CMIT 558: Information Systems
for Construction Management

Course Credit: ?
Course Category: Core Course
Semester Taught: Semester Two
Timetable: Daily 7:00-10:00 P.M.
Prerequisite Courses: CMIT 555
Available Sections: ?
Principal Instructor: Assoc. Prof. Ziga Turk
Date Last Updated: Friday, October 11, 2002 8:09 PM

Aims:

The aim of this course is for the student to understand information systems for construction management; their analysis, design, use and management as well as the related methods and technologies.

Objectives:

While still contributing some 10% of the GDP, construction too is being challenged and changed by the new economies that handle information as the main commodity, use electronic networks as the media to move the information around and the World Wide Web as the marketplace for the information. Particularly the construction business that are information intensive (design, planning, consulting, procurement, surveying ...) are being challenged by the globalised marketplace. The traditional construction businesses as well are pressured to build faster and cheaper. Like all other industries, the construction industry is looking at information technologies for assistance.

This course focuses on the information systems for construction management - systems that can deliver correct and timely information that can help better manage construction projects. It covers the role, design and management of such systems and the fundametal priciples, methodologies and technologies involved. The knowledge gained should help the attendees to take part in making strategic decisions about the deployment of information systems as well as contribute to the design and management of such system thus helping them to assume the role of a "(chief) information office (CIO) in their company). Examples will show the current state of practice. Overview of latest research, of state of the art and an in depth view of the technology should allow them understand the fundamental changes that the new economy is bringing to construction sector and help them reshape their company for the future.

Content:

Technical, scientific and life-cycle framework for information technologies; Software engineering; Analysis and design methods; Product and process modeling; Classification; Thesauri; Internet and Web services architectures, languages and tools; Management of non-relational information; Document management; Indexing and searching; Browsing and classifying; Search engines; Integration technologies; Computer Integrated Construction; Concurrent Engineering; On-line collaboration, Distance Working; Construction information systems as a core business; E-Commerce; Business models; Types of information systems; Strategic, tactical, knowledge and operational level of management; Measuring IT penetration in a company; Setting up IT strategy for a company; Social aspects; Limitations of science and technology

Methods of Teaching, Learning and Assessment:

A combination of lectures, exercises, case studies and lab work. Additional out of class time required for directed learning, seminar assignments and reviewing relevant material.

• Presence: 10%
• Participation: 10%
• Seminar project: 40%
• Final exam: 40%

Readings - books:

• Charles M. Eastman
  Building Product Models: Computer Environments Supporting Design & Construction
  Hardcover - 424 pages (July 1999) CRC Press; ISBN: 0849302595
  
• Laudon, Kenneth; Laudon, Jane:
  Management Information Systems: New Approaches to Organization & Technology, 6^th edition, Prentice Hall, 1998, 693 p. + app.,
• Sowa, John F. Conceptual Structures : Information Processing in Mind and Machine
  Reading : Addison-Wesley, 1984

Resources:

• Pointers to various resources are in the bookmark file.
• Handouts of all slides are available (password protected).
• Software can be downloaded.

Programme Structure

w e e k 1	5.2.	Information Systems for Construction Management
	6.2.	Software engineering - structured analysis and design - object oriented analysis and design (exercise)
	7.2.	The modelling method Process modelling (principles, tools, standards, examle, exercises)
	8.2.	Product modelling (principles, tools, standards, example, exercises) Combining product and process models.
	9.2.	Client-server technology (principles, Java, JavaScript, CGI, Perl)
w e e k 2	12.3	Dictionaries, thesauri, classification systems Information retrieval
	13.3.	Product data technology (document management, Web databases, product databases and catalogs, XML)
	14.3.	Computer Integrated Construction (architectures, technologies, CORBA, COM, SOAP&co). On-line collaboration and distance working
	15.3.	Information Systems Revisited (taxonomy of information systems, IT potential in a company, IT strategy of a company, IT as a core business, business models, examples)
	16.3.	Technology revisited (limitations of technology, social issues, human factors, limitations of science).