Successful construction companies have long adopted project management tailored to their business's specific needs—creating real estate objects (partially or turnkey) by individual project teams with specifically allocated resources and plans.
The scale of projects, involvement of external resources, and dependency on external factors (weather conditions, licensing, inspections) drive the search for efficient solutions.
A recent AGC study involving 1,300 construction organizations showed that 85% use or plan to use cloud management. Companies expect to reduce capital expenditures, decrease administrative burden, and enhance work efficiency through cloud management.
While the "Internet of Things" as a personal cloud solution was one of the tech trends in 2017, information on cloud management in construction and architecture is scarce in the Russian-speaking internet.
We will discuss:
- The specifics of architecture, interior, and landscape design from a project management perspective.
- What cloud management is and its types.
- Applicable management methods.
- The advantages and features of cloud management in construction.
- Software to help build an efficient cloud infrastructure in your company.
Specifics of Construction Companies
Key tasks for construction companies include hiring new contractors and temporary workers for projects and coordinating them. Outsourced workers have different skill sets and areas of expertise, and their overall time spent on the job is less than permanent employees. Nevertheless, they must adhere to strict timelines for timely project completion, safety, and productivity.
Other specific traits defining project management in construction include:
- Deferred Product Consumption: Mistakes and failures become apparent over time, making them harder to fix the longer it takes for issues to manifest post-project completion.
- Regional Socio-Economic Development Impact: This influences the market for contract work.
- Increased Project Size: The role of mega projects is rapidly growing, attracting numerous construction companies and expert institutions internationally, requiring meticulous coordination and interaction.
- Increased Number of Project Participants: Unlike optimal team sizes in project management, construction projects involve many more participants. For example, a project in Ukraine involved 161 people, 66 of whom were external.
- Higher Risk Levels: Project failure necessitates finding new methodologies, updating teams, and experimenting with concepts. Mistakes in construction are costly, posing safety risks, financial risks, and technical risks.
Unique Methodologies in Architecture, Interior, and Landscape Design
In architectural activities in the USA, methodologies like Design to Cost (DTC) and value engineering (VE) are used to balance project costs and utility, primarily in large firms participating in tenders.Cloud Management and Its Types
Cloud management is viewed in two formats:
- Management of products and services conducted via cloud computing.
- A managerial concept aimed at forming "cloud" tools.
Evolution of Cloud Management
In 2011, only 36% of EMEA region respondents used cloud technologies. By 2020, Gartner predicted cloud environments would dominate. Attempts to ban it are as futile as the Great Firewall of China.Benefits of Cloud Services
Cloud services bring benefits such as:
- Rapid market penetration.
- Increased economic efficiency (80% of cloud users reported cost reductions).
- Mobile workplaces, removing physical location constraints.
- Enhanced data security, despite current vulnerabilities.
- Implementation of integration and standardization principles, crucial for construction companies handling numerous standards and plans.
Types of Cloud Computing Models
- Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): Provides basic elements for building a cloud network, including access to network resources, virtual computers, and storage.
- Platform as a Service (PaaS): Eliminates the need for managing the basic network infrastructure, focusing on application development and management.
- Software as a Service (SaaS): Relevant for cloud management in construction, offering a ready product with service provider support.
The Role of the State in Regulating Construction Project Management
Regulations include:- DBN (State Building Codes): Important documents like DBN A. 2.2-2-96 and DBN A. 3.1-5-2016.
- DSTU (State Standards of Ukraine): Methods and stages for energy audit and construction cost determination.
- SNiP (Construction Norms and Regulations): Duration norms for construction projects.
Cloud Project Management in Construction
Historically, project management methods first emerged in construction, dating back to the building of the pyramids in Giza. Today, teams replace notable individuals, necessitating new interaction methods.
Cloud management is a growing trend in construction. In Ukraine, the cloud services market is expected to grow by about 40% annually.
Implementing Cloud Project Management
Construction companies can use private, public, or community clouds, or a combination:
- Private Cloud: For a single organization with a defined number of participants.
- Public Cloud: The number of participants is unlimited, and the cloud's physical resources are entirely under the service provider's jurisdiction.
- Community Cloud: Infrastructure shared by a specific community of users with common tasks.
- Hybrid Cloud: Combines multiple cloud infrastructures.
Collaboration with Modern Technologies
Combining cloud information modeling and augmented reality allows for creating overlay models on real images. Platforms like Apple’s ARKit and Google’s Tango facilitate this.Software and Applications
Migration to the cloud in construction requires specialized software:
- BulldozAIR: For tracking and visualizing employee activities on construction sites.
- Jonas: A cloud SaaS solution for mid-sized construction companies to automate planning and business processes.
- Aconex: A platform focused on project reporting and information modeling.
- Microsoft Dynamics CRM: A classic CRM system customizable for contractors, architects, and suppliers.
- ProcureWare: A cloud service regulating procurement, essential for construction project management.
- Worksection: A SaaS service offering Gantt charts, essential for developers, with task communication features.
Verdict
Cloud project management is a logical development stage enabled by cloud platform technologies and project scale growth. Trends in construction show an increase in mega projects, outsourcing needs, and new project team management approaches.