TECH NOTES
Mobile Productivity
Design, communicate and collaborate on the move
By Kirk Maxey and Allison Sudholt
A recent survey of architects and construction project managers, conducted by Atlanta-based CxAlloy, found that nearly 60 percent of respon- dents have considered purchasing a software product to help manage projects and tasks. With communications technology advancing rapidly, more and more architects, contractors and proj- ect managers are relying on tablets and smart phones to provide them with job information while away from the offi ce and on-site. It’s quick- ly becoming a paperless society and software is fast becoming a new type of building “tool.” Mobile devices, such as smart phones and
tablets, have taken cellular networks by storm. According to a recent report by Cisco, “Cisco Visual Networking Index: Global Mobile Data Traffi c Fore- cast Update, 2011–2016,” global mobile data traffi c more than doubled for the fourth year in a row. In fact, last year’s mobile traffi c was eight times that of the entire Internet in 2000. Mobile devices provide many great advantages such as keeping informa- tion at your fi ngertips and allowing you to respond instantly.
ONLINE GROWTH Mobile network growth in the architecture, engi- neering and construction (AEC) industry can be attributed to several factors including the surge in cloud-based software services. These software models serve as tools to provide two huge advan- tages over traditional models. First, anyone with an account can access the software. This increases collaboration among the team members, whether they are at a project site or in the offi ce. Instanta- neous uploads, downloads and real-time issues logs can increase the team’s ability to communicate and operate effi ciently. Second, costs are kept to a minimum. Tradi- tional models require installing software at multiple locations that may not communicate well with
TOP: If an issue is documented and categorized quickly and clearly, it can be minimized more easily; BOTTOM: Having all the informa- tion in a single database that team members can be invited to eases potential communication troubles.
one another. The hidden costs may include buying multiple user licenses, supporting installation and maintenance costs, and keeping qualifi ed personnel available to troubleshoot problems. Cloud-based soft- ware provides you with instant access to all data—no location-based licensing necessary. And, an Internet connection is all that is required. Additionally, there is no installation necessary and often the software provider maintains the software operation.
RESOLVING ISSUES Traditionally, building projects consist of the follow- ing scenarios: issues that are brought up at every meeting but never resolved; issues that seem to get fi xed but keep coming back; large lists of issues that come out of nowhere at the end of the project; repeated design mistakes that require requests for information (RFIs); and change orders, etc. Each of these scenarios results in frustration and often take additional time and money to resolve. However, these situations can be minimized
by using a combination of commissioning process elements and a computerized quality management system (QMS), both serving as software tools to help deliver a higher quality facility. Even the best and most organized building projects will have issues from time to time; they are inevitable. But, the way project teams interact with each other regarding these issues can be improved. Additionally, the use of software to track and respond to these issues can lessen their impact on the project as a whole, leading to a more on-schedule and cost appropriate project. CxAlloy TQ (Total Quality) is a simple, collabora-
tive project management software tool that provides avenues for team members—architects, contrac- tors, owners and commissioning agents—to quickly identify and document issues. These issues can be grouped into reports by organization, project phase or activity. Design issues are grouped into Design Review reports and are tracked in the Master Design Issues Log. Construction Issues are tracked in the Master Construction Issues Log and can be gener- ated by number of activities, such as checklists, test
procedures, site observations, submittal reviews, and other document reviews. Software can also provide an easy and central place to store and develop project deliverables. As facilities increase in complexity and in maintenance requirements, the building itself is no longer the only important deliverable to the building owner. The data on the design, construction and maintenance requirements is immensely valuable. Having this in- formation on hand, anywhere, can aid in the ongoing maintenance of the facility. Additionally, if repairs, energy models/audits, retro-commissioning, or other retro-active services are needed, having the original design, construction, maintenance and equipment documentation is important. For architects and their consultants, creating
professional deliverables is key. But most are forced to develop their own way of managing this data. They determine what information is transmitted to their clients and to the construction team. A cleaner, simplifi ed approach is needed to standardize what level of information is required. That’s where an application like CxAlloy TQ really helps. Through in- tegrated progress notes and issue tracking reports, design professionals can now streamline their fi eld observations and quickly communicate that to the entire team. This consistency in reporting increases the clarity of communication and keeps important issues from being ignored. To ensure a smoothly running project, utilizing
a software tool is vital. Software tools help dis- seminate information quickly and to all necessary parties, track issues with ease and clarity, standard- ize deliverables, and fi t in comfortably with today’s modern technologies. With 60 percent of the AEC industry considering purchasing software to help them better manage projects, the 40 percent with- out will be left behind.
Kirk Maxey is the director of CxAlloy Suites, and Allison Sudholt, LEED GA, is the communications coordinator at Atlanta-based CxAlloy. To learn more, visit
www.cxalloy.com.
www.metalarchitecture.com December 2012 METAL ARCHITECTURE 11
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