1 2 3 4 5 - Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

1 CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1
Introduction
For the construction industry, change is not a new phenomenon. They may be
more sharks pursuing the contractor today and their ferocity may be greater, but the
contractor has always being walking a beam above a shark-filled pit. What is
different today is the rate of change in issues facing the construction industry and the
impact that those issues have on contractors (Maloney, 1997). Construction
organisation, like any other business, must look to the future to anticipate the
changes to identify the opportunities created by those changes.
Managing project information during the construction phase is an important
task. However, the construction industry relies heavily on written reports to
document site conditions, which requires good writing skills and unbiased judgments.
Each project will have their specific goals for the project to meet. The goal for the
project may be that it is successful and profitable. The successful project means the
project is complete within the time frame, the quality is acceptable, the client is
pleased with the project, and there is no continued active liability, such as lawsuits.
The profitable generally means that the project produces at least the initially
expected profit.
However, the construction jobsite management is an important task in order
to increase productivity. The increased productivity will resulting increased profit
2 and also achieved the successful of a project too. It is important to ensure an
effective monitoring system is selected where it can provide a dynamic and
efficiency attributes. One of the tools to be considered that can assist the site
managers in improving efficiency and dynamism is to select an appropriate
monitoring technique. The effective construction jobsite management will help to
achieve the objectives that support the goals. The objectives would be completion of
the project within the expected time frame, within the special level or satisfy quality,
effective cost control, and effectiveness of the jobsite safety, client’s satisfaction and
effective management of subcontractors.
On most construction sites, a considerable volume of records will be amassed
by the main parties and the records kept will cover a variety of aspects of the
construction work. It is recognised that a very important source of information about
the progress of the works is the site diaries, kept by the engineers and clerks of works
on a daily basis as the work proceeds. Although these diaries as probably the most
important single source of information, it has also been identified a number of
deficiencies in the diaries typically kept. They are often said to be very difficult to
access, sometimes illegible, occasionally inconsistent and may also lack continuity
(Scott S. and Assadi S., 1997)
The construction industry is still considered a relatively traditional labour
intensive industry, which the temporary project organization is characterised with
many participants involve. Several electronic aid systems had been promoted in
construction industry to improve the construction monitoring method. Information
system with Information Technology (IT) also been introduced to provide accurate
and up to date project information to the all project team members.
Some of the construction organisations have applied software systems to
monitor their construction progress. However, the introduction of software systems
in construction industry in Malaysia are relatively slow compared to other industry,
instead of using traditional document management system. This due to the fact that
design and construction are highly fragmented process where many temporary
project organisations are involved. Hence, it is very hard to have a common
3 acceptable software system shared by each company involve in that specific
cooperative project.
Digitalizing the construction phase is the recent demand of the Malaysian
Construction Industry, which is the second largest industry, to implement the TeleConstruction strategies in the sector (Abd. Majid et. al., 2004).
1.2
Problem Statement
The current situation in the construction industry is that the mixture of
different generation methods is used for monitoring the construction site progress.
Present trends in the construction industry have improved the need for
effective and efficient evaluation, monitoring and developing the actual physical
progress reports. Manual monitoring of construction sites work is costly and error
prone. There is also a risk to keep the progress reports manually as the human error
being.
In the messy construction site area, it is hard and inconvenient for site
supervisor or site engineer to carry bulky plans or reference papers to climb up and
down on the temporary access to go into the construction site. It would seem that the
construction industry would be a wide area for the application of handheld computers
due to their special features in the light weight, small in pocket size for easier in
travelling and mobilization and had own a processing features and software as much
as the desktops personal computers.
Hence, the development of integrated construction management system in
software in respect of jobsite management should become the best solution to make
sure the information gathered are in systematic way and easy to understand. By using
software, construction site documentation can be simplified and made faster and
4 overburdening of the site management is prevented by increased efficiency.
Therefore, there is a need of Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) to run the software to
enhance the productivity of jobsite management.
1.3
Aim and Objectives of the Study
Construction industry is versatile; one of the factors due to cross intellectual
of construction management, the efficient construction project management is
essential for an organization survival and remains its competitiveness. Thus, the main
aim of this study is successfully to develop the construction jobsite monitoring
system in PDA technology.
The objectives of this study are to identify how to improve the efficiency in
construction jobsite monitoring through the use of software system.
To achieve above aim, the following objectives are set:
a) To review the current practice in construction jobsite monitoring process
b) To identify the potential and requirement of electronic based monitoring
system at construction site
c) To develop a new PDA based construction jobsite monitoring system
d) To evaluate the effectiveness of the jobsite monitoring system using real life
project
1.4
Scope of Study
This study is limited to the construction sites within the Universiti Teknologi
Malaysia. The scope of study will be focusing on the current practice of construction
jobsite monitoring process.
5 This study will focus on the development of the new computer generated
approach in Construction Site Monitoring System. The evaluation of the system is
based on the real life project which located in the UTM construction site areas.
1.5
Research Outline
The study has been outlined to six chapters. The explanation of each chapter is as
following:
I.
Chapter 1: Introduction
This chapter is outlined to give the basis to develop the research. The main
contents of this chapter are research background, problem statement, aim and
objectives of study, and scope of the study.
II.
Chapter 2: Literature review
Chapter 2 outlined the background of the research related to literature on the
construction management in Malaysian construction industry and the current
construction project monitoring system in Malaysia.
III.
Chapter 3: Methodology
This chapter is briefly discussing the methodology for this study. The main
objective is to develop a construction jobsite monitoring model using
programming language (Microsoft Visual Studio 2008) to complete this study.
Besides, questionnaire survey also has been distributed to the site manager.
The main purpose of conducting the questionnaire survey was to highlight the
current practice and support the existing practice for monitoring the project
progress, which were identified through the unstructured interviews with the
6 professional, industry requirements that related to construction project
monitoring method.
IV.
Chapter 4: Data Analysis
Chapter four will show the collection of the data from the questionnaire in
form of table, figures also analysis of these data. The analysis also will be
done on the developed program due to its evaluation and suitability.
V.
Chapter 5: E-Site Organiser Application
This chapter will discuss the development of construction site monitoring
system using Microsoft Visual Studio 2008. The structure and the
environment of the developed program will be described at here. The
application method of the program also will be discussed within this chapter
too.
VI.
Chapter 6: Evaluation of The Prototype System
Chapter six will discuss the evaluation of the E-Site Organiser prototype
system and also includes the aim and objectives of the evaluation,
methodology, results and discussions on the overall evaluation process.
VII.
Chapter 7: Conclusion and Recommendation
The last chapter will focus on the conclusion and the recommendation for the
further study. 7 CHAPTER 2
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1
Introduction
The effective management of a construction operation can only be achieved
through a well-coordinated team effort. Construction project management is the
direction and supervision of a project by the used of specialised tools control
techniques. These control techniques include cost, manpower, time, equipment,
communication, motivation, etc. An important agenda that can influence the success
of a contracting organisation is how well this organisation is being managed.
Management is a series of activities that must be performed to the needs of an
organisation. For the successful execution of a project, effective planning, controlling,
and organising are essential.
Chau et al. (2004) stated that for the most construction projects still clients’
requirements are presented in terms of paper-based working drawings and important
task for the contractor is to formulate a project schedule that links different
construction activities on the basis of these working drawings. In this process,
planners have to take into consideration practical construction sequence, proper
workspace logistics, and feasible resource allocation, which includes labour, material,
equipment and the use of site space.
Memon et al. (2005) mentioned that project progress monitoring and control
is one of the most important tasks of construction project management and every
8 team member needs to know in a timely and accurate manner, how is project
progressing, where they are currently in comparison to the initially set plans.
After the project has started, monitoring systems are established that measure
actual progress of the work at periodic intervals and the reporting system provides
progress information that is measured against the planned targets. Construction
projects generally maintain daily site reports as a principal method of recording
project activity and monthly progress reports showing the estimated quantity of work
done up to the end of each month. A monthly progress report is a means of itemizing
work completed to date, and construction manager, project manager, and field
manager can know the progress of the work up-to-date, remaining work for updating
the project schedule from these reports.
From the literature studies, there are several methods to do the site
documentation keeping. Both conventional and innovated methods of construction
site monitoring system have their own advantages and disadvantages. However, most
of the disadvantages can be overcome by the engineering solution.
This chapter is briefly discussed the construction management in Malaysian
construction industry and the current construction project monitoring system in
Malaysia.
2.2
Malaysian Construction Industry
The Malaysian Construction Industry which is the second largest industry after
manufacturing industry. In general, the construction industry is divided into three
major segments. The construction of building segment includes contractors, usually
called general contractors, who build residential, industrial, commercial, and other
buildings. Heavy and civil engineering construction contractors build sewers, roads,
highways, bridges, tunnels, and other projects. Specialty trade contractors perform
9 specialized activities related to construction such as carpentry, painting, plumbing,
and electrical work. Construction usually is done or coordinated by general contractors, who
specialise in one type of construction such as residential or commercial building.
They take full responsibility for the complete job, except for specified portions of the
work that may be omitted from the general contract. Although general contractors
may do a portion of the work with their own crews, they often subcontract most of
the work to heavy construction or specialty trade contractors.
Specialty trade contractors usually do the work of only one trade, such as
painting, carpentry, or electrical work, or of two or more closely related trades, such
as plumbing and heating. Beyond fitting their work to that of the other trades,
specialty trade contractors have no responsibility for the structure as a whole. They
obtain orders for their work from general contractors, architects, or property owners.
Repair work is almost always done on direct order from owners, occupants,
architects, or rental agents.
In Malaysian construction industry, there are four types of construction
projects which categorise as residential construction, building construction, heavy
engineering construction and industrial construction. It is difficult to categorise the
types of projects and the only measure is classify than in line with the constructors
practice and of the designers understanding.
Residential construction includes single-family homes, low cost houses, highrise apartment, and condominium in which the later are sometimes incorporated as
part of multi purpose commercial developments. The substantial expenditure was
being allocated for the residential development although they were largely financed
by the private sector. The supply is usually influence by the government regulation
and fiscal policy especially for the low cost housing development. While building
construction includes the small retail stores, shopping complexes, school, universities,
10 hospital, light manufacturing plants and warehouse. For building construction sector,
most of these facilities are financed and build by private sector.
Heavy engineering construction includes dames, tunnels for hydroelectric
power, flood control system, irrigation, bridges, airports, highways, urban rapid
transit systems, port, harbour, etc. Both of the design and construction phase are
primarily the domain of civil engineering. The development usually requires special
equipment with intensive utilisation. An industrial construction project includes the
petroleum refineries, petrochemical plants, steel mills, oil platform, and other large
heavy-manufacturing plants. Both the design and construction phase are the highest
level of engineering expertise.
2.3
Construction Site Management
Construction today involves much more than the physical erection of a
project. It is essential for the contractor to systematically plan, organise, manage,
control and document jobsite activities. There is no margin for error on the jobsite in
the current construction market, possession of good organisational skills and the
ability to anticipate problems is essential. An efficiently managed jobsite should
result in a profitable construction project. A good documentation system increases
the manager’s awareness of problems that develop early on in the construction
process, which saves the effort and expense normally expended for claims and
litigation. The current legal climate requires a detailed documentation of construction
activities and events (Mincks and Johnston, 2004).
Management can be defined as skills in contriving, handling or monitoring.
Some scholars define it as management in business and human organization activity
which is simply the act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals.
Management comprises planning, organizing, staffing, leading or directing, and
controlling. William described that project management is one such subset of the
11 management discipline. It focuses on the management of several projects as separate
entities, rather than the whole business picture.
Site management is a critical aspect for project control. During the peak of
the construction process, project performance grows in complexity as more providers,
vendors and subcontractors mobilize at the site. Site management must be able to
anticipate the progress and problems of construction. It is also be able to control men
and materials with equal efficiency. Besides that, site management scope also
included the completing the contract within the programmed period and to carry out
the work to specification (Johnston, 1981).
The primary purpose of the management team is to achieve the goals of the
project. The goal of a construction project is to complete the project successfully,
within the project parameters. The “successfully” usually mean profitable, which is
usually achieved with the appropriate quality and time frame. Construction firms are
in business to make a profit that compensates the investment and assures future
continuation of the business. The goal of the project then is to make a profit, as the
project is assembled (Mincks and Johnston, 2004).
2.4
The People Involved in the Construction Project
Construction projects come in various shape and size. The size complexity
and type of project (including whether the project is private, local, state or federal)
allow significant variations in the people involved. There are various categories of
people involved in a construction project. Generally those categories come from the
people who come together at the beginning of the project and the people who work
together to progress the project through the various stages of construction to
completion. Sometimes, even when the required people work together, success does
not always come easy. Financial struggles, misunderstandings or changing
circumstances sometimes result in claims or disputes (Gliganic, Klinger and Susong,
2004).
12 When the owner has a clear and concise idea of the type and extent of the
construction project, the owner should begin the process of selection the location of
the project. In order to accomplish this goal, the owner may seek assistance from a
real estate broker or agent to obtain a list of potential project sites that meet the size
and location requirement of the project. The real estate broker/ agent, a licensed
professional who knows the real estate market in the selected locale, often is able
provide a select list of properties that fall within an owner pre-determined price range.
A land surveyor provides dimensional measurements and provides a
schematic of the property’s boundary lines. A surveyor measures distances,
directions and angles between points and elevation of points, lines and contours, on,
above and below the earth’s surface. In the field, a surveyor selects known survey
reference points and determines the precise location of important features in the
survey area.
