Drone Readiness in the Indonesian Construction Industry

Abstract

Despite being perceived as a traditional industry, the construction industry is slowly being ushered into the Construction 4.0 era. Drone technology is seen as a disruptive, game-changing technology that has the potential to improve performance across all construction phases. However, despite the size of the country and its rapidly growing construction industry, research on drone technology in the Indonesian construction industry is limited. This research, therefore, aims to assess the drone readiness of construction practitioners in Indonesia and use the findings to recommend ways to promote its use. Readiness in this research is reflected by levels of understanding, utilisation, and interest in drone technology, as well as barriers to using drones at work. Data collected using a questionnaire survey from Surabaya, the second largest city in the country, reveal that, despite the relatively high level of interest, levels of understanding and utilisation are low. Furthermore, the lack of skilled human resources, risks associated with using drones, high costs, and limited information about drone suppliers are barriers that hinder the adoption of this technology in the Indonesian construction industry. This study fills the gap in the current research on the use of drone technology in the construction industry and provides a basis for practitioners or researchers to promote the application of the technology.