MOBILE COMMUNICATION AT CONSTRUCTION SITE

MOBILE COMMUNICATION AT CONSTRUCTION SITE SHEMALA A/P SUPPAIAH UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MALAYSIA

PSZ 19:16 (Pind. 1/97) UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MALAYSIA

BORANG PENGESAHAN STATUS TESIS

JUDUL: ____________________________________________________________________

2005 / 2006

SESI PENGAJIAN : ___________________

SHEMALA A/P SUPPAIAH Saya : ___________________________________________________________________

(HURUF BESAR)

mengaku membenarkan tesis (PSM/Sarjana/Doktor Falsafah)* ini disimpan di Perpustakaan Universiti Teknologi Malaysia dengan syarat-syarat kegunaan seperti berikut:

1. Tesis adalah hakmilik Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.

2. Perpustakaan Universiti Teknologi Malaysia dibenarkan membuat salinan untuk tujuan pengajian sahaja.

3. Perpustakaan dibenarkan membuat salinan tesis ini sebagai bahan pertukaran antara institusi pengajian tinggi.

Sila tandakan (9) (Mengandungi maklumat yang berdarjah keselamatan atau SULIT kepentingan Malaysia seperti yang termaktub di dalam AKTA RAHSIA RASMI 1972)
TERHAD (Mengandungi maklumat TERHAD yang telah ditentukan
oleh organisasi/badan di mana penyelidikan dijalankan) TIDAK TERHAD

9 Disahkan oleh

________________________________ ________________________________

(TANDATANGAN PENULIS) (TANDATANGAN PENYELIA) Alamat tetap: NO.25, JALAN SPEKTRUM U16/13, ___________________________________ DR.ARHAM ABDULLAH ____________________________________ TAMAN BUKIT SUBANG, ___________________________________ ____________________________________ Nama Penyelia

40160 SHAH ALAM, SELANGOR. Tarikh: Tarikh: CATATAN: * Potong yang tidak berkenaan.

Jika tesis ini SULIT atau TERHAD, sila lampirkan surat daripada pihak berkuasa/organisasi berkenaan dengan menyatakan sekali sebab dan tempoh tesis ini perlu dikelaskan sebagai SULIT atau TERHAD. Tesis dimaksudkan sebagai tesis bagi Ijazah Doktor Falsafah dan Sarjana

secara penyelidikan, atau disertai bagi pengajian secara kerja kursus dan

penyelidikan atau Laporan Projek Sarjana Muda (PSM)

“I hereby declare that I have read this thesis and in my opinion this thesis is sufficient in terms of scope and quality for the award of the degree of Bachelor of Civil Engineering”

Signature:

I Name of Supervisor: DR. ARHAM ABDULLAH

I Date: ………………………... MOBILE COMMUNICATION AT CONSTRUCTION SITE SHEMALA A/P SUPPAIAH

A thesis submitted in fulfillment of the Requirements for the award of the degree of Bachelor of Civil Engineering

Faculty of Civil Engineering Universiti Teknologi Malaysia I declare that this thesis entitle “Mobile Communication At Construction Site” is the result of my own research except as cited in the references. The thesis has not been accepted for any degree and is not concurrently submitted in candidature of any other degree.

Signature: i Name: SHEMALA A/P SUPPAIAH ……. i… Date: ……………………………... i..

To my beloved mother, Madam Selvarani for her unconditional love, care and support in all stages of my life. To my brothers and friends for giving me the motivation and support to excel in my studies and life.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Hence, I would like to thank to the people who contributed in so many ways to the creation of this thesis.

I would like to express my deeply appreciation to my Supervisor, Dr. Arham Abdullah for his guidance and assistance which have contributed to the success of this project. His knowledge in this field has been a constant source of inspiration throughout the study.

I would like to thank my course mates and friends for their guidance and support in doing this thesis. Last but not least, I would like to dedicate this thesis to my beloved family for their guidance.

ABSTRAK

Satu masalah yang paling paling ketara di dalam industri pembinaan ialah penyebaran dan penyampaian maklumat antara tapak binaan dan pejabat di luar kawasan tapak binaan. Oleh yang demikian, penggunaan teknologi maklumat dapat memudahkan kerja-kerja dan membantu dalam menghubungkan di antara tapak binaan dan pejabat di luar tapak. Sejak kebelakangan ini, teknologi maklumat memberikan satu pendedahan yang baru dalam dunia informasi yang moden. Kegunaan teknologi maklumat dan informasi di tapak bina dapat menghubungkan data dan segala maklumat dengan cepat untuk membantu dalam pengurusan projek, meningkatkan hala informasi dan perkembangan kontrak, dan mengurangkan kos pemulihan. Projek ini membincangkan tentang aplikasi teknologi maklumat di tapak binaan, masalah yang dihadapi, kegunaannya dan cadangan untuk penggunaan di masa hadapan. Objektif-objektif utama projek ini ialah untuk mengenalpasti penggunaan teknologi maklumat di dalam beberapa aspek di dalam proses binaan, menyelidik kemungkinan penggunaan ‘3G’ di dalam penyebaran maklumat di dalam projek binaan dan akhirnya mengenalpasti tahap kesediaan untuk mengaplikasi penggunaan teknologi maklumat di tapak bina. Maklumat-maklumat tentang teknologi maklumat dan informasi di tapak bina diperolehi melalui kajian-kajian kes. Kaedah soal-selidik juga telah dijalankan untuk mengetahui tahap kesediaan dalam mengaplikasi teknologi maklumat dan informasi di tapak binaan. Melalui kajian ini, boleh disimpulkan bahawa teknologi maklumat boleh digunakan di dalam pelbagai aspek di tapak binaan, penggunaan ‘3G’adalah penting di dalam penyebaran maklumat dan kebanyakan kontraktor sedia untuk mengaplikasi penggunaan teknologi maklumat di masa hadapan.

