BQS 514 RESEARCH

METHODOLOGY

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA, KOTA SAMARAHAN

FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE, PLANNING & SURVEYING

BACHELOR OF QUANTITY SURVEYING (HONS)

(AP224)

BQS 514
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Semester 3
Session October 2021 – February 2022
GROUP ASSIGNMENT (GROUP 9)
Assignment 3: Research Proposal
“The Challenges of Implementing Information, Communication
and Technology (ICT) in Construction Industry”

PREPARED BY:

STUDENT NAME STUDENT ID CLASS

MOHD. ALDRIN BIN ALFANDI 2021813652 AP2243A
DANIEL LINDANG ANAK BANDANG 2021459052 AP2243A
NYLE NOYAN ANAK JOHN FRANCIS 2021483002 AP2243A

PREPARED FOR:
DR. SYLVIA GALA MONG
SUBMISSION DATE:
24th JANUARY 2022

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TABLE OF CONTENT

1.0 RESEARCH TITLE......................................................................

2.0 ABSTRACT..................................................................................

3.0 INTRODUCTION..........................................................................

4.0 PROBLEM STATEMENT.............................................................

5.0 AIM OF RESEARCH…………………………………………………

6.0 OBJECTIVES OF RESEARCH....................................................

7.0 RESEARCH QUESTIONS............................................................

8.0 SCOPE OF RESEARCH...............................................................

9.0 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY.....................................................

10.0 REFERENCES.............................................................................

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1.0 RESEARCH TITLE

The Challenges of Implementing Information, Communication
and Technology (ICT) in Construction Industry
Keywords: ICT, Challenges and Construction Industry

2.0 ABSTRACT
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) refers to a
combination of hardware, software and communication facilities. Industry
in general has seen many technological developments in recent
decades. However, the construction industry has not kept pace
particularly within the area of information and communication
technologies (ICTs). Often, ICT is introduced to fit out construction
stakeholders with information and analytical tools for a better control
throughout the entire construction delivery process. The aim of this paper
is to investigate the issues relating to implementation of ICT in Malaysian
construction industry. This study is to explored the implementation and
acceptance level of ICT in Malaysian construction industry.

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3.0 INTRODUCTION
The construction industry is a relevant sector of any economy.
This describes that construction activities are measured based on its
production [Chiang Y H, Tao L and Wong F K W 2015]. As such, there is
a relationship between the level of construction production and the
means to executing construction works. This makes the construction
industry one of the most information-intensive industries, and requires
close coordination among a large number of specialized but
interdependent organizations and individuals to achieve the cost, time
and quality goals of a construction project. Hence, production level is a
subject of much examine in the built environment. The evidence
gathered from article showed that the production of construction work is
inclined by the style of Information, Communication and Technology
(ICT) application, the community applying the ICT tools, cost of ICT
applications, the outgrowth of the application and other factors
[Aghimien D O, Oke A E and Koloko N 2018]. A diminish production
level has an adverse result on construction activities since the method of
project delivery are oppose. Therefore, there is a need to recognize
challenges to the application of Information, Communication and
Technology (ICT) in the construction industry. Thereafter, the problem
statement, aim of research, research objective, research question and
scope of research to the study follows.

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4.0 PROBLEM STATEMENT

Coming far from the modern evolutionary, Information,

Communication and Technology (ICT) has made an outstanding impact
to the world with new systems. In accordance to Bedard and Rivard
(2003), it has been over five decades into the beginning for the impact of
ICT. It assists in communicating better with wider technologies that are
also the updates every now and then. Besides that, enabling modern
computing within the grasp of networking components, devices,
applications, and systems. Diving into the problems of Information,
Communication and Technology (ICT), there are several challenges that
needs to be addressed.

For instance, the poor back up system in remote construction

sites which is supported by Samuelson and Bjork (2014) shows that
Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) needs access to the
internet to back up or transfer data to the system. Thus, the remote area
needs signal boosters that can help to at least back up the system when
needed.

Other than that, under technical challenges comprises of

continuous demand for upgrading hardware and software, inadequate
power supply, and the incompatibility between software packages and
systems. To clarify for all the challenges mentioned, continuous demand
for upgrading hardware and software means that the hardware and
software needs to be upgraded from time to time for its benefits. In other
words, it also means that the hardware and software will be repaired,
meanwhile the updates can add various new features and remove the
ones that are already antiquated.

As for inadequate power supply, it refers to the limited power

source that generates electrical power to the ICT equipment. Anyhow, it
all depends on the site location as well because it is not easy to find
power lines of all voltages. Therefore, constructing electrical pylons will

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get the job done.

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PROBLEM STATEMENT (Cont’d)

Moreover, for the incompatibility between software packages and
systems refers to a characteristic of software components or systems
that are unable to utilize satisfactorily at the same time on the same
computer, as well as different computers linked together by a computer
network. Despite that, the challenges mentioned are proven to be
supported by Bosch-Sijtsema et al. (2014), Samuelson and Bjork (2014),
Akinbile and Oni (2016), Eadie et al. (2014), Alaghbandrad et al. (2012)
and lastly Ibem and Laryea (2014).

5.0 AIM OF RESEARCH

The aim of this research is to determine the Information, Communication
and Technology (ICT) challenges faced in the construction industry and
also extract important data about the changes of ICT all around the
world.

6.0 RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

1) To determine the problems that occurs when applying ICT in a
construction industry.
2) To identify how the challenges in the implementation of ICT in
construction.
3) To provide suggestions to enhance the implementation of ICT.

