COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL
ENGINEERING

CENGR 4210
Construction Methods
and Project Management

COMPUTER APPLICATION
IN CONSTRUCTION
MANAGEMENT

Submitted By:

RILLORTA, RANDALL JARRELL C.

CANOZA, JOSHUA T.
BSCE 4

Submitted To:

ENGR. RITCHIE C. MALASAN

INSTRUCTOR

November 12, 2024

ABSTRACT
This report presents the different applications of computer software in
construction management. Software is a set of instructions, data or programs used to
operate computers and execute specific tasks. The Computer Applications program is
designed to provide the skills needed in the use of application software on a computer.
Applications covered include word processing, spreadsheets, databases, desktop
publishing, the Internet, and the Windows operating systems. The development of
computer software for project management began with the idea that mathematical,
network-baased of large-scale projecs could reduce time and costs. In the late 1950s,
techniques such as PERT (Programme Evaluation and Review Technique) and CPM
(Critical Path Method) provided a basis for the computer-aided management of projects.
Since then software tools have been developed with greater and greater functionality.

INTRODUCTION
Computer application in Construction management has a wide variety of chooses
which include functionality, purpose, cost, and versatility which in return gives an edge in
managing small to large scale construction.

Sample applications:
1. QS Plus (QS+)- is cost estimating software for Quantity Surveyors and Consulting
Construction Estimators.
2. Fast Track- enables users to organize tasks into project plans assign resources to tasks,
use effort driven scheduling and view project details in Gantt charts, monthly calendars
and resource histograms and more.
3. Coconstruct- is construction project management software that provides custom home
builders and remodelers with tools for managing projects, financials and clients.
4. Procore- is the construction industry's leading construction management software that
fully integrates with ProEst estimating software
5. Buildertrend- provides pre-sale tools including a built-in customer relationship
management (CRM) system, bid requests, project proposals, plus more. Project
management tools include scheduling, budgeting, timesheets, and more.
6. WorkfowMax- is a cloud-based workflow and job management solution designed to
serve smal to midsize service-based businesses.
Along with key project management capabilities, the solution provides quote creation,
timesheets, job costing and other features integral to the project process.
7. Buildtools- is a contruction project management platform specifically designed for
custom homebuilders and remodelers. It offers a wide range of features including
communication, scheduling, budgeting, documents, change orders, bidding, Quickbooks
integration, and more. BuildTools is cloud-based and accessible from any device,
anywhere.
8. Proliance-Meridian System-is a signature capital program management software that
enables users to efficiently manage capital projects. This platform allows users to preset
custom parameters, such as cost or schedule, and it automatically alerts the user when the
project fails to meet those parameters.
9. RedTeam= is a project management, construction financials and document contol
solution suited for midsize commercial general contractors. It is a cloud-based application
developed by contractors to manage pre-construction, construction and project closeout
stages.
10. PlanGrid- is construction software dedicated to managing your blueprints, drawings,
and other documents. It does a lot of the work for you, rendering documents you upload
and organizing them automatically.
11. Projectmates - create one seamless platform for managing the complete lifecycle of
building from planning, bidding, and building to remaining the facilities.
12.Viewpoint - is a document control solution for easily managing, accessing, and sharing
large quantities of project documents.
Viewpoint provides a comprehensive suite of software solutions with Vista that helps
contractors synchronize all areas of their business.
 DISCUSSION

Computer applications in Construction management

3 major ares:

A. Logistics and material

Planning, implementing, and regulating an effective flow of products and services
are all part of the logistic management process. Planning, coordinating, and regulating
tasks related to the movement of materials inside an organization or business are all part
of the material management process.