ABSTRACT

Sending data to and from the construction site to an off-site office is one of the more problematic areas in information technology for construction automation, and particularly for construction defect management. Therefore, using mobile and wireless computing technologies could help to facilitate remote telecollaboration between a construction site and off-site engineering office. Nowadays, mobile technologies bring new potential to modern information society. The use of mobile computing at construction site allows for easy access and manipulation of timely construction data to assist in the management of the project, enhancing information flow throughout the site, reducing remedial costs and improving contract performance. This project discusses the implementation of the mobile computing on construction sites, difficulties encountered, benefits and recommendations for further implementation. The main objectives of this study are to identify the key application areas of mobile computing at construction process, examine the possibilities for using 3G services for data transmission in a construction project and to investigate the readiness of implementing mobile computing at construction site. Information about mobile computing communication at construction site is gathered through literature study. Questionnaire survey was carried out to know the readiness of contractors to implement mobile computing in construction industry. From the survey done, can conclude that mobile computing services and devices can be used and applied in a construction process, 3G services are possible for data transmission in construction project and most of the contractors are ready to implement mobile computing in the future.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER TITLE PAGE

TITLE i ADMISSION ii

DEDICATION iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT iv

ABSTRAK v ABSTRACT vi TABLE OF CONTENTS vii LIST OF TABLES x LIST OF FIGURES xi LIST OF SYMBOLS xiii LIST OF APPENDIXES xiv CHAPTER

1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

1.2 Justification of the Study or Research

1.3 Aim and Objectives

1.4 Scope of the Study

1.5 Outcome of the Study

1.6 Methodology

CHAPTER

2 LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Introduction

2.2 Mobile Computing Developments in the

9 Construction Industry

2.3 Key Application Areas 10

2.3.1 Project Management and Design

11 Information

2.3.2 Cost Estimation and Valuation

2.3.3 Knowledge Management

2.3.4 Construction Task Automation 14

2.3.5 Project Status Monitoring

2.4 Forms of Mobile Information Technology

2.5 Future Trends

2.6 Mobile Communications Challenges in

18 Construction

2.7 Conclusion

19 CHAPTER 3 METHODOLOGY

3.1 Introduction

3.2 Problem Identification 21

3.3 Literature Study

3.4 Questionnaire Survey

3.5 Analysis of Data Collection

3.6 Summary

25 CHAPTER

4 ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION

4.1 Introduction

4.2 Data Collection 27

4.4 Background of Respondents

4.5 Investigate the Readiness of Implementing

30 Mobile Computing at Construction Site

4.5.1

31 Mobile Computing Services Used in Company

4.5.2

34 Mobile Computing Devices Used At Construction Site

4.6 Effectiveness of Mobile Computing

4.7 Investigate the Non-Readiness of Contractors

38 Implementing Mobile Computing at Construction Site

4.7.1

40 Implementing Mobile Computing in Future

4.7.2 Aware on

3G Possibilities

4.8 Level of the Usage and Importance in Mobile

42 Computing

4.9 Level of Challenges Faced by the Construction

44 Team Members

4.10

46 Suggestions

CHAPTER

5 CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS

5.1 Conclusion

5.2 Suggestion

49 REFERENCES

50 Appendix A

LIST OF TABLES TABLE NO. TITLE PAGE

2.1 Comparison of 3G and 4G wireless systems

3.1 Classification of Likert Scale

4.1 Types of mobile computing services in the companies

4.2 Types of mobile computing devices supported by

36 different companies at construction site

4.3 Level of the usage and importance in using mobile

43 computing at construction site in Malaysia

4.4 Level of challenges faced by construction team members

LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE NO. TITLE PAGE

4.2 Different classes of respondents according to Pusat

4.8 The total numbers of contractors according to reasons

38 effective and beneficial

4.7 Percentages of contractors agree that mobile computing

37 at site according to the number of companies

4.6 Percentages of mobile computing devices popularly used

33 construction site

4.5 Total percentage of services used by companies at

31 computing at construction site

4.4 Percentage of companies supporting mobile

30 of a contractor’s company

4.3 Number of respondents from different background

29 Khidmat Kontraktor(PKK)

1.1 Flow chart of research methodology

4.1 Respond rate of questionnaires in percentage

3.1 Relative Index values

2.4 Third generation wireless services

2.3 Basic data flow diagram for a construction process

10 construction industry

2.2 Key application areas of mobile computing in

2.1 Concept of mobile computing

40 for not using mobile computing devices

4.9 The percentages of contractors to consider in implementing

41 mobile computing in future

4.10 The percentages of contractors aware on the possibilities

42 of using 3G services for data transmission for a construction project

4.11 Index relative for each construction processes

44 involved in a project

4.12 Index relative for each challenges faced by construction

46 team members

LIST OF SYMBOLS

GSM - Global System for Mobile Communications GPRS - General Packet Radio Service LAN - Local Area Network WAN - Wide Area Network PAN - Personal Area Network WPAN - Wireless Personal Area Network Bluetooth - Short range radio technology PDA - Personal Digital Assistant WAP - Wireless Application Protocol

LIST OF APPENDIXES

A Questionnaire survey form

MOBILE COMMUNICATION AT CONSTRUCTION SITE