Sensing technology is an indispensable part of building digitalization, whether it is construction or operation and maintenance, whether it is the Internet of Things, robots, assembly, etc., or real-time data collection. Let's take a look at the current status of technology development in this area of sensing (device) and the determinants of its application in the construction field.
A review and review of the application of sensing technology in the construction industry
Sensing technology has shown great potential in providing safe, efficient, and high-quality processes for the construction industry. Most sensing technologies in the field of building research focus on building automation research in prefabrication, field operations, and logistics. However, most of these techniques are either not implemented in actual construction projects or are at a very early stage of practice. Even in areas of extensive research, such as radio frequency identification, ultra-wideband technology, and fiber optic sensing technology, the corresponding applications lag far behind.
This paper systematically investigates the current state of sensing technology in architecture from 187 articles and explores the reasons for the slow adoption of sensing technology from 69 articles. First, this paper identifies commonly used sensing technologies and examines their range of applications. Secondly, the contributions and limitations of sensing technology are elaborated to understand the current situation. Third, extract the key factors influencing the adoption of sensing technology from the experiences of building stakeholders. This article reviews the need for sensing technologies, their benefits and applicability, and the barriers to their adoption. Finally, the governance framework was identified as a research trend to promote the adoption of sensing technologies. This paper provides a theoretical basis for the development of a governance framework. It will facilitate the adoption of sensing technologies, as well as improve construction performance, including safety, productivity, and quality.
Keywords: Sensing Technology, Building Automation, Construction Performance, Radio Frequency Identification, Ultra-Wideband Technology, Fiber Optic Sensing Technology
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1. Introduction
2. Current status of building sensing technology
2.1. Methods and Materials
2.2. Application of sensing technology in enhancing building safety
2.2.1. Location-based sensing technologies
2.2.2. Vision-based sensing technology
2.2.3. Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) Technology
2.3. Application of sensing technology in occupational health and safety (OHS) enhancement
2.3.1. Physiological sensors
2.3.2. Integrated sensors in personal protective equipment (PPE).
2.4. Application of sensing technology in improving building quality
2.5. Application of sensing technology in improving building productivity
2.5.1. Location-based sensing technology increases productivity
2.5.2. Vision-based sensing technology increases productivity
3. Determinants of Sensing Technology Adoption
3.1. Construction Manager's Perception of Sensing Technology
3.1.1. Benefits of Adopting Sensing Technology
3.1.2. Barriers to the adoption of sensing technology
3.2. Acceptance of sensing technology by construction workers
4. Future research
5. Conclusion
[Continued from previous article]
3.2. Acceptance of sensing technology by construction workers
User acceptance and building trust are two key components of the adoption of Internet of Things (IoT)-based technologies in OHS. Engineers, operators, and assemblers are also consulted before adopting a new technology, although management support can influence employees' willingness to embrace the new system. The acceptance of IT, mobile computing devices, BIM, and wearable sensing technologies for construction workers has been studied. Previous studies, particularly on wearable technology, have reported that privacy, security, and confidentiality are major concerns for construction workers. If data is collected only during working hours, workers show a strong willingness to use wearable sensors. At the same time, the primary motivation for construction workers to embrace wearable sensing technology is to identify health risks and promote occupational safety. Thus, perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use are two of the concepts that dominate the literature on the acceptance of innovative technologies by construction workers.
Perceived usefulness refers to the degree to which the user trusts that the system will help them achieve better performance. It is determined by various factors such as social impact, job relevance, support from top management, and well-being at the organizational level. Perceived usefulness is considered a motivation for the use of emerging technologies such as BIM, scanner technology, and wearable sensing technology. In the context of architectural research, perceived usefulness has been a decisive factor in the adoption of technology. The perceived ease of use is another important factor, the degree to which users feel that they can use the system effortlessly and without difficulty. Perceived ease of use is often measured by training and technical sophistication. User satisfaction is more affected by perceived usefulness than perceived ease of use. Since the application of wearable sensors is fairly new, it is important to study the acceptance of construction workers. Choi et al. studied the factors influencing the adoption of wearable sensing technology by construction workers. They found that "perceived usefulness", "social impact", "perceived privacy risk", and "perceived ease of use" were the main factors determining worker acceptance.
4. Future research
The ultimate goal is to develop a governance framework that can then be referenced to facilitate decisions about the suitability of a particular sensing technology. Sensing technology shows great potential in building safety, productivity, and quality improvement. However, there is a lack of understanding of these advanced technologies in the construction industry. There is very little information about the sensing technology in the actual project. In addition, the adopted process demonstrates the key elements of stakeholder and worker input. This article reviews the factors influencing the adoption and implementation of digital technologies. Future research will identify, extract, supplement, and rank the factors in this review to identify important factors for the adoption of sensing technologies. Recognizing the benefits of sensing technology implementation is critical to addressing resistance in the construction industry and promoting innovative sensing technologies.
As a result, the construction industry needs a governance framework with a core structure that describes the adoption process from proposal to evaluation and approval. In the proposal, obstacles and benefits work in opposite directions, while also taking into account the risks of introducing new equipment into existing systems. When the benefits, obstacles, and all relevant considerations are combined to reach a conclusion that the new sensing technology is suitable, the proposal will proceed to the detailed evaluation and approval phase. In the evaluation process, consideration should be given to the suitability of the proposed sensing technology, the cost of the entire life cycle, and human-related factors. The framework will assist in the implementation of sensing technology during construction. In the case study of the governance framework, an overall cost-benefit analysis of these technologies at the construction site needs to be considered to incentivize the adoption of these technologies by stakeholders.
5. Conclusion
This article explores the application of sensing technology and the rationale behind its slow adoption. Compared to previous retrospectives, this retrospective is not limited to a specific set of techniques. The focus is on sensing technologies that effectively improve construction performance, such as safety, productivity, and quality. Eight popular sensing technologies were selected, including GPS, RFID, UWB, FOS, pressure sensing, temperature sensing, visual sensing, and 3D scanning. Its advantages, disadvantages and its application in architecture are reviewed. Even the most popular technologies, such as GPS and visual sensing, have not been fully adopted. Although sensing technologies have been explored academically and proven to have positive potential, they still lack adoption in real-world construction projects.
This review is not limited to the factors influencing the adoption of sensing technology, but also covers the factors that influence the acceptance of sensing technology by construction workers. At the same time, all relevant factors reported in the literature regarding the adoption of almost all types of innovative digital technologies, such as IT and BIM, are also covered. In future research, it is necessary to isolate the relevant influencing factors that are unique to sensing technology and the common factors between sensing technology and other digital technologies. In addition, the perspectives of stakeholders both inside and outside the construction industry should be covered.
It was concluded that the capital cost of sensing technology implementation was the biggest obstacle to its adoption. There are also technical barriers, security issues, and ethical issues involved in the decision-making process. In addition to the financial constraints and challenges associated with skills acquisition, another barrier relates to policymakers or end-users who are resistant to change and lack awareness of the benefits of proposed new technologies. This barrier can be reduced by raising awareness of the benefits and effectiveness of anticipatory sensing technologies. These factors form the basis of a governance framework that can be referenced in order to facilitate decisions on the suitability of a particular sensing technology. The safety, productivity, and quality performance of the construction process will benefit from the adoption of sensing technology, and the governance framework will facilitate a more straightforward adoption process.
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The sixteenth day of the lunar month
2024.1.26
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