SHEMALA A/P SUPPAIAH
Saya : ___________________________________________________________________
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.
4. * * Sila tandakan (9)
SHEMALA A/P SUPPAIAH
(HURUF BESAR)
(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
Disahkan oleh
________________________________ ________________________________
(TANDATANGAN PENULIS) (TANDATANGAN PENYELIA)
Alamat tetap:
___________________________________
____________________________________ ___________________________________
____________________________________ Nama Penyelia
Tarikh: Tarikh:
9
NO.25, JALAN SPEKTRUM U16/13,
DR.ARHAM ABDULLAH TAMAN BUKIT SUBANG,
40160 SHAH ALAM, SELANGOR.
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.
“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
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…
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
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
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
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
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
1.1 Background of the Study 1
1.2 Justification of the Study or Research 3
1.3 Aim and Objectives 3
1.4 Scope of the Study 4
1.5 Outcome of the Study 4
Construction Industry
2.3 Key Application Areas 10
2.3.1 Project Management and Design 11
Information
2.3.2 Cost Estimation and Valuation 11
2.3.3 Knowledge Management 12
2.3.4 Construction Task Automation 14
2.3.5 Project Status Monitoring 14
2.4 Forms of Mobile Information Technology 15
2.5 Future Trends 17
2.6 Mobile Communications Challenges in 18
Construction
2.7 Conclusion 19
CHAPTER 3 METHODOLOGY 21
3.1 Introduction 21
3.2 Problem Identification 21
3.3 Literature Study 22
3.4 Questionnaire Survey 22
3.5 Analysis of Data Collection 24
3.6 Summary 25
CHAPTER 4 ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION 27
4.1 Introduction 27
4.2 Data Collection 27
in Company
4.5.2 Mobile Computing Devices Used 34
At Construction Site
4.6 Effectiveness of Mobile Computing 37
4.7 Investigate the Non-Readiness of Contractors 38
Implementing Mobile Computing at
Construction Site
4.7.1 Implementing Mobile Computing 40
in Future
4.7.2 Aware on 3G Possibilities 41
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 Suggestions 46
CHAPTER 5 CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS 48
5.1 Conclusion 48
5.2 Suggestion 49
REFERENCES 50
LIST OF TABLES
TABLE NO. TITLE PAGE
2.1 Comparison of 3G and 4G wireless systems 18
3.1 Classification of Likert Scale 24
4.1 Types of mobile computing services in the companies 34
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 45
LIST OF FIGURES
FIGURE NO. TITLE PAGE
1.1 Flow chart of research methodology 6
2.1 Concept of mobile computing 8
2.2 Key application areas of mobile computing in 10
construction industry
2.3 Basic data flow diagram for a construction process 13
2.4 Third generation wireless services 15
3.1 Relative Index values 25
4.1 Respond rate of questionnaires in percentage 28
4.2 Different classes of respondents according to Pusat 29
Khidmat Kontraktor(PKK)
4.3 Number of respondents from different background 30
of a contractor’s company
4.4 Percentage of companies supporting mobile 31
computing at construction site
4.5 Total percentage of services used by companies at 33
construction site
4.6 Percentages of mobile computing devices popularly used 37
at site according to the number of companies
4.7 Percentages of contractors agree that mobile computing 38
effective and beneficial
4.8 The total numbers of contractors according to reasons 40
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
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
LIST OF APPENDIXES
APPENDIX. TITLE PAGE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
Mobile communication is a communication with wireless networks and
applications designed for mobile use. Mobile communication is important for an
excellent system of communication at the construction site. Mobile communications
at construction site make construction processes better integrated and more efficient.
Wireless personal communications network are designed to permit any transmission
to reach destination anywhere on the earth. Mobile communications bring a new
dimension of capability to construction sector. Furthermore, it gives construction
companies a higher control over the everyday activities of the project schedule.
Mobile computing is widely used in developed countries such as Japan and South
Korea (Broadband Telecommunication Handbook, 2002). In general, field of
construction IT have not had a significant impact on the construction industry
through observation from the most research results (Bjork 1999, Turk 2000).
The objective of this application for the construction industry is to develop
user-friendly applications and to manage information. New possibilities created by
Moreover, mobile communications can help to exchange drawings, lists and
documents quickly by using telefax machines. Telefax machines connect users at
different places and sites (Danijel, Ales and Nenad, 2000). Communication system
also can be used to up-date plans, drawings, schedules, project plans and budgets. In
addition, wireless devices with improved bandwidth and network access to central
servers can be used for progress monitoring to support site workers (Danijel, Ales
and Nenad, 2000).
Mobile communication technologies enable collaboration from one
construction site to other, construction site to site office and site office to project
teams. Suitable wireless with handheld computing devices could improve efficiency
and ensure better integration for a construction project or system. These technologies
can also be applied for data management operations, safety management, structural
applications and project status monitoring. Other than that, wireless communication
devices network access to central servers can be used for on-site and subcontractor
evaluation, audit checklists, qualitative and quantitative measurements, remote expert
support and collaboration review of technical drawings (Meissner et al.,2001)
The advantages of using mobile communications are it can improve project
collaboration, fast information delivery and solve fragmentation problem. Fast
information can be supplied for engineers, sub-contractors, clients, site supervisors
and also consultants. Mobile devices can be used to view cost and time schedule
change and the activities are scattered in different directions. Therefore, construction
sites could get adequate Information Technology (IT) support to improve processes
and systems in construction industry.
In addition, this research is important to identify the readiness and awareness
among construction professionals to implement mobile communications at the
construction sites. This research also could help to identify applications of mobile
communication such as the 3G wireless systems at the construction site. Smart
phones, pager, personal digital assistants (PDA), portable computer and embedded
services are some of the mobile devices used in mobile computing.
Mobile communication is a trend and beneficial for the future of our
construction industry. Mobile communications are very useful because they provide
cheaper solutions and information can be delivered fast. Mobile computing devices
and tools are available in the market. Communication systems are feasible enough to
implement, reliable and easy to handle.
1.3 Aim and Objectives
The main aim of this research is to know the readiness of contractors to
implement mobile computing in construction industry. Therefore, in order to achieve
• To investigate the readiness of implementing mobile computing at
construction site
1.4 Scope of the Study
Scope of this study includes criteria as below:
• This research areas involves the usage and applications of mobile
communication devices at the construction site
• The respondents for this research include contractors from Johor, Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.
1.5 Outcome of the Study
This research will be beneficial to contractors. Moreover, this study can help
them to better understand the importance of mobile communications at the
construction site. Construction companies using mobile communications devices can
objectives. Methodology includes all the stages involved in doing this research from
the beginning till the end. The flow chart of research methodology is shown in Figure
Problem Identification
Identify the key application areas of mobile computing at
construction site
Examine the possibilities for using
3G services for data transmission in a construction project
Investigate the readiness of implementing mobile
computing at construction site
Knowledge Acquisition
Literature reviews Questionnaires
Analysis
Conclusion and Recommendation
