Digitalization In Building Construction: The Case Of Construction Projects In Jimma And Adama Town

Abstract

Digitization is an inevitable process for the prosperity of companies. In the construction industry, the pace of entry is low for adaption technologies. Digitalization depends on many factors, as well as on the level of development of information and communication technologies. For these reasons this study aimed to Investigation Digitalization Aspects in Construction Industries. This was followed by a questionnaire survey for 40 building construction projects and semi-structured expert interviews to ascertain prevailing status of these concepts in construction projects of in Jimma and Adama town. Data was analyzed using statistical and content analysis, respectively. The researcher was use purposive sampling method to collect data. And qualitative methods based on content analysis of interview data of expertise from construction projects, as well as quantitative method on account of exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis of statistical data using Suitable descriptive statistical tools was utilized to analyze the data in (SPSS). The research result indicated that the current methods for implementation of digitalization is mainly through “Using Computer-Aided Design (CAD)” with 0.9467 is ranked as the first, which indicates that the construction industry boldly use digitalization for designing of the project. “Microsoft project,” with 0.9167 was ranked as 2nd following with “Using System Application and product in data processing (SAP),” with 0.8533 was ranked as the 3rd . Having those practice the stages for application of digitalization with the relative importance indexes are “During Implementation of Designing” 0.9067 was ranked the first in this collection, “During Implementation of planning,” with 0.7467 was ranked 2nd and “For Logistics (During Flow of goods, storage and transportation),” was with 0.6933 was ranked the 3rd with factors Enhanced skills required, High cost of implementation and Technology comes with operational change, organizational and process changes with relative important index value 0.9033, 0.8300, 0.7233 respectively ranked from first factor up to third. So to have successful implementation the factors must manage in good way by Provide 3Sufficiently Modern Computing Devices with RII=0.9200, providing training with RII=0.8667 and Continuous Support (Technical Capabilities and Human Efforts) with RII=0.7967 for the participant in the construction industry.Digitalization in the construction of projects in the study area supposed to be practiced to some extent in different stages of construction projects. Accordingly, the speed of construction progress and productivity of the construction activities found to be low due to the lack of proper digitalization. Therefore, provision of sufficient resources and subsequent trainings need to be provided to improve digitalization in construction projects.