aspects common to the analyzed companies, such as a powerful vision on the company's future, an early-identified need or opportunity, the delivery of products or services tailored to the customer needs. The 3 lines of business analyzed are transportation and storage, construction works, IT and communication. The content analysis was used in order to analyze the data collected and formulate the findings.

DEVELOPMENT AND TEST RUN OF CIVIL ENGINEERING SCHEDULE ACCELERATION MODEL THROUGH ANT COLONY OPTIMIZATION

The traditional scheduling tool Critical Path Method (CPM) exhibits limitations in computational insufficiency due to exhaustive enumeration. Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) was therefore applied as a metaheuristic inspired by the ants behavior in foraging activities. A model development team was formed among construction engineers, IT professionals, and Mathematicians to develop a schedule acceleration model by integrating ACO into CPM to ensure proper resources allocated on critical path. The developed model CSAM-ACO targets on schedule acceleration by allocating resources on the newly found critical path after two stages of computation. The trial run proved CSAM-ACO model more favorable compared with CPM.

Alignment of Partnering with Construction IT

Supply Chain Management (SCM) and Building Information Modelling (BIM) are seen as innovations that can manage complexities in construction by focusing on integrating processes and products respectively. Whereas these two innovations have been considered compatible, their practical combination has been mainly anecdotal. The Netherlands was the locale of this study, where both SCM and BIM have been popular approaches. The research objective is to explore their real-world combination and propose strategies for the alignment of SCM and BIM, by viewing Supply Chain (SC) partnering as the inter-organisational proxy of SCM. The main question is: “How to align the SCM philosophy with BIM technologies to achieve integration in the construction industry? What aspects contribute to this alignment?”. The methodology was mixed and both qualitative and quantitative data were analysed. The overarching method was case study research and the unit of analysis was the firm, also referred to as ‘actor’. After a semi-chronological review of the relevant literature, the two constructs of SCM and BIM were found interdependent in product-, process-, and actor-related (P/P/A) dimensions. The study consisted of four other consecutive studies. First, empirical insights into the practical implementation of SC partnering and BIM were obtained via the exploration of five cases. Second, a conceptual model for the quantitative analysis of the product-, process-, and actor-related dimensions was designed. Third, this model and mixed methods were applied to two polar (extreme) cases to analyse the contractual (typically SC-related), digital (typically BIM-related), and informal interactions among the involved actors. Fourth, an additional theoretical exploration of the BIM-enabled SC partnerships took place with focusing also on intra-organisational relations within the involved firms. After the four studies, the findings were systematically combined to create the theoretical synthesis, i.e. generate theory. Three consecutive steps of ‘construct’, ‘internal’, and ‘external’ validity took place after the synthesis, to define the transferability of findings. The systematic combination of findings deduced two routes to achieve SC integration in construction: (a) product-related (emphasis on BIM tools), and (b) actor-related (emphasis on SCM philosophy). The two observed routes to SC integration emerged from the data of the polar cases. Two complementary sets of strategies for SC integration were derived afterwards. These strategies could ease the identification of which route is the ‘closest fit’ to SC integration, and then support the decision-making of how to pursue it. As the concept of BIM is currently a hot topic, it might be wise to undertake a ‘product-related’ route to integration and gradually introduce strategies from the ‘actor-related’ route. However, the ‘actor-related’ route could attain long-term integration and thus, long-lasting relations among the multi-actor networks. The key aspects of the alignment of partnering with construction IT for BIM-enabled SC partnerships are: - The identification of whether the SC complexity is of process-, product- or actor-related nature; - The deployed BIM collaboration patterns, i.e. ad-hoc, linear or distributed; - The SC coordination mechanisms, e.g. centralised or decentralised; - The relation between formal and informal aspects, e.g. symmetric or asymmetric; - The emerging intra-organisational relations due to BIM and SCM implementation; - The hierarchical level that BIM-enabled SC partnership decision-making pertains. As the construction industry evolves into an information-driven sector, the alignment of construction IT with inter-organisational management is preeminent for managing the inherent complexities of the industry. In parallel, embracing inter-organisational approaches for information management such as BIM is a promisingway forward for SCM and construction management.

INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR MANAGING COST REIMBURSABLE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT

The project management information system (PMIS) has recently been developed by using the IT technology in order to implement advanced information management technology to construction industry in Korea. The PMIS has been applied not only to domestic construction projects, but also to some overseas projects executed by Korean construction companies. This study was performed to develop the PMIS that is tailored to the US construction IT market. The US construction IT market has been monopolized by the US-based IT companies, but other companies are recently emerging with competitive technology and market strategy. As a preceding study, existing systems commercially available were analyzed, and the required features of the PMIS were identified by analyzing the core elements of contract, process and cost management for construction projects in the US. The PMIS then was developed based on the aforementioned analysis results. The system includes the document management module with an internal electronic approval system, the cost-plus-based automatic labor cost calculation module, and the progress management module to support the integrated project cost management. In addition, the functionality of the developed system was verified by construction project management experts in the US via questionnaire survey. The PMIS, which was developed in this study, is expected to be applied not only to the US construction IT market as a system specialized for the US construction industry, but also to other overseas markets in the future.

2014 Economic Developer of the Year Award Winners

Since 2009, TEDC has entered into four joint ventures with private sector partners to provide civil construction services, security services, general contracting, and IT and business process outsourcing services. Cando Economic Developer of the Year Award Winner Community Category Nisga'a Lisims Government Economic Development As a fully integrated part of northwest British Columbia's economy, the Nisga'a Nation boasts abundant natural resources, water supply, and full road accessibility. The primary industries in the Nass Valley area are fishing and forestry, complemented by employment in the government, education, and health care sectors. Since becoming effective in 2000, the Nisga'a Final Agreement secured the Nisga'a Nation's 2000 square kilometres of land, and all of the resources within. The framework was created as a way for the Nation to overcome barriers and limitations in economic development. Since completing this prosperity framework, the Nisga'a Lisims Government has developed many new businesses.

The Relationship of Job Embeddedness and Turnover Intention : Focused on the mediating effect of job satisfaction in the construction IT industry

The Relationship of Job Embeddedness and Turnover Intention : Focused on the mediating effect of job satisfaction in the construction IT industry

DESIGN AND PILOT RUN OF FUZZY SYNTHETIC MODEL (FSM) FOR RISK EVALUATION IN CIVIL ENGINEERING

Most of the current construction risk assessment tools deliver unsatisfactory results because the prerequisite for their effective applications rely on the availability of high quality data especially during the early stage of a project. Unfortunately, such data are limited, ambiguous or even not exist due to the great uncertainty inherent in construction projects. Based on Fuzzy Synthetic Analysis (FSA), a model development team was formed among construction engineers, IT professionals, and Mathematicians in developing a holistic risk assessment model to estimate the construction risks especially for the situations with incomplete data and vague environments. Through qualitative scales defined by triangular fuzzy numbers used in pairwise comparisons to capture the vagueness in the linguistic variables, a risk assessment model using Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was developed. The Pilot Run revealed the developed Fuzzy Synthetic Model (FSM) could accelerate the decision-making process and provide optimal allocation of project resources to mitigate possible risks detrimental to the success of a project in terms of time, cost, and quality.

The role of construction IT in the paradigm of sustainable architecture

Sustainable architecture aims to reduce the environmental impact of a building over its entire life cycle while optimising its economic viability and the comfort and safety of its occupants. In this sense, IT convergence is now being recognised as the core of construction IT, which facilitates sustainable architecture by visualising, simulating, and optimising designs and construction projects in a computing environment for achieving better performance, lower costs, and shorter lead times. Therefore, IT convergence should also facilitate sustainable growth for sustainable architecture. In this context, the aim of this research is to investigate the current status and trends in the Korean construction IT convergence, using case studies, and to propose requirements for the sustainable growth of construction IT convergence for sustainable architecture.

A comparison of subscription and open access journals in construction management and related fields

The Internet has profoundly changed the technical infrastructure for the publishing of scientific peer reviewed journals. The traditional business model of selling the content to subscribers is increasingly being challenged by Open Access journals, which are either run at low cost by voluntary academics or which sell dissemination services to authors. In addition authors in many fields are taking advantage of the legal possibilities of uploading free manuscript versions to institutional or subject-based repositories, in order to increase readership and impact. Construction Management is lagging behind many other fields in utilising the potential of the web for efficient dissemination results, in particular to academics outside the leading universities in industrialised countries. This study looks closer at the current publishing situation in construction management and related fields and compares empirical data about 16 OA journals and 16 traditional subscription journals. Of the articles published in 2011 in the subscription journals only 9 % could be found as OA copies. The overall OA availability (including article in OA journals) was 14 % for Construction Management and Economics and 29 for construction IT scholarship.