ICT Technologies in the Construction Industry

This assignment delves into the crucial role of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) within the construction industry. It examines various approaches to implementing ICT, analyzes successful case studies, and discusses the transformative effects of these technologies on project management, supply chains, and overall industry operations. The document also explores emerging trends and future directions for ICT adoption in construction.

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Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences
Masters in Engineering Management
State of ICT implementation and managing strategies
employed: Case of the UAE construction projects
Sami Najeh Mustafa Abu Daiyeh
ID: 5629822
Dr. Tchan Latif
"This thesis is presented as part of the requirements for the
award of the Degree
of the
University of Wollongong in Dubai"
October 2017

ABSTRACT
Construction industry involves constant exchange of data and information between
clients, consultants, contractors, local authority, government bodies, engineers, workers and
material suppliers. However, often inaccurate and untimely communication causes delays in
project deadlines and decreases overall productivity. In order to improve work efficiency, and
become more competitive and client oriented, construction industry needs to fully adopt up to
date cutting edge ICT applications and tools as it decreases data processing time and promotes
improved information sharing among involving parties in construction company. ICT helps not
only with better information sharing, but also with designing complex structures in the
construction sector. Using structural design software, such as 3D modelling and Building
Information Modelling (BIM), construction company can work effectively with all project
participants to streamline the construction process, reduce waste and save the company or client
time and money.
This research study will attempt to investigate “the state and the level of ICT
implementation, existing challenges in its implementation, and the managing strategies employed
to overcome the existing challenges in UAE’s construction industry”.
This study will help to find out what ICT applications are used by various construction
companies in the UAE and the level of expertise of the cutting-edge ICT related to the
construction industry available in the UAE in addition to the existing barriers and challenges that
hinder effective adoption of ICT in construction projects in the UAE. The main objective of this
research exercise is to examine the overall level of ICT implementation in the UAE’s
construction industry and propose strategies to adopt ICTs purposefully in the construction sector
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in the UAE. In addition, the researcher hopes that this research will serve as a motivation for
more and extensive research in this field in the UAE.
Keywords: ICT, construction industry, technology, windows.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to forward my most sincere acknowledgement to my thesis advisor and
supervisor, Prof. Dr. Tchan Latif, for his immense patience and expert guidance all along.
I am also grateful to Prof. Dr. Mohammed Watfa for his valuable insights regarding my
work.
Finally, I would like to thank my parents for their support and the most conducive work
environment, which they created for me at home and outside.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction......................................................................................................................................8
What is Information and Communication Technology (ICT)?...................................................8
1.1 History of ICT........................................................................................................................9
1.3 Area of interest....................................................................................................................16
1.3.1 Relevant research studies..................................................................................................16
1.4. Significance of the research study......................................................................................18
1.4.1 Objective and Aim of the study........................................................................................19
1.4.2 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY.....................................................................................20
1.4.3 Problem statement............................................................................................................20
Chapter 2........................................................................................................................................21
Literature Review......................................................................................................................21
2.1 Use of ICT in construction sector........................................................................................21
2.2 Challenges and barriers in ICT implementation..................................................................23
2.3 Strategies used in the effective implementation of ICT in the construction industry.........26
Chapter 3........................................................................................................................................32
Methodology..............................................................................................................................32
3.1 Research question................................................................................................................32
3.2 Hypotheses:..........................................................................................................................33
3.3 Survey description...............................................................................................................34
References......................................................................................................................................35
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LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1.1: 10 most promising technologies..................................................................................16
Figure 2.1 Arjen Adriaanse, Hans Voordijk, and Geert Dewulf (2010).......................................29
Figure 2.2: Conceptual Framework...............................................................................................31
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LIST OF TABLES
Table 1. 1 The history of ICT (1930-1990), ("Free ICT Resources - new content for IGCSE 2016
syllabus coming", 2018)................................................................................................................13
Table 1.2: Innovations and descriptions of ICT............................................................................15
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INTRODUCTION
WHAT IS INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT)?
The UAE’s construction industry is perhaps the fastest growing and the most robust of all
the industries in the country. Newer and bigger construction projects are underway and
significant investments are being made in this sector. “The construction market in the United
Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) is a key driver of the nation’s economy and is second only to Saudi
Arabia within the GCC region.” ("Key sectors in science and technology", 2018)
Success of construction industry as the key player in nation’s economy is dependent on
conventionally established factors such as meeting cost, schedule, and performance targets.
