KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering (2022) 26(11):4359-4379 pISSN 1226-7988, eISSN 1976-3808

DOI 10.1007/s12205-022-2037-6 www.springer.com/12205

Construction Management

Developing a Unified Framework for Data Sharing in the Smart

Construction Using Text Analysis
a b a a c
Hong Xue , Tongrui Zhang , Qian Wang , Shanshan Liu , and Keyu Chen
a
School of Management, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, China
b
School of Civil Engineering, Liaoning Technical University, Fuxin 110325, China
c
School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Hainan University, Haikou 570200, China

ARTICLE HISTORY ABSTRACT

Received 17 November 2021 Smart construction has become popular because it improves the efficiency of various activities
Revised 21 April 2022 on construction sites. Data sharing is crucial for multiple stakeholders to achieve smart
Accepted 25 May 2022 construction management. However, a unified framework is absent for data sharing between
Published Online 21 August 2022 stakeholders. This study aims to develop a unified framework for data sharing in smart
construction at the project level. A two-pronged design method is adopted to develop a
KEYWORDS unified framework for data sharing in smart construction using text analysis and semi-
structured interviews. Then, a case study is incorporated for the application of the smart
Smart construction management construction management framework. The unified framework for data sharing is developed as
Data sharing a five-layer architecture, consisting of the primary layers of perception, transmission, database,
Unified framework application, and presentation. The function modules of the unified framework include on-site
Smart techniques monitoring, personnel, safety, quality, material, digital file, environment, and supervision,
Text analysis supported by the implementation of BIM, cloud computing, and IoT techniques. As illustrated
Standardized management in the case study, the construction period can be saved by 50 days and the cost can be saved
by 4.2% after implementing the proposed framework in the project. This study provides a
benchmark for related studies on data management and collaborative innovation from various
industries and stakeholders. Also, a useful framework has been developed by identifying the
key elements, defining the primary functions, and developing the essential layers based on
structural consistency.

1. Introduction sensing equipment and transferred to a cloud platform or data

Smart construction management originates in integrating advanced
techniques that construction tasks can be remotely operated and
controlled effectively (Heidari et al., 2014). Many problems have
been found in the construction management process, such as
weakness of safety awareness, muscular mobility of on-site workers,
accidents of large machinery, detection of environmental pollution,
and various potential hazards (Ahn and Lee, 2015; Cao et al.,
2015; Zhang et al., 2015; Toh et al., 2017). Smart construction
provides a practical concept for solving these problems using
smart techniques, such as Internet of Things (IoT), Geographic
Information System (GIS), Building Information Modeling (BIM),
big data, cloud computing, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) (Heidari
et al., 2014; Song et al., 2018; Zhou et al., 2021). The information
about humans and objects can be automatically obtained using
center for analysis and application (Wang and Cho, 2015). Data
is necessary to achieve real-time monitoring and remote management
(Zhong et al., 2017). However, the current data management
approaches are not efficient because the data are collected from
different participating entities and lack a standardized data
management framework.
Each participating entity has its own way of data collection,
storage and analysis, resulting in the lack of a unified interface
when integrating data, which reduces the efficiency of data
implication. The conventional construction management approaches
focus on passive, fragmented, and delayed features by controlling
the risks in process or have taken place (Grilo et al., 2013; Deng
et al., 2014). In contrast, smart construction management refers
to proactive, integrated, and forward-looking management activities
using smart techniques, which have advantages in data visualization,

CORRESPONDENCE Keyu Chen kchenal@connect.ust.hk School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Hainan University, Haikou 570200, China
ⓒ 2022 Korean Society of Civil Engineers
4360 H. Xue et al.
tracing, and analysis (Edirisinghe, 2018; Li et al., 2019). Compared
to conventional construction management methods, smart
construction management requires an integrated framework to
achieve comprehensive perception of the physical world, intelligence
of management, task interconnection, information share, scientific
analysis of decision-making, and intelligent early warning (Bibri,
2018; Li et al., 2019). However, current data management platforms
cannot meet decision-making requirements because the data is
collected from multiple stakeholders, with great diversity in data
collection, transmission, analysis, storage, and application. Therefore,
there is a lack of a compatible framework to restrict or guide all
participants to implement standardized data management.
Prior studies explored approaches for achieving data unified
management between stakeholders. It refers to the application of
BIM models or management platform using technology techniques
(i.e., access control system, Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV)
monitoring equipment, check on attendance system) (Alreshidi
et al., 2016; Li et al., 2018a; Liu et al., 2018). But practical
approaches are absent for standardizing the processes of data
collection, transmission, analysis, storage, and application processes
between multiple stakeholders. It leads to the effectiveness of
data implication is not high, and the data value is not fully
obtained as expected. Developing a framework is crucial for
project managers by offering multiple stakeholders a unified and
standardized outline to enhance data value.
In recent years, researchers explored the potential of combining
multiple smart techniques to build a data management platform
based on the Internet of Things for data collection through
sensing technologies. Various types of sensors, such as temperature
sensor, pressure sensor, gas sensor, equipment working condition
sensor, can be distributed on construction sites to collect data.
Then the analog signals are converted into digital signals through
signal processing, feature extraction and selection, information
identification, and information classification (Edirisinghe, 2018).
BIM and cloud computing can be used for data sharing and
control. For example, the detailed data collected can be stored in
the BIM models, analyzed, and monitored through the cloud
platform, which can achieve the simultaneous processing of
multiple projects, multiple detection parameter settings, and
unified data management (Li et al., 2018b). Big data integrates
the structured and unstructured data generated in the process of
on-site construction, analyzes the data through AI-driven approaches
such as machine learning algorithms, and then extracts observable
data features to facilitate project managers to make decisions
(Bilal et al., 2016). After the digital twin model is established, the
results of data analysis can be matched with the information in
the BIM model to generate data reports, which helps users make
decisions and implications (Edirisinghe, 2018).
The functions of smart construction management framework
were explored in existing studies. The safety management, contract
management, environment detection, and integrated governance
were identified as primary modules of the smart construction
management framework (Ghodrati et al., 2018; Liu et al., 2018;
Ahmadisheykhsarmast and Sonmez, 2020). A framework was
also developed for the smart operation of mobile cranes by real-
time motion sensing and 3D modeling of dynamic workspaces,
consisting of five layers: object, sensing, processing, analyzing,
and user interface (Lee et al., 2012; Fang et al., 2018b). A smart
work package was defined as a tool for constraints management
by developing an IoT-enabled BIM platform for modular integrated
construction (Li et al., 2021). Existing studies have explored the
techniques to create a framework for smart construction
management. However, they still lack a comprehensive and
systematic framework to define the essential elements required
for data management between stakeholders in smart construction
projects. This study aims to identify the essential elements, and
develop a unified smart construction management framework for
multiple stakeholders to achieve data management based on
actual barriers, activities, and techniques considered.
Five steps are shown to develop the smart construction
management framework: 1) analyze the challenges for construction
management; 2) identify the effective techniques to solve the
practical challenges; 3) define the functions of smart construction
management framework; 4) propose the layered structures; 5)
apply the proposed framework for an actual project. This study
provides a framework for multiple stakeholders to share project
data and achieve smart management by defining the basic
elements, functions, and layers. This study makes two main
theoretical contributions to smart construction management: 1)
A practical framework has been identified by identifying the key
elements and defining the primary layers based on structural
consistency. 2) Related studies on data management and
collaborative innovation from various industries and stakeholders
can be integrated considering our framework for benchmarking.
This study is organized as follows: Section 2 presents a
literature review on the state-of-the-art implementation of smart
techniques. Section 3 describes the research methodology.
Challenges and key techniques are identified in Section 4. The
proposed framework is presented in Section 5 and then apply it
in Section 6, followed by the discussion in Section 7 and conclusions
in Section 8.
2. Literature Review
2.1 Smart Techniques in Construction Management
Previous studies have explored smart techniques in construction
management and developed architectures of the smart management
framework. Proactive control techniques were usually used to
achieve management objectives by quickly obtaining real-time
data of elements on the site (Jia et al., 2019). Smart construction
techniques were used in mega construction projects-Hong Kong-
Zhuhai-Macao Bridge to solve problems, such as schedule, multiple
construction tasks, and off-site project management (Zhou et al.,
2018). A novel smart contract payment security system is proposed
for reducing the delay and withholding of payment in construction
projects (Bangaru et al., 2020). A safety management system,
including scene reconstruction design, data awareness, data
communication, and data processing modules, was proposed to

