Current Stages of Disruptive Technologies Adoption among Malaysian Highway Infrastructure Operators

Highway infrastructure is the key element in road transport system in developing country like Malaysia. However, the challenges of inadequate maintenance and outdated approaches persist, leading to increased costs and inefficiencies. This study addresses the issue by exploring the awareness and adoption stages of disruptive technologies, namely Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS), unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)/Drone, internet of things (IoT) and connected and autonomous vehicle (CAV) among highway operators in the Malaysian highway infrastructure operation and maintenance (O&M) stage. The research aims to identify the current adoption stages of these technologies and examine the relationship between awareness and demographic variables such as age, education level, working experience and job position. A quantitative research method was employed, utilizing a questionnaire survey to collect data from highway concessionaires responsible for operations and maintenance. The study targeted 31 operational highways and 5 under construction, and through judgment sampling, 27 valid responses were collected between January and November 2023. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS Statistics 28, applying both descriptive and inferential statistical methods. The findings reveal that while awareness of ATMS, UAV/Drone, and IoT is relatively high, awareness of CAV is significantly lower. Most technologies are still in the early adoption stages, with UAV/Drone technology showing the most advanced implementation. Significant relationships were observed between awareness and certain demographic factors, such as job position and working experience. This study contributes by identifying barriers to adoption and highlighting the need for innovative strategies, policies, and future research to advance the integration of disruptive technologies in highway infrastructure management.