Construction Management Control with Microcomputers

Abstract

The development of microcomputers is changing the nature of common construction management functions. The estimating function can now be used with greater ease to simultaneously evaluate the time required to perform different project activities and keep cost data related to cost control. While this procedure was time consuming for manual computation, it could be done in a reasonable amount of time when using microcomputers. This paper discusses the formation of a microcomputer system which can perform the functions of estimating, cost control, and scheduling at the same time. The procedure makes use of productivity of a crew of particular size, the materials and the equipment needed, to generate time data related to scheduling and cost data related to estimating and cost control. The software needed for implementing the system is an electronic spreadsheet program, a data base management program and a time management program available for most microcomputers at a relatively inexpensive cost.