control personnel, mechanical and other risks (Jiang et al., 2020).
Multiple types of smart construction technologies are required
for data collection, transmission, analysis, storage, and application in
a smart construction management framework. Data collection is
essential for the management of smart construction. Sensors are
used to collect biological data such as physical conditions or
events (Štefanič and Stankovski, 2019). Data of personnel and
facilities can be collected in terms of identity, location, and behavior
information using smart techniques, such as wireless sensor
networks (WSN), stereo camera systems, visual odometers, radio
frequency identification (RFID), Global Positioning System (GPS),
Bluetooth, and inertial measurement unit (IMU), etc. (Chou and
Ngo, 2016; Fang et al., 2018b; Jia et al., 2019). As the front-end
techniques of the IoT, sensors can realize the data collection of
various targets (e.g., workers, equipment, materials, environment,
etc.) on construction sites to achieve information tracking of
prefabricated components (Wang, 2008), and early warning of
on-site safety risks (Carbonari et al., 2011).
Data transmission is responsible for processing and transmitting
the data obtained by sensors. Wired and wireless communications
are the main ways of data transmission through media networks
(Jia et al., 2019). Communication protocol (i.e., TCP/IP, NetBEUI,
DHCP, FTP, etc.) is required to standardize the data transmission
format and mode. Wi-Fi is commonly used to establish personal
computers, phones, and other devices (Wang and Cho, 2015; Jia
et al., 2019). Bluetooth and Zigbee are applied for achieving
wireless communication in the smart construction management
system. Other techniques such as Long-Term Evolution, Z-Wave,
RFID, and WAVE, can be adopted for communication (Ren et
al., 2011; Lee et al., 2012; Rashid et al., 2019).
A platform or database is necessary for storing the collected
data. BIM and cloud computing can be commonly used for data
sharing and storage nowadays. BIM can realize information
integration and collaborative work in smart construction site
management (Eadie et al., 2013). A digital twin model was
established by combining BIM, RFID, and sensors to achieve
real-time management of schedules and risks (Lee et al., 2013;
Li et al., 2018b). BIM provided a collaborative site management
platform for stakeholders (i.e., clients, general contractors, and
suppliers) to integrate the information on the contract, quality,
supply chain, etc. (Chen et al., 2015). Cloud computing allocated
information and data through the shared computing resource
pool, stores videos, files, and sensor data of the construction site
on the cloud platform, and fed back the results to the user through
the remote computing center (Kochovski and Stankovski, 2018).
Data analysis can further explore the internal laws and patterns of
the collected data through several tools. Big data and machine
learning were used for supporting data analysis (Jiang, 2020;
Zhang et al., 2020b). Machine learning or deep learning are
efficient tools for data processing and analysis, especially when
deals with problems of classification or recall (Lake et al., 2014;
Lim et al., 2016). Machine learning can be used to conduct data
mining and analysis on the collected massive and complex data
with different structures and find the laws behind the data to
KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering 4361
achieve various functions, such as analyzing the meteorological
and hydrological trend, tracking the on-site labor force, monitoring
the on-site safety and controlling the construction schedule
(Carbonari et al., 2011; Štefanič and Stankovski, 2019; Xu et al.,
2021).
Finally, the data can be visualized in the format of tables, figures
or charts, for facilitating users’ decision-making. Previous studies
stated that an information hub is necessary to display the required
digital information, including 3D models, building parameters,
environmental data, energy consumptions data, occupation
data, etc., which could benefit users to make decisions (Chou and
Ngo, 2016; Zhang et al., 2020a; Li et al., 2021). AI has the ability
to efficiently manage information and applies corresponding
algorithms to the tracking, analysis, and visualization of the site
objectives (Štefanič and Stankovski, 2019).
Multiple types of smart construction technologies can be
utilized for data collection, transmission, analysis, storage, and
application in a smart construction management framework.
However, the prevailing techniques have not been systematically
analyzed and the relationship between the techniques and challenges
has not been explored. This study aims to identify those techniques
which are practical in smart construction management based on
the major challenges faced in construction projects.
2.2 Integrated Frameworks of Smart Management
A unified framework is popular in smart manufacturing industry.
A smart manufacturing framework emerges with the promotion
of smart techniques such as sensors, computing platforms,
communication technology, control, simulation, data intensive
modelling, and predictive engineering (Kouvelis et al., 2005).
The framework utilizes the concepts of cyber-physical systems
spearheaded by the IoT, cloud computing, AI and data science. A
data-driven smart manufacturing framework was established to
achieve data collection, transmission, storage, pre-processing,
filtering, analysis, mining, visualization, and application (Tao et
al., 2018). There is a commonly used five-layer framework in
smart manufacturing, which includes data collection layer, data
storage layer, data processing layer, data visualization layer, and
data application layer (Ivanov et al., 2015; Kusiak, 2017; Phuyal
et al., 2020). Besides, Manufacturing Operations Management
(MOM) systems are prevalent in smart management because it
extends the functionality covering the whole manufacturing
process, including final capacity scheduling, workflow management
(digitalize manual work), maintenance management, quality
management and warehouse operations, etc. (Ivanov et al., 2015;
Kusiak, 2017).
The unified framework has been attracting increasing attention
by the industry and researchers for construction management in
AEC industry. Some integrated frameworks of smart construction
management have been explored. A three-layered IoT framework
was defined, including perception layer, network layer, and
application layer, with identifying, sensing, networking, and
processing capabilities to exchange and share data (Jia et al.,
2019). A cyber-physical system was developed for safety
4362 H. Xue et al.
management by combining virtual and physical construction
sites (Jiang et al., 2020). Four core modules were identified to
develop an on-site safety management system, including real-life
scene reconstruction, data awareness, data communication, data
processing, and control modules for personnel, machinery,
components, and the environment (Bangaru et al., 2020). A
system architecture was developed to facilitate equipment operators
in real-time. A system for smart operation was developed of mobile
cranes, including data capturing, site condition modeling and
updating, user interface, and interaction (Fang et al., 2018b).
Two essential features characterized the smart system: sensing
physical stimuli and responding to these stimuli, which incorporate
VR, AR, sensing technologies, robotics, BIM, and IoT techniques.
A smart training assistant system was proposed for construction
workers, including three subsystems: real-time data acquisition
using sensors, recognition, and performance feedback (Bangaru
et al., 2020).
The diversity of smart techniques provides multiple options
for different participants, but it also hinders the development of a
unified framework (Akhavian and Behzadan, 2012). Project
participating entities build their own framework for data
management based on their convenience on techniques usage,
leading to the problems such as format incompatibility and
software incompatibility (Li et al., 2018b). The concept of the
whole process management is ignored because stakeholders
mostly focus on their own data needs, which cannot realize
efficient data sharing among multiple stakeholders. The diversity
of data sources leads to the lack of unified management and
standard monitoring of data because the participants collect and
analyze the data according to their own working experiences,
which reduces the efficiency of data usage (Soibelman et al.,
2008; Bilal et al., 2016). The essential functions of the smart
construction management framework have not been unified
because stakeholders mostly build the functional modules to
achieve their own works and always ignore the integrity and
systematisms of the general framework, leading to the lack of
data interoperability (Chen et al., 2015).
The unified smart management framework has been formed
and widely used in the smart manufacturing industry, but it is in
the early stage in the architecture, engineering and construction
(AEC) industry. Compared to smart manufacturing industry, the
degree of informatization and industrialization is much lower in
the AEC industry. Although some frameworks for smart construction
have been proposed, there is currently a lack of a comprehensive
and systematic framework for the overall smart construction that
can take actual barriers, construction activities and techniques
into account.
3. Methodology
A comprehensive survey of real projects is performed accordingly to
analyze current applications of smart techniques in construction
projects. Text analysis and semi-structured interviews are conducted
to design the framework for data sharing in smart construction
projects. Text analysis is a tool for extracting important patterns
or knowledge of interest from unstructured text information. Our
study identified the most commonly used smart techniques instead
of emerging techniques that haven't been widely implemented, in
order to reveal the maturity and usage of these techniques and to
develop a highly practical and operable framework for smart
construction management. Text analysis is an effective tool to
achieve our research aim, due to its maturity, convenience and
efficiency.
Text analysis was conducted as follows: 1) Data collection.
Corresponding data is collected from the China National Knowledge
Infrastructure (CNKI) website. The reviewed cases include a
diverse set of real projects with smart techniques implemented in
construction management using the keywords, i.e., smart
governance, smart construction, smart techniques, smart platform,
and smart system for searching in the period from 2016 to 2020.
A total of 268 documents are obtained related to smart construction
management, and 98 real projects are finally selected from these
268 documents by removing the repeated, vague and incomplete
items. The 98 documents include basic information of the project
(i.e., project name, project type, floor area of a building, etc.),
challenges, solutions, smart techniques, management processes and
project performance which are used to describe the smart
construction management process of a construction project. 2)
Document conversion. Document conversion is conducted for data
analysis using the Xunjie PDF converter software to convert
PDF into TXT documents. 3) Word segmentation. Word
segmentation is performed to select the keywords using the
JiebaR package of R 4.1.0 software based on the principle of
maximum probability. The lexicon is used for segments consisting
of the JiebaR dictionary and the user-defined thesaurus related to
smart construction management. 4) Denoising. These TXT
documents are cleaned by removing the stop words, useless
words, and ignore characters using the JiebaR package multiple
times. 5) Word frequency. The word frequency of these keywords is
calculated by removing the synonym or homonym. 6) Visualization.
The text analysis results are displayed to depict the challenge, key
techniques, modules, functions, etc., using the Wordcloud package
of R 4.1.0 software.
Semi-structured interviews are conducted to verify the
challenges and related solutions (i.e., key techniques) in various
modules. The layered architecture is designed according to text
analysis and semi-structured interviews, and the framework of
smart construction management is developed. Finally, a case
study is incorporated to apply the proposed smart management
framework in an actual construction project (see Fig. 1).
4. Overview of Smart Construction Management
The profile of the selected cases is presented in Fig. 2. Most
retrieved projects are office buildings (41%), followed by
infrastructure projects (16%) and transportation projects (15%).
It can be illustrated that smart construction management has been
widely applied in the architecture, engineering, and construction

