Type of Construction Information Database can Manage
Most of construction projects involved in huge amount of information in various forms. Poorly organized or missing information would result necessary problems and lead to such things like project delays, uneconomical decisions and even the complete failure of the desired facility. Additionally, too much unorganized information presented to the contractors construction firms would also result in confusion of the project and clashes between each subcontractors and even paralysis of decision making. In order to avoid the above problems, the database programs are needed. The database programs can divide information into sets by its type in order to make the information nice and clear.
Some major and most commonly used information sets are:
- Cash flow and procurement accounts
- Intermediate analysis results
- Design documents
- Cost estimation
- Chronological files
- Construction field
- Legal contracts and regulatory documents
- Building component files (Structural & Mechanical)
On the other hand, most of the advanced database programs can not only store the project information but making some proper estimations as well. By inputing the accurate inputs information, database program could estimate the project costs, duration, number of companies and individual works needed. Furthermore, the database can also build the work flow diagram and notice the potential work clashes between each subcontractors.
On the other hand, by student and look up the previous database of the projects, engineers can quickly make a reasonable estimation of the similar project. Therefore, it saves a good amount of time and man power. Here is a example I found on the web of the estimation from the previous database of a $10 million dollar project:
- Number of participated companies: 420
- Number of participated individuals: 850
- Number of different types of documents: 50
- Equivalent number of Mega Bytes: 3,000 MB
As I was researching about the information of how database program used by construction companies, there is an interesting aspect come out which I did not aware. This database is called construction waste management which contains information on companies that haul, collect and process recyclable debris form construction projects. This database was created by GSA's Environmental strategies and Safety Division in 2002 to promote responsible wast disposal.
This database really opens my mind that the uses of database are not just limited to construction phase of the project, it can also be used in many different phase of the project. Because nowadays, everything is getting computerized so that the construction project would be involved more and more modern technology rather than just man power.
Comments for Other Group Member
1. To Jinhao Liang: I can see that you did a good number of researches and really think about the topic. You used some good examples to explained how the databased programs have been used by the construction firms. However, I don't quite understand why you introduced CAD itself as a part of the topic, in my point, CAD itself would not be considered as the database program but, use the proper database program to store and manage the CAD files and make the files clear and easy to find for the engineers could be part of the topic.
2. To Angelina Castro: I really like how you narrow it down to just talk about the cost estimation database program and you provided a lost effective details about that. However, according to the topic, I think it is better if you could do some more researches about other uses of the database programs. There a much more such as cash flow estimation, building components managements. Other than that, good job for that!
Resources Used
Organization and Use of Project Information
http://pmbook.ce.cmu.edu/14_Organization_and_Use_of_Project_Information.html
Construction Waste Management Database
http://www.wbdg.org/tools/cwm.php
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