Productivity in the construction industry is trailing other industries. Architects and engineers are slowly adapting to a more digital way of working. Contractors are, on the other hand, not following this development, although they can see the advantage in using digital information for take-off and tendering. Information on the construction site is mostly paper-based.
The slow implementation of innovative ICT plays a big part in the low productivity faced by the construction industry. The construction industry is a conservative industry and lacks transparency. Managers are reluctant to grant craftsmen access to ICT systems on the construction site.
This thesis addresses these problems, through analysis of the craftsmen’s needs, interviews with a project manager and reviews of a survey done for The Danish Construction Association, 2010 (Dansk Byggeri, DB).
To try to solve this problem, the author designed a prototype of a system that can benefit both managers and craftsmen. Three prototypes were made before the final prototype. The thesis also includes a physical prototype of a box that protects the hardware running the software prototype.
The usability tests were successful and showed that this kind of ICT system could benefit both managers and craftsmen. The managers can reduce the time of organizing information, and the craftsmen can be sure that they are executing the work in accordance with the latest information.