Fig. 1. Methodology of This Research
Fig. 2. The Profile of Selected Cases
(AEC) industry, referring to transportation projects, residential
projects, official projects, commercial projects, industrial projects,
and infrastructure projects.
4.1 Challenges in Smart Construction Management
The characteristics of the construction industry itself bring many
KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering 4363
Fig. 3. Challenges in Construction Site Management
challenges to site management. The common challenges are
identified from the selected database using text analysis. A total
of 92 items are obtained from the 98 real project cases. As shown
in Fig. 3, the significant hindrances which appeared over ten
times are as followed: time tight, potential safety hazard, lack of
4364 H. Xue et al.
traceability, mass overlapping jobs, high-quality requirement,
complicated construction management, labor disputes, multiple
stakeholders, poor coordination, potential mass risks, potential
safety hazards, frequent design alteration, large-scale, the
requirement for awards and competitions, high workload, the
requirement for lean construction, multivariate risk resources
and material wastes. Among these challenges, time tight and
potential safety hazards are the most significant hindrance in
construction site management, 35 and 33 times. Lack of traceability
(27), quality problems (18), mass overlapping jobs (17), complicated
construction management (16), labor dispute (15), multiple
stakeholders (15) are followed with the frequency of over 15
times. Other hindrances are also present around ten times, such
as poor coordination, potential mass risks, potential safety hazards,
frequent design alteration, the requirement for awards and
competitions, etc. These challenges are the main factors to
compel project managers to implement smart techniques in site
management (Štefanič and Stankovski, 2019; Ghansah et al.,
2020). However, some problems are absent for the significant
factors with less frequency, such as cost overrun (4), workforce
fluidity (3), and fierce competition (1).
4.2 Key Techniques for Smart Construction
Management
Text analysis is also used to identify the common technologies
widely implemented by project participating entities for classifying
the construction activities in the 98 real projects. A total of 38
techniques are retrieved from the 98 real projects (see Fig. 4),
including Building Information Modeling (BIM), Internet of
Things (IoT), virtual reality (VR), cloud computing, big data,
Geographic Information System (GIS), mobile internet and
sensors, etc. These technologies are selected based on their high
frequency in the cases, revealing its market utilization and
technology maturity, which help to improve the practical operability
and user acceptance of the framework proposed. As shown in
Fig. 4, BIM, as a 3D digital representation of buildings, are the
most commonly versatile techniques in smart construction
management. IoT and cloud computing are widely applied as
they can provide convenience for data collection and storage.
Fig. 4. Smart Techniques for Construction Site Management
Although with great potentials, emerging techniques such as
blockchain and 3D printing are less commonly used and their
practical values have not been fully validated in real projects.
Therefore, these emerging techniques are not included in the
proposed framework at this moment, but may be included in the
future work of this paper.
5. Development of the Framework for Data
Sharing in the Smart Construction
5.1 Module Identification
The required function modules in the framework are developed
to solve related challenges in site construction management
using text analysis and semi-structured interviews. Firstly, a total
of 58 activities are identified from the 98 real projects. The
primary modules are selected based on the its frequency and
relevance to practical activities. The primary modules refer to the
safety, quality, schedule, personnel, environment, on-site labor,
design, information, material, and equipment, with over 10 times
in these selected documents (see Fig. 5). Then, semi-structured
interviews are conducted to verify these modules. Experts from
Vanke, Longfor and China construction eighth engineering
division corp., Ltd. are interviewed to choose the most common
modules in their projects. The result agrees with the text analysis.
Thirdly, social network analysis is used to identify the modules
through node attributes, i.e., degree, betweenness, and closeness.
A social network is developed to depict the relations between
challenges and modules based on the “0-1” co-word matrix (See
Fig. 6). The value “1” means the challenge and module appear in
the same document, revealing there being relations between the
challenge and module. Otherwise, the value of the tie is 0. The
node attributes are obtained through social network analysis
using UCINT 6 software regarding degree, betweenness, and
closeness (see Table 1). NetDraw package of the UCINT 6
software is used to obtain the social network of challenges and
modules. The more the degree of nodes, the larger the circle size.
Finally, the primary function modules are selected as safety,
quality, schedule, personnel, environment, on-site labor, design,
information, material, and equipment for the framework of smart
Fig. 5. Activities for Construction Management
 KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering 4365

