The Impact of Digital Technology on Enhancing Virtual Environment in Construction Projects

– Advanced technological tools are crucial to generate a simulated virtual environment that allows for better collaboration, communication and data processing which ultimately leads to less errors and more successful outcomes. Available literature lacks recommendations and guidelines on which digital technologies should construction companies invest in to further enhance the virtual environment in their projects. Therefore, this paper bridges this gap by computing the relative weights of the levels of digital technologies within three categories technologies: data collection, data processing and data communication technologies in enhancing the virtual environment in construction projects. A survey was administered to construction professionals in the UAE to compare the effectiveness of digital technology levels against each other in enhancing the virtual environment of construction projects using AHP. Thirty responses were collected, and the results revealed that the most significant digital technology level with the highest impact on enhancing the virtual environment is BIM level 3. While the digital technology level that was the least significant was data collection level 1 (manual/paper-based). The results of this research are expected to provide project managers with a justified rationale for choosing to invest in advanced technological level, such as BIM level 3 and communication level 3 in order to enhance the virtualization of their construction projects.