Construction progress control (CPC) application for smartphone

In order to stay within schedule and budget limits, construction projects require fluent communication and information exchange between the collaborating parties. Unnecessary project delays and rework are often caused by missing or outdated information. Easily available, accurate and up-to-date information on project status can improve work efficiency and quality. Such information can be efficiently shared between project parties in electronic form, but recording the information on-site and transmit it to the office requires mobile devices and wireless communication. This paper presents a prototype smartphone application called Construction Progress Control (CPC) that can record on-site progress in different activities, convert this information into a format that can be imported to a project management software (e.g., Primavera P6) and send this information to a PC where the project management software picks up this information and updates the schedule accordingly. The efficiency of construction projects can be improved by collecting and recording progress information at the worksite using electronic devices, by providing schedulers in the office with accurate and up-to-date progress information, and by updating the work schedule in a timely fashion, hence allowing the project manager to make decisions without delay.