The Impact of New Communication Technologies in the Construction Industry

The construction industry has in the last decade experienced a radical change in terms of the technology and resources that are becoming available and that have transformed the traditional processes of at construction sites. Construction is an industry where the availability and on-time deliverance of accurate information is a crucial factor for the timely completion a project, and if unavailable could end up causing delays and the need to re-do work.

Handheld computers, online construction management systems and on-site webcams are the most significant new communication tools that are changing the construction industry. Extensive research and company case studies over the years have demonstrated the high time savings - and consequently cost-savings- that can be realised when implementing these new technologies. As a result, companies in the construction industry are striving to keep up with these changes in order to stay competitive.

The use of handheld computers and construction management systems (depending on the capabilities of each application software) can provide the means for constructers to collect reliable and accurate information directly from the field, and allow them to instantly inform all parties involved of the status of the project without the need of physical meetings. On-site

webcams allow construction supervisors/architects to view the construction site at any stage without having to visit the location. Furthermore, these time saving tools will allow construction site supervisors to spend less time on project/materials management and completing forms, hence allowing for more time to be spent supervising workers on a project site, which could lead to higher productivity and quality of work. Similarly, construction site workers that have access to these tools will be able to spend less time on activities such as Materials Tracking, Request for Information (RFI), Audits/Inspections, access to Materials Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), Quantity Surveying, and Defect Management, and complete them more efficiently. Below we will have a closer look at these different activities and how the use of new communication technologies can dramatically improve their processes.

1. Materials Tracking

A major cause of delays and disruptions at a construction site if often the late-delivery, misplacement or improper recording of materials, which will consequently also increase the costs of the project. Introducing handheld computers will allow for accurate and instant recording and tracking of materials, while an online construction management system will make this information readily available to those involved.

2. Request For Information (RFI)

A Request for Information (RFI) is sent during a construction project when contractors need to request additional information to clarify a specific part of the construction drawings, or to document any change of direction from the architect/client in order to continue work. Once the architect/client has responded to the RFI it will then be distributed and shared with all stakeholders. In this case, online portals can simplify this process by providing the means to send out RFIs to clients/architects electronically, and any responses to be stored and accessed instantly by stakeholders - preventing any further delays in the construction schedule.

3. Audits/Inspections

Performing audits/inspections at a construction site and ensuring compliance with safety and quality standards can be a very time consuming activity, especially if these are paper-based. This would require the auditor to document all relevant data manually, track actions for non-compliances, create reports and enter data into a database. New technologies such as construction management software and handheld computers with cameras allow auditors/inspectors to complete any inspection/audit or checklist on a handheld computer or mobile device while on the field. Once the inspection/audit has been completed the data can be stored in a central database, and reports can be created and sent instantly to stakeholders. Similarly, non-compliances and corrective actions can be followed up automatically and through to completion - saving organizations valuable time.

4. Access to Materials Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)

Materials Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) are part of the occupational health and safety procedures concerning how to handle certain hazardous materials, and thus are a very important element of a construction project. Access to MSDS requires a lot of data to be available on site and sharing the data and ensuring compliance with regulations can be a time-consuming activity. Online construction management systems can significantly reduce the time it takes to distribute and ensure compliance of MSDS by sharing them electronically and instantly, as well as providing the ability to perform checks and safety procedures online or on a handheld computer while in the field.

5. Quantity Surveying

The role of the quantity surveyor is essentially to ensure that the materials used and procedures carried out during the day to day operations of the construction project are compliant with the project's specifications, cost estimate and schedule. Therefore, the accuracy and reliability of the data is of high importance. The use of handheld computers and/or construction management systems in quantity surveying can help reduce the time spent documenting the data and increase the accuracy of the data collected.

6. Defect Management

The defect management/punchlisting activity involves the engineer reviewing the work of contractors for compliance before the completion of a construction project, and any issues that need to be fixed will be recorded onto the punchlist. In addition, the punchlisting activity is often repeated at the final stages of a project due to work not being done according to requirements. The use of handheld computers, online construction management systems and/or on-site webcams will have a highly positive impact on time spent on adding items and non-compliances into a punchlist form, which then would have to be communicated to different parties and followed through to completion.

In conclusion, new communication technologies have provided the means to significantly improve the procedures of a construction project by reducing the different steps to perform the activities and consequently reducing the time it takes to complete them. These new technologies provide the ability for contractors to access critical information while in the field, and to send this information back to a central database where it can be stored and viewed by affected parties, or the option to directly send data in form of reports or notifications out to stakeholders. In addition, one of the main benefits of these technologies is the ability to improve the accuracy and reliability of the data collected, which will translate into important cost-savings and higher quality of the work. So the bottom line is; construction companies that implement these new technologies in their different activities will be able to distinguish themselves from competitors by completing projects faster, more efficiently and on budget!