Abstract The advent of smartphones, coupled with mobile computing technology, provides construction engineers with unprecedented opportunities to improve the existing processes of on-site construction management. Capitalizing on smartphone technology, this study aimed to develop an effective on-site management system. The system was focused on three important functions of on-site management: site monitoring, task management, and real-time information sharing. For system development, various component technologies, such as wireless communication, augmented reality, and client–server database, were utilized to efficiently manage, transfer, and visualize project information on a mobile computing platform. The applicability of the mobile system was verified on a real building construction site. This study contributed to the body of knowledge by illustrating how mobile computing technology embodied in smartphones can be used to streamline on-site construction management. The proposed system is expected to assist construction engineers in achieving a high level of productivity and efficiency.