Application of ICT in the Construction Industry

Application of ICT in the Construction Industry

Done by: Ida Marlina Mazlan

Student ID: 2009214222

This paper is designed to find out the adaptation of Communication and Information Technologies (ICT), in the Malaysia construction industry, which focuses on the E-construction services that are promoted by the Malaysia Government.

ICT refers to the information and communications technology or information and communication technology that is related to information technology (IT). However, ICT focuses on the role of communications in modern information technology, that would consists all technical means used to handle information and aid communication, including both computer and network hardware as well as necessary software. In short, ICT consists of IT as well as telephony, broadcast media, and all types of audio and video processing and transmission.

Emerging technologies offer new solutions to the construction industry, improving processes, enabling automation and effective decision-making mechanisms and changing current ways of work. The construction practices available now are commonly limited in applying ICT. Most practices would only benefit from IT product such as computer in most of the job site application, such as surveying application, equipment control, the installation and fabricating construction product. The results of a pilot survey carried out during the preparation of the IT Strategy Plan for the Construction Sector indicates that the most common tools used are Microsoft Office tools, followed by AutoCAD.

Malaysia is known as a fast developing country and having stable economic, technology and infrastructure growth. The Public Works Department director-general Datuk Seri Prof Judin Abdul Karim had once urged that the construction companies should adopt ICT to enhance their capabilities. He also added that there is an awareness regarding the benefits of ICT but these interests are often limited by the cost of investment needed to apply ICT.  There are also situations whereby when the company had already implemented ICT into their business, they could not afford to upgrade the system due to a higher cost. From here, it can be concluded that the concern has never been about how to implement ICT in a business; it is always about the cost.

Our construction industry is rather slowly adopting ICT technology especially when it comes to setting Stand-alone applications for bookkeeping and 2-dimensional drawings are GPS and internet technology are still only incidentally applied. The Malaysia Government first started introducing ICT to the public in the 6^th Malaysia Plan. Evidently, today, the public has benefited from ICT; one of the examples is the ability to pay bills online, from home. The construction industry is slowly benefiting from adopting ICT in their daily activities. Information and communication technology (ICT) has a significant role to play in transforming the project visions and ideas into physical reality, from facilitating the creation and modification of building plans to expediting the review and approval process. A strategic thrust for the construction industry, it will bring significant improvements to the industry, enhance its efficiency in several areas such as knowledge sharing, not to mention improve the industry's image.

The construction industry needs a single point of access to all information relevant to the industry that is able to meet the knowledge requirements of all the stakeholders in the industry - contractors, suppliers, clients/developers, regulatory authorities, professionals, academia, students, financiers and the general public. This is inline with the Government’s Knowledge Economy Master Plan, which was launched in 2002. Following these needs, a single point of access was created by CIDB E-Construct Services Sdn Bhd under the Malaysia Government; http://www.cidb.gov.my/v6/, whereby a communication tool is designed to meet the needs of the stakeholders and the public. It offers a range of information, which are mostly limited to members only, such as tender information, recent projects awarded, information on registered contractors, market information and articles on international projects, laws and technical issues, land and soil information, training programmes, etc. The website is designed to be easily accessible and user friendly to encourage users to fully utilize the information and services offered in the website.  This is similarly done in Singapore, with a website named Corenet. Facilities for soliciting customer's feedbacks, medium for exchange of ideas, experience and knowledge through structures discussion forums in specific areas are provided. Following this, currently, almost all municipal councils owns a website whereby all the submission requirements are visible and easily accessible. 

IT now offers more than just a communication tool as the construction industry becomes more technologically advanced. More opportunities are expected to arise to the local construction software industry in both public and private sectors. In the long run, IT is hoped to increase efficiency and productivity, and reduce cost.  The Government has made this easier for companies that wish to adapt ICT in their companies by having a well developed ICT infrastructure, the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) that companies can fully take advantage of. The promotions available is to encourage companies to utilize the use of technology aims to achieve higher adoption of technology in the construction community. Increase in demand will in turn create more opportunities for the local construction software industry.

The IT strategy plan has been designed by SIRIM which stresses on a formulation relating to a strategic plan in adopting ICT in order to heighten the productivity and competitiveness of the construction industry.  One of the initiatives being carried out is the online planning submission and building plan approval at the local authorities. Following this, the CIDB is currently developing an online tendering system, which aims to automate and enhance its tendering process using Internet and the Web as the communication medium.

In conclusion, it has been identified that the main cause of practices in the construction industry haven’t fully adopt ICT into their daily activities is because of the financial constraints to adopt, maintain and upgrade ICT. However, having said that, it is evident that the Malaysia Government is very eager in promoting the application of ICT in the construction industry with providing promotions; for example, having various tax-incentives, and providing a well-developed infrastructure, the MSC, to support the growth of the ICT industry.  It is now, up to the people related to the construction industries to take advantage of the services provided.

References:

Betts. M., (1999) Strategic Management of IT in Construction. Blackwell Science, UK.

Rogers, E.M. (1995) The Diffusion of Innovations (4th edition) Free Press, New York

Attila Dikbaş, Raimar Scherer (2004) eWork and eBusiness in architecture, engineering and construction: proceedings of the 5th European Conference on Product and Process Modelling in the Building and Construction Industry

Frank Harris, Ronald McCaffer, Francis Edum-Fotwe (2006) Modern construction management, Wiley-Blackwell

www.cidb.gov.my