Application case study of mobile computing to decrease paperwork at "neighborhood stabilization program (NSP)" construction site

Abstract

Compared to other industries, Construction is one of the slowest industries to benefit from information technology (IT) implementation. Some companies, especially small companies, still prefer paper-based operations over web-based. This can be contributed to several reasons such as costs of training, software and so on. One of the fields in which IT can be applied is Management Information Systems (MIS) for construction sites. The focus of this paper is to discuss a webbased system that can improve Management Information Systems by decreasing paper-based processes on construction sites. The paper is based on a case study of the XYZ Contractor Company. This company is one of the two companies that worked on "Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP)" that was established for the purpose of stabilizing communities that have suffered from foreclosures and abandonment. This paper also introduces a possible approach to include Mobile Computing in the classroom to prepare construction Management students to utilize this technology in the field. © American Society for Engineering Education, 2013.