Efficiency of Internet of Things (IoT)-Enabled Systems in Reducing Construction Cost

Construction is one of the least digitalized industries because of its labour intensive and fragmented nature. Although, the construction industry is improving, but still encounters obstacles such as rising construction costs and delays in the timely completion of projects. The Internet of Things (IoT) is widely transforming the construction industry, as it is merging our physical and digital worlds. It has a huge potential to transform the construction industry through various applications. In this study, the key cost contributing factors of site management during execution phase, distribution of information and communication, project and contract management, labour management, mmachinery and material management, design and documentation management, environment, health and safety management are identified based on the intensive survey done with experienced built environment professionals at the initial phase. Later, the detail interviews were conducted to affirm the effectiveness of IoT enabled systems such as application of mobile computing technology for enhanced site management, use of Unmanned Ariel Vehicles (UAVs) for progress monitoring and site safety, ddeployment of sensors technology for fleet and material management, installation of Radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology for safety management, use of IoT based project management software for effective construction management.