Sustainability by Information and Communication Technology: A paradigm shift for construction projects in Iran

doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.08.200

Journal of Cleaner Production

Volume 168, 1 December 2017, Pages 1-13

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.08.200 Get rights and content

Highlights

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A conceptual model to show the impacts of ICT on accommodating sustainability on construction projects was developed.
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The model was analyzed using PLS-SEM with data collected from Iran.
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The validated model quantifies the associations between ICT, project management practices and accommodation of sustainability on construction projects.

Abstract

Anecdotal evidence refers to impacts of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as an enabler of sustainable delivery of construction projects. This study aims to explore such claims through reflecting on and sharing the experiences of project managers in a developing country. It used a ‘sequential exploratory design’ (qual→Quan) mixed method approach containing sixteen semi-structured interviews followed by Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) analysis of 101 survey questionnaires conducted in Iran using a hierarchical component model. The findings are presented as a model that quantifies the impacts of ICT on sustainability in delivering construction projects. Results show that process optimization, media substitution, and externalization of control are the means through which sustainability by ICT could be achieved. Having Iran, as the context, the study contributes to the field in two ways. First, the potential to use ICT as a vehicle to facilitate sustainable delivery of construction projects is quantitatively assessed. Second, several ICT-based solutions are proposed to assist in smoothing this transition.

Introduction

There is an enormous demand for infrastructure in Iran in order to sustain an accelerated economic growth. However, this comes at a very high cost to the environment (Banihashemi et al., 2017). Developing countries (including Iran) assign a high priority to economic development than sustainable development during delivery of construction projects (Zhang et al., 2014, Gan et al., 2015). Nevertheless, Iran has paid particular attention to adopting and implementing Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to enhance the productivity of construction activities (Alaghbandrad et al., 2012).

The use of ICT has resulted in cost savings, improved communication within project teams, and effective decision-making on construction projects (Sutrisna and Kumaraswamy, 2015). ICT has also resulted in process improvement, automation of project tasks, reduction of waste, and defects avoidance during construction operations (Bowden et al., 2006). Furthermore, researchers have claimed that ICT can help improve sustainability outcomes of projects (Hilty et al., 2011). This premise has triggered a new research direction known as “Sustainability by Information and Communication Technology” (SICT). SICT focuses on creating, enabling and facilitating production and consumption in a sustainable manner by means of ICT (Hilty and Aebischer, 2015) and represents an alternative means for construction projects to embrace sustainability (Inyim et al., 2014). This assertion seems a workable way of introducing sustainability on construction projects. However very little is known about the methods through which this could be achieved (Ikediashi and Ogwueleka, 2016, Diaz-Sarachaga et al., 2017). In essence, research on the interface between sustainability and delivery of construction projects is very limited (Martens and Carvalho, 2016, Martens and Carvalho, 2016). Particularly, no explicit body of knowledge from the Iranian context has been developed to investigate the impacts of ICT on sustainable delivery of construction projects (Banihashemi et al., 2017).

This study intends to fill these gaps in the body of knowledge. The paper is organized as follows. First, a literature review is presented to introduce the interface between ICT and sustainability, focusing mainly on their links to delivery of construction projects. This is followed by justification of the methods used to conduct the study. Consequently, the results of the study are demonstrated with a discussion followed by outlining the implications for research and practice.

Section snippets

ICT in the construction industry

ICT in the construction industry is defined as “the application of decision support tools, which uses electronic machines and programs for processing, storage, analysis, control, transfer and presentation of construction information during the whole life cycle of a construction project” (El-Ghandour and Al-Hussein, 2004, p. 85). In operational terms, ICT refers to the technologies engaged in collecting, transportation, retrieval, storage, presentation, visualization and conversion of

Sustainability and construction projects

In recent years, developing countries such as Iran have invested substantial amounts of money on construction activities, triggered by rapid economic growth and urbanization (Ghoddousi and Hosseini, 2012, Namini et al., 2013, Gan et al., 2015). To minimize the detrimental impacts of such massive upsurge of construction activities, these countries are promoting sustainable delivery of projects (Ugwu and Haupt, 2007, Shi et al., 2014). Sustainable delivery entails integrating principles of

Sustainability by Information and Communication Technology (SICT)

ICT is believed to have great potentials for supporting sustainable development on any production or services activity (Hilty et al., 2006, Klimova et al., 2016, Salahuddin et al., 2016). Hack and Berg (2014) asserted that ICT facilitates access to transparent information, enhances accountability, increases accuracy of data, enables automation and integration of activities, elevates the level of agility, and generates insights for better decision-making and optimization of processes. To link

The conceptual model of the study

Despite construction's uniqueness, use of principles of production management to improve project delivery has been promoted by many researchers in the past (Koskela, 1997). Particularly, strategies developed in production management are found to be very effective in making construction projects sustainable (Lapinski et al., 2006, Sacks et al., 2010). With this in mind, a conceptual model as illustrated in Fig. 1, informed by the production management theories, was considered to be well-suited

Research methods

The aim of this study is to examine the scope and assumptions surrounding the mediator role of ICT on sustainable delivery of construction projects. Among available methods, Case Study is likely to provide rigorous explanations to theorize various aspects of a phenomenon. However, it is not capable of providing generalizable evidence for a theory at hand (Yin, 2013). As asserted by Yin (2013, p. 327), where a study has “an overarching goal of establishing or estimating numeric relationships,

Findings

The findings of the study are presented according to the research design as illustrated in Fig. 2.

Discussion of the findings

The findings underscore the necessity of focusing on ICT as a facilitator for sustainable delivery of construction projects in Iran. This is further apparent due to the fact that the association between use of ICT and enhancement of sustainability is U-shaped (Añón Higón et al., 2017). The use of ICT in Iran is at the beginning of the U-curve, meaning a lot to be done to reach the turning point. Use of ICT at such low levels has negative impacts on sustainability (such as electronic waste,

Conclusion

Information and Communication Technology has the capacity to mediate the incorporation of sustainability into project processes called “Sustainability by Information and Communication Technology” (SICT). While the concept is new and promising, very little empirical work has been done on the avenues through which this could be achieved for construction projects. This study addresses this gap and extend the body of knowledge on the topic by providing a model that quantifies the links among SICT,

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Sustainability by Information and Communication Technology: A paradigm shift for construction projects in Iran

Highlights

Abstract

Introduction

Section snippets

ICT in the construction industry

Sustainability and construction projects

Sustainability by Information and Communication Technology (SICT)

The conceptual model of the study

Research methods

Findings

Discussion of the findings

Conclusion

Telematics Inf.

J. Fam. Bus. Strategy

Int. J. Proj. Manag.

Long. Range Plan.

Int. J. Proj. Manag.

Autom. Constr.

Autom. Constr.

J. Clean. Prod.

Environ. Sci. Policy

Ecol. Indic.

Int. J. Proj. Manag.

Habitat Int.

Environ. Model. Softw.

J. Clean. Prod.

J. Clean. Prod.

J. Clean. Prod.

Int. J. Proj. Manag.

Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev.

Autom. Constr.

Habitat Int.

Autom. Constr.

J. Clean. Prod.

Build. Environ.

Autom. Constr.

J. Clean. Prod.

Int. J. Proj. Manag.

Problems and barriers of ICT utilization on Iranian construction sites: case study on the successful use of ICT in remote construction sites

J. Inf. Technol. Constr.

ICT adoption and diffusion in the construction industry of a developing economy: the case of the sultanate of Oman

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From the life-history approach to the transformation of sociological practice

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Benchmark. An Int. J.

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A strategic framework for sustainable construction in developing countries

Constr. Manag. Econ.