Applications and Challenges of Internet of Things (IoT) in Construction: a Review of Contractor’s Perspective

Yap, Guan Zhuen (2021) Applications and Challenges of Internet of Things (IoT) in Construction: a Review of Contractor’s Perspective. Final Year Project (Bachelor), Tunku Abdul Rahman University College.

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Abstract

This study discusses the IoT applications available in the construction industry. The study seeks to discover the applications of IoT technology in construction industry, as well as the benefits and challenges faced in adopting such technology. The applications, usages, advantages, and challenges faced during the implementation of IoT technology were identified through literature review and discussed in detail in the study. The main source of secondary data used in the literature review are past research, journal articles, e-books, government statistic and some reliable websites. To ensure the validity, relevancy, and reliability of the secondary data, only information published within six years period, starting from year 2014 to 2020 were utilised in this study. A total of 55 number building contractors were selected from each and every CIDB Grade using systematic random method, through the lists of contractor firm obtained from the CIDB official website. Contractors are selected, at a regular skip interval of 2 contractors, for each and every Grade of contractor, totalling to 385 building contractors. As the online questionnaire survey forms were sent through email, only contractors with valid email address will be selected as the respondents of the study. Closed-ended questions and contingency questions were asked in the questionnaire survey. Dichotomous scale, category scale and 5-points Likert scale were provided in the questionnaire for selection. The primary data collected were tabulated and analysed using SPSS software. The methods adopted for data analysis are validity test, reliability test, frequency analysis, descriptive analysis, and Kruskal Wallis H test. Result of the analysis were tabulated in table form and discussed in detail in the study. The Kruskal Wallis H test conducted suggested that there was no statistically significant difference between CIDB Grade of contractors and the IoT adoption rate in the construction industry, the IoT adoption rate among contractors does not increase according to their CIDB Grade. This study discovered that the most common usage of IoT applications among contractors are (1) to obtain visual data through monitoring sensors, (2) to prevent theft of construction resources on site and to locate and track down movement of construction materials through RFID technology, and (3) to monitor construction site condition through monitoring sensors. The most agreed benefits of adopting IoT technology in construction discovered in this study are (1) able to enhance the security control on site, (2) able to provide an easier and safer structural health monitoring process, and (3) able to enhance the performance of Building Information Modelling. The dominant challenge among building contractors in the adoption of IoT technology in construction discovered in this study are (1) increase the financial burden of the organisation, (2) high installation cost, (3) high operating cost, and (4) high maintenance cost. The findings of the study provide a better understanding to Malaysian building contractor and other building consultants on the IoT technology in construction industry. The study is able to assist building contractors in making a better decision such as the selection of suitable IoT technologies to be adopted, understand how these applications benefits them and allow them to get well prepared for the challenges they would probably face in such adoption.