A design professional is used to prepare the plans and specifications of a
project. Every project presents its own unique problems and requiring unique
solution. The design team’s role is to anticipate the problem that may arises as the
project progresses. A site engineers perform a technical, organisational and
supervisory role on construction projects, including civil, road, rail and other
infrastructure projects. They are responsible for marking out the site, applying
designs and plans and liaising with sub contractors.
The main responsibilities of site supervisor are to supervise and direct people
to make sure a building project is completed safely, on time and within budget.
Construction site supervisor also supervise the preparation of the site and
communicate with a wide range of people, including the public and professionals
such as architects, engineers, estimators and surveyors. They have daily contact with
the site workforce and have frequent meetings with subcontractors. The purpose of
the site supervisor is to supervise the construction activities that take place on the
work site on any given work day. The role of the Site supervisor is to supervise the
work at hand. Anther important role of the site supervisor is to record the work
13 progress into the site dairy. Of course, site supervisor will assist the site engineer to
do some of their work.
A mechanical engineer is responsible for preparing the plan and
specifications and any needed HVAC systems, plumbing systems and if required,
sprinkler systems. Obviously, these aspects of a project are extremely important and
require careful consideration to ensure that they meet with the owner’s expectation
and budget. The electrical engineer is responsible for all issues regarding to the
design and coordination of power on a project (Gliganic, Klinger and Susong, 2004).
In addition, an electrical engineer will design and coordinate others system on a
project such as smart building system, computer system wiring and communication
systems.
2.5
Conventional Paper Based Site Documentation
As the contractor approaches the actual construction of the project,
documentation will be needed for all activities. When preparing for the project, the
contractor begins the documentation process by keeping logs and schedules for
products submittals.
Sometimes, conventional site documentation will cause human errors such as
distributed documents are not kept up to date, which could cause a huge lost to the
organisation if wrong procedures have been followed. Besides, paper based site
documentation also labour intensive and time consuming from document creation
through distribution of approved documents as all these functions have to be
physically and manually carried out. It is also difficult to keep track updates and
changes as each involved party has to be manually informed and document has to be
manually distributed. Sometimes employees spent few weeks on unproductive work
prior to surveillance audit. Such as compile the documents, records, revise
procedures, back date and sign the documents to ensure all documents are updated,
while the time should be spent on more productive works. Moreover, it’s also
14 difficult to cross refer with other departments as every document of different
department is separately kept by each and individual department. This will reduce the
opportunity for employees from different department to learn from each other. When
an error occurs, miscommunication within the organisation will happen which may
lead to blaming on each other.
2.6
Computerised Project Administration
Computer use in the construction industry has grown rapidly over the past
decade. Computerised scheduling, estimating and cost accounting are common
applications in the construction industry. The construction industry also is seeing the
introduction of computer systems for project, document, and contract control. The
proper maintenance, organisation and speedy access to jobsite records are key
elements to effective project administration.
Sometimes the different transactions happen with each exchange of questions
or when the problems arise. These pieces of information take the form of
correspondence, letters, and other written documents. Many times these documents
and their issues must be linked or use together by the project team. The project team
must be able to find solutions the quickest, best and most equitable way for all
parties. The entire project elements such as changes, payments and subcontractor
relations should be equally addressed (Mincks and Johnston, 2004).
Documenting construction project activities has always occurred, but
computers help speed this process and integrate the information that is stored.
Computer software also helps contractors standardise their documentation process.
Computerised contract/ documentation software will record, track and expedite tasks
such as subcontractor control, subcontractor quotations, correspondence, daily
reports, reminders or ‘dunning’ letter and meeting minutes. Computer applications
quickly distribute documents needed by multiple people. Another area which these
15 programs excel is maintaining cost record such as payments from owners, payments
to subcontractors, changes, claims, and other financial matters relating to the project.
Many individual functions previously mentioned are done on computers
today, such as correspondence, application for payment, and so on. An integrated
approach to training, standardisation of software and in-house coordination of
computer services are needed to make project administration more efficient. Most
project managers write their own letter to owners, architects, material suppliers and
subcontractors, but the correspondence is filed in one location without the ability to
link issues or subjects between different systems or files (Mincks and Johnston,
2004). Quick retrieval it’s necessary for letters, correspondence, meeting minutes,
and other documents relating to a specific issue. A computerised system can avoid
incomplete documentation caused by misfiled documents, incomplete documentation
or poor organisation of project information.
Productivity improvement is a prime objective of most construction
companies. Management often feels that computerised systems will reduce project
personnel productivity, rather than improve it. They feel that training and retraining
employees to keep abreast of the latest software detracts from the employee’s job.
The assumption that each new generation or version of the software must be
purchased and that training needs to be added as each new version is adopted, is the
basis for some firms experiencing unneeded high costs related to computers and
productivity. Quite often specific software versions have a much longer application
life than the software company’s distribution of new versions.
2.6.1
Computer Applications for Building Projects
In the past few years, computer applications in architecture and construction
have been for automation of information in the architectural design and construction
decision making processes. In many western countries, early computer applications
were used in ‘system’ building, with its pre-defined standard components and
16 assemblies. It was thus envisaged that construction information could automatically
be generated from the design information describing a building’s form and detail
(Cornick, 1996).
This meant that the information such as working drawings,
schedules of manpower, material and plant needed will be produced computerized.
The book title “Computer Integrated Building Design, the author had
mentioned the integrated systems used in construction industry. These systems have
included the CAD drawing systems, geometry files of a proposed building form and
other elements that could help in building design. AutoCAD, with its wide ranging
software and developing data interchange capabilities, provides the ideal computer
system for engineer to complete their works. CAD systems is developed and used to
improve visualization of the appearance of a proposed building design. Besides,
some 2D and 3D modeling software also being introduced by author in order to view
the model of building and give the first impression before the building is completed
built. Author had made a summary that CAD-related computer based applications
must support these ends if integrated design is to become a reality.
The availability of these tools and techniques will bring about a desirable
change in the construction industry’s practice which will allow the simultaneous
design, engineering and construction of building. This will greatly improve the
communication between all the participants involved in a building project in order to
achieve the time, cost and quality targets.
2.6.2 Electronic Record Keeping
Electronic records are simply records in electronic format rather than having
been printed or written onto paper. An 'Electronic Record' means any document or
record created, communicated and maintained by means of electronic equipment and
includes, but is not limited to, electronic organisers, computer-based diaries,
appointment books and calendars, electronic mail, facsimile transmissions, websites
and databases.
17 As described above electronic records come in many different formats and
are used for many different purposes. They are also viewed in different methods as
well which can have an impact on what records are to be kept and how those records
are to be retained. For many years, the trend on construction projects has been for
more and more data to be stored and transferred electronically. While this has
simplified many aspects of the construction process, and increased efficiency and
access to documents and information, it has also created new issues and concerns for
the parties involved in those situations where the relationship between owner and
contractor breaks down and complex construction litigation ensues (Matthews and
Landmann, 2008).
The ease of use of e-mail and handheld electronic devices has increased the
volume of documentation existing. The daily construction report is efficiently
generated and updated by computer as electronic storage affords easy to access and
search capability. However, in addition to computer storage, it would be wise to print
a hard copy of each daily report at the end of each business day, and have it signed
by the inspector and placed in the file. If litigation occurs later, an original hard copy
is available from the files, which can be compared with the electronic storage version
(Edward and Randy, 2004).
2.7
Site Record Keeping
All organizations need to keep records of their activities for a wide variety of
reasons, including fulfilling the needs of auditors, payment of creditors and pursuit of
debtors. The records kept by the parties on construction sites, however, have other
very important uses, principally relating to quality, finance and progress (Scott and
Assadi, 1997). Without a detailed record of the progress of every aspect of the
project, the engineer for the works will be seriously handicapped in drawing up the
final certificate and adjudicating in disputes between the parties to the contract.
18 The types of records are fundamental to effective supervision and which
provide a framework around which a working system can be built. Below are the lists
that should be recorded as site record keeping (Clarke, 1988):
i.
All correspondence between the resident engineer and the agent, including
variation orders, CVI’s, approval forms
ii.
All correspondence between the resident engineer and the engineer, the
employer and third parties
iii.
The minutes or notes of every formal meeting
iv.
Plant and labour returns, as submitted and as corrected
v.
Measurement records, including dimension books, timesheets, delivery notes
vi.
Daywork records, as submitted and as corrected
vii.
Interim statements, as submitted and as corrected, with copies of all
supporting particulars, and interim certificates
viii.
Level and survey books, covering both checks on setting out and completed
work
ix.
Laboratory results and any other testing data
x.
Weather records
xi.
Progress photography
xii.
Construction drawings
xiii.
Administrative records such as leave and sickness returns, accident reports
xiv.
Site diaries
Correspondence files, together with site diaries, form the heart of any record
system. Each site team will develop its own filing system and to setup a file for each
section of the bill and the specification. The filing system should be done by subcontractor, suppliers, client or any public relations.
All the records submitted by the agent for checking, such as plant and labour
returns, dayworks sheets, measurement particulars, must be carefully preserved. Thus
a working copy is used for the check and any consequent revisions and a file copy is
kept ‘clean’. Both are preserved. (Clarke, 1988)
19 2.7.1 Site Diary
A site diary is a document of "first record", where it is a competent site
supervisor initially records any occurrences on site. Site diaries are also a place for
supervisors to record contact details and other items specifically related to a given
project for quick referencing. It is essential that a site diary must be filled out daily
and as incidences occurs.
Site diary provides a complete narrative of the progress of the works and the
activities of the resident engineer and his team. The site diary not only to ensure that
the maximum amount of detailed information is collected but also is to permit crosschecking to confirm the truth or otherwise of disputed statement (Clarke, 1988). The
site diary must provide a factual record of events on site, conversations with the
agent’s staff and others, instructions issued and weather conditions. The entries must
be accompanied by full details of the time, location and personnel involved.
Site supervisors should to have a good habit and enjoy filling in their site
dairy. Their contributions are of great value because they spend almost all their
working day on site in close proximity to the contractor’s operations. All of the site
team is best placed to record the detailed deployment of plant and labour, the
movement of the materials and the progress and problems of the activities that they
are supervising. The site engineer perhaps uses the site diaries to draw up a summary
of the main operations and events for each week and month of the contract (Clarke,
1988). This summary provides a general record of progress for ease of reference
without to search through a set of site diaries to find the date of a particular operation.
The site diary should include the following information:
i.
Project name and job number
ii.
Client’s name (name of project owner)
iii.
Contractor’s name (general contractor only)
iv.
Name of the project manager for the design organization
v.
Report number and date of report (use consecutive numbering)
20 vi.
Day of the week
vii.
Weather conditions (wind, humidity, temperature, sun, clouds)
viii.
Average field force, both supervisory and nonsupervisory
ix.
List the identity, size and type of all major pieces of construction equipment
at the site each day. Indicate if they are idle and the reason, if applicable.
x.
Log all work commenced, the status of all work in progress, and all new work
started; identify the location of the work as well as its description, and which
contractor or subcontractor is performing it.
xi.
Sign the daily report with your full name, title and date.
A daily work report that accounts for the cost of specific materials, labour,
and equipment applied to direct project work may be submitted by the contractor,
depending on the contract type and requirements (Edward and Randy, 2004).
Scott and Assadi (1997) described that the site diary record should have the
following items, they are: minutes of progress meetings, daywork sheets and agreed
records, photographs, weekly progress reports and site diaries and it is suggested that
their main applications will be:
•
To confirm that work, in particular varied work, has been carried out and to
record the resources employed such that proper payment may be made;
•
To assess the progress of the works in the light of the contract programme in
order to permit action to be taken, where necessary, to ensure timely
completion;
•
As a major source of information detailing exactly what occurred during
construction of the project, so that claims for additional costs and/or time may
be backed-up with well-founded facts (contractor), and assessed in a proper
manner (supervisor).
21 2.7.2
Problems with Construction Site Diary Records
The main contractor or project manager should be keeping a complete and
organised set of site records. Depending on their involvement in the project, there are
a number of documents, including photographs, you should acquire and file for their
own protection.
From the initial study, a number of difficulties were identified with the site
diaries investigated, both on the ‘live’ site and on the contract where the records had
been archived. Scott and Assadi (1997) had mentioned the main problems are
involved accessibility, legibility, continuity and consistency, as follows:
Accessibility
•
These problems relate to the considerable time and effort required to access
certain types of information from the site diaries. The information may be
available, but because of the way, in which it has been recorded, individual
items are difficult to find and later attempts to build up a complete picture of
progress from the diaries are tediously slow. Particular problems include lack
of meaningful headings and failure to relate work carried out to the
programme activities.
Legibility
•
Some of the records perused were particularly difficult to understand because
the handwriting was illegible, or nearly so. This would increase the
frustration of anyone trying to find information in such diaries and adds to the
problems of accessibility.
Continuity
•
Gaps exist in the information, possibly because of illness or holidays, but the
result is that site diary pages are blank and so the records for a part of the site
have not been kept.
22 Consistency
•
These problems occur when records of the same events kept by two or more
record-keepers do not agree.
Accessibility, legibility and consistency were said to be of equal concern, but
the problem of continuity was said to be most severe. Other problems were also
highlighted by the survey which mainly concerned the lack of experienced staff and
the lack of detail in the records actually kept.
