Construction Apps: A Critical Review and Analysis

Salman Azhara, Andrew Jacksona and Anoop Sattinenia

a
McWhorter School of Building Science, Auburn University, AL, USA
E-mail: salman@auburn.edu, abj0007@auburn.edu, anoop@auburn.edu

ABSTRACT the construction industry. The question has shifted from

"will" tablets be used to "how" tablets will be used in
At the end of 2013 it is estimated that there are construction [2]. Currently there are many apps
nearly 13,000 apps related to design and available in the market that can be used in construction
construction available on Apple's iPad. With this for activities such as quality control, safety, and
many apps available in the market finding the right marking up plans in the field. However, finding the
app for a construction manager can be a challenge. right mobile application (or App) for designers,
The purpose of this research was to identify mobile estimators, schedulers, construction managers and other
apps that can be used in the life cycle of a construction professionals can be challenging. Currently
construction project. A total of 205 design, neither Apple’s App store nor Google’s ‘GooglePlay’
construction, and facility management apps were app store have categories to help professionals find the
recorded. The majority of mobile apps discovered Apps they need [2]. Thus, finding an App for a
were apps to be used during the construction phase particular need amongst the thousands of apps available
of a project. Research revealed there is a lack of can be cumbersome.
mobile apps for facility management in the market. The purpose of this study is to discover the Apps
Apple's iOS platform was found to be the most available in the market that can be used in the life cycle
popular operating system followed by Android with of a construction project. One of the questions this
Windows 8/8.1 being the least popular platform. study aims to answer is: what apps are best suited for a
This research also aimed to discover the top ten best construction manager? This research will examine
apps for a construction manager. Construction those Apps currently used by construction professionals
managers from several different companies were via semi-structured interviews. After identifying popular
interviewed to find out what apps are currently Apps, these Apps will be reviewed based on a set of
being used in construction as well as which activities criteria such as ease of use and effectiveness. This
mobile apps would be most useful. It was discovered research will also aim to explore the current and future
the majority of apps currently used by construction challenges of implementing apps in the construction
managers are not construction apps. Interviewees industry.
also indicated apps would be most useful for
activities related to quality control, specifically 2 Literature Review
deficiency tracking. Another goal of this research
was to explore current and future challenges of The literature review for this paper included an
implementing apps in the construction industry. The investigation of the historical aspects of apps in the
top two problems identified were (1) lack of training construction industry, a review of current trends in the
and (2) difficulty viewing documents on mobile usage of construction apps and a consideration of
devices. This suggests companies could improve the mobile devices available for use in the construction
use of mobile apps by properly training employees. industry.

