Assessment of the Awareness of Nigerian Professionals in the Built Environment on the Big Data analytics (BDA) Applications in the Construction Industry.

Abstract

With rapid development in technology, the built industry’s capacity to generate large-scale data is not in doubt. This trend of data upsurge labelled “Big Data” is currently being used to seek intelligent solutions in many industries including construction. As a result of this, the appeal to embrace Big Data Analytics has also gained wide advocacy globally. However, the general knowledge of Nigeria’s built environment professionals on Big Data Analytics is still limited and this gap continues to account for the slow pace of adoption of digital technologies like Big Data Analytics and the value it projects. This study set out to assess the level of awareness and knowledge of professionals within the Nigerian built environment with a view to promoting the adoption of Big Data Analytics for improved productivity. To achieve this aim, a structured questionnaire survey was carried out among a total of 283 professionals drawn from 9 disciplines within the built environment in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The findings revealed that: a) a low knowledge level of Big Data exists among professionals, b) knowledge among professional and the level of Big Data Analytics application have strong relationship c) professional are interested in knowing more about the Big Data concept and how Big Data Analytics can be leveraged upon. The study, therefore recommends an urgent paradigm shift towards digitisation to fully embrace and adopt Big Data Analytics and enjoin stakeholders to promote collaborative schemes among practice-based professionals and the academia in seeking intelligent and smart solutions to construction-related problems.