Integrated IT systems for construction site management

Abstract

This study presents a framework for integrating various information technologies (IT) to support the project procurement process. The project procurement process studied in this research includes the construction material procurement and site production management. Six kinds of innovative construction IT applications are addressed in this thesis, including E-Commerce System for procurement management, Smart card and Barcode System for identification of workers, materials and equipments, Construction Project Information System for documentary management, Design Information System for design and surveying, and E-Tendering System for project tendering, and GPS&GIS based technology for waste reduction in construction. The focus of this research is to identify and evaluate a framework to provide an overall support the information flow of the project procurement process. In developing such a framework, the study adopts the following principle: the strength of a chain is dependent on its weakest element. In other words, this study advocates that standalone applications of IT to the project procurement process are not efficient and effective. Instead, there is a need for an overall framework to guide the application of IT to support the project procurement process. The uniqueness of the thesis is reflected at two aspects. First, it identified and evaluated a number of information technologies that can be applied to support various stages of the project procurement process. Second, the study developed a framework which can provide some guidance for applying IT in supporting project procurement process. The major contribution of this thesis is that it presents an explorative study of integrating GIS and GPS for off-site construction material transportation. Within this study, the GPS and GIS integrated construction M&E management system enables managers from both headquarters and construction sites to get real-time information to control cargoes on the road to sites and to reduce the waste generation on sites.