Online Remote Construction Management Part A: Construction Project Case Studies

Abstract

Computer application within construction companies began little more than a
decade after the first electronic computer was built (1950s). It seemed like a
promising start when breakthrough computer-based project management
techniques such as the critical path method (CPM) moved quickly into the
construction industry. Now that the construction industry is in its fourth decade of
computer applications things have been changing more rapidly (Paulson, 1995).
Construction, unlike many other industries, is heavily fragmented with numerous
design firms, contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers involved in almost every
project. Further, the construction industry is plagued with many problems.
Arguably one of the most significant problems presently facing the industry is
communication. The industry is characterised by inaccurate and untimely
communications that often result in costly delays to the progress of a project, and
if current level of international research activities are any guide, information
technology (IT) is seen by many as a potential solution to this problem.
Computers can provide unifying modelling, management and communications
systems to bring the unique talents of project participants together in a more
productive and integrated manner. Paulson (1995) comments that leading
consulting and construction firms are increasingly recognising computers as a
strategic technology, and it is very probable that these firms will be the ones who
will ensure the industry’s success in the future. Despite advances in computing
and IT, the construction industry is making insufficient use of transferring project
data and information electronically. McCaffer et. al. (1991) argues that data
exchange between project participants is still largely undertaken on paper.
The Online Remote Construction Management (ORCM) project - a collaborative
research project funded and supported by a number of Australian (Queensland)
industry, government and university based project partners - commenced in July
1999 aiming, in general, to develop, trial and/or evaluate IT tools and/or Webbased
communication systems on various building and civil construction projects
over a two-year period, thereby allowing collaborative design, management and
construction to be undertaken between members of a geographically dispersed
project consortium. Additionally, the project aimed to demonstrate leadership in
facilitating the use of online technologies for the design, management and
construction of building and civil construction projects, by identifying and
implementing appropriate IT (Web-based) communication solutions that will
ultimately: (a) help improve the flow of project communications and to ensure
that communications occur in a controlled, timely and less costly manner than
would traditionally be the case; (b) ensure that information leakage is kept to an
absolute minimum; and thus (c) ensuring that all members of the project
consortia are in possession of the most up-to-date and accurate project
information.
The ORCM Research Project was jointly funded by the Queensland University of
Technology (QUT) Commonwealth Scientific Industrial Research Organisation
(CSIRO) Construction Research Alliance (based at QUT, Brisbane, Queensland,
Australia); Queensland Government Information Industries Bureau (IIB)
Department of Communication and Information, Local Government, Planning and Sport; Queensland Department of Main Roads (QDMR); and Queensland
Department of Public Works (QDPW).
This consolidated report supports the aims and objectives of the various ORCM
Queensland University of Technology (QUT) / Industry Partner agreements, and
provides a summary of two years of research on five ORCM case study and any
benchmark projects between July 1999 and December 2001.