Understanding Information Usage by Residential Construction Supervisors and Bridge/Structure Inspectors as a First Step in Adoption of Field Based IT

This paper explores parallels in field information processes in two different construction sectors and operational domains, 1) field supervision in residential construction and 2) bridge and structure inspections. The work presented in this paper represents the first stage of a multi-stage project that will result in the integration of hand-held information technology (IT) tools to be used by field personnel for two-way field access to corporate IT systems. The first stage of the project looks at upgrading current office-based web access to corporate IT systems using hand-held tools. The second stage of the project looks at transforming current field processes to take full advantage of the new technologies in operating practices. Information flows and work processes of these two distinct domains were examined through interviews and field studies. Process mapping techniques were used to document field personnel interactions with the corporate IT system as well as data collection and information usage in daily work. Sample process maps are presented in the paper. Analysis of the process maps identified trigger points in project inspection and management, known as "ready," "set," and "go" points that become translated into field management tasks as planning, actuating, and reporting. An understanding of these trigger points is used to redesign interactions within the corporate IT system to provide maximum usability for field personnel and is expected to result in a more accurate corporate IT system. An interesting by-product of the two research projects in seemingly unconnected sectors of the construction industry is the similarities present between the field information requirements and interactions with the corporate IT system. The paper concludes with parallel strategies for transforming existing field practices using hand-held technologies developed in the projects.