However, the need for communication and technology is the key here. Especially adopting new
and up to date IC technologies will propel the construction sector forward in a big way.
Information and communication Technology (ICT) can be defined in several ways starting with
ICT in general. “An umbrella term that includes any communication device or application,
encompassing: radio, television, cellular phones, computer and network hardware and software,
satellite systems and so on, as well as the various services and applications” ("United Arab
Emirates - Construction | export.gov", 2018).
“In simple terms, Information and communication technologies (ICTs) are the technologies used
in the conveying, manipulation and storage of data by electronic means.” ("What is Information
and Communication Technology", 2018)
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“In the construction industry the term is used both in relation to the ICT adopted by the project
team to design, construct, operate and manage the development, and in relation to the inclusion
of ICT in the completed development itself.” ("ICTs in everyday life", 2018)
Examples of ICT use in construction would mean, AutoCAD, Electronic document management
system, telecommunications, Video Conference, spreadsheets, Building Management
System(BIM), Visual 4D Planning, GPS, Wireless network technology, Wearable technology,
etc.
1.1 HISTORY OF ICT
The below table shows the history of ICT starting from 1930’s until 1990’s containing some of
the inventions made throughout that period of time.
Year Innovation Description
1930’s the HP 200A Audio
Oscillator
rapidly became a popular piece of test equipment for engineers
1940’s
Project Whirlwind The team first built a large analog computer, but found it inaccurate and inflexible. After
designers saw a demonstration of the ENIAC computer, they decided on building a digital
computer.
EDVAC programming Electronic storage of programming information and data eliminated the need
for the clumsier methods of programming
First commercial
computer
Engineering Research Associates of built the ERA 1101, the first commercially produced
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1950’s
computer
Core memory Core memory made computers more reliable, faster, and easier to make.
First mass Spinning at 12,500 rpm, the 650´s magnetic data-storage drum allowed much faster access
to stored material than drum memory machines.
1960’s
First networked
computers
IBM announced the System/360, a family of six mutually compatible computers and 40
peripherals that could work together.
BASIC
programming
language
BASIC was the forerunner for the advanced programming languages in use today.
First UNIX
operating system
UNIX combined many of the timesharing and file management features offered by
Multics, from which it took its name.
1970’s
First email sent the first e-mail is sent by Ray Tomlinson of the research firm Bolt, Beranek and Newman
Microsoft born in 1975, Bill Gates and Paul Allen form a partnership called Microsoft.
Like most start-ups, Microsoft begins small, but has a massive vision - a computer on
every desktop and in every home.
Apple Steve Wozniak designed the Apple I, a single-board computer
1980’s First hard disk drive
(HDD)
Seagate Technology created the first hard disk drive for microcomputers, the ST506. The
disk held 5 megabytes of data, five times as much as a standard floppy disk, and fit in the
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space of a floppy disk drive.
MS-DOS The MS-DOS (Microsoft Disk Operating System) basic software for the newly released
IBM PC
Apple Macintosh Apple Computer launched the Macintosh, the first successful mouse-driven computer with
a graphical user interface Based on the Motorola 68000 microprocessor
1990’s
World Wide Web The World Wide Web (www) was born when Tim Berners-Lee, a researcher at CERN,
developed Hypertext Markup Language.
Windows 3.0 Microsoft shipped Windows 3.0 on May 22. Compatible with DOS programs, the first
successful version of Windows finally offered good enough performance to satisfy PC
users.
First Graphical
Internet Browser
the Mosaic web browser is released. Mosaic was the first commercial software that
allowed graphical access to content on the internet
Yahoo and Hotmail Yahoo would quickly expand to become one of the Internet’s most popular search engines.
Hotmail founded by Sabeer Bhatia and Jack Smith, is commercially launched on
Independence Day in the United States, symbolically representing freedom from Internet
service providers.
Windows 98 Microsoft released Windows 98.
Google Google began in January 1996 as a research project by Larry Page and Sergey Brin when
they were both PhD students at Stanford University in California.
