Gao, Z; Walters, R C; Jaselskis, E J and Wipf, T J (2006) Approaches to improving the quality of construction drawings from owner's perspective. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 132(11), pp. 1187-1192. ISSN 0733-9364
Abstract
Members of the construction project team (e.g., owner, designer, and contractor) have increasingly become more interested in and concerned about improving communications, coordination, and cooperation during the drawing and specification development process. The current use of black and white construction drawings is not the best tool to permit designers and contractors to communicate efficiently and accurately. This study examines methods to improve the quality of drawing clarity through the use of color drawings and other technologies. A survey was used to collect feedback from designers to better understand the current challenges faced and potential solutions. An analysis of the survey results revealed the best approaches in the construction industry to improve drawing readability, and includes: (1) Using colored drawings, (2) improving design details, (3) reviewing drawings and specifications for consistency, and (4) using more three-dimensional (3D) modeling techniques. An example is presented that compares the traditional two-dimensional black and white drawing of a bridge pier with a 3D gray-shaded drawing.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | communication; drafting |
| Index terms: | designer, owner, construction project team, coordination, construction industry, modelling, drafting, survey, drawing, specification, cooperation |
| Subjects: | contractual condition, management, industry analysis, sociology, profession, data collection methods, analytical methods, project delivery, psychology, technical documentation |
| Topics: | Design Practice, Contract Administration, Organizational Design, Research Practice, Project Management, Engineering Principles, Roles and Professions, Stakeholder Management |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTE |
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