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7.0 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1) What are the problems that occurs when applying ICT in a
construction industry?
2) How the challenges emerge in implementation of ICT in

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construction?
3) How to overcome the conflict in the implementation of ICT in the
construction world?
8.0 SCOPE OF RESEARCH
In this research, we are focusing on the challenges that occur in the
implementation of ICT in the construction industry. To be precise, we are
focusing on the perspective view of parties that are currently
implementing ICT to accomplish their task in this construction industry
such as contractors, developers, and consultants. In this case, Kuching
Sarawak is the best place to do this research. This is because the
development pace in Sarawak is at the peak level.

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9.0 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

10.0 REFERENCES

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1. Alaghbandrad, A., Asna Ashari, E. and Preece, C. (2012), “Problems and barriers of ICT
utilization on Iranian construction sites: case study on the successful use of ICT in
remote construction sites”, Journal of Information Technology in Construction (ITcon),
Vol. 17, pp. 93-102, available at: www.itcon.org/2011/6 (accessed 14 September 2017).

2. Ern, P.A.S., Kasim, N., Masrom, M.A.N. and Chen, G.K. (2017), “Overcoming ICT
barriers in IBS management process in Malaysia construction industry”, ISCEE 2016,
MATEC Web of Conferences, Vol. 103, p. 03007, available at:
http://10.1051/matecconf/201710303007 (accessed 14September 2017).

3. Hamid, A.A., Mokhtar, A.F., Soh, C.S.C. and Abidin, N.I.Z. (2021), "Malaysia – 25 Years
of Construction Industry Progress 1995–2019", Anson, M., Chiang, Y.H., Lam, P. and
Shen, J. (Ed.) Construction Industry Advance and Change: Progress in Eight Asian
Economies Since 1995, Emerald Publishing Limited, Bingley, pp. 111-135.
https://doi-org.ezaccess.library.uitm.edu.my/10.1108/978-1-80043-504-920211006

4. Hasan, A., Elmualim, A., Rameezdeen, R., Baroudi, B. and Marshall, A. (2018), "An
exploratory study on the impact of mobile ICT on productivity in construction projects",
Built Environment Project and Asset Management, Vol. 8 No. 3, pp. 320-332.
https://doi-org.ezaccess.library.uitm.edu.my/10.1108/BEPAM-10-2017-0080

5. Atkinson, E., Spillane, J., Bradley, J. and Brooks, T. (2021), "Challenges in the adoption
of mobile information communication technology (M-ICT) in the construction phase of
infrastructure projects in the UK", International Journal of Building Pathology and
Adaptation, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print.
https://doi-org.ezaccess.library.uitm.edu.my/10.1108/IJBPA-04-2021-0048

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6. Ozumba, A.O.U. and Shakantu, W. (2018), "Exploring challenges to ICT utilization in

construction site management", Construction Innovation, Vol. 18 No. 3, pp. 321-349
https://doi.org/10.1108/CI-03-2017-0027

7. Bosch-Sijtsema, P., Isaksson, A., Lennartsson, M. and Linderoth, H.C.J. (2017),

“Barriers and facilitators for BIM use among Swedish medium-sized contractors – “We
wait until someone tells us to use it”, Visualization in Engineering, Vol. 5 No. 1, p. 3,
available at: http://10.1186/s40327-017-0040-7 (accessed 14 September 2017).

8. Chiang Y H, Tao L and Wong F K W 2015 Causal relationship between construction

activities, employment and GDP: The case of Hong Kong Habitat Int. 46 1–12, available
at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0197397514001544

9. Aghimien D O, Oke A E and Koloko N 2018 Digitalisation in construction industry:

Construction professionals' perspective ASEA SEC 4 Streamlining Information Transfer
between Construction and Structural Engineering ed I Press (Brisbane, Australia) pp 1–
7,available at:https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Douglas-Aghimien/publication/
329141252_DIGITALISATION_IN_CONSTRUCTION_INDUSTRY_CONSTRUCTION_P
ROFESSIONALS_PERSPECTIVE/links/5c02fc6f45851523d1569bca/DIGITALISATION-
IN-CONSTRUCTION-INDUSTRY-CONSTRUCTION-PROFESSIONALS-
PERSPECTIVE.pdf

10. Bedard, C. and Rivard, H. (2003), “Two decades of research and development in
building design”, in Amor, R. (Ed.), Proceedings of CIB-W78 International Conference on
Information Technology for Construction, 23rd-25th April, University of Auckland,
Auckland, pp. 23-30.

11. Samuelson, O. and Björk, B. (2014), “A longitudinal study of the adoption of IT

technology in the Swedish building sector”, Automation in Construction, Vol. 37, pp. 182-
190, available at: www.elsevier.com/locate/autcon/ (accessed 6 September 2017).

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12. Akinbile, B.F. and Oni, O.Z. (2016), “Assessment of the challenges and benefits of
Information Communication Technology (ICT) On construction industry in Oyo State
Nigeria”, Annals of Faculty Engineering Hunedoara – International Journal of
Engineering, Tome XIV [2016] – Fascicule 4 [November], available at:
http://annals.fih.upt.ro (accessed 14 September 2017)

13. Ibem, E.O. and Laryea, S. (2014), “Survey of digital technologies in procurement of
construction projects”, Automation in Construction, Vol. 46, pp. 11-21, available at:
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14. David B. Resnik, J.D., Ph.D. December 23, 2020 What Is Ethics in Research & Why Is It
Important, available at: https://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/resources/bioethics/what/is/

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