B. Contract administration
the procedure for overseeing contracts with clients, partners, suppliers, or workers
for the course of their existence. It include creating the conditions of the contract,
outlining and carrying out the contracting procedure, and making sure that everyone
fulfills their end of the bargain.
C. Contract administration
Cost planning and control is the estimation of costs, the setting of an agreed
budget, and management of actual and forecast costs against that budget

Software purpose in project management:

1. Coordination.
It cannot be assumed that effective communication process will exist in ‘temporary’
construction project organizations. The division of labor and responsibilities, as well as
the exchange of information and the workflow within in the project, must be planned,
implemented and controlled.
2. Documentation.
The construction process has to be documented thoroughly and in real time. On the one
hand, records may be required for regulatory reasons and, on the other, they are needed
for monitoring, controlling and accounting construction processes.
3. Control.
The identification of discrepancies between target and actual performance is essential
to target-oriented control. All processes need to be monitored within a narrow timeframe
to ensure effective corrective actions can be taken, in particular,
controlling quality, cost and programme.
Types of computer software

Scheduling Software:
Construction scheduling software is used to plan, monitor and control project
progress. Buffers and the corresponding critical path can be calculated based on process
durations, deadlines and relationships and appropriate resources can be assigned. The results
are usually displayed in the form of a Gantt chart, network plan or list. By entering current
data, the user is able to automatically generate appropriate target-performance comparisons.

Project Communication System:

Project communication systems support the coordination of a construction project by
providing a joint platform to all project members for collaboration and information exchange.
Usually, the platforms are internet-based and data access can be governed by different user
authorizations and privileges. The range of functions varies greatly. Some platforms simply
provide a common data store whilst others provide comprehensive media and workflow
support.

Digital Construction Diary:

Digital construction diaries range from simple templates for word processors, to
internet-based systems with complex data structures. By integrating media such as photo
documentation, the cogency of the construction diary can be increased. Pictures can prove
especially useful to remote project team members.

Cost Control Software:

Cost control software is based on capacity planning methods. Resources are assessed
according to cost information, such as the charge-out rates for workers and equipment. By
linking to the project’s accounting software, budget figures can be compared with actual
figures. In addition, reports can be generated automatically presenting a visualization of the
processed data.

Construction Management Software

PRIMAVERA PROJECT MANAGEMENT (P6)

 Recognized standard for high-performance project management software

Designed to handle large-scale, highly sophisticated and multifaceted projects. P6
Professional can be used to organize projects up to 100,000 activities, and it provides
unlimited resources and an unlimited number of target plans. Massive data requires
sophisticated yet highly flexible organization tools to provide you a multitude of ways to
organize, filter and sort activities, projects, and resources.

• Since 1983, Privamera Systems,Inc. has helped the engineering and construction
industries deliver more than $4.5 trillion worth of projects to date. ENR has ranked
Privamera as the most used project management software in the industry. The reason
for this is trust.

P6 Professional also includes several of its own specialized features:

P6 Visualizer application for the creation, viewing, and modification of Gantt charts
and timescale logic diagrams (TSLDs). Gantt charts provide a graphical display of the
project's schedule information in the order determined by grouping and sorting options.
Reflection Projects for creating a sandbox area to test different project scenarios
overviewing changes made in collaboration with other users so you can review and accept
changes before merging the them back into the source project.

Future Period Bucket Planning to achieve the most precise resource/role

distribution plan by manually entering the budgeted or planned resource/role allocation per
assignment in the timescale unit of choice
 Import from Contract Management to import data from the Contract Management
module and update schedule dates, cost information, the Activity Code dictionary, and the
Cost Accounts dictionary.

MICROSOFT PROJECT

• A project management solution designed for enterprises of all sizes. It features project
scheduling, which allows project managers to define project tasks, assign them to the
team, and track in-progress assignments.

• It also features project budgeting, which helps managers estimate the costs for the
entire span of a project. Managers can also perform “Earned Value Analytics” and
estimate the cost performance of their projects. The software provides built in
templates, scheduling tools, and access across devices increase productivity for
project managers.

• Provides interactive dashboards and reporting functionalities. The project managers

can also prepare insightful reports and make decisions about project execution and
staffing levels. Scheduling features like Gantt charts and prepopulated pulldown
menus help reduce training time and simplify the project planning process.

• Can be deployed both on-premise and in the cloud. The web-based version allows
project managers to collaborate with their team remotely using smartphones and
mobile devices.

