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Empirical scrutiny of the behavioural intention of construction organisations to use unmanned aerial vehicles

Douglas Aghimien (Department of Civil Engineering Technology, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa)
Matthew Ikuabe (cidb Centre of Excellence, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa)
John Aliu (Institute for Resilient Infrastructure Systems, College of Engineering, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA)
Clinton Aigbavboa (cidb Centre of Excellence, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa)
Ayodeji Emmanuel Oke (Department of Quantity Surveying, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria and cidb Centre of Excellence, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa)
David John Edwards (Department of the Built Environment, Birmingham City University, Birmingham, UK and Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of Johannesburg – Doornfontein Campus, Doornfontein, South Africa)

Construction Innovation

ISSN: 1471-4175

Article publication date: 18 July 2022

Issue publication date: 27 November 2023

372

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to assess the behavioural intention of construction organisations to use unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the delivery of construction projects. Using the unified theory of technology adoption and use of technology (UTAUT) model, the study strives to improve project delivery by adopting beneficial digital technologies.

Design/methodology/approach

The study adopted a postpositivism philosophical stance through a quantitative research approach using a structured questionnaire administered to construction organisations in South Africa. Primary data gathered was analysed using frequency, percentage, mean item score, Mann–Whitney U-test and confirmatory factor analysis, where the latter sought to deductively confirm the variables within the UTAUT model.

Findings

Construction organisations were found to rarely use UAVs in the country and furthermore, most of the participating organisations are unsure about using UAVs for their project delivery. Factors impacting on an organisation’s intention to use UAVs were identified as social influence, performance expectancy, effort expectancy and facilitating conditions. However, factors surrounding resistance to using and perceived risk cannot be overlooked as they also proved to be significant (at p = 0.05) to the behavioural intention of organisations to use UAVs.

Practical implications

Practical guidance for industry practitioners is offered in terms of insight into the key factors that must be considered for the effective utilisation of UAVs and the realisation of concomitant benefits.

Originality/value

This study bridges the knowledge gap in extant literature by exploring the practitioner’s behavioural intention to use UAVs. As an aside, an emergent theoretical backdrop for future works on UAVs is provided (particularly in developing countries where such a study has not been previously explored).

Keywords

Citation

Aghimien, D., Ikuabe, M., Aliu, J., Aigbavboa, C., Oke, A.E. and Edwards, D.J. (2023), "Empirical scrutiny of the behavioural intention of construction organisations to use unmanned aerial vehicles", Construction Innovation, Vol. 23 No. 5, pp. 1075-1094. https://doi.org/10.1108/CI-04-2022-0088

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited

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