Uses of Databases in Construction Firms - B5 (Week6)

Databases in construction firms can relate to the actual construction projects, the companies involved in the project, the subcontractors, the owners, and all other relevant person involved in the construction phase. The creation of new and easily accessible databases have been created and used throughout a plethora of construction projects, and here is why:

A database can be defined as a collection of information which is stored and organized, managed, edited and updated throughout numerous phases of a projects life. Thinking about the way a database is typically laid out - various rows and columns which can be edited and deleted, similar to a spreadsheet. The spreadsheets can be used to transfer and communicate information to numerous people involved in the construction project. They can be used for work purposed, to communicate safety information, quality of materials, among many other functions.

Construction company owners can delve into any database that is available to them in order to gain something that would be beneficial for their project. It can be about upcoming projects they will be involved in, they can search for subcontractors, find vendors, or just keep track of information that is important to them. A lot of these databases exist on the internet. This way, contractors and subcontractors can come together and form out work that they can both get involved in and potentially work together.

 Being that construction projects are a very collaborative work environment, an efficient way to communicate and transfer information about any aspect of the project is crucial. Many people are involved and work in construction firms. No project is a one-man band. Keeping in mind that email and general construction information systems are widely used as communication tools, their ability to record and manage interface problems and responses is limited. BIM as an information technology can contribute toward improving the efficiency and success of a construction project within thousands of construction firms worldwide.

Comment to Madeleine:

Madeleine,

I agree with your statement that databases are a good use of communication and collaboration. I think that the incorporation of databases could potentially increase productivity in the design phase. This is because like you stated, architects can resolve conflicts rather than wasting time and money.

Comment to Manon:

Manon,

You made an interesting point in your blog post - The use of queries such as DROP and DELETE allows for an efficient way to flow through your database. The use of these features can allow users a faster way to navigate through their spreadsheets. This faster navigation will improve productivity for sure.

Comment to Michael:

Michael,

It is interesting that you pointed out the use database systems has in storing memory. Like you stated, the bigger companies have large amounts of data that needs to efficiently be stored without the risk of that data becoming corrupt. This way, smaller portions of data can be stored throughout numerous devices that way the memory is safe.