Keywords 2.1 Historical Perspective

Mobile Technologies, Apps, Smart Phone, Tablet, The construction industry has often been chided for
Project Management being late adopters of technological innovations in the
field, but tablets have the potential to change all that [1].
Apple introduced the first smartphone in 2007 [3].
1 Introduction However it was not until January of 2010 that Apple
introduced the first tablet. Since then other companies
Tablets and many other mobile devices are now used
have produced their own smart devices that support
as tools in the majority of businesses [1]. This includes
other platforms such as Android and Windows 8 to
compete with Apples IOS operating platform. At the Productivity Broadcaster
end of 2013, three years after the first tablet was • Prontoforms
released, it is estimated that there are nearly 13,000 apps • Toodledo
related to design and construction available on Apples • Punch List
iPad [4]. This is a significant increase to the 230 design • Crane-Operator
and construction apps available in 2011 [3]. Android Hand Signals
tablets have their own list of applications which are • OSHA Heat and
being developed at a faster pace Apples iPad apps and Safety Tool
without as many proprietary problems as all Apple apps • Dropbox
are required to be Apple certified before they are
• Good Reader
available for general public use [5].
• Evernote
Two of the main benefits of mobile devices being
used in the construction field are time and cost savings • eWeather
[6]. The construction industry is an information- • OSHA Heat
intensive industry where the success of a construction Index
project depends on the availability of accurate and
timely data [7]. Current methods of exchanging • On Site
information on the construction site are labor intensive Planroom
Construction
and require manual intervention resulting in a delay of • Control Center 7
Documents &
information exchange [7]. There are many apps • Bluebeam Revu
Drawings
available that allow construction professionals access • Tracing Paper
everything they need in the field without carrying Lite
around spec sheets and drawings [8].
Van Hampton [1] notes that although this • BIMX
technology is being widely used in many businesses, • TurboViewer
“most companies lack a clear strategy for mobile • Autodesk Sketch
3D Visualization /
computing and experience training lags.” According to Book
Drawings
Abaffy [6] some companies are waiting to use mobile Express/Pro
technology on the jobsite until IT support within the • Autodesk BIM
organization is in place. Companies must decide who 360 Field
will train users and provide technical support. Some
apps in the market include training and technical • Home Builder
support while others do not. Therefore, companies are Pro-Calcs
considering providing in house tech support to help train • My Measures &
employees in the field in addition to support offered by Dimensions
software developers [6]. • Drywall
Construction
Calculator
2.2 Current Trends in Construction Apps Calculations
• My Dimensions
Information about popular construction applications Pro
for tablets and mobile devices was published by • Decibel Ultra
industry trade magazines such as Engineering News Pro
Record (ENR), based on reader surveys. A compilation
of these findings is presented in Table 1 of this section.
The apps themselves are categorized based on their The compilation of apps used according to various
functionality into ‘General Office Productivity’, industry sources suggests that the use of mobile
‘Construction Drawings & Document’, ‘3D construction apps is on the upswing. Furthermore, it
Visualization / Drawings’ and ‘Construction must be noted that since the publication of the articles
Calculations’. It must be noted some of these apps have used to compile the list in Table 1, several more apps
additional capabilities to be listed as crossover apps have been introduced in the market place.
between the categories listed in Table 1.
2.3 Mobile Devices in the Construction
Table 1: Popular Construction Apps (Compiled from [9], Industry
[2] and [10]
Categories Apps Researchers have been exploring the use of mobile
devices in the construction industry. According to Chen
General Office • Ustream
et al. [11], mobile computing includes three major usefulness of an app.
components: mobile computers (hardware), wireless Extensive research on available apps from Apple’s
networks, and mobile applications. The framework they app store, Google’s GooglePlay store and Windows app
developed sets forth a process for selecting the optimal store was conducted in the quantitative approaches used
mobile computing strategy for a project using an in this study. The average rating for each app was
application model. The application model is based on collected from each of the app stores, including for apps
dependent factors and independent factors. The which were available on multiple platforms. Interview
dependent factors include mobile computer, wireless participants were asked to rate the apps they used to
network and mobile application. The independent determine their perceived usefulness. The ratings
factors include the end user, the construction site and gathered from the interviews and the app store ratings
construction information. Each of the three independent were used to rank the top 10 apps. It must be noted that
factors are based on the specific construction project this methodology provides a snap-shot view of app
and are used to define the dependent factors. ratings and cannot be considered with any sense of
According to Kim et al. [12], research on mobile permanency.
computing for construction can be classified into five
separate areas as follows: 1) development of a 4 Results
framework to determine how mobile computing should
be used for construction; 2) using mobile computing as A description of the collected to conduct this
a tool for construction management; 3) mobile research is discussed in this section. The findings are
computing for deficiency tracking; 4) mobile computing described within the quantitative and qualitative types
for managing safety or disaster response; 5) of data collected for this research. A list of top 20 apps
development of specific mobile computing features. used by construction professionals based on the ratings
Son et al. [7], investigated factors that influence the from app stores and interview data of construction
acceptance of mobile computing in the construction professionals is also presented.
industry. In their study Son et al. [7] used user
satisfaction as a measurement of success and studied the 4.1 Quantitative Data
effects of perceived usefulness and perceived ease of The data gathered from the app stores indicated that
use on user satisfaction. The study concluded that user a number of construction related apps are available for
satisfaction is an important indicator of the successful use. A total of 205 apps were found across all app stores.
adoption of mobile computing devices in the The majority of apps recorded (83%) operate on the iOS
construction industry. The study also concluded that platform whereas (32%) were based on the Android
acceptance of mobile computing devices by platform and only (0.03%) use the Windows 8/8.1
construction professionals is more likely affected by operating system. The number of apps recorded for each
perceived usefulness rather than perceived ease of use. operating system is provided below in Table 2. It must
Existing research [7] points to mobile device be noted that data represents a snapshot view of the apps
applications as useful tools that can be used on the available and that this is constantly changing as new
construction jobsite. apps become available.