QS PLUS (QS+)

• QS Plus or QS+ is cost estimating software for Quantity Surveyors and Consulting
Construction Estimators. This advanced software is for professional estimators and it
allows you to prepare detailed Bills of Quantities, Cost Plans (Estimates), Valuations
and the Final Account.

• QS Plus has a module to measure and determine the cost of a preliminary sketch
designs. This is called a cost plan or cost estimate. The program uses a format based
on the Elemental method of estimating to find out the estimated cost of a proposed
construction project.

• QS+ has a ready to use estimating template that you can modify according to your
needs and project specifications. Each Elemental item in the cost analysis has
component details that you can edit to put the correct descriptions and data. For
example, you can edit the material specifications – type of finishes, windows, doors,
sizes of concrete footings, columns and bases etc to reflect information from current
drawings.

QS PLUS (QS+) FEATURES

• Every building project has its own specifications. The types of materials used, item
dimensions and construction technology will differ, so you have to click through to
access the build up rates for each elemental item. For example, when measuring
Unreinforced Concrete Footings, the component items will include excavations,
compaction, concrete footings, risk of collapse and backfilling.
• Note that these components are actually Bill of Quantity items, and therefore they
have their own individual rates. An estimator has to input these rates in the Elemental
Rate Build up. For each new project, you have to edit the rates and put appropriate
rates that are relevant to the project specifications.

FAST TRACK

• Available since 1987, it is made by AEC Software, Inc., a small business

headquartered in the Washington, D.C. area.

• The application enables users to organize tasks into project plans, assign resources to
tasks, use effort driven scheduling, and view project details in Gantt charts, monthly
calendars, and resource histograms, and more.

FEATURES:

• Base and Work Calendars

• Effort Driven Scheduling

• Work Usage Inspector

• Resource Management

• Project Management

CoConstruct

• It is a web-based and mobile construction project management service designed to

meet the specific operating needs of clients, builders, and design-build firms.

• helps builders and remodelers face common challenges related to their projects, be
that budgeting, client communication, scheduling, or activity planning.

• also integrates a comprehensive financial module used to manage estimates and

proposals, handle biddings, and pull off summaries for smarter forecasting.

FEATURES:

• Budget & Forecast Project Costs

• Single-Entry Estimating

• Track Change Orders & Expenses

• Custom Mobile Apps With Your Brand

• Manage and Track Leads

• Keep Track of To-dos

 CONCLUSION
Computer software applications are essential in construction management as they
streamline project planning, budgeting, and scheduling, while enhancing communication and
collaboration among stakeholders. Tools like Procore, Buildertrend, and Microsoft Project
help manage timelines, track costs, and allocate resources effectively, while cloud-based
platforms enable real-time document sharing and version control. They also support quality
control, safety management, and risk mitigation by allowing for easy tracking of inspections,
incidents, and potential issues. Additionally, these applications facilitate workforce
management, real-time reporting, and integration with other systems like ERP and BIM tools,
improving overall project efficiency. By reducing paperwork, preventing errors, and
providing valuable insights, construction software applications are crucial for ensuring that
projects are completed on time, within budget, and to required standards.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Future engineers should see project management software not as a mere tool, but as a central
component of their project management toolkit. By combining technical expertise with proficiency in
using these tools, engineers can optimize project outcomes, improve efficiency, and foster better
collaboration. Ultimately, embracing technology and continuous learning will make engineers more
effective at managing the complexities of modern construction project.
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https://www.studocu.com/ph/document/surigao-state-college-of-technology/civil-
engineering/cmpm-report-computer-application-in-construction-management/
6638541Construction Industry Authority of the Philippines. (n.d.).
https://www.dbm.gov.ph/wp- content/uploads/OPCCB/opif2009/dti-ciap.pdf
https://www.scribd.com/presentation/412731566/Computer-Applications-in-Construction
https://www.apm.org.uk/resources/what-is-project-management/what-is-project-cost-
planning-and-control/#:~:text=Definition,of%20Knowledge%207th%20edition
https://www.cobblestonesoftware.com/blog/what-is-contract-administration
https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/difference-between-logistic-management-and-material-
management/#:~:text=Process%20of%20logistic%20management
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