IMPROVING EFFICIENCY OF PROJECT PROGRESS UPDATES

Abstract

Project delays are prominent in the construction industry due to many factors, some of which include factors that occur during the monitoring process of the project. Apart from the unforeseen circumstances that make project delay damages claimable, factors such as inefficient progress updating practices and inaccurate amount of work done as per schedule also occur, bringing about liquidated damages and a large percentage of loss to the contractor or owner.

Recent times have seen newer software as a result of rapidly advancing technology. The tension between the traditionalist mindset and the newer generation is still prominent, with little faith in the latter. Some software that has been largely emphasized on in the industry worldwide has yet to be accepted by the construction industry of Singapore. Singapore is taking a longer time to adopt such technology due to time and cost restraints, as well as the perception of these newer methods. To counter the negative impacts of project delay as a consequence, this dissertation aims to diminish several factors that exist during the project monitoring process.

This dissertation also questions the effectiveness of new technology on the industry and its feasibility in the country today. The disparity between the construction academics and the industry players’ opinions on the adoption of new technology create the barriers to realizing the software’s full potential in making work process a more effective and efficient one. With the data collection of interviews and case studies, the belief that new technology will be able to improve the effectiveness of monitoring section of the monitoring and control processes in a project, will be studied. This study will be concluded with a recommended framework that could help in automating project site surveying alongside improving project progress updating, through the adoption of common portals, Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV).