Exploratory Study on Applications, Benefits, and Challenges of Using Data Analytics in Construction Industry
Publication: Construction Research Congress 2022
ABSTRACT
In today’s technology-driven world, data have become an integral part of all industries. Businesses are embracing technologies that can analyze data to recognize past, present, and future trends. Data analytics can help industries uncover historical data patterns to make informed decisions for a successful future. The traditional construction industry generates enormous amounts of data from the project’s inception to completion. Despite the availability of massive project data, the use of data analytics in the construction industry is still in nascent stages when compared to other industries. This is because the potential uses of data analytics in the construction industry have not been studied adequately. This paper investigates the current state of adoption and future potential applications of data analytics across multiple spheres in the construction industry. Following a review of the literature, semi-structured interviews with data analytics professionals in the construction industry are conducted. The outcome includes key data analytics applications in preconstruction, quality, safety, financial management, and decision making, while cost implications, data quality, and company culture are hindrances to wider adoption. Understanding the applications of data analytics helps contractors in gaining new insights to achieve improved efficiencies.
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Published online: Mar 7, 2022
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