As the site diaries were identified as the most important source material on
the progress of the works, these problems are of great concern and led to the view
that improvement of site diaries would lead to an improvement in record-keeping
generally. The use of computers was an obvious way forward (Scott and Assadi,
1997).
2.7.3
Minutes of Progress Meetings
Most contracts require regularly held progress meetings during the course of
construction. Depending on the complexity of the project, these meetings will be
held monthly or weekly on the same day of the month or week and at the same time.
Progress meetings will usually be held once a month, when the supervisor and
contractor, and members of head office staff from both organizations, will come
together. The meeting attendees generally include the owner, owner’s representative,
general contractor and any major sub-contractors or supplier working on the project
at the point in time. The owner’s representative generally conducts the meeting and
record the meetings minutes. The recorder then distributes the meeting minutes to all
attendees with sufficient time to allow those attendees to review them prior to the
next meeting.
At these meetings they are likely to discuss any matters affecting the work in
hand or soon to be undertaken, and to consider the current progress of the works and
23 of any claims negotiations. Charts are often prepared for these meetings to indicate
which activities are presently being worked on and how their progress compares to
the expected or planned progress. On some sites, these charts may well give a good
representation of progress over time, but it is believed that what is produced on many
sites will fail to provide this information, for the following reasons:
•
Rather than being a record of when work took place on activities, the chart is
likely merely to indicate percentage completions of those activities under way
at the date of the meeting. This will certainly allow the start and finish of
those activities shown to be traced to within a month of when they actually
took place, but will not permit the number of days worked on a particular
activity to be identified.
•
Not all activities as shown on the contractor’s programme are typically shown;
only the main activities are plotted.
2.7.4 Monthly Project Progress Report
A monthly project progress report is a means of itemising work completed to
date, and construction manger, project manager, and field manger can know the
progress of the work up-to-date and remaining work for updating the project
schedule from these reports (Abd. Majid et al., 2004). Most of the contracting firm
require monthly summaries of the project, named project progress report, usually
used to inform upper management of the project’s progress. Daily reports are read by
those who are involved on a day-to-day basis with the project (project supervisor),
but the monthly report or summary keeps upper management aware of the project
and enables them to assist when necessary. Occasionally, such reports also are
required to be submitted to the project owner. Obviously, different types of
information will be contained in a report to the owner than in a report intended for
internal management.
24 The monthly report for internal management is normally written in narrative
form, with some organisational parameters, rather than on a form such as the daily
report. From the literature review study, there are several important content in project
progress report such as summary of overall work progress, site organisation chart,
manpower & machinery records, weather chart, S-curve chart, work progress in
individual block, record of architect, engineer instruction, progress photographs, etc.
These contents were the summary of the collection information from daily dairy site
reports. The representative of turnkey contractor has to present the report to every
parties who involved in the construction project when they meeting together. The
parties who involved in one project may have safety officers, safety supervisors,
carpenter manager, mason manager, electrician, bar bender manager, plumber
manager, and etc.
From the book titled ‘Construction Jobsite Management’ (Mincks and
Johnston, 2004), the author had discussed the very useful about the topics that could
be included in a monthly progress report as follow:
•
Identification of the project – This includes the project name, location, and
internal project number.
•
Summary of activities – A summary of the activity progress since the last
report. A discussion of site conditions, such as weather and the results on the
site, also should be included here.
•
Schedule analysis – This determines the relationship with the construction
schedule, identifying the areas that are not meeting the schedule, what impact
they will have on the overall schedule, and what can be done about those
areas.
•
Cost analysis – this briefly analyses the profit picture for the project to date
and clearly delineates any areas of concern and the steps that can be taken to
minimise the impact.
25 •
Subcontract and purchases order management – This involves any problems
or project impact caused by subcontractors, vendors or fabricators. Concern
about subcontractors could include the number of personnel on the project,
competency of jobsite personnel, schedule compliance and potential areas of
dispute. Concerns about vendors and fabricators could include delivery date
compliance, amounts of material delivered and quality of material delivered.
•
Change orders – Used to describe change order progress and problems that
might result in change orders.
•
Summary – Used to describe any additional problems or positive aspects
relating to the project. Areas of interest or concern are noted, particularly
unresolved issues that may become claims.
•
Signature of prepare – the preparer should be the superintendent or project
manager, as the information submitted requires management insight.
2.8
Construction Photography
Photography plays a very important role in construction industry.
Photographs of job progress or construction details are a valuable part of the project
documentation, and consultant and contractors take photographs for various reasons
such as recording unusual project conditions, recording a complex construction
process to show compliance with the contract schedule and documents, recording the
conditions of materials and environments. The latest innovation in the photographic
industry is the digital camera. Digital cameras are a totally new way of taking
pictures. Digital cameras have become a common photography device. A digital
camera (or digicam) is a camera that takes video or still photographs, or both,
digitally by recording images via an electronic image sensor. They do so without
film, without processing and without conventional printing. Instead, they capture
26 images electronically by converting them to digital data, which can be downloaded to
a computer.
Project engineer or site supervisor can use digital camera to photograph their
work in progress as well. For example, suggest they photograph all flashing details as
the roof is being installed. Take close up before and after photographs of chimney
flashings. The 'after' photos will tell them how well the flashings were installed.
They will be able to see the soldered corners and the fresh mortar in the brickwork
(Edward and Randy, 2004). Moreover, photographing all aspects of the job may help
provide clues for future problems.
A photographic record of the progress of the contract can be of great
assistance in settling disputes over the timing of particular operations and the
condition of various parts of the works which are no longer visible. A series of
photographs taken from the same position at regular intervals, say once a month,
provides coverage of the main features, supplemented if required by individual
photographs recording particular subjects, such as the honeycombing on a rejected
section of concrete retaining wall caused by a period of exceptional rainfall (Clarke,
1988). In order to have a good record of progress work, a site camera must be
available to maintain a continuous record. Every photograph must have the detail of
the date, the subject and the position and direction from which it was taken.
More and more reliance is being placed upon the use of photography to
document construction progress, damage, technical detail, types of materials,
methods of installation, evidence of site conditions before starting work and similar
tasks. Basically, it is the inspector who will probably be called upon to do the
photography. Thus, an understanding of the types of photographs normally used in
construction, as well as the purpose of each is beneficial (Edward and Randy, 2004).
From the literature study, there are four basic types of construction photography that
the inspector may be called upon to provide: public relations photography, progress
photography, time-lapse photography and claims photography.
27 Photography and video might seem to be a peripheral activity in the
construction
industry,
but
in
today’s
business
environment,
image
and
communication are one of the vital importances. The traditional photo and video
agencies have generally neglected the construction industry, seeing it as unglamorous
and destined for the high street photographer. Since early 1900’s, construction
professionals have been using construction photographs or movies for documentation
and analysis of construction activities (Everett, Halkali and Schlaff, 1998).
It is a good idea to take photographs or make a video diary at regular or key
times. For example, while the house is being built, preferably with a date imprint.
The reasons for doing this include:
•
Recording the location of service trenches, such as drains, before they are
filled in.
•
Having a factual record if there are any disputes about the workmanship or
materials used, for example, it might show if the insulation was installed
correctly over building paper. Make sure the photos are close-ups to show
important details.
•
Recording already damaged items delivered to the site or items damaged by
vandalism.
•
Recording weather conditions and any resulting damage.
•
Noting anything unusual you see, such as irregular construction practices.
•
Recording milestones in the building work.
Keep the photos in an album or on disk, date them and give them a title or
explanation if necessary. From the description above, the construction photography
and video recording really give a great record to construction progresses.
28 2.9
Applying Handheld Computer in the Construction Industry
Nowadays, handheld computers are becoming more powerful and less costly.
The potential to apply the handheld computer in construction industry is high.
Compare to traditional, handheld computer provides more convenient and better
solution in document keeping process. It is inconvenient for project engineer or site
supervisor to carry a bulky plans and reference documents into the construction site.
It would seem that the construction industry would be a fertile area for the
application of the handheld computer (Ong, 2006).
Handheld computers are becoming more powerful and their application to
construction project is becoming increasingly feasible. Potential construction
handheld computer applications include data collection, electronic books and
reference materials, access to computer-aided design drawings, estimating, and
scheduling applications (Williams, 2003). On a more sophisticated level, handheld
computer can be used to run program for a wide variety of software application,
internet service (WLAN) and of course the e-mail application. Among several of
handheld computer devices, the capabilities of the two most popular handheld
devices are the Palm and Pocket PC.
PDAs are essentially handheld computers which can run certain software
packages, such as word processor and spreadsheet programs, but their most
important function is their ability to recognize the diarist's handwriting. Some PDAs
are very reliable and can easily fit into the diarist’s pocket so they can be kept safely
even in a rough environment such as a construction site. Each member of the site
staff concerned would keep records as normal, using an electronic pen to write on the
PDA screen; this information would then be written to a file. The individual
responsible would clearly need to have a good understanding of the construction
programme and the way in which the work had been broken down in that programme
to enable him/her to input records into the organizer assigned with appropriate codes.
This will much improve the accessibility of these records. At the end of each
working day, the diarist would then download these daily records into the main
computer kept in the site office (Scott and Assadi, 1997).
29 Table 2.1: Valuation on the use of PDA in Construction industry
Number/ Percentages of Respondents
Site Valuation
Use of Personal
Digital Assistant
Average
Score
2.56
>4
(Not agree)
4
44.4%
<2
(Most agree)
3
33.3%
3
Fine
2
22.2%
Source: Nelliah Sittor, 2005
2.9.1
The Application of PDA as Mobile Computing System on Construction
Management
In Malaysia construction industry, project managers have to handle various
types of information such as drawings, check lists, specification and daily reports.
However, they need to access the real construction site to manage the construction
project. In the real practice, they usually use sheets of paper or field notes. As a result,
they still have a lot of typical and routine jobs in construction site, such as the
collection of construction data and the inspection. This has lead to the low efficiency
works production as there is a gap in time and space between the outdoor
construction site and the office (Kimoto, Endo, Iwashita and Fujiwara, 2005).
On the other hand, various kinds of mobile devices have been adapted to the
field jobs on construction sites. During the mid of 1990s, some of the computer
manufacturers had produced handheld PC and palm-size PC. Their function has
become more advanced year after year due to the rapid development of the
information technology. The processing speed of handheld PC had also improved
from mono core processor to dual core processor. The latest model of Personal
Digital Assistants (PDA), which is a current palm-size PC, can handle the various
types of data, not only texts file but also drawings and picture format files.
30 The current mobile computing has potential to improve the field work in
construction site and also enhance the productivity of construction management.
Some systems with the mobile computer had been developed. This is to help the
construction project for management. Some mobile computing system is based on
the end user computing for project management.
2.9.1.1 Mobile Computing and End User Computing
Construction is usually based on a project, which has unique features and
limitations. Construction managers need the flexibility of computing system for each
project. The concept of end user computing (EUC) is suitable for construction
managers to achieve it (Kimoto, Endo, Iwashita and Fujiwara, 2005).
Kenji had described that construction projects have their unique features and
limitations. On the other hand, the basic of process of construction management is
same even though the detail of process can be different in projects. A job in
management is composed of common formalized unit ones, and that the variation of
combination of them can correspond to the difference of jobs in projects.
Kenji had described of his product, the mobile computing system. The
Mobile Computing System is composed of two programs: the data input program in
PDA and the output and analysis program in the spreadsheet application software of
PC. Application software is a suitable tool for EUC. It can be select and combined
freely according to the request of end users. The medium of the current system for
the data transfer is a memory card. All of data related to the project, such as drawing
files and list content files, is stored in a memory card attached to PDA. The data
generated by the operation on PDA is also stored in it. On the other hand, the
different subsystems need to access the same information. The system shares the
common information effectively.
31 It is useful especially in the application of computer-aided engineering for
construction management because construction projects have many unique features
and limitations. Users can make up the suitable workflow with the combination of
formalized user interfaces as design pattern in this system. The input data with PDA
are transferred to the system in PC. Users can analyze them and make some graphical
outputs easily and quickly.
Data input with PDA
Output and analysis with PC
Figure 2.1: Data transfer between PDA and PC
2.9.2
Automating Progress Measurement of Construction Projects
Many construction companies consider the measurement of work in progress
to be one of the most challenging problems faced by project management (Navon,
2005). In construction projects, site managers normally spend a significant amount of
time for measuring, recording and analysing the progress of work. This is essential
for many business and project management functions such as cost and schedule
control, financial reporting, claims and productivity measurement.
Zhang had described that several construction companies have started
exploiting the use of digital imaging in supporting the visual inspection task. The
captured images on the construction site are used in examining the progress of work,
minimizing the need for site visiting. However, he also mentioned that digital
imaging has so far been limited to supporting the visual inspection task due to the
32 link of captured images with bar charts in order to highlight the difference between
schedule and actual progress.
Retrieving data on the construction of building components from digital
images represents the first step in measuring the progress of work. This is because
project managers usually define the activities in the schedule at a different level of
detail.
Retrieving data on structure from images however is a hard problem,
especially in cases where the images are incomplete and noisy, such as images taken
from construction sites (Zhang, 2009).
