Educating Future Constructors Utilizing a Project Specific Web Site

Abstract

Project Specific Web Sites (PSWS) promise to be the next step in the evolution of project communications and delivery. The role of the professional constructor is expanding and their responsibilities are distending into project facilitator and coordinator. A developing tool to aid in project coordination and communications is the PSWS. The PSWS can be thought of as a central repository for project data, including text, graphical, and video data ranging from contracts and meeting minutes to final drawings and construction images. The PSWS can also be the central clearinghouse for project communication with mechanisms for response to requests for information and other notices. It can also be the forum for real time collaborative work, with participants in remote locations sharing and modifying images and other data. There are a growing number of software options that a constructor can explore when considering the implementation of a PSWS. However, each require a systematic approach to developing a creation of hierarchies of data and hierarchies of rights to view or modify data in the PSWS. One of the initial steps in introducing new technology is to develop an educational mechanism that can be used to teach its utilitarian function. This paper will discuss some of the issues we have addressed during implementation of PSWS in a Construction Management and Architectural Engineering capstone project conducted at Milwaukee School of Engineering. I Associate Professor and Construction Management Program Director, Milwaukee School Of Engineering, 1025 N. Broadway, Milwaukee, WI 53202, email: capano@msoe.edu 2 Assistant Professor , Architectural Engineering and Building Construction Department (AE&BC), Milwaukee School of Engineering, Milwaukee WI, 53202, email: stahl@msoe.edu 3 Associate Professor of AE&BC, Milwaukee School Of Engineering, WI, 53202, email: mcgeen@msoe.edu