Table 1. Results of Node Attributes

Nodes Degree Betweenness Closeness
Safety management 33.00 366.29 420.03
Integrated management 42.00 970.19 402.00
Quality management 18.00 212.51 453.00
Personnel management 32.00 367.64 422.03
Document management 15.00 145.02 459.00
Schedule management 12.00 184.67 465.00
Material management 19.00 144.30 448.30
Monitoring platform 24.00 307.21 441.00
On-site monitoring 39.00 841.61 411.00
Environmental management 15.00 224.64 459.00

Fig. 6. Social Network of Challenges and Modules

construction management.
The degree of integrated management is the greatest among
nodes with a value of 42.00, revealing that achieving data integration
is the key objective of smart construction management, followed
by on-site monitoring, safety management, and personnel
management. It is illustrated that smart techniques are implemented
to improve resource integration, on-site monitoring, safety
management, and personnel management. Integrated management
and on-site monitoring have high betweenness with the value of
970.19 and 841.61, suggesting it can affect other modules (i.e.,
quality, safety, environment, and personnel) functions to a large
degree. As the closeness results show, the discrepancy between
different nodes is small, indicating that every module has a close
connection and the function of each module is vital for the smart
construction management framework. Schedule management,
document management, and environment management are effective
for achieving smart construction management with great betweenness
values of 465.00, 459.00, and 459.00, respectively.
Semi-structured interviews are conducted to verify the challenges
and the matching between challenges and smart techniques in
various modules. A total of 15 experts with rich experience in
smart construction management are selected to conduct the semi-

Fig. 7. On-Site Monitoring Module

4366 H. Xue et al.
Fig. 8. Personnel Management Module
structured interviews from Vanke company, Longfor company,
China construction eighth engineering division corp., Ltd and
China construction third engineering bureau group co., Ltd. The
questions consist of the what main problems are faced in the
construction projects? What smart technologies have you
implemented to deal with them? What modules of smart construction
management does your project adopt? What modules have your
company design to develop the smart construction management
system? All the experts stated that the function modules of smart
construction management framework should define the on-site
monitoring, personnel, safety, quality, material, environmental,
digital file, and supervision for multiple stakeholders to enhance
data sharing and standardized management.
According to the “0 − 1” co-word matrix, this study selects
the corresponding challenges, activities, and smart techniques in
each module through the relation value being “1”. Then, semi-
structured interviews are conducted to verify the connections
amongst the challenges, activities, and smart techniques. First,
questions are asked with the prior 15 experts to verify the results
of the “0 − 1” co-word matrix, such as what the main problems
are in the on-site monitoring/personnel/safety/quality material/
environmental/digital file/supervision; what your solutions are;
what the key activities are to solve these problems; what smart
techniques are adopted, etc. Finally, a matching between challenges
and smart techniques is discussed with the 15 experts by
comparing the “0 − 1” co-word matrix and the feedback from the
semi-structured interview (see Figs. 7 − 14). According to the
challenges, managers can select activities to solve. As shown in
the figures, the module towards smart construction management
focuses on implementing smart techniques to solve manpower,
machinery, material, technique, and environmental activities.
5.2 Layered Structure Design
The architecture of the smart construction framework is crafted
to possess functions of data collection, data transportation, data
storage, data analysis, data application, and presentation (Jia et
al., 2018; Bangaru et al., 2020; Jiang et al., 2020). These layers
can exchange and share information and develop smart construction
management services through dynamic decision-making capabilities.
Based on literature reviews, the architecture of the smart construction
management framework is designed into five layers: perception
layer, transmission layer, database, application layer, and presentation
layer based on data collection, transferring, storage and analysis,
application, and presentation.
5.2.1 Perception Layer
The perception layer is proposed to collect data and information
in the physical world by sensing techniques (Štefanič and Stankovski,
2019). Data collection is an automated process achieved by
various sensing technologies. Normally, the general contractor is
responsible for smart construction data collection, and shares the
data with relevant participants of the project (e.g., stakeholders
 KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering 4367