2000 Playstation 2 Sony releases the Playstation 2
2003 iTunes Store The iTunes Store is a software-based online digital media store operated
by Apple. Opening as the iTunes Music Store on April 28, 2003, with over 200,000
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items to purchase
2004 Facebook Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated
and privately owned by Facebook Inc. Facebook was founded by Mark Zuckerberg with
his college roommates and fellow computer science students Eduardo Saverin, Dustin
Moskovitz and Chris Hughes.
2005 Youtube YouTube was founded by Chad Hurley, Steve Chen, and Jawed Karim. The company
announced that was receiving 100 million video views per day.
2007 First iPhone The iPhone went on sale in the United States on June 29, 2007, at 6:00 pm local time,
while hundreds of customers lined up outside the stores nationwide.
2009 Windows 7 Windows 7 was released on October 22, 2009, less than three years after the release of its
predecessor, Windows Vista.
TABLE 1. 1 THE HISTORY OF ICT (1930-1990), ("FREE ICT RESOURCES - NEW CONTENT
FOR IGCSE 2016 SYLLABUS COMING", 2018)
Year Innovation Description
2010 The arrival of 3D 3D television entered the marketplace this year and the technology to create your own 3D
content wasn't far behind. January saw Panasonic's unveiling of the world's first integrated
twin-lens Full HD 3D camcorder, followed by the first 3D consumer camcorder. (noel-
mckeegan, 2010)
2011 Nanorobotics One of the most marked breakthroughs in 2011 was our control of nanorobotics, or
nanobots. We now have the ability to control nanobots inside a living, breathing body, and
using them to deliver highly-targeted medications — like cancer drugs — is now just a
year or two away. (Sebastian Anthony, 2011)
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2012 Solar Shingles The first photovoltaic system that blends almost seamlessly into a home's exterior,
Unlike other solar panels. Wiring leads inside to the system's inverter, and a Web-
based monitoring system allows you to check the roof's power production remotely.
(By Rachel Z. Arndt, 2012)
2013 3-D printing and
remote
manufacturing
Three-dimensional printing allows the creation of solid structures from a digital computer
file, potentially revolutionizing the economics of manufacturing if objects can be printed
remotely in the home or office. The process involves layers of material being deposited on
top of each other in to create free-standing structures from the bottom up. (David King,
2013)
2014 Body-adapted
Wearable
Electronics
The new generation of wearables is designed to adapt to the human body’s shape at the
place of deployment. These wearables are typically tiny, packed with a wide range of
sensors and a feedback system. These virtually invisible devices include earbuds that
monitor heart rate. (Noubar Afeyan, 2014)
2015 Additive
manufacturing
4D printing now promises to bring in a new generation of products that can alter
themselves in response to environmental changes, such as heat and humidity. (Bernard
Meyerson, 2015)
2016 The block chain Much already has been made of the distributed electronic ledger behind the online currency
Bitcoin. The economic and social impact of block chain’s potential to fundamentally
change the way markets and governments work is only now emerging, (Oliver Cann, 2016)
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/08/5-hottest-emerging-technologies-in-2016/
2017 Internet of things Sensors on roads and bridges monitor traffic patterns, detect accidents and diagnose
structural weaknesses. Combined with engineered living materials, buildings of the future
will be living, intelligent structures. (Julie Steding, 2017)
https://www.soneticscorp.com/construction-tech-trends-2017/
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Thermal imaging Thermal imaging gives builders a non-intrusive means of locating moisture to pinpoint
water leaks; identifying electrical hotspots, structural defects, plumbing clogs and HVAC
issues; and diagnosing missing insulation, roofing issues and air leakage. (Julie Steding,
2017)
https://www.soneticscorp.com/construction-tech-trends-2017/
Virtual reality
design
The VR environment would improve safety and efficiency, allowing workers to determine
which tools they will actually need to complete a project. (Julie Steding, 2017)
https://www.soneticscorp.com/construction-tech-trends-2017/
Cloud computing The “cloud” consists of storage and computing resources that your device (smartphone,
tablet or PC) can only access via a network connection (wi-fi, cell service, Internet, etc.).
