Computer and communication engineering : internet protocol telephony in construction

Beyh, S

Abstract

A construction project traditionally involves intensive communication flows
between the site operations (workers, gangers, engineers, foremen, etc.),
the site office, the company and the Supply Chain. Typically on the jobsite, a
temporary site office is set up in order to conduct the operations of the
construction project phases.
The site office is equipped with traditional telecommunication means such as
phone, fax and Internet connection. The site personnel are provided with a
multitude of mobile, satellite and wireless telecommunication devices where
appropriate, such as PDA, GSM and satellite phones/fax, and walkie-talkies.
Technically, these legacy systems, once put together, could be able to
provide adequate communication resources to the construction project
teams. But one of the main issues emerging from the use of the
abovementioned traditional telecommunication systems is that their cost can
be found in some cases to be very high.
On the other hand, in the absence of providing the necessary communication
means available through the traditional telecommunication systems to the
personnel on the move for whatsoever reason could be very harmful and,
may negatively affect the execution of the construction works and the
project lifecycle as a whole. This situation could be overcome if alternative
solutions are put in place to reduce cost and improve communications.
Therefore, this study has investigated a new communication paradigm
known as IP (Internet Protocol) Telephony, which could possibly provide the
site office, as well as the entire project team members with adequate,
cheaper and more effective communications means at the jobsite. IP Telephony refers to communication services such as voice, video,
facsimile, and/or voice-messaging applications that are transported via the
Internet, rather than the Public Switch Telephone Network (PSTN). The basic
steps involved in originating an IP Telephony call are the conversion of the
analogue voice signal into digital format and the compression/translation of
the signal into IP packets for transmission over the Internet. This
communication paradigm eliminates the need for separate infrastructures for
voice and data networks as these services can be implemented over a single
data infrastructure.
Furthermore, while, from the technical point of view IP Telephony
Technology could be ready to satisfy the business case in general, its
development within the construction sector has not been observed due to
several barriers that have been investigated in this work as being part of the
development of an integrated framework that aimed at enabling the use of
Internet Protocol Telephony in construction.
This research aimed at developing a generic integrated framework for
enabling the use of Internet Protocol (IP) Telephony in construction. The
process involved in the development of this framework included the conduct
of intensive literature around the traditional telecommunication systems used
by construction firms in the United Kingdom as well as the investigation of
the current situation of IP Telephony technology in terms of availability of
commercial services and applications used by the construction industry. The
field investigations were obtained through appropriate surveys and
interviews conducted with construction firms, telecommunication operators
and Internet Protocol (IP) Telephony equipment vendors respectively.
The research further looked at the issues related to the transfer of such a
technology into the construction industry and investigated the main barriers preventing its implementation in construction sites' environments. These
investigations represented an important part in the development of the
"Internet Protocol Telephony on Construction Sites (IPTCS) Framework"
which represents the focus of this research.
The various modes of communications are described under this common
framework which is expected to benefit in premier-lieu the construction
industry by driving construction firms to look at IP Telephony technology as
an adequate and cost effective alternative to their communication means for
empowering their mobile personnel on construction sites and in the office
alike. It could also motivate telecommunication operators, IP Telephony
application developers and equipment vendors to establish specific solutions
suitable for construction sites environments according to the industry's needs
and requirements.

Citation

Beyh, S. Computer and communication engineering : internet protocol telephony in construction. (Thesis). Salford : University of Salford

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