The volume of data generated by the construction industry has increased exponentially following an intense use of modern technologies. The data explosion thus lead towards the big data phenomenon which is envisioned to revolutionize the construction like never before. Like any other technologies, big data is a disruptive paradigm and inevitably will give impact to the construction industry. As the industry is refocusing towards an improved productivity, the appeal to embrace big data is certain given the value it offers. This certainly will benefit construction akin to the manufacturing and the retail industry alike. Nevertheless, a review of the literature suggested a limited coverage on the potential application of big data in construction as compared to other industries. This limits understanding of its potential, where the industry is seemingly unaware thus could not relate and extract its real value. Hence, this study aims to draw insights on the specific areas of construction big data research. The research objectives include: (1) to analyse the current extent of construction big data research; (2) to map out the orientation of the current construction big data research; and (3) to suggest the current directions of construction big data research. The qualitative method through a desk study approach has been carried out to attain the first two objectives. It involved a structured review process which covered articles from the online databases assisted by the Nvivo software. This resulted in the theoretical orientation which was conceptualized as: (1) project management; (2) safety (3) energy management; (4) decision making design framework and (5) resource management. The theoretical orientation discovered from the review process will form the basis to suggest the prospective directions of research on big data in construction. This exploration is substantial as a precursor to a much deeper study on big data. As big data is set to influence the industry, the finding made would be a catalyst for creating an awareness to support the development of big data for the construction industry.

Global industries are investing in technology to accelerate digital transformation. Construction is also most likely to be digitalised based on current technology trends. However, technology adoption is not the only ingredient to successfully transform the construction industry towards the fourth industrial revolution (4IR). This transformation requires additional changes for the employees. It is expected to significantly impact the talent landscape, ranging from job categories to skill sets. While this transformation holds excellent benefits, it also poses many challenges. This paper discusses the challenges that individuals, construction companies and governments face from a talent perspective. The data is obtained from literature review results and content analysis through focus group discussion. A focus group discussion was conducted among experts with high knowledge in both the construction industry and 4IR. Information obtained from the discussion was used to identify and categorise the determining challenges. The study revealed nine (9) major talent challenges that the construction industry is currently facing, such as inadequate high skilled talent, lack of education and training to widen talent readiness, talent job security, lack of awareness or clarity of 4IR, dependency on outside talent, employer’s readiness, negative attitude of future talent towards changes, the potential of emigration of highly trained or qualified talent, and strong resistance towards new changes and technologies. 4IR can be implemented effectively in the Malaysian construction industry if key challenges that hold the talent are overcome. In conclusion, an active role from quadruple helix collaboration positively assist the transformation.

Big data is the new generation of technology designed for organizations to economically extract value from large volumes of a wide variety of data through high velocity capture, discovery, storage and analysis. Manifest as the frontier of 21st century technology, big data instigate superior business return. This lure businesses to zealously capitalize big data. In correspond, professionals too are charting their way to improve customer value with big data. Leading research in this area accede maximization on big data; revolutionized the norm of medical and accounting profession. Despite the substantial value, big data uptake from the quantity surveying profession recognized subtle. Contrarily, construction stakeholders swiftly embrace modern technology in their construction value chain. This invoke a change in data landscape thus, present an urgent call for professionals, especially quantity surveyors to recognize the change, embrace and reap the big data benefit. This paper aims to expand big data knowledge from the context of quantity surveying profession as an approach to soothe the big data and quantity surveying gap. This paper identifies generic big data value from professional perspective and explore big data value from the quantity surveying context. Aligning to the blurry big data paradigm in the quantity surveying context, this research adopts quantitative research with desk study on 28 papers and framework analysis through 15 semi-structured interviews with big data industry expert with quantity surveying background. This research found that big data values are consistent across profession albeit the difference on how big data is maximized. Other than that, the paucity of quantity surveying big data pursuance seen as repercussion of infancy big data state in the construction industry. However, this research insinuate quantity surveying profession are in strategic position to move forward with big data.

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