Information Technology in Construction Industry - Report Example

Information Technology in Construction Industry International Journal of Computer Integrated Design and Construction, SETO, London Volume 1, Issue 1, May 2009 Background of the study This research article discusses the extent of the application of information and technology in the construction industry. It elaborates on the various models, materials activities and information that constitute the construction process in the building industry. Bo-Christer (2009)describes information technology in construction as a young field of research which is still struggling to find its own place among larger field of academic research. Because it is still a new idea, it lacks solid methodology foundation that can be used to analyses its development. Construction is the main activity in which information technology are applied. The main aim of any construction activities is to produce some artifacts like buildings, roads bridges and many others. Civil engineering is the most fundamental discipline dealing with the construction and mostly dealing in sites as opposed to factory based designs. Construction can be defined as the process of producing artifacts like buildings, roads, factories and bridges. Information and technology on the other hand is defined as the use of electronic machines and programs for the purpose of processing, transferring, storage and presentation of information be it construction information or any other purpose. The use of information and technology is no longer restricted to one single but has been integrated in all field of study be it engineering or medicine. Bo-Christer (2009) in his article states that., ”not only computers and their softwares, bt also other devices like photocopying machines and phones are included in the defination of technology.” The objective of this research article was to analysed the use of information technology in construction industries. The paper gives the research litterature on the field f construction and information and technology and the methodology used in achieving the research objectives. The researcher started the background of the study by giving a brief introduction of the discipline then further elaborates on the definations of the key terminologiest used in the study before giving literature review on the same issue. The research structure is similar with the research paper by Clayton et al, (2010) on the topic “building a conceptual framework seminar.” Analysis of Methodology Methodology is used in giving a general outline for research study. Ogula describes the research design as a plan, strategy, and structure used to investigate while finding solution to questions of the research and control variance. He further states that study design is a plan of action that the researcher will adopt for answering the research questions and sets up the necessary framework for the study or is the blueprint for the research. The researcher in the article used qualitative research design in investigating the research problem. Qualitative researchers always are interested in understanding the meaning people have constructed, which means that how individuals may make sense of their world and the experience they have with their environment (Borg & Gall 2013). The author indicates that the methodological issues in ITC research have not yet been widely discussed and the available literature is quite limited. Since the researcher applied qualitative research method in finding solution to the research problem, one of the problems in using this scientific standard method is that ITC is more inclined to the development of tools that change reality rather than with studying reality as the method is without influencing it course. Another issue with this kind of the research method is related to the scale of the systems and tests needed to properly prove some hypothesis related to re-engineering effects of particular categories of IT tools The researcher also listed the expert analysis system and the information technology strategy as possible methodological approaches to be used in this study. By their very nature, they look to be areas, which are straightforward in terms of standard scientific techniques. For instance, expert system often requires a rather limited set of input data and mostly offers only one proposed solution. Therefore, it is relatively easy to set up rigorous experiments where the performance of expert system is compared to the performance of human experts using data from several life cases. in a similar study, states that expert system offers an alternative center where comparison of research item requires human verification hence simple to set up rigorous experiments where the performance of expert system is compared to the performance of human experts using data from several life cases. Borg & Gall (2013) states that it should be more easier and simpler to apply standard sampling and interviewing techniques like the social scientist do in Information technology research strategy more so aimed at describing how things are within the industry. In this analysis, though the author has suggested the use of the sampling interview techniques as one of the methodological options, it will not be able to give all-inclusive hypothesis testing as it involves relationship between variables, which are technical in nature. From the above discussion and methodological point of view, product modeling seems most appropriate though offers a much more difficult challenge than the sampling interview technique and expert analysis method. Therefore, for this reason and the preview of other research experience with product modeling, the researcher decided to do away with the expert review and sampling interview techniques and concentrate with the product modeling in the article. Product modeling techniques are highly sophisticated and complex method involving data exchange between several different types of IT applications, implying that full-scale testing is more costly and difficult. The only benefit of the product modeling method depends on the economies of scale and only through standardization of the process, which makes the testing more difficult. defines product modeling as a comprehensive framework that guides a formative and summative evaluation of the projects, personnel and programs more so in the construction projects. In developing the research model, the researcher has not developed, the model is documented in a way that could enable the researcher to evaluate or reuse them in future work. The researcher gave very limited data in testing the research design hence might not give accurate information. The product design can only be tested once in the real project work, hence it is very difficult to determine how much the results are disturbed by the fact the users are at the same time trying to learn to use new software tools , that the project construction in question may be particularly complicated. There are instances where projects, where the same or similar buildings are being designed and constructed using old or traditional information technology models and tools and where similar factors are being systematically studied allowing opportunities for comparison of the effects of the product modeling process. In a construction scenario and research case, the product model would benefit from industry standardization, which is not easy to achieve. From the researcher point of view, product model was the most appropriate though with many weaknesses. The researcher minimizes the biasness in the research model by developing alternative methods to be used in case the first method fails. Study contribution The study investigated the use of information technology in the field of construction where product model, which is qualitative research method, was used in testing the research questions and hypothesis. The researcher gives details explanation of the terminologist used in the field of construction and technology. First, the researcher gives a new definition of the term construction to include all artifacts in civil engineering like building, manufacturing and bridge design. It should include whole life cycle of civil engineering artifacts, including both design, construction, operation and maintenance. This contributes to the existing literature on the definition of the term construction in the field of engineering. This contribution is particularly very important for academicians and professionals in this field who can either accept it or further interrogate the definition hence providing alternative school of thought. The same applies to the definition of the information technology, which is a new concept in the construction industry. The study further interrogates the concept of the ITC which is relatively new hence providing the latest literature for scholars and open new topics for research. The research design used in the study methods itself is complicated and the researcher simplifies the model, which provides easy platform and reference for the researchers to use in order to develop similar study for easy comparison. The study provides the background domain of information and technology in the construction industry. It explains how the ITC differs from other related subjects including design methodology, construction management and facilities management. The study analyses the present and past literature concerning the use of technology in construction industry, thus giving one stop shop for current and past literature and possible future researches in the field of construction. The discussion will be used by present and future researchers in the same field hence the article has help in literature accumulation. It also elaborates the lifecycle for technology transfer in building industry. The researcher believes that there is to clarifies methodological issues that are related to the branch of ITC research so that a common ground can be found concerning this topic of the study. Read More

