Wireless Site-Network for Construction: A Win-Win Strategy for GCs

The disintegration and asynchronous resource flow causes problems in process performance, scheduling, and is responsible for large amounts of wasted resources. This paper discusses the opportunities of a site-based web-site that serves as the central hub for real-time communication, monitoring, and control of critical resources in construction. Such a web-site offers opportunities that go far beyond the well known WebCam. The paper lists a series of applications that have been tested at construction sites in Raleigh, North Carolina. In addition to helping contractors plan and control the resource flow in real time the site-web-site serves also as a tool to: a) create daily reports electronically, b) solve problems that require the input of various experts, c) inspect quality, d) measure and improve productivity, e) automate on-site-security, f) communicate with on-site equipment, and g) create as-builts automatically. It is felt that the key obstacle to implementing a site-web-site is the competitive nature of construction which discourages openness and information sharing. This paper presents a strategy which could be used to establish a framework for assessing the economic benefits of creating collaborative relationships between general contractors, sub-contractors, suppliers, etc. This strategy is founded on game theory and value sharing.