2010 International Conference on Innovative Computing and Communication and 2010 Asia-Pacific Conference on Information Technology and Ocean
Engineering
Design and Implementation of Network Information System for Large Project
Construction Management
Guan Jiaqing
School of Urban Design
Wuhan University
Wuhan City,China
ggjjqq9271@163.com
Abstract—Based on practical construction management of
large construction projects, this paper demonstrates how to
establish a network information system suitable for project
construction to facilitate prompt information
communication, real-time process control and decision
support so as to achieve overall control of construction
progress, cost and quality and to realize the scientific and
modernized project management.
Keywords- Large construction project; network system;
design; implementation;
I. INTRODUCTION
Large project construction is complicated systematic
work, during which many factors are correlated and
mutually-restrained. To facilitate better project
management, system engineering method and network
technology shall be used to make in-depth analysis on
mass project data produced during project planning,
organizing, coordinating and control process so as to
promptly master actual project condition and to control
construction better. In recent years, computer and network
technology have been applied in construction project
information management and have brought good result.
This paper will discuss how to establish a network
information system to provide pre-analytical prediction,
dynamic process control and decision support for
construction management of large project so as to improve
work efficiency, reduce project cost and manage the
project in a scientific manner.
II. CHARACTERISTICS OF LARGE PROJECT
CONSTRUCTION
Large projects means those built for the benefit of all
people and utilization of resources. These projects
characterize in extensive influence, big investment,
technical difficulty, complicated environment and long
construction period, which require project construction to
be conducted complying with basic construction
978-0-7695-3942-3/10 $26.00 © 2010 IEEE
DOI 10.1109/CICC-ITOE.2010.12
Tang Jingying
School of Urban Design
Wuhan University
Wuhan City,China
townj@163.com
procedures, rules and regulations and relevant technical
standards. Systems such as project legal person
responsibility system, public bidding system, construction
supervision system and contract management system shall
be strictly implemented. Construction management system
combining project legal person, designer, consultant and
construction unit shall be established through contractual
relationship. Management of these projects involves
multiple parties and includes construction progress,
quality, safety, technology, contracts, funds and
equipment, etc. with frequent information exchange and
mass data which are correlated and mutually-restrained.
These characteristics require that network information
system for large project, based on project management,
shall be built in such a manner to be able to overall control
the construction progress, cost and quality, especially cost
control and information communication. Procedural and
standardized management shall be implemented to
improve project management.
III. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
In order to realize control of construction progress,
quality and cost, the network information system shall
meet the following requirements: Firstly, the system shall
be able to provide overall control of data related with each
phase and aspect of project construction, including
construction progress, quality, contract, finance, design,
documentation, materials and equipment, safety,
construction site and cost (plan, implementation, control
and feedback). Secondly, the system shall be able to make
analysis and prediction on management object based on
budget estimate, budget and practical data. Thirdly, the
system shall be able to classify control objectives
according to duty, management level and construction
procedures of each party. Through defining their duty and
making clear the relationship and data flow among each
party, a comprehensive control system characterizing in
hierarchical authorization and responsibility is formed.
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 Figure 1. The network information system.
IV. OVERALL SYSTEM STRUCTURE
A. Application System
The system horizontal management objective includes
manpower, finance, materials and equipment,
documentation which form different subsystems. Each
subsystem is vertically divided into three levels of service
systems including decision-making level, management
level and operational level. The three level service system
involves project legal person, business department, design
party, consultant and construction party, etc. The decision-
making level reflects management and decision-making
function of the project legal person. Data of this level
derive from data of the management level. The
management level provides comprehensive accurate
information and decision-making suggestion for the
decision-making level. Data of this level is formed
through summarizing, analyzing and processing of basic
data from the operational level. The operational level
mainly involves practical operation work of functional
department of the project legal person and the consultant,
construction party and design party, etc. This level has to
deal with mass basic data and is the basis of the 3-level
service system. The application system has the following
advantage: The functional structure of the whole network
information system is provided for the whole management
level to ensure the source of information collection. It is
relatively independent and can be assembled with different
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application system. It also allows adjustment and variation
of department.
