Exploring professional attitudes on automated construction progress monitoring: a Q methodology approach

Purpose Despite growing recognition of Automated Construction Progress Monitoring (ACPM) technologies as promising solutions to improve project efficiency and accuracy, their practical adoption within the construction industry remains limited. It is investigated that insufficient attention has been paid to systematically understanding the subjective attitudes, perceptions and concerns of construction professionals responsible for technology adoption decisions. Addressing this critical gap, the present study employs Q methodology integrated with an extended UTAUT framework to systematically capture and quantify construction professionals' subjective viewpoints regarding ACPM technology adoption. Design/methodology/approach To ensure strong theoretical grounding and context specificity, Q methodology was integrated with an extended UTAUT framework, which enables structured categorisation of statements reflecting key adoption factors such as performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence and facilitating conditions, along with additional factors like perceived risk, price value and habit. Data were collected through online Q-sorting from 25 construction professionals who represent diverse roles and experiences, providing rich contextual insights into perceptions and barriers of ACPM technology adoption. Findings The results unveiled four key perspectives: advocates who support ACPM technology, sceptics who are concerned about its cost-saving potentials, negativists who lack enthusiasm and realists wary of ACPM's maturity. The findings also revealed shared concerns about resistance to change and additional costs, alongside recognition of ACPM's potential to enhance project tracking. Research limitations/implications The findings offer clear theoretical implications by advancing knowledge of specific factors influencing the acceptance of ACPM technology among construction professionals. Practically, this study provides targeted recommendations for different stakeholder groups based on the outcomes, assisting them in strategically addressing identified barriers, promoting effective ACPM technology integration and enhancing technology adoption rates in real-world construction projects. Yet, limitations also exist, such as reflecting views from participants primarily familiar rather than experienced with ACPM, involving a modest sample size typical for Q methodology and pertaining mainly to the Australian context. Originality/value This research contributes to the research body by systematically integrating Q methodology with an extended UTAUT framework to quantify and categorise construction professionals' subjective attitudes towards ACPM technology adoption. Unlike previous studies that primarily emphasise technological capabilities, this approach provides structured, nuanced insights into diverse stakeholder perspectives, thereby filling a crucial theoretical and empirical gap in understanding user acceptance within the ACPM context.