Christian, J (2002) An overview of systems utilizing information and communication technologies: Five research case studies. In: Greenwood, D (ed.) Proceedings of 18th Annual ARCOM Conference, 2-4 September 2002, Northumbria, UK.
Abstract
Systems utilizing information and communication technologies have been created and developed in the Construction Engineering and Management Group at the University of New Brunswick.The aim of this research work was to introduce and integrate software and other tools such as hypertext, spreadsheets, database software, expert systems, shell programs, and artificial intelligence into an industry which is fundamentally conservative and historically slow to change and adopt innovative tools. The research included but was not limited to the development of a hypertext system for the processing of construction claims, an integrated decision support expert system for earthmoving selection and estimating, the use of Visual Basic ® to customize certain Microsoft applications to determine the effects of change orders on construction performance, the use of a hypertext information system and a simple spreadsheet to assess significant risk factors and to evaluate project uncertainties so that their effect could be shown on the project schedule, and a software application for the information management of a quality management system in a mega highway project. The results of the research and development activities showed that the construction industry will keenly adopt innovative technologies but only under the right conditions. The development of emerging information and communication technologies can provide a means of improving or replacing traditional methods by utilizing computer software and the experience, knowledge and judgement of many experienced practitioners.
| Item Type: | Conference Paper (Paper) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction performance; information and communication technologies; expert systems; hypertext |
| Index terms: | risk factor, practitioner, expert system, research and development, program, construction engineering, highway construction, quality management system, artificial intelligence, estimating, information system, construction industry, construction claim, earthmoving, decision support, project uncertainty, case study, information and communication technology, spreadsheet, change order, database, construction performance |
| Subjects: | engineering methods, software systems, civil engineering, project management theory and practice, contractual condition, decision analysis, research management, payment, data management, information systems, environmental hazards, industry analysis, data collection methods, practitioner, computing systems, project delivery, financial and cost management, data science, performance assessment, artificial intelligence, construction operations |
| Topics: | Contract Administration, Site Management, Digital Applications, Quality Management, Risk Management, Roles and Professions, Sustainability, Cost Management, Research Practice, Project Management, Engineering Principles |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here