Mobile Technologies for Improved Collaboration on Construction Sites

Abstract

There has been increased efforts in the introduction of Information and Communication technologies (ICT) in construction to support collaboration. However there is still little focus on support for mobile users on construction sites. It can be argued that it is often on the construction site that ICT tools can offer the greatest benefits as they can enable the timely collection of information and knowledge during the build process. Convergence in networks, the merging of voice, video and data provides increased opportunities for mobile workers, allowing for a greater array of information to be shared to support collaboration on site. This paper looks at convergence, as well as other technologies including mobile computing, speech recognition and the use of multimedia content to support the construction worker on site and ensure a smooth decision making process. The paper describes several construction case studies, including the Heathrow Terminal 5 project, where decision making processes were examined, along with ICT usage. A scenario illustrating the use of advanced ICT on site was developed to gather requirements for a technical solution which could support the decision making process, and ultimately collaboration during construction. Requirements for an ICT support system were defined with the use of the case studies and scenario analysis, the proposed solution which combines many of the latest advances in ICT in a single system is then presented. It is explained and demonstrated that this could support the decision making process by allowing more information to be accessed and shared from the construction site. The use of advanced communication technologies such as convergence and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) can ensure that audio information can be retrieved along with other project data to provide a clearer more fluid decision making process where all relevant project members can easily be up to date with project progress.

Mobile Information and Communication Technology and Management of Business Changes in Construction Companies in Slovenia

“…As far as applying new ICT in a process, which in our case was mobile ICT, our findings of perspectives are close to the literature review (Stewart 2007;Love and Irani 2004;Ahsan et al 2007) that appointed ICT used as a commonly technical challenge for redesigning process in construction industry.…”

“…implementation of mobile ICT with the basic purpose to support collaboration (Ahsan et al 2007;Rebolj et al 2008;Bowden et al 2006). Hardly any research projects relate to improving traditional operational and business performance within mobile ICT.…”

Ubiquitous computer aided design: A broken promise or a Sleeping Beauty?

“…This can be explained by the fact that design in the construction industry is sensitive to site and process information [168]. According to Ahsan et al, the greatest benefit of ubiquitous computing in construction sites is that it enables timely collection of information and knowledge during the building process and this can positively influences the decision making processes [169]. Reborlj et al proposed a mobile computing approach to enhance information collection and distribution in construction processes [170].…”

A bibliometric review of the status and emerging research trends in construction safety management technologies

“…The unpowered exoskeletons provide a feeling of weightlessness, redistribute weight and improve the posture of the wearer when carrying heavy objects (Li and Ng 2017). Ahsan et al (2007) and Zhang et al (2017) argued that sensor-based technologies including sensor-based location, visionbased sensing and wireless sensor networks provide innovative methods for the advancement of real-time construction health and safety. As a viable technique, the application of wireless sensor networks used for forecasting and environmental monitoring could assist in the avoidance of accidents and improve construction site health and safety performance (Yusoff et al 2012).…”