BIG DATA ANALYTICS: UNDERSTANDING ITS CAPABILITIES AND POTENTIAL BENEFITS FOR NIGERIA’S CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

Abstract

With rapid development in technology, big data analytics is virtually gaining dominance in many aspect
of human endeavours. However, the construction industry is still struggling to understand the
opportunities it offers. The digital world has been overwhelmed by an explosion in the magnitude of
data, and as never before, the information being captured and recorded in different fields is in a steady
increase. While the continuously growing body of academic research on big data analytics has largely
advocated a technology-oriented approach, a better understanding of the strategic implications of big
data has become even more necessary. To address this gap, this study aims to draw insight into big data
analytics capabilities within the construction domain. To achieve this objective, the study examines the
historical development of big data analytics, evaluates current big data analytics research and proposes
potential benefits to the construction industry and built environment. Following inductive content
analysis of big data analytics implementation in construction-related studies, the study identifies six big
data analytics capabilities in areas of resource and waste optimization: analytical capability for datadriven
design, decision support capability, predictive capability, virtual analytic capabilities and
Analytic capabilities for Energy Management. This study paves way for the construction industry to
understand the big data analytics capabilities and the advantages as they seek to evolve more effective
data-driven analytics strategies.

Keywords: Big data analytics; Big data analytics architecture; Construction industry; Big data analytics
capabilities; Business value of information technology (IT);Business performance