North, Steve (2003) Clients' 3D visualisation of construction performance: from s-curves to data surfaces. PhD thesis, University College London, UK.
Abstract
Problem definition: Construction clients are currently without adequate software tools for simplifying the complexity of project performance. Can 3D Information Visualisation provide construction clients with informative performance reports? Contributions to knowledge: A conceptual 3D framework for the interpretation of construction performance parameters A practical example of implementing the 3D framework A protocol for prototyping and evaluating the developed software Construction project management traditionally uses two dimensional visualisation techniques to analyse project performance. These techniques are usually graphically represented as an s-curve, so called because of the characteristic plot shape (generated by resource take-up in many projects). S-curves are often limited by the amount of information that can be simultaneously displayed. It is proposed that a more comprehensive performance measurement system might represent project progress as a three-dimensional data surface. This research considers the use of desk-top Virtual Reality as an alternative to traditional project performance measurement systems. A conceptual three-dimensional framework for the representation of nonphysical construction industry data is outlined. This framework led to the development of Procession, a three-dimensional Information Visualisation software tool. Procession uses a three-dimensional data surface as an abstract representation of the described framework. The target group for Procession was social housing project clients, or Registered Social Landlords (RSLs). In the UK, the catchall term RSL describes Housing Associations, Housing Cooperatives and Local Housing Companies. Field experiments were undertaken to compare the information quality and usability of Procession, with progress reporting methods currently used in the construction industry. The most important finding was that RSL clients were better able to assess project status with the developed software, than with traditional reporting methods. Secondly, there was found to be a correlation between users satisfaction with the software, and the technical complexity of the method currently providing them with project progress reports. Finally, this research proposes some possible directions for future work.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | client; complexity; experiment; housing associations; project management; project performance; s-curves; virtual reality; visualisation |
| Index terms: | social housing, construction industry, project management, s-curve, virtual reality, project performance, construction project management, construction performance, construction client, performance measurement, landlord, satisfaction, 3D visualization, information visualization, visualization, housing association, complexity, housing, prototyping, usability, experiment, project client |
| Subjects: | sociology, housing and residential development, systems engineering, industry analysis, economics, performance measurement, design practice, project management theory and practice, visualization, institutional client, project delivery, performance assessment, innovation and technology management, user-centered design, virtual reality, construction type, data collection methods, practitioner |
| Topics: | Site Management, Urban Studies, Digital Applications, Design Practice, Construction Technology, Stakeholder Management, Roles and Professions, Research Practice, Cost Management, Quality Management, Engineering Principles, Project Management |
| 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