(Sonetics, 2018)
https://www.soneticscorp.com/construction-tech-trends-2017/
TABLE 1.2: INNOVATIONS AND DESCRIPTIONS OF ICT
Below Figure describes the future innovations that will contribute to the construction sector,
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FIGURE 1.1: 10 MOST PROMISING TECHNOLOGIES
source: Till Zupancic, et all. (2017)
1.3 AREA OF INTEREST
With a view to the research done previously in this area in other countries by different
researchers, it would be interesting to conduct a similar yet value added research exercise in the
local setup especially as to the researcher’s best knowledge, there is the lack of sufficient
research carried out in this sector in the UAE. This study therefore, attempts to explore the
current state of ICT uses and the challenges encountered in their implementation and to find
appropriate strategies to overcome those challenges in the UAE. In addition, it looks at the ICT
role in management such as human resource, suppliers, stake holders, investors, engineers, end
user, engineering companies, etc.
1.3.1 RELEVANT RESEARCH STUDIES
Technology used in construction field includes,
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“Web-based biometric, cloud computing and cyber physical systems (WB), BIM based
technologies (BB), ICT (not identified specifically in research), Video Conferencing (VC),
Virtual Reality (VR), CAD and 3D CAD (C), Mobile computing, phones and wireless
technology (MW), Information systems (I), Decision based (D), Knowledge and information
management (K), Computer based learning and training (CBT), Tracking technologies including
GIS, GPS, Optical recognition, Telematics and RFID (TT), Simulation and analysis (S) and
another 7 other sets including, Access and XML, OLAP, SOA, Genetic Algorithms, IPD, UCD
and IFC. The following is a discussion of the identified ICT T technologies.” ("Key sectors in
science and technology", 2018)
ICT has become an imperative in every walk of our lives. Lack of correct information at
the crucial time will impede productivity, and result in waste of time thereby negatively
impacting development of economy. In construction, this technology can be used to enhance the
quality of work, it can lower the cost, and can save up a lot of time. According to Hoq &
Chauhan (2011) “most firms in developed countries have increased and will increase further
their investment in ICT, this has raised productivity within their construction industry and
resulted in an increase in the quality and speed of work, financial controls, communications, and
access to common data.”
Further on, Sergey Kalinichuk (2011), in his work states,
“Most modern construction projects take place over all-round, unified and capable to an
exchange data model. It allows carrying out complex analyses at early stages of virtual design
and construction. Further the model will include business intelligence, lean construction
principles, green policies and whole lifecycle costing. Information and Communication
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Technologies in this case becomes the base for all innovative methods of design and construction
and needed as much attention possible.”
Also, in this area, ("The Use of Information and Communication Technologies in
Construction", 2018) says,
“Over recent years, there has been a growing interest in the use of Information and
Communication Technologies (ICT) for improving the efficiency of the construction process.
This is due to the fact that ICT, when appropriately used, can significantly contribute to the
timely, economical, and successful deployment of construction projects. ICT research and
industrial advancements have pointed toward several development directions such as Electronic
Document Management Systems (EDMs), Web-based Project Management Systems (WPMS),
Application Service Providers (ASP), E-work and E-business, Virtual Reality (VR) applications,
mobile computing, and wireless communication.”
1.4. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE RESEARCH STUDY
68 journals and articles reviewed by ("The Use of Information and Communication
Technologies in Construction", 2018) stresses the significance of ICT,
“An improvement in the information technology in construction (ITC) is a major
international research endeavor in scientific institutions. There is a growing body of knowledge
from researchers and policy makers from the developed and the developing countries regarding
the unequivocal importance and role of ICT as a prime tool that has the potential to modernize
societies, boost economy, and bridge huge barriers such as distance, equity, and time associated
with the traditional World.” [6]
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A significant body of research conducted in other countries such as Sweden, Australia,
Nigeria, and Iran is available in this area. However, as pointed out earlier, there is insufficient
body of research available with regards to the UAE construction industry with the exception of
one carried out by (El-Saboni, Aouad & Sabouni, 2009) With the construction industry boom in
the UAE which naturally feeds its economy, it becomes important that a further study be carried
out in the UAE. This research study is particularly significant as it will elucidate:
 The current state of ICT applications uses in building construction in the UAE
 The challenges faced by building construction companies in the implementation of ICT
applications
 Identifying development areas for increased productivity and work quality by using up to
date ICT applications and tools
 Managing strategies to ensure effective information sharing and increased
communication
1.4.1 OBJECTIVE AND AIM OF THE STUDY
This research study will attempt to identify the areas of improvement in the ICT
implementation in building construction in the UAE and thereby addressing the problem areas by
proposing workable strategies to overcome challenges and enhancing some important aspects
such as, lower cost and time, better quality, optimized work environment, effective information
sharing, better managing strategies, site control, safety insurance, etc.