Fig. 9. Safety Management Module

Fig. 10. Quality Management Module

4368 H. Xue et al.

Fig. 11. Material Management Module

Fig. 12. Digital File Management Module

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Fig. 13. Environmental Management Module

Fig. 14. Supervision Module

4370 H. Xue et al.
and subcontractors) for further data analysis and applications.
Sensors are used to generate the electronic signal from a biological
system of the on-site project (Li et al., 2019; Martinez et al.,
2019). The perception layer is developed to achieve real-time
perception and acquisition of information about the worker,
machine, material, and environment.
Problems related to on-site workers occurred due to the high
mobility of workers, i.e., unsystematic sorting of comprehensive
information, chaotic contract filing, indefinite amount of wages,
and labor disputes, etc. (Fang et al., 2018a; Bangaru et al., 2020).
A real-name system is needed for the management of labor by
collecting workers’ identity information, work experience, and
training experience. An identity information database can be
established based on which the face recognition access control
and efficient attendance mechanism can be achieved for recording
and storing the workers’ attendance and operation information.
In addition, there are many dangerous areas and dangerous
sources on site. The workers and operators can wear intelligent
safety helmets for real-time positioning and warning, convenient
for identifying dangerous sources and reducing the occurrence of
safety accidents (Bangaru et al., 2020).
Safety emergencies of large machinery frequently occur,
leading to severe casualties of workers. Many hazard sources
exist for large machinery and equipment, such as excavators,
elevators, and tower cranes, which have high-security inspection
requirements (Fang et al., 2018a; Zhang et al., 2020b). This
framework’s machinery monitoring includes multi-role identification,
real-time operation monitoring, visualization, GPS positioning,
sensor self-test, remote monitoring, security alarm, etc. Through
face recognition and fingerprint recognition, the identities of
operators can be supervised and managed. The behavior of
operators can be monitored and analyzed in real-time to avoid
dangerous scenarios. Through remote monitoring and general
packet radio service (GPRS) wireless transmission function, the
running state of large machinery is monitored in real-time, and
its working hours, working efficiency, working position, stability
index, and other data are recorded so as to realize the function of
efficient maintenance.
The complexity of the site environment brings difficulties to
construction management. The domain monitoring module
provides a safe environment for construction by monitoring the
site environment, especially the dangerous construction areas.
The environment can also help control the noise and dust,
improve site workers’ physical and mental health, and promote
green construction.
The on-site monitoring of construction materials mainly focuses
on the entrance and consumption of materials. Identification of
material transportation vehicles and the recording of weighbridge is
necessary for material control. There are many dangerous sources in
on-site construction, so the whole construction site should be
divided into different areas according to a hazardous level.
Special safety measures are needed in dangerous zones, such as
bottomless foundation pits and steel bar stacking. Infrared
induction equipment should be set near the hazardous zones to
remind people of the danger when they are close.
5.2.2 Transportation Layer
The transportation layer is designed for data transportation or
communication, which is also viewed as a network. A
communication network is developed to achieve information
sharing on the basis of uniformly defined data interface protocols
and middleware technologies (Chou and Ngo, 2016). The collected
data can be remotely transmitted from sensing devices to the data
center for storage via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, RFID, etc. Communications
protocols (i.e., TCP/IP, NetBEUI, DHCP, FTP, etc.) are required
to standardize the data transmission format and mode. Through
the unified protocols and standard interfaces, sensing data can be
collected and transferred to the data center without data loss and
chaos. Previous studies found Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, RFID, Zigbee,
etc., are commonly used to achieve data sharing and exchange.
5.2.3 Database Layer
The database layer is a data center for data classification, storage,
and analysis. The database layer integrates data from different
sources, such as BIM, GIS, and IoT sensor networks. The basic
project database can be utilized to monitor the actual project by
collecting project data, such as schedule, quality, cost, personnel,
equipment, environment, hazardous sources, and other on-site
data (Heidari et al., 2014; Zhai et al., 2019). Meanwhile, the
decision-making database is proposed to conduct data analysis,
which included corresponding evaluation index systems, evaluation
methods, and evaluation models using AI techniques. Results of
data analysis are further transferred to the application layer for
making decisions.
5.2.4 Application Layer
The application layer is used to provide decision-making basis
for users. The data is transferred to the data center and corresponding
databases, and is provided for the users who have access rights
and requirements of these data. As for the smart construction
management framework, general contractors can make decisions
on the schedule, cost, quality, and material supply by analyzing
the data stored in the data center and database. Similarly, developers
and consulting companies also can carry out supervision and
management work for the on-site construction tasks based on the
analysis of the data stored in the data center and databases. The
application layer consists of two subsystems: the management
system at the project level and the management system at the
enterprise level. Enterprise managers and project managers can
conduct a comprehensive analysis, make decisions and generate
management plans according to the analysis results of the data
center and their own management experience. Changes in the
management scheme are recorded and tracked in the management
system for evaluation.
For the project management system, project managers can
make decisions or adjust strategies for managing the project
schedule, quality, cost, personnel, machinery, materials, and
environment. The adjustment strategies and the related performance

should be retained, which are used to compare with original designs
and performance to monitor the differences and select the better
management methods. In addition, the project management system
can set up a third-party supervision platform according to the actual
needs of the project management activities, which is convenient for
the employer, supervision organization, and relevant government
department to supervise the on-site project management activities.
The enterprise management system is used with enterprise
managers, helping to realize remote and real-time management.
This management system includes an intelligent monitoring
Fig. 15. Smart Construction Management Framework
KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering 4371
model and an intelligent evaluation model. The monitoring models
mainly focus on monitoring real projects situation related to cost,
schedule, document, etc. In contrast, evaluation models are usually
used to evaluate project performance and provide project managers
feedback. Smart techniques should be adopted to achieve data
sharing and collaborative management through standardized
interfaces or unified platforms for various projects.
5.2.5 Presentation Layer
The presentation layer is designed to provide a user interface
4372 H. Xue et al.

