Project Websites - Where Are They Going?
by Colin Gilboy, PE, CSI, CCPR
Project websites are in the news. These are websites used to manage the paperwork for a construction project. Buzzsaw and BuildPoint.net are just two visible providers. Project websites are also called Extranets and collaborative websites. A list of over 200 construction websites offering services, including project websites, can be found at:http://www.extranetnews.com
Many construction professionals have used them on a trial basis to better understand what is available and to evaluate which system they should use on their next project. I am not going to evaluate CURRENT options, but rather look years ahead.
In the past, many of the features and benefits of project websites have been duplicated on a single computer, run by the jobsite secretary or project manager. What is new is using the Internet to provide access to all the team members to read and update project information. There can be significant savings with improved communications.
August 21, 1981 marked IBM's entry into the personal computer business with a 1 megahertz computer, 16 kilobytes of memory, one floppy drive and a green text screen. I can remember the excitement of the increased speed using an AT with a 3 mhz chip. Who would have predicted a 1 gigahertz computer with 256 megabytes of memory as the standard machine 20 years later? Much less, available at a lower price!
Do you remember the 50 word processing programs available for the PC? I used Volkswriter for many years. Perhaps you used EasyWriter or WordStar. Word was not even available in the early 1980's. Today Word and WordPerfect® have matched each other's features and are almost interchangeable in terms of common uses.
I remember starting with WordStar on my Osborne computer with a 4 inch screen. I started to type a letter and learned command by command how to save, print and then format documents. In the same way, you can start with one of the project websites available and learn as you go.
In the 1980's, WordPerfect® had support offices to train people on how to use their computer and their program. Today, a new employee is expected to be fluent in Word and Excel as part of being hired. In the same way, project websites are going to evolve and match the competitor's features and benefits.
You need to start to use one project website to understand what your options are, what is available and how to apply it to your work. Ten years from now, construction professionals will be expected to know how to use these programs.
RFI's and submittals are an excellent starting spot. These documents take many hours to manage, and yet can be completed in a relatively short 6-12 month period. Even if several sub-contractors are not web ready, the contractor can enter their data and the rest of the team can learn while doing. This will build up the learning required to use a complete package on a future project.
I think the following are going to influence project websites, and lead the direction into the future. The pressure for change will be a result of these factors:
- Cost - both for the services and the learning to use
- Conforming to Standards that will evolve, just as WordPerfect® has matched Word.
- Technical Support required to operate the system.
- Conforming to Standards that will evolve, just as WordPerfect® has matched Word.
Here are other thoughts:
1. Collaborative software will expand from just the construction phase to the architect's marketing and design phase communications. Cosential is taking that direction.
2. Different complexity project website programs will be available for the various types of projects. Programs will be suitable for a $1 million remodel, a $20 million office building and a $100+ million hospital or computer chip facility.
3. There will be three basic models used for the project websites:
A. The AOL model: easy to use, low cost, probably not adhering to standards, not complete, good handholding with good support available. This would be typified by Buzzsaw and BuildPoint. Many Internet users started with AOL and then "graduated" to an ISP with standardized tools and great speed available once you had learned the basics. Probably will be the most expensive.
B. The ASP model - Application Service Provider - who provides the software, computer and bandwidth on a shared or dedicated basis, just as websites are doing today. The cost will be based on bandwidth (data served) and an allocated cost for software development and equipment.
C. The Do-it Yourself Model - where a large contractor or owner develops their own project websites to manage their projects.
About the author: Colin Gilboy, P.E., CSI, is President of 4specs.com, Inc., and is a Director of CSRF. He can be reached at colin@4specs.com.
The CSRF newsletter is published for SPECTEXT® subscribers and others involved in design and construction. To obtain your copy of Creating a Common Language®, please contact the CSRF Support Center by telephone at 1-877- SPECTXT or 410-838-7561 or you may e-mail us at supportcenter@csrf.org
© Copyright 2007, The Construction Sciences Research Foundation, Inc. Updated January 12, 2007.
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