Also, this study aims to explore all kinds of ICT benefits and its significance to the
construction sector and management, focusing on the challenges that are encountered by the
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stakeholders in the life cycle of the project, proposing effective ways to ensure best
implementation of ICT, and a breakdown of the uses and advantages of ICT. The researcher
hopes that this study will show the importance of actual implementing of the new technology in
ongoing and upcoming construction projects in the UAE.
1.4.2 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
In order to obtain the answers for our research questions and to test the study hypotheses,
we will develop a survey questionnaire to be distributed to a sample from a selected population
in the construction sector in the UAE.
1.4.3 PROBLEM STATEMENT
In spite of the advancement in the ICT in all areas of businesses in the UAE, specially in
Dubai and Abu Dhabi, quite a few number of small sized construction businesses in the UAE, do
not fully employ up to date ICT tools and applications due to a number of issues such as shortage
of expertise needed in construction related ICT, budget constraints, management’s lack of
appreciation of ICT, security and privacy issues.
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CHAPTER 2
LITERATURE REVIEW
Over recent years, a considerable amount of research has been carried out on the subject
of ICT implementation in building construction sector around the world. These studies have
investigated the benefits, challenges and barriers of using technology in the construction
industry. Furthermore, some of these studies have presented strategies on how to effectively
manage and implement ICT in the construction sector.
What we know about ICT implementation in construction sector is largely based on
research done in countries such as Sweden, Czech Republic, Nigeria. There is only one such
research available on the same subject in the context of the UAE conducted by (El-Saboni,
Aouad & Sabouni, 2009). An examination of the available literature indicates that the research
done so far ascertains positive impact of using ICT in construction sector; however, the
construction companies especially the low-end construction companies are unable or oblivious of
effectively exploiting the potential of ICT to their advantage.
2.1 USE OF ICT IN CONSTRUCTION SECTOR
Technology is developing at a rapid speed, with new innovations flooding market every
day. As with any other sector, in construction industry as well, it becomes imperative to maintain
efficient data sharing and analysis to optimize productivity using new cutting-edge ICTs. There
is no doubt that ICT has a massive use in the construction industry with the focus on cost, time,
and quality. In their review of 68 studies, Ehab J.Adwan and Ali Al-Soufi (November 2016),
point out, “importance and role of ICT as a prime tool that has the potential to modernize
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societies, boost economy, and bridge huge barriers such as distance, equity, and time associated
with the traditional World.”
According to Khatija Haque, head of MENA Research at Emirates NBD, construction
industry is expected to be the “key driver” of the economy due to approaching Expo 2020.
(Parag Deulgaonkar, 2017)
One of the main ICT uses may be, the connection between the managers, owners and the
actual work progress at site using for instance, emails, video conference, CCTV, and other
engineering specific software such as AutoCAD and (Kalinichuk, 2011) in his study highlights
the following,
“the main destination of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is providing
construction stakeholders with information and analytical tools for the best control of the
construction delivery processes. ICT include computer hardware, software, and communications
devices which give access and allow communicating easily at local and international level.”
Furthermore, (Kalinichuk, 2011) draws our attention to the importance of ICT in
construction in that, “ICT creates the big integration into construction industry. The big
advantage can be received with development of corresponding ICT solutions. Building
Information Modeling (BIM) or Green Design can be one of the examples.”
There is no doubt that innovative ICT tools and applications enhance quality of work and
minimizes cost and time related risk which are so common in the construction industry. In his
work in 2007, A.P. Chassiakos discusses examples of these various tools and application in
construction such as:
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 Electronic Document Management Systems:
 Web-based Project Management systems:
 Application Service Providers
 Virtual Reality applications
 Mobile computing and wireless communication
Appropriate utilization of ICT applications contributes to the economical, and successful
completion of construction projects ("The Use of Information and Communication Technologies
in Construction", 2018). Unless the construction industry stakeholders envision the obvious
benefits of thorough exploitation of ICT applications, companies will lag behind in the
competitive construction environment.
The potential benefits of using ICT technologies in construction industry are numerous. New
and upcoming ICT applications not only make communication, work place collaboration,
marketing strategies, data and information exchange and knowledge management easier, they
also ensure improved network security by protecting personal and shared data and vast amount
of information of clients existing on network. Furthermore, implementing secure IT
infrastructure in a construction industry will guarantee company data protection from
unauthorized access. This in turn has a positive impact on the reputation and image of the
company in the highly competitive construction sector.