B. Structural System
Network based software architecture mainly includes
Client/Server and Browser/Server. However, since the
Client/Server system requires higher quality of hardware,
software and personnel for clients, the system is generally
installed on the INTRANET structure. And the
BROWSER/SERVER is applied. Clients can conduct
internal information processing and external information
inquiry through uniform interface of the browser. This can
achieve “zero maintenance” for clients and reduce total
system maintenance cost greatly.
V. NETWORK DESIGN
The network platform shall be established in such a
manner to meet requirements such as resource sharing
within the system, paperless office, management
application system, Internet access, E-mail and remote
login, etc. The design is based on 200-300 computers.
Ethernet topology structure is applied. 1000Mbps twisted
pair/optical fiber is used to connect to the switch and the
server. Through the switch, users can adopt Gigabit
copper cable/optic fiber to access to the core switch.
Multi-Service router is adopted for Internet outlet. And
Secpath F1000-C or UTM is used as security gateway and
VPN access gateway for mobile users.
 Figure 2. Network Design.
It has the advantage of simple structure, quick
installation and easy use. Maintenance requires no
professional personnel. It adopts Gigabit for the main part
and Mb access so that network information flow
congestion and server bottleneck is uneasy to occur.
Network delay is rare. Its flexible network architecture
makes it possible to be expanded according to user’s need
as well as to protect existing investment.
VI. SYSTEM FUNCTION DESIGN
According to design concept of application system,
sub-module of system function mainly includes:
1) Project schedule management: This module mainly
includes investment schedule, design schedule,
procurement schedule and construction progress schedule.
In other words, modules such as 4-level project schedule
are established based on design management, construction
contract and actual site condition.
2) Cost control: This module is mainly adopted to
establish project budgetary estimate and prediction and to
follow up cost, including budgetary estimate management,
engineering settlement, contract cost forecasting, price
difference management, capital flow and unit price
analysis, etc.
3) Design management: This module is mainly used
for management of design of the whole project, including
the whole project design schedule, budget, submitting
progress of design drawings and technical data and their
quality.
4) Contract management: This module is adopted to
provide management for the whole process of bidding,
contract signing, contract performance, contract payment
and contract acceptance. It includes sub-module such as
bidding management, contract basic information
maintenance, contract alteration claims, reward and
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punishment, contractor’s manpower, material and
equipment schedule and consumption, construction
progress, contract payments, contract acceptance and final
account, etc.
5) Material and equipment procurement management:
This module is mainly used to follow up and control the
whole process from application, procurement, transport
and storage of material and equipment to installation.
6) Capital and financial management: The module is
used for management of accountancy service such as
project cost settlement and payment of charges. This
module includes payment voucher management,
accounting document entry and review, cheque application,
accounting, preparing of chart of accounts, contract
payment account and fixed assets management, etc.
7) Quality management: This module is used to
control whether construction of each quality control unit
complies with quality requirements, including quality
inspection standard, unit engineering break-down, work
procedure inspection record, material and sample
inspection record, registering and dealing with quality
defect, quality acceptance and assessment, etc.
8) Safety management: This module is mainly for
maintenance of relevant construction safety information,
including safety measures, safety inspection, accidents,
accident casualty, safety conference, and safety training,
etc.
9) File management: This module is mainly to control
file receiving, issuing and file stream at filing position.
And it is responsible for registering, receiving, retrieval
and management of all project documents.
 VII. CONCLUSION
This paper firstly decides the objective of network
information system for large engineering construction
management. Based on management content, management
level and work flow, overall planning and design is
conducted with regard to contract management, investment
control and construction progress control by combining
characteristics of large project construction management.
In this paper, system requirements, overall structure,
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functional modules and working program are provided.
This system is of high pertinence, practicability and
operability.
REFERENCES
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Bei Jing, China, 2005.
[2] SHENG shoulin, Principles of remote power system
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1998.