IT tool for construction process management, process protocol toolkit

Wu, S

Abstract

The Latham (1994) and Egan (1998) reports identified fragmentation, poor
co-ordination and communication as major weaknesses in the UK
construction industry. The Generic Design and Construction Process
Protocol has been developed to address these problems and help the
industry to improve their business. The need for an IT solution to combat
the obstacles and problems in implementing the Process Protocol in the
industry has emerged. This PhD research focuses on developing an IT
solution to support and help the implementation of the Generic Design and
Construction Process Protocol to enable the fundamental change in the
construction industry. The IT solution, named The Process Protocol
Toolkit, aims to assist the creation of the process model and to manage
the information of the project based on the Process Protocol framework.
The Process Protocol Toolkit is composed of a Process Protocol Map
Creation Tool and a Process Information Management Tool. The first tool
will automate the process map creation process by using the Process
Protocol as a framework and allow users to create and customise their
specific project process map, and the second aims to manage and
develop project information based on the project process. It will enable the
construction managers to understand the construction process and
facilitate the management of the construction process. The prototype of
the Process Protocol Map Creation Tool is developed incorporating this
research.
Literature Reviews are used to understand the Process Protocol, process
modelling and construction IT development. A questionnaire is employed
to establish the IT usage and awareness within the industry. Information
associated with the Process Protocol framework is modelled by a data
modelling technique and transferred into a relational database.
Subsequently, the data model is used in the development of the prototype of the Process Map Creation Tool to automate the process map
production. A series of web based project information management
systems are reviewed to identify the requirements of the project
management system. The solution for knowledge integration with the
Process Information Management tool is proposed for future development.
The main contribution of this research is the establishment of the data
model of the Process Protocol framework and the development of the
Process Protocol map creation tool. It demonstrates how the Process
Protocol framework can be customised and integrated into the project
information system. The secondary contribution is the IT framework for
knowledge based construction project information system. The framework
of the system is demonstrated and validated through workshops and
questionnaire. The concept of process driven project information system
has also been taken by a software firm for their future product
development.

Citation

Wu, S. IT tool for construction process management, process protocol toolkit. (Thesis). Salford : University of Salford

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Oct 3, 2012
• Award Date: Jan 1, 2004