2.2 CHALLENGES AND BARRIERS IN ICT IMPLEMENTATION
Effective implementation of ICT applications can provide construction sector with
strategic benefits which can definitely influence their productivity. However, there are several
factors that can prevent construction sector from using ICT in their industry. The literature
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review discusses these factors and barriers to ICT adoption in construction sector: inappropriate
ICT applications for the type of business, inadequate ICT skills set or competence within the
construction companies, lack of standardized ICT-related applications, budget issues, and issues
with access to ICT.
Studies carried out in the Australian construction industry by, Hua (2007) and Sarshar &
Iskidag (2004), stated that small and medium-sized enterprises (SME’s) have lower rate of ICT
awareness, competency, and the potential benefits for using ICT to achieve strategic goals.
SME’s tend to use traditional methods in construction projects “because of high risk of
innovative solutions, technology changes rapidly, high training investments, lack of
standardization in the industry and low investment margins which leave no room for innovation”
(Andresen et al., 2000).
There are a number of risks associated with the adoption of ICT solutions in the
construction industry. As pointed out by Carayanni & Campbell (2006),
“The main challenge is the rapid pace of change, which makes it difficult to predict the
need for new improvements. …… Another unknown factor is the need and cost of highly skilled
employees to keep complex ICT systems running.
ICT solutions are often given a back seat if the construction companies are not successful
enough. They use the traditional work methods and are cautious of investing in new
technologies. (Virgo Sulakatko, 2016)
According to M. Reza Hosseini et all, “the major obstacle seems to be the lack of
appreciation of managers regarding the new available technologies and the benefits they would
bring about for the construction organizations.” (Hosseini et al., 2013)
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Similarly, investigation conducted by Zou and Seo agrees with the afore mentioned
findings in that the major barriers in implementing ICT “in the construction sector lie with the
reluctance or inability of the subcontractors/suppliers to adopt the technologies and lack of in-
house technical expertise as well as lack of integrated information management systems.” (Zou
and Seo, 2006)
Tucker and Mohamed (1996) identified the following barriers to IT implementation:
- Reluctance: Due to senior managers who, through the lack of system knowledge/understanding
and being convinced of the immediate gains that could be achieved from IT applications.
- Resources: Both financial and personnel, with organizations under heavy competition,
reluctant to invest in technology and unable to provide time to change operations and train staff.
- Training: Lack of time for training and changing operations is taken into account when
considering IT implementation.
- Change: Any changes to work processes are disruptive to productivity, especially during the
introduction phase of and more so if the introduction is not known in advance.
- Tradition: People, no matter how dedicated to the new tools, usually have a tendency towards
doing things the way they are used to.
From the review of the available literature, the main obstacles for ICT adoption by the
construction sector are:
 the reluctance of the construction industry to adapt to up-to-date ways of operation
 the high investment costs
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 the lack of computer-skilled staff in the field of construction industry
 E-commerce technologies have not been adopted widely in the construction supply chain
 limited availability of ICT tools due to technological and financial constraints ("The Use
of Information and Communication Technologies in Construction", 2018).
With regards to the UAE, El-Saboni et al. (2009) investigated the use of modern electronic
communication management systems, and how these systems affect the success of construction
projects in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In their study, El-Saboni et al. state that “UAE
construction industry, despite being successful in using web technology to achieve their
objectives, has failed to utilize it to cut cross organizational boundaries and also to integrate the
supply chain. In other words, it has not been able to ‘‘defragment” the industry inter-
organizational relations. (Al Saboni, 2009)
In the era of information technology, it is unimaginable that huge construction ventures can
handle the vast flow of information efficiently without using ICT. It is argued though, that
construction companies do not utilize the full potential of ICT applications as a driving force to
speed up the process of constructional operations. Statistics also show that low-end construction
companies do not invest in advanced ICT as heavily as larger companies. It has to be noted that
SME’s have limited resources to modernize their ICT capabilities, therefore, they choose less
expensive and generic technologies, which are not tailored to their specific needs (Hua, 2007).
“This way of thinking doesn’t provide the highest potential. Competitive advantage can come
from adapting ICT solutions in the first line” (Peansupap & Walker, 2004).