2.10
PDA’s History and Feature
The first prototype of handheld organiser was developing by the Psion in the
mid-1980s and later in spring of 1984, Psion had launched its first organiser in the
world which is called Psion 1. The Psion 1 can be considered the first PDA (Personal
Digital Assistant). The Psion 1 was slightly longer and thicker than a large package
of cigarettes and was built using the 8-bit technology. Besides that, Psion 1 was
using the 10K character storage to store its data and it’s also performed basic
organiser function such as recording a phone book, addresses, clock, calculator and
daily schedules. The Psion is using only 16-character mono chrome LCD display.
The launch of Psion 1 was very successful and later in year 1986, Psion 2 was
developed and launched. This Psion 2 was more powerful than Psion 1 and it had
64K ROM and 32K RAM memory for bigger data storage and also a wide 4 x 20
character display for wider display purpose and then later the Series 3a Psion which
is representing a new generation of PDAs. The Psion Series 3a was created based on
16-bit technology and with LCD which consist of 40 characters x 8 lines. The Psion
Series 3a also include 58-key keyboard and this PDA was first built to link to
desktop PC for data transfer. Psion Series 5 was created followed up the success of
Series 3a which was based on 32-bit technology on its mobile processor. The Psion 5
had 640 x 240 pixels of display LCD and this is a great advance of LCD technology.
33 In 1993 Apple Computer Inc. tried to copy Psion’s success, Apple Computer
had introduced the world to the first PDAs, the Newton. They were dubbed as PDA
by John Sculley, former chairman of Apple Computer Inc, and were sold as the
ultimate information appliance. Sculley predicted PDAs will become ubiquitous tool
that would hold telephone number, keep your calendar, store notes, plus send and
receive data wirelessly. Although, the Newton was not able to deliver all of those
features at the time it was released.
For the next three year, PDA was dwindled, and was almost off the charts.
Then in March 1996, PalmTM, Inc. delivered the industry’s first truly compelling
handheld computer, the Palm Pilot. A robust yet small go-anywhere device that
helped people manage and organise their personal and professional lives by
providing instant, anytime access to schedule, important phone numbers, to-do lists
and other key information. This new type of information management was met with
tremendous acceptance. Mobile, busy people embraced the small and powerful
PalmTM handhelds. Today Sculley’s predictions have come true in the form of the
PalmTM VII, the first and only wireless data transfer PDA. New PDA which is called
Pocket PC is continue to arrive from PalmTM, Psion/Symbian, IBM, Apple, Compaq,
HP, Motorola, Sony and others.
2.10.1 History of Pocket PC
On April 19th, 2000, Microsoft unveiled the new handheld OS which built
main core to support and driven operating in the Palm-size PC time which called
Window CE 2000 and it is the first operating system use in the Compaq Aero 2180.
But before Pocket PC was released, there were other window-based machine of the
same form factor made by HP, Philip and other Palm-size PC. These devices run
Window CE 2.0-2.11 and had an interface that was nearly identical to the thencurrent desktop version of window. The launch of Window CE 2000 and Compaq
Aero 2180 had convinced everyone that in the near future, the world can expect the
34 next step in PDA performance in the smart phone. It will combine a wireless phone
with all of the functions of a PDA.
In the previous operation system, Microsoft Window Mobile 2003 for Pocket
PC, consist of the Window CE.NET 4.2 operating system bundled with scaled-down
versions of many popular desktop applications, including Microsoft Outlook, Internet
Explorer, Microsoft Office, Window Media Player and others. Past Pocket PC
operating system include Pocket PC 2002 (launched Oct 2001) and Pocket PC 2000
(launched April 2000), both running Window CE 3.0 underneath. But in nowadays,
Microsoft current release is Window Mobile 2003 SE, which add native landscape
support as well as other fixes and changes to those features already present in the
original release of Window Mobile 2003. The first device to come with 2003 SE was
the Dell Axim x30.
Window Mobile 5.0, internally code-named Magneto, was officially released
by Microsoft by 10th May 2005. Based on Window CE 5.1, Window Mobile 5
incorporates features such as Direct 3D mobile, integrated Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, and
the ability to be mounted as a USB mass storage device, bypassing ActiveSync.
Pocket Word and Pocket Excel have been renamed to Word Mobile and Excel
Mobile, respectively, and both applications have gained more complete features sets,
including support for tables, ordered lists, and embedded graphic in Word Mobile
and support for chart in Excel Mobile. Power Point Mobile, a new addition to the
office mobile suite, supports the ability to display and edit PowerPoint presentation
in a Pocket PC. Window Mobile 5 also improves support for one-handed usage by
inserting two, context-sensitive “soft” button of the screen which can be mapped to
hardware buttons to any specific device.
Window Mobile 5 marks the convergence of the Phone Edition and
Professional Edition operating systems into one system that contains both phone and
PDA capabilities. A ‘Phone’ application is now included in the OS and all PIM
applications have been updated to interface with it. Window Mobile 2005 is
compatible with Microsoft’s Smartphone operating system and is capable of running
smartphone application.
35 Pocket PC running previous versions of the operating system generally stored
user-installed applications and data in RAM, which meant that if the battery was
depleted the device would lose all of its data. Window Mobile 5 solves this problem
by storing all user data in the ROM, leaving the RAM to be used only for running
applications, as it would be on a desktop computer. As a result, Window Mobile 5
Pocket PC generally has a greater amount of flash ROM and a smaller amount of
RAM, compared to earlier devices.
2.10.2 Features of Pocket PC
A Pocket PC is a handheld-size computer that runs a specific version of the
Window CE operating system. It has many capabilities of modern desktop PCs.
Currently there are thousands of applications for Pocket PC, many of which are
freeware. Some of these devices, running Microsoft Window Mobile 2003 Phone
Edition, also include mobile phone features. Pocket PC can be also used with many
other add-on like GPS receivers, barcode readers and camera. According to
Microsoft, the Pocket PC is a ‘handheld device that enable user to store and retrieve
e-mail, contacts and appointments, play games, play multimedia files, exchange text
messages with MSN Messenger, browse the website and more’.
Pocket PC is commonly abbreviated as ‘PPC’. From a technical standpoint,
Pocket PC is a standard from Microsoft that sets various hardware and software
requirement for mobile devices bearing the ‘Pocket PC’ level.
Any device which is to be classified as Pocket PC must have:
•
Run Microsoft Window CE (Pocket PC version) operating system
•
Come bundled with a specific suite of application in ROM
•
Include a touch screen
•
Include a directional pad or touch pad
•
Include a set of hardware application buttons
36 •
Be based on a ARM version 4 compatible CPU, Intel XScale CPU,
MIPS CPU or SH3 CPU
2.11
Operating System Platform for Handheld Computer
Generally, there are three types of Operating System Platform for handheld
computer. There are Palm Operating System, Window Mobile Operating System and
Symbian Operating System. This option will briefly discuss each operating system
platform and their histories of improvement from released date until now.
2.11.1 Palm OS (Operating System)
Palm OS (also known as Garnet OS) is an embedded operating system
initially developed by U.S. Robotics-owned Palm Computing, Inc. for personal
digital assistants (PDAs) in 1996. Palm OS is designed for ease of use with a
touchscreen-based graphical user interface. It is provided with a suite of basic
applications for personal information management. Several other licensees have
manufactured devices powered by Palm OS. The currently licensed version from
ACCESS is now called Garnet OS, as the Palm trademark belongs to Palm, Inc.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palm_OS).
From the historical review, Palm had firstly released the Palm OS Version 1.0
in 1996. Palm OS v1.0 is the original version present on the Pilot 1000 and 5000.
Palm OS 2.0 was introduced on March 10, 1997 with the Palm Pilot Personal and
Professional. This version adds TCP/IP network, network HotSync, and display
backlight support. Palm OS 3.0 was introduced on March 9, 1998 with the launch of
the Palm III series. This version adds IrDA infrared and enhanced font support. This
version also features updated PIM applications and an update to the application
launcher. Palm OS 4.0 was released with the new Palm m500 series on March 19,
37 2001. This version adds a standard interface for external file system access (such as
SD cards). External file systems are a radical change to the operating system's
previous in-place execution. Now, application code and data need to be loaded into
the device's RAM, similar to desktop operating system behaviour. A new Universal
Connector with USB support is introduced. The previous optional Mobile Internet
Kit is now part of the operating system. Version 4.0 adds an attention manager to
coordinate information from different applications, with several possibilities to get
the user's attention, including sound, LED blinking or vibration. 16-bit colour screens
and different time zones are supported. This version also has security and UI
enhancements. Palm OS 5 (not called 5.0) was unveiled by the Palm subsidiary Palm
Source in June 2002 and first implemented on the Palm Tungsten T. It is the first
version released to support ARM devices, with support for DragonBall applications
through the Palm Application Compatibility Environment (PACE) emulator
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palm_OS).
Palm OS Cobalt (6.0) was the designated successor for Palm OS 5. It was
introduced on February 10, 2004. Palm OS 6.0 was renamed to Palm OS Cobalt to
make clear that this version was initially not designated to replace Palm OS 5, which
adopted the name Palm OS Garnet at the same time. Palm OS Cobalt introduced
modern operating system features to an embedded operating system based on a new
kernel with multitasking and memory protection, a modern multimedia and graphic
framework (derived from Palm's acquired BeOS), new security features, and
adjustments of the PIM file formats to better cooperate with Microsoft Outlook. Palm
OS Cobalt 6.1 presented standard communication libraries for telecommunication,
Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth connectivity. Despite other additions, it failed to interest
potential licensees to Palm OS Cobalt (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palm_OS).
2.11.2 Window Mobile OS (Operating System)
Over the past two decades, Microsoft Windows products have evolved from a
single, one-size-fits-all desktop operating system into a diverse family of operating
38 systems and mobile technologies. Today, Windows products help people worldwide
achieve their potential at work, home, and just about any place in between.
Windows Mobile is a compact operating system combined with a suite of
basic applications for mobile devices based on the Microsoft Win32 API. It is
designed to be somewhat similar to desktop versions of Windows, feature-wise and
aesthetically. Additionally, third-party software development is available for
Windows Mobile.
Originally appearing as the Pocket PC 2000 operating system, Windows
Mobile has been updated several times, with the current version being Windows
Mobile 6.1 and a future 6.5 release planned for release toward the end of 2009.
Pocket PC 2000, originally codenamed "Rapier",was released on April 19, 2000, and
was based on Windows CE 3.0. Pocket PC 2000 was intended mainly for Pocket PC
devices, however several Palm-Size PC devices had the ability to be updated as well.
In addition, several Pocket PC 2000 phones were released, however the Smartphone
hardware platform was not yet created (Wikipedia).
Pocket PC 2002, originally codenamed “Merlin”, was released in October
2000. It was powered by Windows CE 3.0. Pocket PC 2002 was also used for Pocket
PC phones, and for the first time, Smartphones (Morris and Taylor, 2001). Windows
Mobile 2003, originally codenamed “Ozone”, was released on June 23, 2003, and
was the first release under the Windows Mobile banner. It came in four editions:
“Windows Mobile 2003 for Pocket PC Premium Edition”, “Windows Mobile 2003
for Pocket PC Professional Edition”, “Windows Mobile 2003 for Smartphone” and
“Windows Mobile 2003 for Pocket PC Phone Edition”. The last was designed
especially for Pocket PCs which include phone functionalities (Wikipedia).
Windows Mobile 5.0, originally codenamed “Magneto”, was released at
Microsoft’s Mobile and Embedded Developers Conference 2005 in Las Vegas, May
9–May 12, 2005 (Microsoft). Windows Mobile 6, formerly codenamed "Crossbow",
was released on February 12, 2007, at the 3GSM World Congress 2007. It comes in
39 three different versions. Windows Mobile 6 is powered by Windows CE 5.0 (version
5.2) and is strongly linked to Windows Live and Exchange 2007 products
(Wikipedia). The latest product of Window Mobile is Window Mobile 6.1. Windows
Mobile 6.1 was announced April 1, 2008. It is a minor upgrade to the existing
Windows Mobile 6 platform.
Windows Mobile 6 is a platform for mobile devices, based on Windows CE
5.0, and used in a wide variety of third party hardware, such as Personal digital
assistants (PDAs) and smartphones. Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 and the Windows
Mobile SDK, make it possible to create software for the Windows Mobile platform
in both native (Visual C++) and managed (Visual C#, Visual Basic .NET) code.
(a)
(b)
(d)
(c)
(e)
40 Figure 2.2: (a) Interface of Pocket PC 2000, (b) Interface of Pocket PC 2002
(c) Interface of Pocket PC 2003, (d) Interface of Window Mobile 5.0 and (e)
Interface of Window Mobile 6.1
Generally, the features of Window Mobile (based on Window Mobile 6
platform) are state as follow (Microsoft & Wikipedia):
•
320x320 and 800x480 (WVGA) screen resolution support
•
Office Mobile support for Smartphones
•
Operating System Live Update
•
Improved Remote Desktop access (Available for only certain Pocket
PCs)
•
VoIP (Internet calling) support with AEC (Acoustic Echo Cancelling)
and MSRT Audio Codec
•
Windows Live for Windows Mobile
•
Customer Feedback option
•
Enhanced Microsoft Bluetooth Stack
•
Storage Card Encryption (encryption keys are lost if device is coldbooted).
•
Smart filter for searching within programs
•
Improved Internet Sharing
•
HTML email support in Outlook Mobile
•
Search ability for contacts in an Exchange Server Address Book
•
AJAX, JavaScript, and XMLDOM support on Internet Explorer Mobile
•
Out of Office Replies with Microsoft Exchange 2007
•
Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) support for select operators
•
Server Search on Microsoft Exchange 2007
•
Dot NET Compact Framework v2 SP2 Preinstalled in ROM
•
Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Compact Edition Preinstalled in ROM
•
OneNote Mobile as a companion to Microsoft Office OneNote
•
Office Mobile 6.1 announced with support for Office 2007 document
formats (pptx, docx, xlsx).