3 Research Methodology Table 2: Number of Apps Recorded Per Platform

Operating Platform Number of Apps
The methodology for this research used both a
qualitative and quantitative approaches. The qualitative Apple 171
methods used include interviews with project managers, Android 65
superintendents, and quality control managers with Windows 6
three construction companies that actively use mobile Total 205
technology. A total of seven interviews were conducted
as part of the qualitative data collection process. Table 3 contains a list of primary categories and sub-
Participants were interviewed using the semi-structured categories used to classify each app. These categories
interview approach to determine construction apps were determined based on the apps description. The
usage by professionals, as well as to discuss current and number of apps found across all platforms were counted
future challenges to using apps in the construction and are presented within the parenthesis of the
industry. As mentioned earlier, Son et.al [7] discovered subcategories described in Table 3. Three main
a person’s perceived usefulness of a mobile device was categories of apps were discovered: Information,
more important than their perceived ease of use. Productivity, and Calculation Tools. Information apps
Therefore the questions presented during the interview are those which the primary function of the app is to
have been constructed to determine a person’s perceived supply information on a specific topic. Productivity
apps are those apps whose primary function is Table 4: Total Apps for Each Life Cycle Phase
information management. These apps perform such Design 63
functions as preparing documents, managing task, or Construction 160
editing documents. A third category of apps noted was Facility Management 24
calculation tools which included various calculators and
another app that allow a person to use their mobile
4.2 Qualitative Interview Data
device as a level.
Respondents listed a total of 21 specific apps shown
Table 3: Primary and Sub Categories for Mobile Apps in Table 5. Of the 21 apps listed only 4 (19%) of the
Primary Categories Sub Categories apps were included in the list of construction apps
Safety (12) provided in Table 1. This suggest that the majority of
News (5) apps being used by construction companies are not
Construction Code (17) construction apps. The most common app specified by
Sustainability (9) name by interviewees was Drop Box which is a file
Equations (17) sharing app. Among the apps listed in the interviewees
Information
Product Data (6) included construction specific apps such as BIM 360
Cost Information (1) Field, BIM 360 Glue, Trimble, Safety Net, Prolog,
Claims (1) Trimble, Sketchup and Revit. Another group of apps
Specifications(3) reported by interviewees was weather apps such as
‘Intellicast’ and ‘Weather’. A large number of general
Facility Management (2) purpose apps were also listed by the interviewees
Claims (1) including ‘Concur’ (expense keeping app), PDF Viewer,
Estimating (12) Genius Scan, Bluebeam, Ox Blue, Outlook, Sharepoint,
Change Order (1) Goto and Prezi. This further supports the idea that the
BIM (7) majority of apps in use by construction companies are
Bid Management (1) not specialized construction apps.
Productivity Contract Maker (1)
Quality Control (5) Table 5: Mobile Apps listed by Interviewees
CAD (9) Safety Net, Prolog, Intellicast, BIM 360 Field, BIM
Document Viewer (10) 360 Glue, Trimble, Concur, Drop Box, Bluebeam,
Project Management (4) Revit, Sketchup, Predictive Solutions, Ox Blue,
Video (3) Outlook, Prezi, Goto, Sharepoint, GoodReader,
Weather, Camera, Calculator, PDF Viewer, Genius
Calculator (75) Scan
Measuring (2)
Calculation Tools
Level (2) Interviewees were asked about the type of apps most
used and the themes that were commonly repeated
Cloud Storage Information Sharing (10) included ‘Viewing Documents’, ‘Weather Related
Apps’, ‘Information Sharing Apps’, ‘Safety Apps’ and
Within the sub-categories, the data revealed that by ‘Quality Control Apps’.
far the number one type of apps available at the time of
this research were created for calculation purposes (75). 4.2.1 Perceived Usefulness
Apps for construction codes (17) and construction
Participants were asked about how they perceive the
equations (17) were tied for second and safety (12)
usefulness of an app, given a particular theme. The
related apps were third among the sub-categories of
results were used to calculate a perceived usefulness
available apps.
score based on the number of respondents who cited a
Apps were also broadly categorized based on their
particular theme. The formula used to determine the
usage at the any given lifecycle stage of the project and score is listed Table 6.
are listed in Table 4. The data revealed that the largest
(78%) number of apps available were for construction
purposes, followed by apps for design professionals
Table 6: Perceived Usefulness Calculation
(30%) and lastly for facility managers (12%). It must be
Perceived Usefulness Score = (# of Occurrences) * 5/7
noted that some apps were capable of being used at
multiple phases of the life cycle of a project.
Since the app rating from the app store are based on
a value of 0 to 5 each theme was assigned a perceived
usefulness score based on a 5 point value. This was 4. Plan Grid 5 2.9 7.9
done so that each factor, the perceived usefulness score 5. OnSite Files 4.5 2.9 7.4
and app rating form the app stores, would be equally 6. Aconex Mobile 4.25 2.9 7.2
weighted when entered into the matrix to determine the 7. OnSite Photo 4.25 2.9 7.2
apps overall score. In order to calculate the score for 8. PunchIt 2.1 5 7.1
each app the total number of occurrences of an 9. Foreman's Mate 2 5 7.0
individual theme was divided by the maximum number 10. Drawvis 4 2.9 6.9
of occurrences of all themes and then multiplied by a AR = Average App Rating from app stores
factor of 5. The Apps that did not fall into any of the PS = Perceived Usefulness Score
categories listed above were given a score of 0. TS = Total Score

