Development of an ICT-based logistics framework for the construction industry

Several information and communication technology (ICT) devices have been proposed and developed by researchers to improve logistics functions such as tracking and monitoring resources through the supply chain to the construction site. Such ICT devices include global positioning system (GPS), radio frequency identification devices (RFID), wireless sensors network system (WSN), geographical information system (GIS), management information system (MIS) and discrete-event simulation models (DES). While considerable research work has been carried out on the development of these devices and their adaptation to construction logistics process, limited work has so far been done on investment evaluation to justify their implementation financially. This paper presents a research work that seeks to develop a computer-aided framework for the evaluation of ICT-based logistics system in the construction industry. The work involves the identification and quantification of costs, benefits and risks involved in implementing ICT systems to solve, or mitigate problems that hinder the efficient operation of construction logistics. Furthermore, the paper presents a case study that demonstrates a comparative evaluation of the fitness of Cost-Benefit and Multi-Criteria analysis for underpinning the computational component of the proposed framework