Applications of Smart Technologies in Construction Project Management

Abstract

The construction industry has been influenced considerably by smart technologies in the last decade, ushered in by the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Smart technologies display the potential to improve the performance of the construction industry. Due to the increasingly complex projects and urgent labor shortage caused by the pandemic, it is important for the industry to have a holistic understanding of the specific applications of smart technologies in construction project management. However, there is limited research on the applications of smart technologies with a focus on project management knowledge areas. Therefore, this paper aims to (1) investigate the applications of smart technologies on project time, cost, and quality management and identify the top influential applications; and (2) identify whether the organizations’ profiles influence project managers’ perceptions of smart technologies. In order to achieve these objectives, a literature review was first conducted to establish a comprehensive list of applications. Then, a survey questionnaire was designed and disseminated to investigate the most influential applications. Finally, a post interview was conducted to validate the survey results. The study identified 24 applications of cyber-physical systems, big data, artificial intelligence, and smart robotics on project time, cost, and quality management, and found that the most influential applications of smart technologies are data collection for progress tracking, real-time monitoring, and schedule estimation. Furthermore, in most cases, organizations with different sizes and years of experience make no difference in respondents’ perceived impact of applications. The findings from this study contribute to the Project Management Body of Knowledge by informing how smart technologies can improve project management processes and performance. In addition, the findings also provide industry practitioners with a comprehensive guide regarding the specific applications of the selected smart technologies in construction project management, which can serve as a steppingstone to facilitate the digital transformation of the construction industry.