41 Among many Microsoft products, Window Mobile is a very successful
operating system platform for small portable PC suite. Devices that run Windows
Mobile include Pocket PCs, Smartphones, Portable Media Centers, and on-board
computers for certain automobiles.
2.11.3 Symbian OS Platform
Symbian is a software licensing company that develops and licenses Symbian
OS™, the market-leading open operating system for mobile phones. Generally,
Symbian OS is used for most of the mobile as OS platform. Symbian OS is a
proprietary operating system designed for mobile devices, with associated libraries,
user interface, frameworks and reference implementations of common tools,
developed by Symbian Ltd. It is a descendant of Psion's EPOC and runs exclusively
on ARM processors. On 24 June 1998, Symbian Ltd. was formed as a partnership
between Ericsson, Nokia, Motorola and Psion, to exploit the convergence between
PDAs and mobile phones (Wikipedia).
Symbian OS is designed and optimised for low-power battery-based devices
and for ROM-based systems (e.g. features like XIP and re-entrancy in shared
libraries). That is suite to small devices such as mobile phone. Symbian OS kernel
(EKA2) supports sufficiently-fast real-time response such that it is possible to build a
single-core phone around it. This is one of the great benefit of Symbian OS and has
allowed SymbianOS EKA2 phones to become smaller, cheaper and more power
efficient (Wikipedia).
Before Symbian OS was developed, Psion is the first operation system
founded by David Potter. Then Psion was introduced EPOC as a graphical operating
system to support the portable devices. The first official release was Symbian version
5.0, it was released on such devices as Psion Revo, Psion Netbook, netPad, Ericsson
MC218. Symbian OS v6.0, was introduced in 2001 which can support for GPRS
system. In 2002, Symbian v7.0 was introduced to welcome the world of GSM. It also
42 added EDGE support and IPv6. Java support was changed from pJava and JavaPhone
to one based on the Java ME standard. Symbian v8.0 was introduced in 2004, also
included new APIs to support CDMA, 3G, two-way data streaming, DVB-H, and
OpenGL ES with vector graphics and direct screen access (Wikipedia). Until now,
Symbian OS v9.5 was released to support for mobile digital television broadcasts in
DVB-H and ISDB-T formats and also location services. The great improvement in
Symbian OS has made the operating system become a successful platform among
most of the mobile devices.
Figure 2.3: Symbian OS Platform that used in most of the mobile devices
2.12
Modelling
Modelling refers to the process of generating a model as a conceptual
representation of some phenomenon. Modelling is an essential and inseparable part
of all scientific activity. The professional modeller brings special skills and
techniques to bear in order to produce results that are insightful, reliable, and useful.
The techniques include sophisticated statistical methods, computer simulation,
system identification, and sensitivity analysis are valuable tools (Aouad, Lee and Wu
2007). They however are not as important as the ability to understand the underlying
dynamics of a complex system. These insights are needed to assess whether the
assumptions of a model are correct and complete. The modeller must be able to
recognize whether a model reflects reality, and to identify and deal with divergences
between theory and data.
43 Now there are many specific techniques that modellers use, which enable us
to discover aspect of reality that may not be obvious to everyone. One of the
essentials is the understanding of the role that assumptions play in the development
of the model. The usual approach to model development is to characterise the system,
make some assumptions about how it works and translate these into equations and a
simulation program. After simulation one of the final steps is the validation.
However in this study, a model of construction jobsite monitoring system is
developed by using Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0. The developed model is a physical,
mathematical, or logical representation of a system entity, phenomenon, or process.
2.12.1 In Existence Model
Site Monitor Enterprise (by TEC Software) and Lotus Organiser are the
software used to monitor the construction site daily progress and used for keeping
site diary records.
Both software are currently exists in the software market.
Software called Site Journal - The Construction Site Diary Software, also an useful
software for keeping site record.
Site Monitor Enterprise is a complete turnkey solution for starting a profitable
web site monitoring service. It includes a web based control panel that your
customers can use to manage their monitoring accounts. It also includes an
administrative control panel that you can use to manage your customers. The features
included in the web site monitoring service rival or exceed the features offered by
most web site monitoring companies.
44 2.12.2 Lotus Organiser
Lotus Organiser was developed by the Lotus Corporation (1996).
This
software provides more sophisticated facilities than a paper-based organizer and is
intended to be used as a personal time manager. It works as a computerized diary as
well as providing many other functions such as notepad, planner and managing
names and addresses. Additionally, the organizer also provides some other useful
functions that use the computer's powerful facilities, such as searching for specific
information and cross-referencing or linking information maintained within the
context of the organizer.
2.12.2.1
Lotus Organiser Features
In this section, a brief description of how the different parts of the Lotus
Organizer can be used for keeping site diary records. Instead of using the ordinary
diary or standard form, the staff member would simply enter the daily information in
the appropriately defined sections of the organizer appearing on the computer's
screen. Of course, a copy of the daily records could be printed out when required.
Diary Section
The diary can be used to schedule activities on a daily basis and for specific
events to record exactly when they occurred. The diary format can be displayed in a
number of ways, e.g., day per page, week per page, etc., and the start and end time of
the work day can be set to the nearest hour, e.g., 8am to 6pm. The time slots between
records on any day can also be controlled and may vary between 5 minutes and 60
minutes. Thus, for work progressing all day, this would probably be recorded against
a time of (say) 8.00am, whereas for work that only started in the afternoon, this
would be recorded as starting at (say) 2.00pm. The times at which specific
instructions were given could also be recorded as shown in the example (see Figure
2.4). It is clear that the searching process would be simplified if the activities
45 recorded in the electronic diary were kept with specific codes and for this purpose,
the activities in the contractor’s plan would normally be the basis for categorization.
Figure 2.4: Lotus Organizer diary page
Notepad Section
The notepad section of the organizer can be used to keep notes or memos,
which on a normal non-computerized organizer would be written on paper. In the
computer version, the diarist can type as much text as s/he would like and can scroll
up and down the text if it is longer than one page. The contents of the notepad can
easily be arranged into a number of chapters, which for a site diary might include:
list of activities, site instructions, delays, problems encountered, information
requested, etc., and would appear in a table of contents at the first page of the
notepad (see Figure 2.5). This would facilitate easier access in a very systematic
manner to the information maintained and would also allow easy addition of
information related to each chapter. By relating each of the activities/ delays/ site
46 instructions, etc., to a code number, the diary pages can simply report work
progressing on an activity by referencing its code, which could be looked up in the
notepad section for further details.
Figure 2.5: Lotus Organizer notepad section
2.12.3 Site Journal
The Site Journal for Windows is software for the daily construction report
(building journal). It is intended to help site-supervising architects, engineers, and
construction company’s document site inspections. The construction diary is one of
the most important tool, to head off a quarrel, and furthermore it probative in court.
All important data, events and associated site photos are conveniently processed and
managed with this slim and fast construction diary software.
47 This program lets user enter daily progress reports right during their site
inspection. It uses the company list of their project so that the actual writing effort is
significantly reduced. Site Journal for Windows must be installed on user computer
to print daily progress reports or to convert them into PDF files. User should first
create his or her company list there and export it into the ActiveSync directory for
his/ her pocket PC. This software can be use on Window Mobile as the operation
platform. Then they can load Site Journal Mobile Edition and create their daily
progress report. Finally, the user imports the daily progress reports from their pocket
PC to Site Journal for PC. This is very easy to do using the ActiveSync program that
establishes the connection between the pocket PC and the desktop. There user can
create PDF files from the imported daily progress reports, browse, print, and send
reports.
Figure 2.6: Interface for Site Journal in Window Platform
48 Figure 2.7: User can enter everyone present by selecting from the company list and
record the performance status in note form. The text is completed later in the office.
Figure 2.8: Fast recording of defects, delays, obstructions, instructions, acceptances,
additional comments, building material deliveries, etc. Documentation of scheduled
deliveries.
49 2.12.4 JKR SKALA System
JKR (Public Work Department) used JKR SKALA system for project
monitoring. It was introduced in 1985. SKALA is an acronym for “Contract System”,
“Supervising” dan “Reporting”. It is a project monitoring system using the Web and
the Internet as a communication medium for projects’ data input as well as reporting.
The system has been in place since 1985 with Release 1. Now, they are in Release 9
of the system.
Since its implementation, it has helps in many areas. Follow are the features and
benefits of the SKALA system (JKR info):
•
It provides a communication channel that enables the top management
and the project implementation officers throughout the country to
centrally inform, reports, and monitor projects’ lifecycle.
•
It stops double data-handling by the reporting officer since the data
needs to fill once through the web. The reports for the top managers are
created by the system.
•
The management group can avoid from rely on preparing the report
information in construction project monitoring due to its unorganized
and inaccurate systems.
•
SKALA system also can collect the data for the purposes of analysis on
project monitoring of JKR project. By using the new feature of system,
named as “Table of Planning for Implemented Project”, JKR manage to
improve the management of the project monitoring and project
controlling. It’s also helped to achieve the objective of JKR which is
improving the quality of JKR’s work and enhance the customers’ faith
to JKR.
50 •
The increasing of productivity work in planning state and project
implementation state. The project can be monitored effectively and
resulted from the latest information provided by the system.
•
The information from SKALA system also can be transferred to Project
Monitoring System II (SPP II - Sistem Pemantauan Projek II), Prime
Minister Department (Jabatan Perdana Menteri). This system had
brought great advantages to the nation development.
Figure 2.9: Front page of the SKALA system webpage
2.13
Microsoft Visual Basic
2.13.1 Introduction to Microsoft Visual Basic
It's a computer programming system developed and owned by Microsoft
Visual Basic was originally created to make it easier to write programs for the
Windows computer operating system. The basis of Visual Basic is an earlier
programming language called BASIC. Visual Basic is often referred to using just the
initials; VB. Visual Basic is easily the most widely used computer programming
system in the history of software. Visual basic is the interaction between user and
51 system event. It is a program called event- driven programming. Furthermore, this
program is fast interacting with the user by giving a command language; where else a
user can control the activities in the programme. A Visual Basic application or
project typically requires some input, processing and output. For interaction with
user, the project will typically use several control such as forms text and picture
boxes, labels and command buttons.
Using these controls, the users can control the programme execution. A
programmer can put together an application using the components provided with
Visual Basic itself. Programs written in Visual Basic can also use the Windows API,
but doing so requires external function declarations.
2.13.2 Microsoft Visual Studio 2008
Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 offers developers an integrated environment for
designing, developing, and testing next-generation applications for Windows, the
Web, and multiple devices. Language improvements in Microsoft Visual Basic 2008
simplify source code and enable interaction with components that use advanced
features. Microsoft Visual Basic 2008 introduces new language features, including
local type inference, object initialises, anonymous types, and extension methods.
These features serve as support for an important new feature, Language-Integrated
Query (LINQ), but they are also useful individually.
Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Professional Edition provided a full-featured
development environment for Microsoft Office, Windows Mobile, Windows Server
and Web-based applications.
Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Professional Edition highlights the items as below:
•
Build applications for Windows Client, Web, Microsoft Office system, .NET
Framework, SQL Server, and Windows Mobile with integrated drag-anddrop designers.
52 •
Ensure application correctness easily with integrated unit testing.
•
Design complex Office Ribbons with the Ribbon Designer and the provided
Ribbon controls.
•
Build applications to target SQL Server by using Microsoft Visual Basic® or
Microsoft Visual C#® code directly within the database.
•
Developers can leverage rich design-time support for Microsoft SQL Server
Compact 3.5 in device projects.
•
Add an MSDN Premium Subscription or MSDN Professional Subscription to
Visual Studio 2008 Professional Edition for access to a wide variety of
resources and technical support options.
2.13.3 Environment in Microsoft Visual Basic 2008
Microsoft Visual Basic 2008 consists of several elements that used to develop
a program. Figure below shows the elements in Microsoft Visual Basic 2008.
Figure 2.10: Environment in Microsoft Visual Basic 2008
53 2.13.4 Smart Device Application
Starting from Microsoft Visual Basic.NET 2003, user can create applications
for smart devices such as Pocket PCs, computer running with Window CE, as long as
those machines have the .NET Compact Framework installed. Windows Mobile is a
platform for mobile devices based on Windows Embedded CE, and used in a wide
variety of third-party hardware such as personal digital assistants (PDAs) and
smartphones. Microsoft Visual Studio and the Windows Mobile SDK make it
possible to create software for the Windows Mobile platform in both native code
(Visual C++) and managed code (Visual C#, Visual Basic .NET).
Smart device applications support many remote concept applications. It
connect the databases in various ways normally it contain local databases stored in
Temp folder. It maintain temp database. Smart device applications are of two types:
¾ Pocket PC
¾ Windows CE
Figure 2.11: Environment of Smart Device Applications in Microsoft Visual Basic
2008
54 CHAPTER 3
METHODOLOGY
3.1
Introduction
There are main two aspects in this methodology’s study; firstly, it is
important to find the current practice of construction jobsite monitoring system. This
aspect should initially allow observation to provide a full understanding of the
procedures and activities that involved in construction jobsite monitoring system.
