Electronic Networking Technologies in Construction

Abstract

Electronic Networking Technologies (ENT) have already made inroads into the construction industry as communication and information retrieval tools. Even though considered as the laggard in adopting ENT services in construction project activities, many construction companies have entered the ENT age. This paper presents the state-of-the-art of services provided by ENT and the adoption of ENT by the construction industry. The variety of options available to construction companies entering the ENT era, research in academia on exploring the use of ENT for construction activities, and related commercial products are also discussed. However, to implement ENT services in construction project activities successfully, ENT services should be acceptable in the construction environment and the utility assessment of such services is needed. An assessment model to measure the utility of ENT services in construction project activities is then presented. The assessment will determine whether ENT services in construction industry can perform as intended and provide an optimal configuration of ENT services for supporting construction project activities.

Exploring the links between task-level automation usage and project satisfaction

“…Webb et al [10] explored the potential of 4D CAD as a tool for construction management. Abduh and Skibniewski [11] presented an assessment model to measure the utility of Electronic Networking Technologies (ENT) services in construction project activities. Tse and Choy [12] carried out an in-depth interview for studying the scope of use of IT in Hong Kong's construction industry.…”

IT usage in Alberta's building construction projects: Current status and challenges

“…The construction industry faces many challenges in the 21st century. It will be forced to change and to incorporate new advanced technologies into the construction process to gain a new competitive edge in the market [4]. The exact position of information technology (IT) in the construction industry is uncertain.…”

“…This uncertainty springs from the continually changing nature of the technology and the numerous failed attempts made by the construction industry to use that technology [5]. Despite an explosive growth in Internet use in the last decade in many areas of business and commerce, the construction industry has not kept pace to the same degree [4,6].…”

Information technology utilization to improve project team-owner relationship and project performance

“…Webb et al (2004) explored the potential of 4D CAD as a tool for construction management. Abduh and Skibniewski (2004) presented an assessment model to measure the utility of Electronic Networking Technologies (ENT) services in construction project activities. Tse and Choy (2005) carried out an in-depth interview for studying the scope of use of IT in Hong Kong's construction industry.…”