Since the researcher applied qualitative research method in finding solution to the research problem, one of the problems in using this scientific standard method is that ITC is more inclined to the development of tools that change reality rather than with studying reality as the method is without influencing it course. Another issue with this kind of the research method is related to the scale of the systems and tests needed to properly prove some hypothesis related to re-engineering effects of particular categories of IT tools The researcher also listed the expert analysis system and the information technology strategy as possible methodological approaches to be used in this study.

By their very nature, they look to be areas, which are straightforward in terms of standard scientific techniques. For instance, expert system often requires a rather limited set of input data and mostly offers only one proposed solution. Therefore, it is relatively easy to set up rigorous experiments where the performance of expert system is compared to the performance of human experts using data from several life cases. in a similar study, states that expert system offers an alternative center where comparison of research item requires human verification hence simple to set up rigorous experiments where the performance of expert system is compared to the performance of human experts using data from several life cases.

Borg & Gall (2013) states that it should be more easier and simpler to apply standard sampling and interviewing techniques like the social scientist do in Information technology research strategy more so aimed at describing how things are within the industry. In this analysis, though the author has suggested the use of the sampling interview techniques as one of the methodological options, it will not be able to give all-inclusive hypothesis testing as it involves relationship between variables, which are technical in nature.

From the above discussion and methodological point of view, product modeling seems most appropriate though offers a much more difficult challenge than the sampling interview technique and expert analysis method. Therefore, for this reason and the preview of other research experience with product modeling, the researcher decided to do away with the expert review and sampling interview techniques and concentrate with the product modeling in the article. Product modeling techniques are highly sophisticated and complex method involving data exchange between several different types of IT applications, implying that full-scale testing is more costly and difficult.

The only benefit of the product modeling method depends on the economies of scale and only through standardization of the process, which makes the testing more difficult. defines product modeling as a comprehensive framework that guides a formative and summative evaluation of the projects, personnel and programs more so in the construction projects. In developing the research model, the researcher has not developed, the model is documented in a way that could enable the researcher to evaluate or reuse them in future work.

The researcher gave very limited data in testing the research design hence might not give accurate information. The product design can only be tested once in the real project work, hence it is very difficult to determine how much the results are disturbed by the fact the users are at the same time trying to learn to use new software tools , that the project construction in question may be particularly complicated. There are instances where projects, where the same or similar buildings are being designed and constructed using old or traditional information technology models and tools and where similar factors are being systematically studied allowing opportunities for comparison of the effects of the product modeling process.

In a construction scenario and research case, the product model would benefit from industry standardization, which is not easy to achieve.

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