The factors that influence in construction jobsite monitoring system are accessibility,
legibility, continuity, consistency, etc. These factors can be later used for the model
development as the model inputs.
Secondly, it is anticipated that it will be possible to develop a conceptual
model for construction jobsite monitoring system. This conceptual model basically
will developed using programming language tool. The developed conceptual model
then will be tested in PDA and a series of evaluation will be done on this model. The
research study should follow a pre-determined plan if it is to run both effectively and
efficiently.
Nowadays the application of computer software to develop a model is more
and more popular. The developed model is easy to use and it is a very convenience
tool for engineers to calculate or process data with accurate and monitors the
construction progress as well. For this study, the main aim is to develop a
construction jobsite monitoring model using computer programming language tool.
55 Therefore, Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 was used as the programming language tool
to develop the model.
The methodology of this study is shown in flow chart as follow;
Identify Problems
Establish the aims and objectives
Information Gathering
Literature Review
Questionnaire
Interview
Development of
Software system
Evaluation of the software
Modification
Finalist
Figure 3.1: The flow chart of methodology
3.2
Research Process
The research process is mainly divided into two phases. In first phase, this
research involved literature review and construction industrial’s practical review to
identify the most common used monitoring system in construction site.
Questionnaire will be carried out as a pilot study, to investigate the current practice
of construction jobsite monitoring in UTM area. Besides, an interview also will be
conducted with the site engineer or site supervisor to gain some information as the
finding of industrial’s practical.
A simple analysis of data from the interview
56 questionnaire will be conducted for selecting and ranking of the most common items
used in construction site diary.
Later on, in second phase of this research will involve the rapid prototyping
method in process of creating prototype. The prototype as a primary platform for site
diary then will be used in PDA.
3.3
Research Methodology
The research study contained 6 steps and listed below in chronological order:
i.
Literature review;
ii.
Data collection;
iii.
Conceptual model development;
iv.
Prototype development;
v.
Validation and Synchronization;
vi.
Conclusion and Recommendation.
3.3.1 Literature Review
The main aim to carry out the literature review is to ensure basic
understanding of the topic itself. It is also a method to analyse former study within
the scope of the topic. It has been done by referring to articles, journals, paperwork,
thesis and also relevant books.
Most of the literature review is regarding to the method to digitalize and
computerize the construction site monitoring system and the current practice of the
monitoring system. From the literature review, most information about the digitalize
and computerize on the construction site monitoring system is limited due to
57 limitation of the scope of each study. Detail discussions on these studies are given in
Chapter 2.
The outputs of these reviews give the better understanding of the method that
need to be used to develop the prototype of the monitoring system. The literature
review was carried out for whole journey of this study.
3.3.2
Data Collection
The process of collecting information from various sources is called data
collection. The author had collected the information for developing the construction
jobsite monitoring system from various sources such as internet, magazine, articles,
conference papers, reports, and even opinion of experienced people in the relevant
field. The data collection stage was supported with the questionnaire survey and
interview session.
3.3.2.1 Questionnaire Survey
Preparation of questionnaire survey involved review process to ensure that
the questionnaires are relevant to the study conducted. It also to ensure the accuracy
of the information acquired. The main purpose of conducting the questionnaire
survey was to highlight the current practice and support the existing practice for
monitoring the project progress, which were identified through the unstructured
interviews with the professional, industry requirements that related to construction
project monitoring method.
From the early literature review, it was possible to list down the most current
method used to monitor the construction project at site. The questionnaire was
divided into three sections as follow:
58 a) Section A
In this part of questionnaire, the designed questionnaire will get the background
and basic information of the respondent. Besides, this part also can determine
how experience is the targeted respondent which will be used to later in judging
the performance of the prototype.
b) Section B
In this part, the question will be designed to approach the respondent to find out
how is the current method used to record the construction work progress and
what is the specification needed to put in daily into the prototype.
c) Section C
In this part, the question will be designed to find out the proposed system in
order to improve to current method in recording the construction work progress
and the recommendation of the respondent for the proposed method. The
collected data will be used to review in the prototype development.
3.3.2.2 Interview
The interviews conducted at the same time while the respondent answering
the questionnaire. There are several purposes why the interviews are conducted at
the same time while answering the questionnaire:
•
To ensure the respondents can respond properly to the questionnaire
•
To ensure that the respondents submit the questionnaire to be evaluated on
later
•
To ensure the accuracy of the information obtained from the respondents
59 •
To gain more relevant information from the respondents that may be not
included in the questionnaire
3.3.3
Conceptual of Model Development
A conceptual model is a map of concepts and their relationships. Concept is
the rough plan of an idea which is formulated before it is put into development. It
gives the model developer better understanding of the model before start to develop a
model. Conceptual development of a model is important because:
i.
It presents a rough idea in the sketches of a paper so that the developer or
other people can visualize the idea.
ii.
It allows the developer to see the bigger and entire picture of the idea.
iii.
It allows addiction and rectification to be done before the development of the
project commences.
Using all available information and with the assistance of appropriate
disciplinary expertise, a conceptual model for construction jobsite monitoring system
was developed. The gathered information was based on the data collection from the
questionnaire survey and interview analysis.
Sketches and software prototype conceptual are drawn as Figure shown
below:
60 Manpower Daily Works Digital Photography Materials Delivery
Construction Jobsite Monitoring System
Machinery
Weather
Data Integration Microsoft Project (PC Window platform) Data updated to PC
Figure 3.2: Sketches and software prototype
3.3.4
Prototype Development
Prototype is an easily modified and extensible model (representation,
simulation or demonstration) of a planned software system, likely including its
interface and input/output functionality. The purpose of prototyping is the design
verification phase of product development used to demonstrate or prove aspects of a
design. Prototyping is simply taking the design from the virtual and imaginary realm
to the physical world.
Figure 3.3 below shows graphically the steps that involved in developing the
prototype (Microsoft Visual Basic programming):
61 Figure 3.3: Steps in Programming Development
i.
Plan the study. This involves determining what would like to do with the
study.
ii.
Design user interface. The interface is the most visible part of the project. It is
used to interact with the system. Controls such as command buttons, text
boxes and labels must be determined because they are needed to enter data
(input), to display result of computation (output), and to control the program
execution (processing).
iii.
Set properties of the controls. Determine the controls that will need the
project and set the properties such as appearance, name, caption and colour
for each of the controls used.
iv.
Coding. The code represents the action that must take when the user clicks on
Command button. Clicking a Command button is called an event and the
code represents a response to that event.
62 v.
Testing and debug the system. After developing the software, it must be
tested thoroughly with a set of control data and then debugged to ensure that
there are no errors. The software will be test run. When any error appears, the
programming codes that cause the errors are rectified immediately.
3.3.5
Prototype Testing and Evaluation
The system was performed prototype testing for design optimisation. All
system must perform prototype testing to assure its fit, function, operability,
satisfaction, performance and reliability. When the developed prototype is satisfied,
the prototype will be run in the real construction area with the input of realistic data.
The results of testing must comply with the objectives that established in chapter 1.
The evaluation of the prototype is to assess the performance of the prototype.
Easy-to-use evaluation was conducted to the prototype to evaluate the ease of
prototype to operate in real project.
3.3.6
Conclusion and Recommendation
As a conclusion of the research methodology, all of the literature review of
current practice of construction jobsite monitoring system in Malaysia, the review of
standard construction site diary and the questionnaire survey and interview that had
done in the first phase of this research. The development of the prototype is carried
out at the second phase and this is the most critical part of this research as author
need to consume much time in prototype development and debug the system. The
relevant recommendation will be carried out to improve the system for next research
once the prototype is finished developed.
63 CHAPTER 4
DATA ANALYSIS
4.1
Introduction
This chapter will discuss the collected data, the analysis of the data and
interpreted the results in the required manners. The data were analyzed by using the
Relative Index (RI) and other technique to identify the most suitable method and the
reasons in using construction jobsite monitoring system for construction works at site.
4.2
Respondent Background
Six respondents had given a good cooperation to the questionnaire.
Respondent’s experiences and the organisation which serviced are very important in
this study to determine the accuracy of information delivered.
In section A of questionnaire, the three questions that had been questioned are
the organisation which serviced the working experience and the highest academic
qualification of respondent.
Among the six respondents, three of the respondents are belong to contractor
firms and another three of them are belong to consultant services. Four of the
64 respondents are holding their position as resident engineer and another two
respondents are site engineer and project manager.
Table 4.1 and Figure 4.1 below had showed the working experience of
respondents. Three or 50% of the respondents had less than 3 years of working
experience. Another three of respondents each had 3-5 years, 5-8 years and over 15
years of working experience.
Table 4.1: Gathered data for year experience of the respondents
Working Experience (Year)
Total of Respondents
Percentage (%)
Less than 3 years
3
50
3 - 5 years
1
16.7
5 - 8 years
1
16.7
8 - 10 years
0
0
10 - 15 years
0
0
Over 15 years
1
16.7
Total
6
100
Figure 4.1: Percentage breakdown of respondent base on years of practice
65 Table 4.2 and Figure 4.2 below showed that the highest academic
qualification that respondents had possessed. The qualifications stated in
questionnaire are Diploma, Bachelor Degree, Master Degree and others. Five or 83.3%
of respondents had possessed Bachelor Degree as their highest academic
qualification and only one or 16.7% of the respondent holds Diploma as the highest
academic qualification.
Table 4.2: Highest academic qualification of respondents
Highest Academic
Qualification
Total of Respondents
Percentage (%)
Diploma
1
16.7
Bachelor Degree
5
83.3
Master Degree
0
0
Others
0
0
Total
6
100
Figure 4.2: Percentage breakdown of respondent’s highest academic qualification
66 4.3
Current Practice Used to Record the Construction Work Progress
As mentioned in the scope of study earlier, the current practice is needed to
do as one part of the research methodology in this study. A series of analysis was
made to analyse the current practice used in the construction industries.
From the questionnaire surveyed, all respondents (100%) did use the site
diary to record the daily works. The form of site diary used is paper based site diary.
None of them used electronic based site dairy as their record of work progress.
PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) is known as a useful device to help the user
to organize their works and store their data in electronic form. During the respondent
was filling the questionnaire form, an informal interview was conducted to the
respondents. Among the 6 respondents, only one of them had owned a PDA device.
The respondent who owned a PDA had used the PDA as their personal reminder and
also had some tasks in his PDA are related to their work.
Table 4.3 and Figure 4.3 below had showed the knowledge of respondents
about electronic site diary system. Three or 50% of the respondents had heard and
knew the electronic site diary system and another three or 50% of them are never
heard and knew the electronic site diary system.
Table 4.3: Knowledge about the electronic site diary system of respondents
Knowledge about the
electronic site diary system
Total of
Respondents
Percentage (%)
Yes
3
50
No
3
50
Total
6
100
67 Figure 4.3: Percentage breakdown of knowledge about the electronic site diary
system of respondents
Table 4.4 and Figure 4.4 below had showed the frequency of respondents to
submit the site diary to their up line manager for checking and updating the progress
work. Three or 50% of respondents were submitted the site diary by weekly. Two or
33.3% of respondents were submitted the site diary by monthly. Only one of the
respondent (16.7%) was submitted the site diary by daily.
Table 4.4: Frequency of site diary submittal of respondents
Frequency of site diary
submittal
Total of Respondents
Percentage (%)
Daily
1
16.7
Weekly
2
33.3
Monthly
3
50
Total
6
100
68 Figure 4.4: Percentage breakdown of the frequency of site diary submittal of
respondents to their up line manager
Electronic record keeping system will bring many benefits in term of
convenience, makes the works more efficient, speed and the security of the
documentation. Table 4.5 below shows the benefits by using the electronic record
keeping system. From the RI analysis, security of documentation is the most
important and the most concerned benefit by resident engineers. Then the speed of
work was ranked number 2 and followed by convenience of works and work
sufficiency.
69 Table 4.5: The benefits of electronic record keeping system
Frequency
Analysis
Liker Scale
Benefits
1
2
3
4
5
<3
>3
No. of Respondents
%
%
RI
Rank
Convenience
0
1
2
3
0
16.7
50
0.667
3
Make the work more
sufficient
0
2
1
3
0
33.3
50
0.633
4
Speed
0
2
0
3
1
33.3
66.7
0.700
2
Security of
documentation
0
0
1
2
3
0
83.3
0.867
1
Notes:
1. Total number of respondents are 6
2. Scale used: 1=Strongly disagree, 2=Disagree, 3=Uncertain, 4=Agree, 5=Strongly Agree
4.4
Recommendations of the Respondent for the Proposed Method
The last section of the questionnaire is the recommendations about the
proposed method that respondents had dropped down. The recommendations are in
term of improving of site works and the main benefits of the proposed system.
Two of the respondents were written down their recommendations while the
others just leave it blank with no recommendation. In term of site works improving,
one of the respondents had commented the system will make an easier for double
check the site works and make sure the quality of works can be controlled at site.
Another respondent had commented that the system will build up a strong financial
for company, bring a good project management and a good relationship with client,
consultant and other parties.
In term of main benefit of the proposed system, one of the respondents had
considered the security of the system and another respondent is work efficiency.
Table 4.6 below shows the comments of the respondents in term of site work
improving and work efficiency.
