SQIT 3033 (A) KNOWLEDGE ACQUISITION IN DECISION MAKING

INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT LECTURER: Dr. Izwan Nizal Mohd Shaharanee TITLE: How data mining application can be utilized in construction project? DUE DATE: 6 MARCH 2014 PREPARED BY:
CHONG SIOW HUI 211650

1 Data mining is the process of finding useful information and hidden patterns from a huge amount of data by the mean of automatic or semiautomatic. In real life, it is impossible for us to retrieve the information and identify the patterns manually. This is because the data is very huge. So, data mining is taking important role in the application of many sectors such as industry sectors, manufacturing sectors, construction sectors and etc. It helps us to extract important information from the raw data, in order for us to make a proper decision making. In many construction projects, we can see that many projects have been done half way due to insufficient budgets, weather conditions, and sudden termination of project. All these are due to the high risk and uncertainty in the construction projects. This is because construction projects are long-term projects, require a huge amount of budgets and also involve many hidden risks and patterns. All these uncertainty can be overcome by the application of data mining technique in the construction project. Data mining technique can be applied into risk management, cost analysis, weather forecasting and so on in construction project. In J. Li, et al. (n.d.), the researchers make a research regarding the construction cost and also factors of the construction cost in construction project such as highway, railway, housing, municipal and metro constructions by using data mining approach. They have analysed the cost composition of construction by using descriptive task and forecasting the factors of the construction cost by using predictive task. For the cost composition, they have listed down the general characteristics of the item cost whereas predicting the impact factors of the construction cost. By using data mining approach, they found out that the material, labour and also equipment costs are the main components that made up the cost composition in the construction projects. In addition, by using multiple regression, among all the

investigated factors, the total quantity of the construction project is the most important factor effect on the construction cost. In X. Deng, et al. (n.d.), the researchers are interested in finding the relationships of risk factors in the construction project. By using data mining approach in risk management, the researchers begin with object identification, data preparation, data selection, data processing and lastly the application of data mining model. They are using descriptive

2 approach in this research. The relationships of risk factors are investigated by using association rule. In H. Kim, et al. (2010), the researchers are interested in discovering the patterns of energy-related behaviours to improve the energy building design in the construction project. By using building insulation such as different materials roof and wall construction, the energy used for cooling, heating and lightning can be minimised. They are using induction algorithm and decision tree in the research. By using predictive approach, they estimate the annual energy cost of the roof construction, HVAC systems and also building orientation. Besides, in descriptive approach, they have figured out the considered factors in the construction such as materials used, air space, insulation and so on. Through the research, by using true south building orientation, frame wall with Super High Insulation combined with brick veneer, wood frame roof or metal frame roof with high insulation and also 17 SEER/0.85 AFUE split/Pkgrl of HVAC will give the greatest impact in the saving of the energy costs in the construction projects. The use of data mining approach has been applied into the construction projects by using descriptive and predictive ways. In J. Zhang, et al. (2002), the researchers have used predictive approach such as classification of decision tree and also descriptive approach such as clustering and association rule in processing the data to be applied into construction projects. For example, we can find out the distribution of eigenvalues with the help decisiontree model of material use. With this, we can easily estimate what kinds of materials will be used in the construction and plan for the amount of materials used. Moreover, the researchers also mentions that by using data mining approach, the data mining models can predict the resources required in the project such as labour and machines. Thus, we can make analysis and prediction for material expenditure for our project. In addition, the schedule for the construction events can also be done by using association rule. Lastly, the safety and quality of the construction can be done by using clustering. Thus, from all the research that have been made from the researchers, we can say that data mining approach can be easily to be used to solve the problems exist in the construction sectors. All the methods in the data mining approach can be classified into descriptive and predictive ways. For instances, the regression can be used to find the relationships of the cost analysis; the risk management analysis can be done by using associative rule, safety and quality of the construction by using clustering analysis and so on.

3 Reference H. Kim, et al,. (2010). Automation in construction: Analysis of an energy efficient building design through data mining approach. Doi:10.1016/j.autcon.2010.07.006 J. Li, H. Mao, G. Luo, and S. Peng. (n.d.). Research on cost compositions and influence factors of construction project: Based on data mining of project cost. Adapted 28 February 2014 from Southwestern University of Finance and Economics. J. Zhang, T. Ma, and Q. Shen. (2002). Application of data warehouse and data mining in construction management. Adapted 1 March 2014 from http://e-pub.uniweimar.de/opus4/files/124/icccbe-x_182.pdf. X. Deng, Q. Li, D. Li, and E. Zhang. (n.d.). Application of data mining in risk management of construction projects. Adapted 28 February 2014 from http://www.paper.edu.cn