(UI) for data visualization, including user login, project information
(i.e., 3D models, project report, project chart), and mobile app.
The presentation layer is used to display the real-time operation
status of the project to users in a visual way. The user login
interface sets the user’s login account module, which can be
designed based on the user’s requirements. For example, project
managers can check all the relevant information of on-site
management. In contrast, an engineer can only check the project
information related to his work or closely related tasks. Enterprise
managers can access the knowledge of various projects. Hence,
several interfaces are designed to serve different users to check
project information.
5.3 Framework Development
According to the results, a general architecture of the smart
construction management framework is proposed with a five-
layer structure, including perception layer, transmission layer,
database, application layer, and presentation layer (see Fig. 15).
Project data is collected, transferred, analyzed, applied, and presented
in the proposed smart construction management framework for
achieving standardized management of project data. Based on
Section 5.1, modules such as safety, quality, schedule, personnel,
environment, on-site labor, design, information, material, and
equipment are selected as the primary functions to develop a
general smart construction management framework in its perception
layer, database layer, application layer and presentation layer. In
practice, the modules can be adjusted from the proposed modules to
solve the practical challenges by selecting the favorable techniques
and activities introduced in Section 5.1. For example, an access
control is necessary for the construction site to carry out dynamic
management of on-site workers for strengthening access threshold
control during the epidemic.
6. Case Study
6.1 Case Selection
To demonstrate the applicability of the proposed framework, a
case study is conducted by selecting a large hospital project. A
research team is formed to conduct the empirical research with
the help of the original project management team. From the
initial stage of this project, challenges related to this project were
identified, potential solutions were discussed with the project
management team to solve these problems, and the smart
construction management scheme was designed to verify the
proposed framework.
The project’s total floor area is 341,000 square meters, including
an elderly nursing center, an elderly chronic disease rehabilitation
center, a research center, an elderly apartment, a health management

Table 2. Challenges and Solutions in the Case

Challenges Solutions
Tight schedule Attendance and real-name management system, BIM collaboration
Mass overlapping jobs Personnel localization system, safety monitoring of machinery, BIM collaboration, edge monitor-
ing of pits and holes
Quality problems Quality management system, UAV for site monitoring
Multiple subcontractors ERP system, digital archiving system
Potential safety hazards CCTV, VR safety training, personnel localization system, edge monitoring of pits and holes
Requirement for awards and competitions Smart management visualization platform, on-site monitoring
High social concern requirement Environment management system, safety management system
Complexity of construction tasks BIM model
Complicated project structure BIM model, UAV-based site monitoring system
Information silo ERP system, BIM model
Complicated site environment CCTV, VR safety training, edge monitoring of pits and holes
highly specialized material inventory CCTV, unloading platform monitoring system
High workload Automatic weighing system, CCTV, UAV
Large groups of workforces Attendance system, real-name management system, VR safety training, dynamic inspection system
Multivariate risk resources CCTV
Poor process tracking Attendance and real-name management system, QR code application system
Lack of collaboration BIM model, ERP system
Workforce fluidity Attendance and real-name management system, VR safety training system
Cost overrun Smart construction management platform
Inadequate supervision of large machinery Safety monitoring of machinery, CCTV
Remote monitoring requirement Smart construction platform, CCTV, UAV
Trivial documents Digitalized office
Difficulties in general contract Smart construction management platform
High requirements in environmental control Dust monitoring system, noise monitoring system, tower crane spray system, barrier spray system, UAV
 KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering 4373

center, and an administration center. It is a large-scale project
with a construction period of 1096 days. Through the preliminary
analysis of the project, it is found that many problems may occur,
such as enormous scope, tight construction period, high coordination
requirements, complex construction technology, numerous crossing
tasks, high-quality requirement, potential mass risks, high safety
requirements, and requirement for awards and competitions.
Project managers tend to adopt smart techniques to achieve data
traceability and improve management efficiency.
applied to construction management. In the end, the performance
of the smart construction management framework is evaluated.
6.2.1 Challenge Identification
A total of 10 project managers are invited to identify the
challenges in this project at the primary stage and conduct the
corresponding solutions to address these challenges. Results of
the discussion are shown in Table 2, including the identified
challenges and related solutions.

6.2 Case Analysis 6.2.2 Proposed Framework Application

This paper applies empirical research and forms a research team
consisting of the authors and the project management team to
manage the construction. Through four rounds of expert interviews,
the authors discuss with the on-site managers about the smart
construction management scheme and smart construction
management framework of this project. First, the research group
conducts interviews with project management staff before the
start of the project to figure out the challenges faced by this
project and propose potential solutions. Then, the second interview
is conducted to offer a smart construction management scheme
based on the identified challenges and related solutions. The
management scheme includes the design of the smart construction
management platform and corresponding modules. Thirdly, the
smart construction management framework is developed and
Based on the challenges and potential solutions of this project,
the project management team proposed ten functional modules
for the smart construction management framework, including
quality management, BIM integrated model, remote monitoring
platform, on-site monitoring, safety management, personnel
management, material management, environmental management,
document management, and schedule management. The detailed
techniques are as followed: the ERP system, the digitalizing
office system, BIM models, CCTV, edge monitoring system for
pits and holes, automatic weighing system, unloading platform
monitoring system, UAV-based site monitoring system, attendance,
and real-name management system, VR safety training system,
QR code application system, machinery safety monitoring system,
dust and noise monitoring system, tower crane spray system, and