70 Table 4.6: The comments of the respondents in term of site work improving and
work efficiency
Comments in term of
Improving of site works
Main benefit of the
proposed system
Respondent 1
Make an easier for double
check the site works and
make sure the quality of
works can be controlled at
site
Respondent 2
Can build up a strong
financial for company, bring
a good project management
and a good relationship with
client, consultant and other
parties
Security of the system
Work efficiency
Two of the respondents agree that their company will plan to use the
electronic site diary in future. Although most of the respondents choose not agree to
use the proposed system in future works, but there is also a great potential existence
to use the proposed system in construction industry in future in order to increase the
efficiency of works. Table 4.7 and Figure 4.5 had showed the agreement of the
respondent’s company use the electronic site diary in future.
Table 4.7: The agreement of respondents to use the electronic site diary in future
Agree to use the electronic
site diary in future
Total of Respondents
Percentage (%)
Yes
2
33.3
No
4
66.7
Total
6
100
71 The agreement of respondents to use the electronic site monitoring system in future
33%
67%
Yes No
Figure 4.5: Percentage breakdown of the agreement of respondents to use the
electronic site diary in future
72 CHAPTER 5
E-SITE ORGANISER APPLICATION
5.1
Introduction
From the final product of this study, a modelling programming was
developed to monitor the construction progress and to view the construction progress
report. The program named as E-Site Organiser (for monitoring) and E-Site
Organiser Viewer (for viewing purpose) and it is an integrated construction project
monitoring system. It main purpose is to monitor the construction project progress.
This integrated program is developed by using Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0
and Microsoft Visual Studio 2008. Basically, Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 is used
to develop the monitoring program which employed in PDA and Microsoft Visual
Basic 6.0 is used to develop the E-Site Organiser Viewer which running in the
personal computer in order to view the progress report in PDF form.
In developed program, there are many buttons and combo box that used to
execute the monitoring work or to view the monitored work in report form. For ESite Organiser Viewer, user will be required to choose the option in the relevant
combo box and then press the button to view the result of construction progress
reports in relevant field.
73 Both E-Site Organiser and E-Site Organiser Viewer consist of several unique
features that allow user to key in the data or choose the option relevant to view the
relevant progress reports.
The general features in this program are:
i.
Unique interface – User interface is designed in a beautiful space background
to give user eye-soothing effect.
ii.
Quick button – User can get enter to other form by clicking the simple
buttons. The buttons are coded with coding which will link between two
different forms.
iii.
Quick reference – User can refer to the given code by clicking the button that
will link to the code reference form.
iv.
Program detail – User can read the read me file to understand the functions of
the program and run the program easily.
v.
Quick View – User can look at the result quickly once the “view” button is
clicked with respect to relevant field.
A flow chart was used to explain the structure of the program from the
welcome interface until the end of form. Both E-Site Organiser and E-Site Organiser
Viewer had shown the different application method to use the program. For E-Site
Organiser Viewer, a flow chart of the process involved in the program is as shown in
Figure 5.1 below. Figure 5.2 had shown the flow chart of the processes for E-Site
Organiser.
74 Start
Welcome Screen Interface (frmWelcome)
Program Term & Condition (frmTermCondition)
Main Menu (frmMenu)
Reports’ item viewing
interface
(frmViewReport)
Whole Progress Report
viewing interface
(frmReports)
This option is to view
the whole progress
report with
completed full report.
To view the progress
report in particular
detailing such as
monthly labour
report, monthly
machinery report,
etc.
Instruction
(frmInstruction2)
Read Me (frmReadMe)
Instruction (frmInstruction)
End
Figure 5.1: Flow chart of processes for E-Site Organiser Viewer
75 Start
Welcome Screen Interface (WelcomeForm.vb)
Password Entry (Password.vb)
Main Menu (MainMenu.vb)
Project Progress
interface
(ProjectProgress.vb)
Summary View
interface
(ProgressSummary
ViewDialog.vb)
To view the project
progress in table form
with detailing
Edit View interface
(ProgressEditView
Dialog.vb)
To edit the
project
information
To view the
project
information
in detail
End
Figure 5.2: Flow chart of processes for E-Site Organiser
76 5.2
Program Application of E-Site Organiser Viewer
Sub topics below describe the application of the E-Site Organiser Viewer
from first form (frmWelcome) to the end of forms. Each form has their own features
and its functions are explained in detail in following paragraphs.
5.2.1
Welcome Screen
When users start the program, a welcome screen will show before get into the
entry form. Figure 5.3 shown below is welcome screen. User just has to press the
Next button to get into the entry form.
Figure 5.3: Welcome Screen form interface
77 5.2.2
Term and Condition
User can view the terms and conditions of this program after accessed from
welcome form. User only can proceed to main menu by agree to the terms and
condition of this agreement. Figure 5.4 shown below is the form of term and
condition.
Figure 5.4: Term and Condition form interface
5.2.3
Main Menu
After agree with the term and condition, user can enter to the main menu.
From here, user can choose either one of the function:
i.
View The Report’s Detail – Choose to view the detail of reports’ items
ii.
View The Whole Progress Report – Choose to view the whole progress
reports
iii.
Quit – To terminate the program
78 Figure 5.5 shown below is the interface for the form of main menu.
Figure 5.5: Main Menu
5.2.4
To View the Detail of Reports’ Item
When users access into the reports’ item viewing option (frmViewReport),
this form will be appear. From here, user can choose either one of the functions:
i.
View Labour Records - To view the monthly labour records
ii.
View Machinery Records - To view the monthly machinery records
iii.
View Project Progress - To view the project task progress
iv.
View List of Materials - To view the material that had ultilised
v.
View Weather Report - To view the monthly weather report
vi.
View Engineer Instruction - To view the engineer and architect instruction
vii.
View Project Information - To view the project general information
viii.
Read Me - To view the program detail
ix.
Instruction - The instruction of the program usage
x.
Back To Menu - Click to back to main menu form
xi.
Exit - Click to terminate the program
79 Figure 5.6: Interface of reports viewer menu
5.2.5 Read Me Form
From here, user can read the text in the Read Me form to know the detail of
the program. The interface of Read Me form is shown as the figure 5.7 below.
Figure 5.7: Interface of Read Me Form
80 5.2.6
The Instruction Form
From here, user can read the instruction about the way to place the saved file
in folder in order to view the reports successfully. Figure 5.8 below had shown the
interface of Instruction form.
Figure 5.8: Interface of Instruction form
5.3
Program Application of E-Site Organiser
The E-Site Organiser is use in PDA as the working platform. Sub topics
below describe the application of the E-Site Organiser from first form (frmWelcome)
to the end of forms. Each form has their own features and its functions are explained
in detail in following paragraphs.
81 5.3.1
Welcome Screen
When users start the program, a welcome screen will show before get into the
entry form. Figure 5.9 shown below is welcome screen with unique interface. User
just has to press the Next button to get into the entry form. The Quit button is used to
quit the mobile application.
Figure 5.9: Welcome Screen on PDA interface
5.3.2 Login Screen
From here, user can key in the correct username and password to get into the
main menu form. User can use the mini keyboard to key in the alphabet or digit into
the textbox and press the Enter button to access to the Main Menu.
82 Figure 5.10: Login Screen
5.3.3
Main Menu Screen
In main menu screen, user can choose to access the project progress form by
clicking the Project Progress button. The Quit button is prepared the let user the quit
the application. Figure 5.11 below had shown the main menu screen in PDA.
Figure 5.11: Main Menu Screen
83 5.3.4
Project Progress Screen
Figure 5.12 had shown the project progress screen with a table and several
buttons. The table shows the information of project progress for a single project.
There are 8 columns in the table which are ID, task name, start date of the task, finish
date of the task, total work of task, work done of task, % work complete and % work
remain. User has to click on the relevant task in order to edit the information of the
task. Once user click the task, the summary view form will appear to let user to view
the information of task in detail form. In summary view form, user can click the edit
button (left-bottom button) proceed to edit view form in order to edit the information
of task.
(a)
(b)
(c)
Figure 5.12: (a) Project Progress screen interface, (b) Summary View form,
(c) Edit View form
5.4
Microsoft Office Excel as Progress Report Spreadsheet
Microsoft Office Excel is a spreadsheet-application written and distributed by
Microsoft for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X. It features calculation, graphing
tools, pivot tables and a macro programming language called VBA (Visual Basic for
84 Applications). User can perform their work in different worksheets in Microsoft
Excel. Microsoft Office Excel is compatible for Microsoft Window Mobile as the
product is made from same company. It is very convenience for Window Mobile
user as user can update their data on the go. Plus, when user edit spreadsheets on
their smart phone or PDA, the formatting and changes are preserved, so they look the
way they’re supposed to when they open them on their PC.
In this project, Microsoft Office Excel was used as the progress report record
spreadsheet which is employed in Personal Digital Assistant (PDA). The Excel
spreadsheet is compatible in Window Mobile which can be operated in pocket PC,
PDA or PDA phone.
In this spreadsheet, its design contains eight worksheets which had different
data sheets to key in the work inputs. The first worksheet is the front page of a
progress report which should record the project name and the report number. Project
general information is the information of parties involved in a construction project
which is separated in second worksheet. In the third worksheet, monthly weather
chart is presented there and user has to key in the weather condition for every
working hour. The basic sign used to represent the weather are H, D, C and S which
represent heavy raining, drizzling, cloudy day and sunny day respectively. Weather
chart is an important report for contractor as it is used for claim when the
construction project faced the delay in project.
Labour record and machinery record are placed in fourth and fifth worksheet
respectively. These records can be used to know the arrangement of labour come into
to site and mobilization of machinery at the right time. They are several machineries
set as default title which user can edit the type of machinery. The list of material
approval is place on sixth worksheet which for user to list down the material used in
construction project in particular work in that month. Site memo is record in the
seventh worksheet. From here, the resident engineer can leave a memo here for
someone to check. The last worksheet is to record the project progress. Each project
task must be record at here and the excel programming will calculate the remaining
work in percentage.
85 The worksheets then print into Portable Document Format (PDF) and store in
a folder called “Progress Report” in Drive C of user PC. E-Site Organiser Viewer is
designed to read the completed progress reports which already save in the folder
called “Progress Report” by manually. This is the limitation of E-Site Organiser
Viewer and this problem can be overcome by the future development. Figure 5.13
below had shown the example of project task progress in PDF form. The MS Excel
progress report spreadsheet in PDA interface is shown as Figure 5.14 below.
Figure 5.13: The example of project task progress in PDF form
86 Figure 5.14: The spreadsheet interface in PDA
87 CHAPTER 6
EVALUATION OF THE PROTOTYPE SYSTEM
6.1
Introduction
Basically this chapter will discuss the evaluation of the E-Site Organiser
prototype system and also includes the aim and objectives of the evaluation,
methodology, results and discussions on the overall evaluation process. The purpose
of the evaluation is to gain the feedback from the user and further improvement and
development can be made after the evaluation process. In this chapter, it also
concludes the overall finding of this master project.
Aim and objectives of the evaluation:
¾ To assess the performance of the prototype system and the satisfaction
of the output;
¾ To determine the applicability of the prototype system to the
construction industry;
¾ To assess the effect of interaction on the user with the prototype
system;
¾ To obtain the comments and recommendations for improving the
prototype system.
88 In this project, interview is one of the evaluation method used to evaluate the
prototype applicability in construction industry. Informal interviews were conducted
in several selected construction company especially contractor to evaluate various
aspect of the prototype.
Before the prototype is test runs on the construction site, the prototype had
gone through several trial runs with appropriate refinement to improve it. The
process is continuous until the prototype is ready to demonstrate to the construction
company for demonstration purpose. When the prototype is ready, the interviewees
from the targeted companies were invited for demonstration. Once the prototype was
demonstrated, the summative evaluation was undertaken and the findings were used
to improve the final prototype.
6.2
Evaluation Questionnaire Design
Evaluation questionnaire was designed based on the aim and objectives of the
evaluation stated in sub-Chapter 6.1. Appendix B had shown the sample of the
evaluation questionnaire. The questionnaire was divided into three sections as
describe as follow:
I.
Section A
This section is to collect the basic information of the interviewee such as
interviewee’s name, position in their company, and working experience. The
information collected is confidential.
II.
Section B
In this section, various questions about the prototype satisfactory were asked.
The questions asked in this section were in Liker-scale form. From here,
interviewee has to choose the suitable answer among these five choices, the
89 scale 1 (poor), 2 (fair), 3(satisfactory), 4 (good) and 5 (excellent). It was
divided into three sub headings as follow:
III.
•
General
•
The system performance
•
Applicability to construction industry
Section C
In this part, the interviewee was requested to give their comment on the
benefits of the prototype system and the shortcoming of the system and the
way to improve it.
6.3
Analysis of Evaluation Results
This section is report the feedback from the evaluation participants that
responses to the questions and give comments for the further improvements.
Generally, the targeted evaluation personnel are resident engineer, project manager
and site engineer from contractor and consultant firm.
Most of the respondents had given a good respond to the evaluation
questionnaire and had commented the some improvement to overcome the
shortcoming of the prototype. The comments of the respondents are a significant
source to review in order to further or improve the developed prototype. The Table
6.1 shows the result from the evaluation of the prototype on the aspect of system
performance, applicability to the construction industry and general rating of the
prototype. The Table 6.2 shows the comments from the respondents about the
benefits of the prototype system, the way of improvement and the other comments
about the prototype system.
90 Table 6.1: Results of evaluation
Poor
1
The System Performance
(Overall Rating)
How even the E-Site Organiser does helps in
1 daily monitoring work?
How well does the monitoring template
2 provided in the system?
