Adoption of the big data concept in the construction industry

Abstract

The Big Data (BD) boom has increased exponentially in recent years, reaching even the most traditional industries. In construction, the migration towards sustainability and new technologies that produce user and environmentally friendly projects is now a requirement in almost every country. Meanwhile, BD technology has become a possible solution to the challenges that the industry faces nowadays with some authors naming this technology as the future of construction. However, despite this reception, studies that explain in detail the factors that favour the adoption of BD are scarce or non-existent and the adoption itself has proven to be a challenge, especially in industries such as construction that are not technology driven. Understanding the critical factors that influence BD adoption has become the focus of many industries that seek to exploit the benefits offered by this technology. Therefore, the aim of this research is to explore the adoption of BD in the construction industry. First, the awareness of the Dominican Republic’s construction industry on the BD concept, its characteristics, and benefits was assessed. The key drivers, strategies, and challenges regarding the adoption of BD in the industry were also investigated. A qualitative method was selected to identify these strategies due to the lack of maturity and the scarcity of sources that address the subject. Semi-structured interviews were selected as the data collection tool, and content and thematic analysis were chosen to acquire an in-depth knowledge of the interviews. Endsley’s model of situational awareness was adapted to provide a better understanding of the industry’s awareness of BD. The sampling technique adopted was non-probabilistic due to some of the specific criteria identified during the secondary data collection process. In the data collection process, 21 interviews were conducted with representatives of 19 organisations with an undoubted presence in the construction market of the Dominican Republic. The results showed that there is an overall basic level of awareness about BD in the construction industry of the Dominican Republic. Moreover, nine key drivers for BD adoption were identified and grouped into internal and external drivers. Additionally, four main strategies or central policies for adopting the technology and seven main challenges were identified. These findings were used to develop an organisation readiness assessment tool and a strategic framework for BD adoption in the construction industry. This study concluded that new technologies such as Big Data (BD) require a change in the industry's culture and the adoption of digital approaches to be fully implemented. The findings of this research provide valuable insights that can help the construction industry adopt BD technology, thus accessing the short and long-term benefits that this technology offers.