Construction project management is developing and growing so fast. It requires modern technologies, construction management tools, and techniques to work effectively. In such a progressive and complicated field, you must be focused on developing construction software tools to cope with the competitive market. Managing your project successfully guarantees you not only a better economic income but also a good reputation for your work. You can now move from the beginner to the expert level in construction management by using PlanRadar. The largest construction company’s choice of technology for following up their projects and managing any evolving issues instantly.
Finances and economic variables in a construction project
Adequate financing is a fundamental aspect of project management. Construction projects are considered a long-term investment. The owners pay for the project first and they only receive the profit over long-term use of the facility. Since the costs are taken on early in the process and most do not expect returns until well into the future, it is common for further delays to occur during some of the stages of the building process. General contractor equipment and material suppliers can also face this financing problem if the owner has not yet covered all the project costs from the beginning. Generally, the construction financing problem can be summarized as filling the gap in funds between the costs and revenues. This problem can be managed by calculating the capital costs for starting the construction project including the initial and subsequent expenses. The following is a list of the major financing categories in construction projects:
- Land acquisition, including assembly, holding, and improvement
- Planning and feasibility studies
- Architectural and engineering design
- Construction, including materials, equipment, and labor
- Field supervision of construction
- Construction
- Insurance and taxes
- Owner’s general office overhead
- Equipment and furnishings not included in the construction
- Inspection and testing.
After calculating the expenses and finishing your feasibility studies you then have to start setting up the project stages scheduled for a timeline plan related to these costs. A consistent team management will help a business to grow, support the industry and deal with all information available to get the best possible results.
Fundamental construction project stages
A construction process starts from sketching out a concept of the project and abstracting the owner’s vision. However, it does not end when the building process is finished. The five-main construction project stages are now going to be listed and how to deal with every one of them. Learn which of these fundamental stages is supported by PlanRadar.
Stage One: Design and programming
The design stage starts with establishing the concept and goals for the project. The owner begins by showing his objectives for the architect whose responsibility then is to turn this vision into building blueprints that meet the design codes and goals. The architect starts producing project drawings and schematic designs according to the actual needs, location, and budget of the project. The architect becomes the design manager at this point.
Stage two: Pre-construction
The bidding process is over, and the owner has chosen a contractor for the project. The next step is to assign a project manager, project administrator, and field engineer. Each of the three has to be chosen carefully as they are going to be the responsible parties for ensuring a smooth-running project. Afterward, the site examination will take place which is done to test the soil and environmental conditions.
Stage three: Procurement
The project team now purchases the materials and equipment needed for the project. This step depends on the size of the project and the construction company. Large construction companies who deal with multi-function projects normally have a procurements department that is responsible for hiring the labor and purchasing the project needs. On the contrary of small projects, these responsibilities go to the general contractor or subcontractor.
Stage four: Construction
The construction step starts with arranging a chain of meetings with general contractor and sub-contractors to deal with the labor, material, equipment, and materials of the project. Setting up the financial payment schedule comes next followed by moving into the site to get ready. Review coordination drawings to ensure that all the tasks are properly connected and coordinated. Then, you will need to get the site furnished with the temporary engineer’s offices and storage. Afterward, you need to approve air and water systems balancing by spot testing, reviewing completed reports and by selected site observations. After ensuring site security the team will be ready to start the construction process. PlanRadar the construction defect management software will be your full-time companion through this step to follow up the project workflow. try it for free now!
Stage five: project closeout
In this step, the owner occupies the new building and the warranty period starts. The owner consultant ensures that the materials, equipment, and building quality meet the contract terms and conditions. The consultant has the right to make a punch list of any defects or incomplete tasks, PlanRadar will help you by providing chronological documentation on defects that can be used as evidence for a job well done. Remember always that a successful project means a good reputation for your work, and this is your capital in the construction investment sector. Do what´s best for your business and start your consistent construction management system with PlanRadar. Contact us!
Construction planning and scheduling tips and techniques you need to know before starting your project
“Time is money” this is the most common phrase you may hear during a construction project. Planning and scheduling are thus considered one of the main responsibilities throughout the whole project. The key profit for any construction company is the average number of successfully completed projects during a certain period of time. There are many benefits of sticking to a good planning method, such as evaluating all the resources requirements and maintaining a stable cash flow rate. Although each construction project experience is in most cases unique, there are four fundamental planning techniques which project managers will constantly use:
Bar charts: charts, in general, are the most simple and easy way to create construction schedules. A bar chart includes a list of orders and information as the starting date, duration, completion date, and project resources. The level of detail in a bar chart is dependent on the nature of a given project and size.