How well does the system reflect the
3 monitoring work in a real situation?
How well does the system save time in back
4 to office job?
How useful is the system manages the
5 documentation between site and office?
%
Fair
2
%
Satisfy
3
%
0.0
6.7
13.3
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
1
0.0
0.0
0.0
Good
4
%
Excellent
5
%
36.7
43.3
1
20.0 4
80.0
20.0
3
60.0 1
20.0
1
20.0
2
40.0 2
40.0
0.0
1
20.0
2
40.0 2
40.0
1
20.0
1
20.0 2
40.0
2
40.0 2
40.0
0.0
1
20.0
6 work load?
0.0
1
20.0
0.0
The Applicability to the Construction
Industry (Overall Rating)
0.0
0.0
5.0
35.0
60.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
2 40.0 3
60.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
1 20.0 4
80.0
0.0
0.0
1 20.0 2 40.0 2
40.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
2 40.0 3
60.0
General (Overall Rating)
0.0
0.0
13.3
40.0
46.7
11 How well organized (designed) is the system?
0.0
0.0
12 How user friendly is the system?
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
How well does the system reduce the paper
How effective is the system in construction
7 monitoring work?
How convinced are you that construction
8 industry professionals will accept?
How effectively will the system increase the
9 speed of monitoring process in construction
10
site?
Is it applicable to construction industry in
next few years?
What is your overall rating of the prototype
13 system?
1 20.0 2 40.0 2
40.0
3 60.0 2
40.0
1 20.0 1 20.0 3
60.0
0.0
Generally the respondents had rate the E-Site Organiser prototype as
excellent in the aspect of the overall system performance, the applicability to the
construction industry and general rating. During the respondents had filled with the
evaluation questionnaire, an informal interview had conducted with the respondents.
Most of the interviewees had given a good cooperation and had given several good
comments on the prototype system. Figure 6.1 shows the pie chart of the overall
rating on the system performance.
91 The System Performance Rating
0%
7%
Poor
13%
Fair 43%
Satisfy
Good 37%
Excellent
Figure 6.1: Chart of the System Performance Rating
43% of respondent had rate the system performance of prototype as excellent.
This is because the prototype has the common monitoring features and the
monitoring template is easy to use and user friendly. There are only 6.7% of
respondents found that they were only little satisfy with the system performance due
to the documentation management and paper work load reduction. Some respondents
reflected that the prototype system can only help to reduce the paper work load if
only the features in the prototype system are totally same in the project progress
report.
On the other hand, most of the respondents (60%) had rate the E-Site
Organiser prototype as excellent in the aspect of its applicability to construction
industry. Most of the respondents had confidently agreed that the industry
professional will accept the prototype and employ it in the future. This is may be due
to its convenience and also take consideration in work productivity improvement.
Since most of the respondents (60%) had agreed that the prototype is applicable in
the construction industry in the future, the prototype has potential to expanse to a
better product. Figure 6.2 shows the pie chart of the overall rating on the
applicability on the construction industry.
92 The Applicability to The Construction Industry
0% 0%
5%
Poor
35%
60%
Fair Satisfy
Good Excellent
Figure 6.2: Chart of the applicability to the construction industry
Besides, the rating of the general evaluation of the prototype was fallen in the
categories of excellent (46.7%) and good (40%). The organization of the prototype is
the key for respondents to rate the prototype in aspect of user friendly and overall
rating. Figure 6.3 shows the general rating of the prototype.
The General Rating of Prototype
0% 0%
13%
Poor
Fair 47%
Satisfy
40%
Good Excellent
Figure 6.3: Chart of the general rating of the prototype
93 In the Section C of evaluation questionnaire, respondents were requested to
give their comment on the benefits of the prototype system and the shortcoming of
the system and the way to improve it. All of the respondents had given different
comments in their view and their comments are list in the Table 6.2, Table 6.3 and
Table 6.4 below.
Table 6.2: The benefits of the prototype system
The benefits of the prototype system
1
Integrated with several tasks in construction project monitoring
2
Project progress monitoring task is a very significant part of the prototype
3
This electronic record method can reduce the messy condition that caused
from the paper work
4
It is easy to make a reference when there is needed
5
Easy to edit if has error, more organize than paper based record keeping
Table 6.3: The way of improvement for the prototype system
The way of improvement
1
May be can make the storage method in database system
2
The interface may improve and make it more friendly to use
3
Better make the prototype in web-based programming and easy to use
4
5
It will better if can attach photograph in the prototype system as it is a
necessary part in the project monitoring work
It will better if can make the prototype that can use in multiple construction
project
Table 6.4: Others comment
Others comment
1
It will be better if got extra language such as Malay Language
94 2
Need a more proper user teaching guide
3
The prototype system is more applicable in tablet PC as the screen of
operation is much bigger than the screen of PDA
From the evaluation above, most of the respondents had given a good
feedback and also gave some comments to improve the system. The comments of
them can be used as the reference to improve the prototype for future development
and expansion.
6.4
Prototype Limitation
From the evaluation process, the E-Site Organiser prototype has several
limitations as follow:
•
The prototype system can only use for one construction project.
•
The use of prototype system may time consuming due to the small screen and
user need to scroll either horizontally or vertically to view the bigger work
screen.
•
6.5
Not all people familiar with PDA application and need proper user guide.
Summary
This chapter had described the summative evaluation of the prototype system.
The study adopted questionnaire and informal interview techniques in evaluating the
prototype system. The results from the evaluation show that the prototype system has
an overall good performance base on the demonstration session. Although the
prototype concept is new to the construction industry, yet the respondents agreed that
95 this prototype concept will be adopted in the future. Finally, the limitations of
prototype, comments and suggestions from the evaluation were used to refine the
prototype system.
96 CHAPTER 7
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
7.1
Introduction
This chapter is to summarise and provide conclusion to this study as well as
recommendations for future improvement and development. It indicates the key
findings, confirmation of the targeted aim and objectives and overall summary of the
whole study.
7.2
Realization of Study Objective
The discussions herein reflect the accomplishment of the each specific
objective. From the data collection and the analysis together with the discussion in
Chapter 4 and Chapter 6, the results have confirmed and concluded as sub-chapter
follow.
7.2.1
Review the Current Practice in Construction Jobsite Monitoring Process
This objective was achieved base on the execution of extensive literature
reviews and study background. From the review, conclusion of this objective is as
follow:
97 i.
Every construction project has its common monitoring process to
monitor the project progress;
ii.
Construction industry in Malaysia still practice on paper based record
keeping method for site record keeping purpose;
7.2.2
Indentifying the Potential of Prototype System at Construction Site
This objective was achieved base on the execution of the literature review,
questionnaire survey and informal interview to selected construction parties involved
in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia expansion project. From the literature review and
questionnaire survey analysis results, the conclusion of this objective is described as
follow:
i.
The local construction industry had shown that there was potential
and requirement of using PDA in the construction industry.
ii.
In the study of literature review and results of questionnaire survey
also shown that there are a need of electronic system to monitor the
construction project.
7.2.3 Development of New PDA Based Construction Monitoring System
Through the rapid prototyping technique, E-Site Organiser prototype was
successfully developed. The prototype was developed by using Microsoft Visual
Basic as the programming tool. With the existing of the prototype system, it is hope
that monitoring process at construction jobsite will be easier and more effective in
the future.
98 7.2.4
Evaluation of Prototype in Real Life Construction Project
From the evaluation of the prototype at construction site, it was report that:
i.
Most of the respondent had rate the E-Site Organiser prototype as
excellent in system performance as the prototype can help in
monitoring work and had provided most of the common monitoring
tasks.
ii.
Most of the respondent had rate the E-Site Organiser prototype as
excellent in aspect of applicability in construction industry because
the prototype is still new in construction industry and it is encouraged
that put effort to try and to implement the system in construction
industry.
iii.
The overall rating of prototype by respondents was in excellent as due
to the design of the prototype is fulfilling the need of the respondents
in monitoring process.
7.3
Recommendation of Further Improvement
Even though the E-Site Organiser prototype had complete developed, the
author had found out there is always room for improvement. From the study findings,
some recommendation and following suggestion had been made and to be adapted
for future improvement and enhancement of the prototype system. The prototype has
revealed a number of areas for further research and development including:
i.
Add an extra language such as Malay language in getting wider range
of user and also flexibility in user readings; besides this the additional
language can also bring the beneficial prototype to more groups of
people especially the lower layer in an organization.
99 ii.
Photography is one of the significant features in construction project
monitoring task. Further study could be conducted in adding one
module which can store the construction photographs with specific
title.
iii.
The prototype system can be develop in web-based system and
integrated with wireless connection system to update the system
database.
iv.
The prototype system can be develop in multi-project monitoring
system as most of the project manager handle several projects at the
same time.
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103 APPENDIX A
QUESTIONNAIRE SURVEY
FACULTY OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MALAYSIA
QUESTIONNAIRE FORM
TITLE
CONSTRUCTION JOBSITE MONITORING SYSTEM
Prepared By:
TING DING KIAT
Master of Science in Construction Management
Objective Study
This study is aimed at identifying the inspection process and standard check list in
practice in construction site for the final inspection. Besides that, it also helps to
identify the potential of developing the construction jobsite monitoring system.
This study intends to develop a prototype of construction jobsite monitoring system.
Guidance:
1. Please tick or fill in the blank with appropriate information.
2. All information filled in this questionnaire is CONFIDENTIAL.
YOUR CO-OPERATION IS HIGHLY APPRECITATED
THANK YOU
104 RESPONDANT’S PARTICULAR
Name
: _____________________________________________
Company Name
: _____________________________________________
Company Address
: _____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
Position
: _____________________________________________
Current Project
: _____________________________________________
that supervised
_____________________________________________
E-mail Address
: _____________________________________________
Signature
: _____________________________________________
105 SECTION A
A1.
Which organisation you belong to
Contractor
Consultant Services
Developer
A2.
A3.
How many years of working experience do you posses?
Less than 3 years
5-8 years
3 - 5 years
8-10 years
10-15 years
Over 15 years
The highest academic qualification that you posses
Diploma
Bachelor Degree
Master Degree
Others (Please specify: ___________________________________ )
106 SECTION B
B1.
Does your company use site diary to record the daily works?
Yes
No
Others (Please specify: ____________________ )
B2.
The form of site diary used
Paper site diary
B3.
Electronic site dairy
Please tick the items that recorded in the site dairy (can be more than one)
Manpower
Photography
Machineries
Site accidental records
Weather
Works description
Materials Delivery
If got others items, please specify: __________________________________
B4.
How often do you submit the site diary to your up line manager?
Daily
Monthly
Weekly
B5.
Have you heard about electronic site dairy system?
Yes
B6.
No
Do you own a PDA device?
Yes
No
107 B7.
Please circle the suitable answer regarding to your agreement of the
statements.
1 = Strongly disagree, 2 = Disagree, 3 = Uncertain,
4 = Agree, 5 = Strongly Agree
No.
Questions
Rating
1
Do you think that electronic record keeping system is more
convenient than conventional paper-based record keeping
method?
1 2 3 4 5
2
Do you think that electronic record keeping system makes
your works more efficient?
1 2 3 4 5
3
Electronic record keeping system is safer and more security
than conventional paper-based record keeping method?
1 2 3 4 5
4
Do the security of the documentation is important in respect
to your job?
1 2 3 4 5
5
Do you think that construction industry should implement
the electronic site dairy system?
1 2 3 4 5
6
Is photography an important task in daily construction
works?
1 2 3 4 5
7
Is the information of the site diary is important and helpful
during the minute of meeting?
1 2 3 4 5
8
Do you think site dairy is very helpful to help you to solve
the problem such as the construction delay?
1 2 3 4 5
108 SECTION C
C1.
Is your company planning to use electronic site diary in future?
Yes
C2.
No
In what way that the proposed system can improve the site works?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
C3.
What can you consider the main benefits of the proposed system?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
“THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION”
109 APPENDIX B
EVALUATION QUESTIONNAIRE
EVALUATION QUESTIONNAIRE
TITLE
CONSTRUCTION JOBSITE MONITORING SYSTEM
This evaluation questionnaire should be completed following a demonstration of the
prototype system.
A.
Information about the interviewee
Name
: ___________________________________
Position in company : ___________________________________
Experience in/ with construction inspection (year): _____________
B.
Evaluation of the prototype
(Please circle one of the ratings among 5 choices to represent the best
answer
of your assessment.)
1 = Poor, 2 = Fair, 3 = Satisfactory, 4 = Good, 5 = Excellent
Questions
Rating
The System Performance
1
2
3
4
5
6
How even the E-Site Organiser does helps in
daily monitoring work?
How well does the monitoring template
provided in the system?
How well does the system reflect the monitoring
work in a real situation?
How well does the system save time in back to
office job?
How useful is the system manages the
documentation between site and office?
How well does the system reduce the paper
work load?
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
110 Applicability to Construction Industry
How effective is the system in construction
monitoring work?
How convinced are you that construction
8
industry professionals will accept?
How effectively will the system increase the
9 speed of monitoring process in construction
site?
Is it applicable to construction industry in next
10
few years?
7
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
11 How well organized (designed) is the system?
1
2
3
4
5
12 How user friendly is the system?
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
General
13
C.
What is your overall rating of the prototype
system?
General Information
1. What do you consider the main benefit of the prototype system?
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
2. In what way can the system be improved?
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
3. Further comment:
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________