2.3 STRATEGIES USED IN THE EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF ICT IN THE
CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
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ICT is evolving and growing every day in all parts of our lives. Understanding the
importance of new technologies and its implementation in today’s world, using the right
strategies in an effective manner will allow the UAE to reach the best optimized solutions
construction industry should aim to seek.
There are several driving forces behind the implementation of ICTs within construction
industry as Hosseini, M.R., Chileshe, N., Zuo, J. and Baroudi, B. (2012) stated in their journal
“Productivity, Globalization, and Idiosyncrasies of construction industry”. Those key drivers
emphasize the need to implement ICT using the right strategies and tools.
On the same topic, Vanita Ahuja, Jay Yang, Ravi Shankar (2009) mentioned the following
industrial drivers,
“Increased requirement of clients for more project information resulting in increased use
of ICT, increased requirement of adoption of ICT by larger organizations when SMEs execute
projects as subcontracting agencies of larger organizations, increased involvement of
geographically separated agencies and information centers in a Project, increased construction
activity in the country, education of upcoming construction students towards ICT, widespread
availability of IT tools and technologies in the country, increased involvement of multiple
agencies in construction projects, dynamic changes in information requirement during project
execution, increased competition with overseas construction.”
The advantages and uses of ICT in the construction industry have been well established,
but different researches have approached different kinds of strategies in managing and
implementing ICT in construction. In their research, Hosseini, M.R., Chileshe, N., Zuo, J. and
Baroudi, B. (2012) suggested the following,
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“before starting the procurement, one of the most significant aspirations in construction in recent
years has been the desire to build a building in a virtual environment before commencing the
process of the construction and even before starting the procurement process, thus enabling the
constructability of a project to be tested.”
This method allowed the contractors to save a significant cost in a very efficient way with
the best solutions. Using Virtual prototyping (VP) will help construction companies do away
with the need for physical models. VP uses simulation process at every stage of the design - the
testing, evaluation and modification of design from its conception to final product. It will also
help identify risks and address those risks thereby boost economic competiveness. Yet another
method is nD modelling, an extension of the building information model (BIM). It contains
information about the construction, management, operations and maintenance of a building at
each stage of the construction project. This model generates information, plans, section,
elevations, and schedules automatically. Any changes made at any stage of the construction will
be reflected automatically in the drawings as all the information and documents are derived from
the same database. This also ensures coordination and accuracy in documents and information.
(Hosseini, et all, 2012)
Further to this, Hosseini et all suggest,
“that one of the most advantageous possible approaches to adopting ICT into construction
industry would be to enhance the communication management and the transfer of information
amongst different organizations, different stakeholders, different actors in the project, different
teams, and even among the team members inside an organization”.
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In the figure below, Arjen Adriaanse, Hans Voordijk, and Geert Dewulf (2010), have
developed a model of mechanisms that influence the use of ICT across organizational margins in
construction projects.
FIGURE 2.1 ARJEN ADRIAANSE, HANS VOORDIJK, AND GEERT DEWULF (2010)
A case study conducted by Vachara Peansupap and Derek H. T. Walker, (2004) listed
some of the strategies, “there are two strategies for adopting web-based project management.
These strategic adoptions are an in-house development and outsourcing depending upon the level
of internal systems and resources that support the main organizational functions.”
“There is a direct relationship between the characteristics of ICT and its strategic
adoption. In general, when construction organizations seek to gain a competitive advantage from
early ICT adoption, they tend to choose a proactive strategy. By using this strategy,
organizations are required to commit to investing in developing their own ICT application
because during this early period, off-the-shelf ICT product may provide fewer functions than the
organization needs. However, a proactive ICT adoption strategy may be difficult to be successful
28

and requires many resources to provide internal and external staff. In addition to the
development of an ICT extranet application to be functioning, the readiness of other construction
project participants is required.” (Vachara Peansupap and Derek H. T. Walker, 2004)
Different companies and managers use different strategies, for example, small companies
tend to use some of ICT, whereas large companies use cutting -edge ICT tools and invest huge
amounts in ICT. The reason here might be that small companies don’t have time to start dealing
with new technologies because this will take up time and money which usually small companies
do not have and are barely able to cope with the existing expenses especially in the cases where
profits are not high. This is considered to be a barrier for SME’s. Furthermore, some managers
are wary of using new technologies. One of the reasons in the personal perspective would be that
those managers are used to the old-fashioned way of working, they like to work in the set ways
and would prefer to avert risks related with change. This gives them false sense of security.
