Abstract:

In the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry, collaboration is thoroughly linked with communication. Successful completion of construction projects requires the collaboration of numerous multidisciplinary separated groups during design, planning, and construction. The continuous interaction among project participants is a key to resolve conflicts and speed up problem solving in construction. The advances of information and communication technologies offer new opportunities to improve existing construction project communications. For example, the adoption of internet technologies by construction industry could speed up problem solving, improve collaboration, and reduce productivity losses due to lack of information. This study presents a model of characterises communication technologies with an experimental study that compared synchronous communication representing traditional and emerging communication methods in construction. The observations of the experimental data using two-way analysis of variance supports model and provides evidence regarding the effectiveness of face-to-face and computer-mediated communication for problem solving in construction. In addition, the analysis shows that groups using media-rich computer-mediated communications perform better than face-to-face groups. Implications of the research findings on technology adoption in construction companies and on the development of future communication systems are discussed.

Keywords:

collaboration, communication, remote, network.