Innovation in Construction Engineering Education Using Two Applications of Internet-Based Information Technology to Provide Real-Time Project Observations
Publication: Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 137, Issue 10
Abstract
Improvements in construction engineering education result when innovative information technologies are incorporated into academic curricula. Through the use of internet-based communication technologies, no longer must students physically travel to a construction project site to observe and hear construction operations. This paper discusses two applications of internet-based, audio and video technologies currently being piloted at Iowa State University (ISU) and at the University of Calgary (UC) for the purpose of bringing live construction projects into the university classroom. Virtual Project Tours have been piloted at Iowa State University in which real-time video and audio are delivered from active construction projects to a remote classroom through the internet. The second application discussed in this paper, Virtual Supervision, is being piloted at the University of Calgary and consists of the monitoring and analysis of construction projects by using imagery gathered by web-enabled, digital cameras of fixed location transmitting video through the internet. This paper also presents a vision of a globally networked organization of engineering and construction education institutions each sharing the unique engineering and building techniques of their respective part of the globe with design and construction students located around the world. This exchange of construction project observations among the institutions will be enabled by the internet-based applications of virtual project tours and virtual supervision systems described in this paper.
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Acknowledgments
The researchers at Iowa State University are deeply grateful for the foresight of Jack Taylor, construction engineering alumnus, who provided educational funds for development of new and innovative methods for educating construction engineering students at Iowa State University.
The researchers from University of Calgary wish to acknowledge the support and funding for this research project by Canada Research Chair Program, Canada Foundation for Innovation, CANA, PCL, EllisDon, Graham, Ledcor, Stuart Olson, Revay & Associates, Canadian Construction Research Board, and Calgary Construction Association and Natural Sciences Engineering Research Council (NSERC) for their commitment for the research through the CRD Grant No. NSERCCRDPJ 341047-06.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 137 • Issue 10 • October 2011
Pages: 829 - 835
Copyright
© 2011 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jun 18, 2010
Accepted: Sep 20, 2010
Published online: Sep 23, 2010
Published in print: Oct 1, 2011
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