Integrated collaborative tools for precast supply chain management

Precast construction projects are associated with many activities, numerous parties, enormous effort, and different processes. For effective communication, this requires delivering appropriate and up-to-date information to enhance collaboration and improve integration. The purpose of this paper is to develop the system architecture and prototype of Context-Aware Cloud Computing Building Information Modelling (CACCBIM) for precast supply chain management. The findings of this research are grounded on the literature of cloud computing, context-awareness, building information modelling, and, ultimately, the analysis of interviews with stakeholders in precast construction. Findings determine that lack of integration, improper planning and scheduling, poor production timing, poor coordination, lack of good communication among parties, wrong deliveries, and poor control and supervision are the major issues within the precast supply chain. These issues could result in adverse consequences for the objectives and success of the precast project. Eventually, to reduce and eliminate these issues, the proposed prototype will support appropriate deliveries, efficient monitoring, facilitation of coordination, and collaboration with improved communication. It is anticipated that this research will establish a unique perception in the precast construction industry, which will finally enhance its productivity, improve its efficiency, and maximise its effectiveness

Cloud computing for green construction management

Integrated information, innovation and collaboration are the key factors for the sustainable development of construction organizations nowadays. The advancement of cloud computing technology offers construction organizations great potential for developing a collaborative and integrated environment for construction management. This paper presents an in-depth literature review of cloud computing in construction management. Findings from this review have shown that the benefit of using cloud computing technology for construction collaboration will reduce both energy consumption and CO2 emissions; indeed, it is more towards a green mission as it also provides both a financial return and a tangible environmental benefit. Thus, the main objective of this paper is to investigate the most valuable construction collaboration tools as the cloud computing technology along with the main concepts of sustainable project management. The findings in this research illustrate that with implementing the cloud computing in construction industry; it will facilitate the construction processes, collaborations, communications, relations and networks through the construction industry. Firstly, it is hoped that this study will contribute on improvements in construction industry collaboration which could ultimately improve and enhance the competitive advantages within the construction industry. Secondly, it introduces the new visions of construction industry integration and most significantly collaboration in an efficient way that will eventually maximise the productivity, enhance the efficiency and improve the effectiveness towards a green construction industry

The potential of augmented reality technology for pre-construction

Construction project management covering various aspects such as planning, coordinating, directing, scheduling, monitoring and control. Pre-construction services are used in planning a construction project before the actual construction begins. However, various problems happened at the pre-construction planning stage. This paper present an overview of the major problems in pre-construction stage and look at the potential of using augmented reality technology to overcome those problems. It was found that, at the pre-construction stage, good planning can not be done by the project teams especially to engineers and contractors due to the lack of supporting data, particularly when it involves information relating to underground utilities such as telecommunications, gas, electricity, water and sewerage. There are several approaches that can been undertaken in pre-construction services, especially in making an informed decision. The potential technology is using Augmented Reality (AR)-based approach in pre-construction service. Augmented reality is the integration of digital information with the users environment in real-time. It was one of the tool that support the concept of cyber-physical systems (CPS). CPS is the integration systems between computational network and physical processes. Currently, there are many fields utilised the application of AR such as medical, militiry, vehicles, gaming and navigation. This paper presents the applications of an AR-based approach to medical and gaming industry and explore the potential of using AR in pre-construction. The finding shows that the AR is a potential decision support tool that will speed up the planning process of the project team in the pre-construction phase in real-time