Table 3. Evaluation of the Smart Construction Management Framework

Expected Actual
Modules Reasons
performance performance
ERP system 5 3 The ERP systems are mainly used for statistical recording data
rather than real-time monitoring
Digitalizing office system 5 3 The efficiency of digitalizing office systems is low due to redun-
dant functions.
BIM models 5 5 /
Edge monitoring system for pits and holes 5 3 The difficulties of edge monitoring are enormous due to a large
number of pits and holes.
CCTV 5 4 Managers cannot keep their eyes on CCTV systems all the time.
Unloading platform monitoring system 4 3 Supervision of the monitoring system is inadequate.
Automatic weighing system 5 5 /
UAV-based site monitoring system 5 3 The frequency of flying the UAV is not enough due to the limited
workforce and equipment.
Attendance management system 5 5 /
Real-name management system 5 5 /
VR safety training system 3 4 The VR training system is not mature or efficient enough, and
there is a lack of safety awareness among workers.
QR code application system 4 3 The initiative of workers is flawed, and some older people are
unwilling to use this function.
Machinery safety monitoring system 4 4 /
Dust and noise monitoring system 4 4 /
Tower crane spray system 4 3 The tower crane spray system is easy to damage but challenging to
repair.
Barrier spray system 4 4 /
Smart construction management framework 5 3 Overall, extra construction costs are increased, and user profi-
ciency can be further improved.
4374 H. Xue et al.

barrier spray system. The IoT sensor network is also established to
collect personnel, machinery, material, techniques, and environment
data and transmit these data to the database center for storage and
analysis. The results are applied in the application layer for the
users, such as staff, project managers, and enterprise managers,
to monitor construction tasks in real-time.
In the empirical research, the former ten managers are invited
to evaluate the performance of the proposed smart construction
management framework and then optimize it. A comparison
between the expected performance (before implementing the
framework) and the actual performance (after implementing the
framework) is conducted. The feedback is obtained and shown in
Table 3, in which “5” refers to “very useful”, and “1” indicates
“totally useless”.
According to the evaluation results, there is a deviation
between the expected and actual performance in the selected
cases due to the emergence of uncontrollable risks in the project
processing. The exact reasons are explored through the semi-
structured interviews of the ten experts and the field observation
(shown in Table 3). The primary smart construction management
framework is optimized in the project process to improve its
effectiveness (shown in Table 4). The framework performance is

Table 4. Optimization of the Smart Construction Management Framework

Modules
ERP system
Digitalizing office system
BIM models
Edge monitoring system for pits and holes
CCTV
Unloading platform monitoring system
Automatic weighing system
UAV-based site monitoring system
Attendance management system
Real-name management system
VR safety training system
QR code application system
Machinery safety monitoring system
Dust and noise monitoring system
Tower crane spray system
Barrier spray system
Optimization
Improve the supplier database for purchasing management; develop task model; standardize duty
requirements; set up cost accounting module to fulfill the contract using big data
Optimize the online office process using the cloud platform
/
Install sensors at dangerous pits using IrDA and big data
Enable cloud-based video storage to improve traceability
Optimize plate recognition system and automatic weighing system using AI
/
Analyze the monitoring data using AI
/
/
Conduct regular VR training and online quiz
Conduct training for older people using Wi-Fi
/
/
Install sensors for the tower crane spray system for monitoring and train the crane operators accordingly
/

Table 5. Evaluation of the Optimized Smart Construction Management Framework

Performance before Performance after
Modules Expected performance
optimization optimization
ERP system 5 3 5
Digitalizing office system 5 3 4
BIM models 5 5 5
Edge monitoring system for pits and holes 5 3 4
CCTV 5 4 5
Unloading platform monitoring system 4 3 5
Automatic weighing system 5 5 5
UAV-based site monitoring system 5 3 4
Attendance management system 5 5 5
Real-name management system 5 5 5
VR safety training 3 4 5
QR code application system 4 3 4
Machinery safety monitoring system 4 4 4
Dust and noise monitoring system 4 4 4
Tower crane spray system 4 3 4
Barrier spray system 4 4 4
Smart construction management framework 5 3 4
 KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering 4375

improved after 3-month of implementing the optimized version
(see in Table 5). However, some functions still cannot meet the
original expectations, such as digitalizing office systems, edge
monitoring systems for pits and holes, and UAV-based site
monitoring systems. According to the expert’s explanations, the
reasons mainly are that smart techniques need to be improved to
meet user’s requirements. The users (i.e., managers and workers)
should be trained to apply smart techniques better.
6.2.3 Performance Evaluation
This study evaluated the performance of the proposed framework
by comparing a project before and after implementing the
framework of smart construction management. The pre-use
evaluation scores were provided by experienced experts combined
with the experience of previous similar projects, while the post-
use evaluation scores come from experts who adopt the designed
framework, as well as the statistical data of the selected projects.
Semi-structured interviews are conducted to evaluate the
performance of the proposed smart construction management
framework and the related data is also checked to verify further
the performance of the proposed smart construction management
framework. The performance is shown in Table 6. The interaction
frequency and efficiency between designer and general contractor is
improved via the framework and the design and on-site operation
works are optimized, such as shortening the process interval,
reducing the difficulty of operation. Through the dynamic monitoring
of the on-site operation process, and the information communication
between the design unit and the general contractor, the design
and on-site operation process are optimized (reducing process,
shortening process interval, reducing operation difficulty, etc.),
and the construction period is saved by 50 days. The construction
cost is saved by 4.2% because the resource utilization rate and
working efficiency of large equipment is improved. Besides, the
proposed smart construction framework improves the work
efficiency of on-site managers, timely screens out the quality
problems of concealed works, and improve the safety awareness
of on-site workers. According to the results, the smart construction
management framework has a positive effect on project performance.
7. Discussion
Numerous challenges are systematically identified from 98 real
projects through text analysis. According to the results of text
analysis, time tight, lack of traceability, mass overlapping jobs,

