Modeling and Analyzing the Impact of Technology on Data Capture and Transfer Processes at Construction Sites: A Case Study
Publication: Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 132, Issue 11
Abstract
A detailed case study conducted at a highway construction project demonstrated that missing and inaccurate data items result in nonvalue adding (NVA) communication loops among the construction personnel. The implications (in terms of time and cost) of extra work associated with deficiencies in manual data collection and transfer are not well quantified. In this paper, a simulation-based framework is used to model information flow processes from a job site to a field office to measure and highlight existing deficiencies, and to model and demonstrate the effect of using automated reality capture technologies (laser scanners and radio frequency identification), in streamlining the data collection process for the same project. The simulation results showed that the NVA times of each agent involved in the information flow can be reduced by utilizing data collection technologies. This framework can be used by researchers and construction practitioners to identify inefficiencies in the current information flow at sites quantitatively and understand the benefits of using automated reality capture technologies to reduce these inefficiencies.
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Acknowledgments
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) under Grant No. NSF0223283. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the NSF.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 132 • Issue 11 • November 2006
Pages: 1148 - 1157
Copyright
© 2006 ASCE.
History
Received: Oct 27, 2005
Accepted: Mar 13, 2006
Published online: Nov 1, 2006
Published in print: Nov 2006
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