Unfortunately, this creates a strong draw back to the team and the company itself, resulting in
increased costs and time, less quality, and unsatisfied clients and not to mention lagging far
behind in this competitive industry.
In the UAE, there is a massive interest in ICT,
“The UAE is very keen on developing her capabilities in the field of information and
communication technology and is continuously undertaking measures to achieve that. The UAE
Government is very eager to use ICT tools to not only deliver services in quick and easy manner
but also to provide customized services in the future.” (the Official Portal of the UAE
Government, 2017)
29

Information and Communication TechnologyUse of ICT in construction sector
Electronic Document Management Systems:
Web-based Project Management systems:
Application Service Providers
Virtual Reality applications
Mobile computing and wireless communication
Strategies in effective implementation of ICT
Personal motivation
External motivation
Knowledge and skills
Opportunities
Challenges in implementing ICT
Reluctance
Resources
Training
Change
Tradition
In view of the above, it would seem imperative that the construction sector in the UAE
follow the vision of the nation and take proactive steps in implementing innovative ICT tools and
applications and thereby making substantial contribution to the economy of UAE.
This research aims to address the gap in investigation in this area within the UAE context.
FIGURE 2.2: CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
(Source: Author)
30

CHAPTER 3
METHODOLOGY
This chapter presents the details about the research instrument and materials, procedures
of the study and its implementation, the research design and method, the study sample and the
data collection method.
This thesis investigates the challenges, barriers, and the managing strategies that can be
implemented in the use of ICT in the UAE construction sector. To our best knowledge, there is
no significant research done in the UAE related to the use, importance, challenges, barriers and
managing strategies in the construction sector. This gap will be addressed in this research study
as ICT is extremely important in any industry, especially in the UAE being a technologically
rapidly growing country where the significance of ICT has become a must on all scales.
Researchers from various countries have explored the use of ICT in the construction industry in a
global perspective. Drawing from the available body of research, this research study will attempt
similar research exercise as UAE being our case study, discussing:
 whether all construction companies are using ICT in their daily operations and
communication,
 to what extent is ICT being used as a whole,
 and to what extent are the concerned parties aware of the importance of ICT in the
construction sector in UAE?
3.1 RESEARCH QUESTION
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Recalling that the main research question is investigating the state and the level of ICT
implementation and the types of managing strategies employed in the UAE construction sector,
the following aims are concluded:
 How is the use of ICT applications impacting the construction sector in the UAE?
 What are the various ICT application used by various construction companies in the
UAE?
 The level and mode of acquired literacy by construction engineers.
 The availability and use of computers, applications and communication systems
 Are ICT applications being fully employed in the construction sector in the UAE?
 What level of expertise of the cutting-edge ICT related to the construction industry is
available in the UAE?
 What are the factors affecting the adoption and use of ICT?
 What is the perceived influence of ICT on reducing project delays?
3.2 HYPOTHESES:
There is a significant impact of factors (computer literacy, company experience, size of
the company, firm sector – private vs. public sector) on the use of ICT
There is a significant difference in the ranking of possible obstacle as compared to other studies
Ranking the benefits of ICT is significantly different from other studies
ICT is the key player in increasing the progression and productivity of construction sector in the
UAE.
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A limited Work force and management fully exploit the potential of ICT in construction
projects/sites.
Implementation of ICT tools and up to date applications are limited to high end and high budget
construction projects/sector in the UAE.
3.3 SURVEY DESCRIPTION
For the purpose of this research, we will be designing a survey allowing to test the above
hypotheses. A survey questionnaire will have a number of items necessary to be able to test the
hypothesis correctly. The questionnaire will be distributed among a sample of junior engineers,
site engineers, project managers, managing directors, as well as the IT personnel in the company.
The respondent should come from small, mid and large construction companies in the
UAE to test the variability of ICT use, barriers, type of applications, tools and implementation
level. We will be using the Convenience Non-probability sampling in addition to using the
internet sampling as well. We will be using Survey Monkey, a trusted online medium allowing to
survey targeted respondents electronically, in our case, site construction engineers, junior
engineers, project managers, managing directors, etc.
33

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