Table 6. Performance of Smart Site Management Framework

Modules
ERP system
Digitalizing office system
BIM model
Edge monitoring system for pits and holes
CCTV
Automatic weighing system
Unloading platform monitoring system
UAV-based site monitoring system
Attendance management system
Real-name management system
VR safety training system
QR code application system
Machinery safety monitoring system
Dust and noise monitoring system
Tower crane spray system
Barrier spray system
Smart construction management framework
Performance
Bidding efficiency was improved; the management of subcontractors was better; costs were reduced
Paperless was improved, document management and effective communication was also promoted, and
management efficiency was improved
Collisions were reduced; management efficiency was improved using collaborative management and
synchronous management
Safety accidents were reduced
Safety protection of construction site was strengthened; implementation of various safety elements was
monitored; loss of construction materials was reduced; management performance was improved;
potential safety hazards were eliminated
Mistakes made by the operators on site were corrected, and illegal behaviors of overweight stacking
materials on the unloading platform were basically eliminated.
Mistakes of site operators were timely reminded;
the illegal behaviors of overweight stacking materials were basically put an end
Implementation of project construction organization was improved; more basis for settle accounts was provided
The attendance rate of on-site managers and workers were improved; labor management was improved; labor
disputes were reduced to a large degree
The management efficiency of on-site management was improved; labor disputes were reduced
Safety awareness of field operators and managers was improved
Information transformation was improved in terms of personnel control, equipment maintenance, con-
struction process management; construction efficiency and management efficiency were improved;
information sharing and process specification were promoted
Potential safety hazards were reduced, such as illegal operation & maintenance, untimely repair, and
failure-prone safety devices; The overload phenomenon of tower cranes and the collision of tower
cranes in group operation were eliminated
Dust concentration was reduced
Labor efficiency was improved; water was saved
Labor efficiency was improved; water was saved
Construction cost was saved; the safety risk was reduced; schedule was shortened; work efficiency of on-site
managers was improved; data sharing between departments and stakeholders are promoted.
4376 H. Xue et al.
and high-quality requirements are the major factors promoting
the implementation of smart techniques. The finding suggests
that smart construction management can optimize the schedule,
improve the traceability of information, check the cross-operation
and identify the hidden quality problems through dynamics and
visualization. For example, the IoT-based real-time monitoring
can timely identify hazards and reduce the probability of dangers
considering the practical issues such as large-scale construction,
relatively dispersed field workers, and many safety hazards.
Besides, improving reputation and social attention are essential
motivations for project managers to implement smart techniques
because smart techniques become a critical bid indicator evaluation
and are practical tools to reveal company technical and management
capabilities. General contractors expect to improve the effectiveness
of on-site management through smart construction management
to attend some competitions and apply for various awards. The
reason is that smart techniques usually become an assessment
index when the project involves awards. However, as the leading
conventional problem, cost overrun is not the critical factor
affecting smart construction. The reason is that the informatization
level of cost management is higher than others, i.e., quality,
safety, environment, etc.
The necessary smart techniques are identified from the 98 real
projects for promoting smart construction management, including
BIM, IoT, VR, cloud computing, big data, GIS, mobile internet,
and sensors. These techniques mainly serve for data sharing
through data acquisition, transmission, and analysis. Different
types of sensors are used to measure the physical conditions such
as the position of workers and machinery, worker occupancy,
temperature, etc. Transmission techniques such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth,
Zigbee are utilized for data transfer. Further, techniques were
used to reveal real projects in terms of the BIM digital model. In
practice, the application layer is crucial for smart construction
management because workers and managers can check and
control on-site risk in real-time.
The primary function modules are proposed for the smart
construction management framework, including on-site monitoring,
personnel, safety, quality, material, digital file, environment, and
supervision. The finding suggests that data of projects should be
collected to eliminate information barriers through data sharing
and data consolidation in multiple function modules. The modules
are designed to detect and control personnel, machinery, materials,
techniques, and the environment. The design of each module is
based on the related challenges, smart techniques, and activities
of the construction projects. Similar to the literature results,
safety management, quality management, personnel management,
schedule management, and environmental management are the
most commonly essential modules for project management
(Golob et al., 2013; Lee et al., 2020).
A primary five-layer framework is proposed to achieve the
data sharing between stakeholders: perception, transmission,
database, application, and presentation layers, aligning with the
data flow (data acquisition, data transmission, data storage and
analysis, data application, and data visualization). The perception
layer is designed to collect real-time sensing data related to
personnel, machinery, material, techniques, and environment.
These data are further transferred to the database through the
transmission layer. The BIM models and basic project database
are used to represent physical projects in the database layer. For
example, a decision-making database is proposed to analyze
collected data to facilitate decision-making in the database layer.
The analyzing results are sent to the application layer to benefit
project managers and enterprise managers to make decisions
accordingly. Meanwhile, the findings are recorded in the platform or
system for archiving and tracking. Further, the performance can
be compared before and after executing a decision to validate the
efficiency of the proposed decision. Finally, the real-time status
of the project can be visualized in the presentation layer.
The performance of the proposed smart construction management
framework is evaluated using an actual project. The results suggest
that various function modules affect the project performance in
saving cost, improving quality, reducing risks, improving
productivity, improving management performance, reducing
resources, etc. Smart techniques are implemented to collect data
in real-time and reduce the potential risk ahead of schedule.
Compared with the traditional methods, smart techniques and
related function modules provide information tools to improve
the on-site management productivity, enhance data traceability,
and provide convenience for project managers, similar to
(Olawumi and Chan, 2021). Meanwhile, experts stated that these
function modules focus on realizing continuous process control
due to the project dynamics, which promotes project managers to
adjust function modules or smart techniques to solve the practical
challenges.
8. Conclusions
Smart construction provides an advanced approach for on-site
construction management. The challenges, key techniques, and
modules are systematically explored from the 98 real projects to
review the practical difficulties and corresponding methods to
design the functions of a framework for data sharing. A two-
pronged research design is adopted to develop a five-layer smart
construction management framework that offers a unified and
standardized outline of data sharing between stakeholders using
text analysis and semi-structured interviews. The unified framework
includes the perception, transmission, database, application, and
presentation layers based on data collection, transferring, storage
and analysis, application, and presentation. The proposed framework
is validated using the case study, suggesting it can significantly
improve the project performance.
This study provides a unified framework for multiple stakeholders
to share project data and achieve smart management by defining
the essential elements, functions, and layers. This study makes
two main theoretical contributions to smart construction
management: 1) A practical framework has been identified by
identifying the key elements and defining the essential layers
based on structural consistency. 2) Related studies on data

management and collaborative innovation from various industries
and stakeholders can be integrated considering our framework
for benchmarking.
This study provides a practical smart construction management
framework for multiple stakeholders to achieve data sharing
based on the challenges, key techniques, and function modules.
These three practical implications are followed: 1) the basic
modules and functions are identified for a unified framework to
achieve data sharing. 2) solutions can be adopted to resolve the
challenges from the network perspective using the challenge –
technique – module adjacency matrix. 3) the proposed five-layer
structure framework provides project managers with a fundamental
framework to design the functions and select the techniques
according to the challenges of their projects.
Acknowledgments
Our study thanks to the experts who took the time to complete
the semi-structured interview. This research was supported by
the Social Science Planning Project of Shandong Province (grant
number 21CSDJ33).
ORCID
Hong Xue https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5496-7458
Tongrui Zhang https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3156-8996
Qian Wang https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7238-622X
Shanshan Liu https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1382-2495
Keyu Chen https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5130-7799
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