Critical path method CPM: The CPM is a more complex and detailed way of the construction schedule. CPM has been used for planning in the construction sector for over 20 years. This method identifies the critical tasks that affect the project delivery date. The CPM also help in managing resources and time. Other benefits of the CPM as a scheduling tool include:
- Encouraging more detailed layers of planning the project
- Project members get a complete overview of the total project
- Provides an easy way for evaluating the effect of technical changes on the project
- Enable an economic planning method for all project operations to be finished on the completion date.
Line of balance: Line of balance suits more a repetitive type of work as road constructions. The first step for this planning method is to collect all resources or operations needed relating to the time plan so you can ensure that these steps are not delayed.
Q scheduling: Q scheduling works on providing a sequence of orders, activities, costs, and relation between tasks. This planning tool´s main objective is to prevent interference between two main tasks at the same location on the site. The tool was basically derived from the line of balance technique with some modifications to go along the non-repetitive projects and tasks.
In such a complex industry such as construction, it is nearly impossible to identify all the interrelationships between the work items and tasks. There is no indication of the level of importance of these various activities. A small task or delay can affect the whole project´s duration and delivery date. However, the smart way to manage these multi-direction tasks is to use the technology method. PlanRadar knows how time delay will affect your work. You have a chance to try it for 30 days free of charge to find out how your construction projects can all be documented and organized at push of a button.
Find the right software for construction planning and scheduling with this checklist
Choosing the right project management construction software that suits your needs is a similar process to choosing the contractor for the project. You are about to hire and pay for someone to manage all the work for you. But instead of choosing the different specialization of a contractor, you choose the specific category you want the real estate project management software to manage. The common software solutions are for project scheduling, construction planning, project monitoring, a cloud-based documentation and cost management. The chosen software will accompany you through all the steps and will be your guide to work productivity. Before you start to work with construction software you have to answer the following questions:
- Does the software work only in the online mode or can it work offline too?
- Does the software have a mobile application?
- Can the software combine between multi-specialties as documenting and planning?
- Has the software got a safe cloud to save your documents?
- Is it easy to use?
- Is the software setting an effective communication and contact platform for the project members?
- Will you receive email alerts and notification on your mobile?
- Can you open the construction plans easily anywhere?
- And the most important question: How much cost and time are this software going to save?
Finding the appropriate software with these features will take most of the workload off your shoulders. You will no longer have to worry about how you will manage the connection between the project participants. Using a construction software tool will let everyone know his tasks and the status of the project phases, everyone will be on the same page and on track. Managing the small issues quickly in return saves you from being overwhelmed by the large ones. This can only be done by the continuous monitoring of all the project details. But who can have a continuous working mind that can remember and schedule every defect and task? A smart construction software like PlanRadar can!
5 features will checkmark your list with PlanRadar
PlanRadar wants to change the face of construction sector sustainably. The software´s main objective is to provide and integrate a 24-hour platform that connects all the project members and allows them to monitor any defect or task that needs to be fixed… Here are PlanRadar´s main features:
Easy ticketing
Tickets are created with the mobile app directly on site, or via the web application in the office. If you create a ticket, you can add attributes such as contractor, title, priority, and completion date. Furthermore, you can add the plan position, pictures, text, or voice memos to each ticket. A drawing function also allows you to add annotations to plans and images.
Direct communication
Each project participant, from the general contractor to the craftsman, can record defects and assign a ticket to the responsible person. This person will receive an automatic notification as soon as the ticket has been created. Direct communication not only reduces the incidence of errors in the documentation of tasks, but also the time and costs of your quality assurance processes.
Complete documentation
PlanRadar bundles all information on project status, construction documentation and fault management for you. This not only saves you valuable time after completion of the construction project but also during the review process. Through PlanRadar software, you will find all text annotations, photos or voice memos structured. With a few clicks, you can export the required data and statistics.
Configurable PDF reports
You can export project data, statistics, reports, and tickets at any time. PlanRadar offers you the possibility to export data as a PDF or Microsoft Excel file. You can also apply filters while exporting data which allow you to export only the relevant data you need. PDF exports can be provided with your own company logo, free text, and project photos.
Offline mode
PlanRadar also works in offline mode. If you do not have access to the internet on your mobile device, you can still use all PlanRadar features as usual. After re-established internet access, PlanRadar automatically updates all changes in the cloud and on all mobile devices.
The tool you have been hoping to find in project management software reviews is here now. Try PlanRadar 30 days free of charge and save 7 working hours per week and up to 40 percent decrease in project costs
