Development of Cost and Schedule Data Integration Algorithm Based on Big Data Technology

Abstract

In the information age, the role of data in any industry is getting more and more important. In the construction industry, however, experts’ experience and intuition are still key determinants in decision-making, while other industries achieve tangible improvement in paradigm shifts by adopting cutting-edge information technology. Cost and schedule controls, which are closely connected, are decisive in the success of construction project execution. While a vast body of research has developed methodologies for cost-schedule integration over 50 years, there is no method used in practice; it remains a significant challenge in the construction industry. This study aims to propose a data processing algorithm for integrated cost-schedule data management employing big data technology. It is designed to resolve the main obstacle to the practicality of existing methods by providing integrity and flexibility in integrating cost-schedule data and reducing time on building and changing databases. The proposed algorithm is expected to transform field engineers’ current perception regarding information management as one of the troublesome tasks in a data-friendly way.