The ability to be as productive in the field as in the office has become a reality for many military construction site managers, who must do more with less in the wake of tighter budgets and rapid deployment. Fortunately a number of emerging technologies that provide construction managers with valuable auto- mation tools, allows them to literally "work anywhere, anytime". When these new devices are combined with the power of the Internet for linking remote sites, critical information becomes readily accessible to decision-makers when and where they are needed.

The widespread use of CAD in the construction industry has already shown the way to even more uses for computer-driven systems to improve efficiency and accuracy. According to Chief Chris Dejarme, Engineering Officer for the Naval Mobile Battalion for the Seabees at Port Hueneme, California. CAD is especially useful in compensating for the loss of manpower from rapid deploy- ment and downscaling of personnel at construction sites... it's a critical time and cost saving factor in project pre-planning, because modifications can be made at the site, and it reduces the amount of manpower by 75% of that needed with manual modification methods of the past, Dejarme said.

Take it with you

Laptop and pen-based computers deserve the most credit for the recent improvements in portable information management systems. A new breed of 'ruggedized' notebooks come fit for duty in harsh construction environments. However, many other, equally useful tools of the trade can help jettison onstruction site management into the Information Age. Among them:

A promising innovation being developed for the military, by Carnegie Mellon University could help site managers transcend language barriers instantly via a computerized translator, called VUMAN.
Wearable computers used by military aircraft maintenance personnel could also provide advantages to construction personnel.
A Knowledge Worker System (KWS), developed by the Georgia Institute of Technology, provides automated performance environment for site managers to manage information flow necessary to schedule jobs by the day, week or month.
Software packages available as 'off-the-shelf' or 'add-ons' can be custo- mized to sspecifications, and easily integrated via networks between the site and corporate headquarters.
A GIS (Geographical Information System) is a global-reckoning interface that allows managers to obtain critical information on sites anywhere on the globe. It can determine potential environmental or hazardous risks. Field information is accurately geo-referenced and uploaded directly from the host system to the head office via a satellite antenna.
A Geodetic Total Station (GTS) is more accurate than manually accomplished site measurement. It measures distances by radio frequency waves transmitted from point to point over rough terrain and with fewer personnel.
Electronic communications are helping the construction industry move away from 'paper-driven' systems. Simple E-mail systems are indispensable and can be cost-effective for project managers.
Efforts to standardize and improve methods of construction material and equipment identification are being made through the National Institute of Standards and Technology. (NIST).

Wonders of Bar Coding

Bar coding, commonplace in retail and warehouse management, is finding its way onto the construction site. Portable, hand-held bar code models are particularly popular, since they put information management solutions directly into the hands of users. Newer versions are lightweight, versatile and packed with increasing amounts of storage capacity. Enhanced features to conventional bar code scanning offer such features as the ability to read codes from curved or hard-to-reach surfaces, and at greater distances. These systems can integrate with many existing hardware platforms.

Utilitarian features of bar coding go beyond an ability to gather and store information. One example of significant cost savings through the use of bar coding was on a major dam construction in the San Bernardino Mountains of California. There, project managers from CBPO, a subsidiary of German-based Odebrecht, used portable bar code scanning to control equipment, materials and personnel costs. There was evidence bar coding played a significant role in that contractor's successful bid at $29 million less than competitor's estimates. (ENR 11-30-95) Bar coding can track idle or down time of costly heavy equipment, a major factor when equipment is leased by the day, week or hour. Knowing when expensive equipment is not in use allows managers to know where that 'down time' might be pushing the budget into cost over-runs.

Systems Simplified

The 'genius' behind bar code technology lies in its ability to perform so many complex tasks, yet be so simple to use. Systems, which can be designed so that minimal learning time is required, can be made error-proof, eliminating any possibility users will make a mistake when gathering information. Also checks and balances can be put in place to prevent unauthorized use or to safeguard confidential or sensitive information through password protection. A step-by-step procedure can be tailored to the specific needs of a project. The information can be scanned into a laptop or other computer, making it even easier for managers to make use of the benefits of bar coding wherever they might be. This is a real time-saver to project foremen, since information gathered throughout the day can be kept 'in pocket' for immediate report generation and recapping after each shift, eliminating much of the 'after-hours' paperwork.

Bar coding to the Rescue

Bar coding provides built-in back-up in case of a system failure. When a computer crash destroyed weekly payroll records on a major construction project, information stored through bar coding, enabled payroll check processing to go on as scheduled. On another major project, information stored off-site through bar coding technology made it possible for cost accountants to detect a major discrepancy in revenues, by using a cross-checking method.

Virtual Visits

A 'virtual' visit to a construction job site is easier and less costly than one would imagine. An actual site in Sweden illustrated through 'virtual reality' is accessible at http://www.connection.se/hoga-kusten/ik/livedok/. Field and home office personnel can view the same image even though they may be miles apart, through digital photogrammetry, and often in 3D. This technology offers a more reliable alternative to verbal descriptions of potential problems at the site.
The Interactive Construction Online Journal enables interactive dissemination of construction know-how, and viewers can take advantage of lessons learned from previous projects; trying out principles shared by the authors of various articles and resource information. For further information, contact the Journal at http://www.thomson.com/chaphall/ico.html.

Buyer Beware

The full capabilities of any system should be carefully analyzed prior to selection since specific applications and integration requirements vary with each user.
With proper planning and commitment to learning, the efforts do pay off in increased productivity and less paperwork, which ultimately makes working from anywhere easier, anytime!

About The Author

Sam Jiwani is president of Systems Design Simplified, Inc., a software development firm based in West Los Angeles, California. Since 1986, the firm has provided carefully thought-out business solutions to assist companies in managing growth, improving profitability, increasing productivity and strengthening their competitive edge. Systems Design Simplified, Inc. clientele include many Fortune 500 companies in the construction, petroleum, financial and entertainment industries. Mr. Jiwani can be reached at (310) 837-9464.