Field Studies in Sustainable Construction: Current State and End-user Needs in Information Management Systems

All management systems, even the most innovative and standardized, have to accommodate the needs of end-users in order to be effective. Current corporate and industrial trends for social benefits, sustainable methods of production and respect towards the planet's resources, have highlighted the need to place people and not system requirements, as the top priority for the design of information systems. This paper summarizes findings in a series of targeted field studies, carried out by experts from multidisciplinary academic backgrounds, examines current needs, concerns and suggestions of construction personnel and verifies the conclusions of previous academic research. The current state in the adoption of information systems and their effectiveness is examined, together with findings in user system requirements. Recorded findings range from on-site administration at operational level, to project management at tactical level and to executive departments that handle strategic planning. According to both academic research and conducted field studies, improved project communication can facilitate significant savings, social and environmental benefits and competitive advantage. The dimension of possible reductions in wasted materials and the volume of solid waste is examined in relation to communication systems. Although many problems associated with the dissemination of information in construction remain unresolved, by analyzing feedback from executives and engineers who man document management systems, a human-centered evolution of communication methods can emerge.