Table 7: Perceived Usefulness Score Most of the apps listed in Table 8 are directly related
Theme Perceived Usefulness Score to the duties of a construction manager. Similar to
Quality Control 5.0 Tradie’s App, the remaining top 10 construction apps
Document Viewing 2.9 assist the project manager / site superintendent in
Safety 1.4 performing their daily duties.
Monitoring Weather 0.7
Sustainability 0.7 4.2.3 Potential Problems to App Usage
Sharing Information 0.7 Interview participants were asked to discuss any
potential problems they thought would hinder the usage
Results presented in Table 7 indicate that of construction apps. The themes commonly occurring
construction professionals believe apps would be most among the interviewees are presented in Table 9. Issues
useful for quality control activities. The most popular related to security, training, difficulty in viewing the app
quality control activity mentioned by all interviewees and poor performance of the app were found to be the
was deficiency tracking. All of the interviewees most concerning to the interviewees.
believed using apps to track deficiencies in the field
would prove to be very useful. The second most useful Table 9: Potential Problems to Construction App Usage
activity reported was document viewing in the field. Common Themes
One type of app that none of the interviewees listed as Security
useful was calculator based apps. Lack of training
Difficulty viewing
4.2.2 App Ranking
Poor performance
In order to determine the best apps for a construction
manager, the app’s rating from the app store, and the Literature review also showed that many companies
app’s perceived usefulness score based on the sub- lack a clear strategy for implementing mobile devices
category of the interview results, was combined into a and are waiting to use mobile devices in the field until
matrix to determine an overall score for each app. Apps an IT Support system is in place. Interviewees seemed
were then ranked based on total score. to confirm the findings in the literature about the lack of
The top 10 construction apps found based on the an overall strategy for implementing mobile device apps
proposed matrix are presented in Table 8. It must be in construction organizations. Based on information
noted that the results from the qualitative and gathered during the literature review and the interviews
quantitative data were used to determine the top ten list. it is clear companies need to devise a strategy for
The rating found that Tradie’s App was the highest supporting employees using mobile devices in the field.
rated app for construction managers. Tradie’s App is a
general purpose field documentation and information 4.3 Summary of Main Findings
access app. The app allows users to record change
orders, keep meeting minutes, keep a site dairy, record A summary of the main findings of the qualitative
and quantitative data analysis is listed below:
purchase orders, access estimates, schedule etc.

Table 8: Top 10 Construction Apps

Name AR PS TS
1. Tradie's App 4.55 5 9.6
2. Procore for iPhone 4.5 5 9.5
3. Onsite Punchlist 4 5 9.0
1. Apple’s iOS was found to be the most common that a lack of training is be thought to be major problem
operating system for construction apps. with the use of apps in the field. While many
companies provide their employees with mobile devices
2. There are very few construction apps for devices
in the field, whether smart phones or tablets, companies
using the Windows 8/8.1 platform.
do not provide the necessary training to their employees
3. There are very few apps available for facility to effectively use the apps. Any training, whether
managers to use during the operation and provided by the company in house or by software
maintenance phase of a project. developers, would increase the use of mobile apps in
construction. Another major problem reported when
4. The majority of apps currently used by construction
using apps was difficulty viewing information on the
managers are not construction apps.
mobile device’s screen. Considering mobile apps would
5. The most common activity mobile apps are being be best used for quality control and viewing documents
used for in construction is document viewing electronically in the field it is important companies
followed by sharing information and monitoring the consider screen size when deciding which mobile
weather. devices to use on the construction site.
6. Construction managers believe apps would be most Recommendations for future actions to improve the
useful for quality control activities. use of construction mobile apps include:
7. Apps used a calculation tools were believed to be 1. Research should be conducted to evaluate the
the least useful by construction managers. performance of the top ten apps for construction
8. A lack of training and trouble viewing documents managers listed above.
on mobile devices were the most common problems 2. Companies that provide mobile devices to their
reported. employees in the field should develop a training
program for employees. When developing a
5 Conclusions and Recommendations training program companies should weight the
benefit of providing in-house training or hiring
A total of 205 design, construction and facility software developers for training courses.
management apps were discovered during this research.
The most popular operating platform was Apple’s iOS 3. Since screen size is important for using quality
with (83%) of the listed apps operating on this platform. control based apps research should be done to
Research shows that there are very few Windows 8/8.1 determine the best mobile devices for field
construction apps available. This is consistent with personnel.
information provided in the literature review. The 4. Since very few facility management mobile apps
majority of apps discovered were construction apps to were discovered research should be conducted with
be used during the construction of facilities. Despite the facility managers to determine what types of apps
numerous construction apps available on the market are currently being used by or would be useful for
research indicates the majority of apps used by facility managers.
construction professionals are not construction apps.
Based on interviews the most popular apps were cloud
based storage apps. The apps are being used to share 6 References
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