Open Software Caralog >> Construction Site Remote Logistics Platform
Digital Transformation on a Small Start-Up Enterprise: Design, Prototype, and Deployment Based on Human-Centered Design Principles for the Construction Sector
1,2 Department of Computer Sciences, Universidad Alcalá, Madrid, Spain
Logistics with real-time management of work activities at a construction site, including building materials and human resources, is an innovation for micro and small enterprises starting up in the construction sector. Enterprises of this size are being run using traditional turn-of-the-century technology tools, namely, excel spreadsheets as data storage. This paper presents a case study of technology implementation at a startup enterprise in the Belgian construction sector between 2018 and mid-2020 and discusses the challenges needed to overcome during the period of digital transformation. A multi-environment logistics platform was designed and prototyped following human-centered design principles enabling the enterprise to move forward and improve work methodologies to work with real-time data. Results after 18 months demonstrated an increased efficiency in all work processes, with a reduction of losses in all aspects of work activities and improved control of production estimates and measurements
Keywords: logistics, task optimization, human-centered design, Machine learning, Process mining, Digital Transformation
Suggested Citation Tomás M, Tabatha K. Digital Transformation on a Small Start-Up Enterprise: Design, Prototype, and Deployment Based on Human-Centered Design Principles for the Construction Sector (February 6, 2022). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4027801 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4027801
Status: being peer reviewed Date: 26-12-2023 *Corresponding author: +32 471 632 520 (WhatsApp only)
short URL address to this document here on GitHub: http://tinyurl.com/constructionSiteLogistics
Data Availability
The software and hardware solutions presented in this research work are available on GitHub with a Creative Commons License: https://github.com/aeonSolutions/AeonLabs-Site-Logistics-Platform
Declaration of Competing Interest
To this date, the author declares to have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
About the Author
Miguel Tomás has been researching and implementing technology solutions for start-up businesses and public institutions for the past 20 years. To learn more about the author, connect to his LinkedIn profile page using the following web address: https://www.linkedin.com/in/migueltomas/. Visit my publications page to find out more about published scientific communications in peer-reviewed journals.
A final statement about Mental Health in Science
It is found recurrently on the internet news and comments about another scientific researcher, in particular junior and medior researchers, going through some kind of mental health difficulties in particular those associated with sensory overload events. Promoted by abusive usage of wireless devices, assembled or modified to actuate at a distance and invisible, causing harm to a victim’s neurobiology. This is an old area of knowledge, that now needs to be openly discussed and commented, on in a peaceful constructive way toward the identification of solutions to all abusive usages of wireless frequency waves (radiation or vibration) in electronic devices. Open solutions are the correct path toward safety in the usage of all things related to such technologies. Be knowledgeable to stay safe.
Between 2018 and mid-2020, I successfully implemented a digital transformation to a startup in the construction sector and moved the enterprise forward by enabling the delivery of works to all 70+ construction workers, with the implementation of digital methodologies and communication in real-time at each construction site and at the same time managing all logistics aspects of construction works through a cloud logistics platform, also designed from start by me, developed, and coded. Currently consists of 2 Android apps, an MS Windows desktop App in.NETCore. All connect to a cloud server API and where data is stored and shared among devices using current encryption standards.
The current state of development allows remote human resource management using a location-sensitive attendance log system where the worker, at the construction site, uses his company smartcard, union card, or smartphone to register entrance and exit the perimeter of the construction site. It is also possible to document all construction building materials delivered at each construction site: each time a truck arrives at the site, a designated worker opens an entry in the system and adds a photocopy of the delivery document for the materials that are being unloaded. You can download a testing version of the software at www.aeonlabs.solutions/sitelogistics.construction (not working anymore)
Figure 4 - main activity on the Android App< and a Contactless RFID NFC Worker card
Android
presentation video for the Foreman Android App: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0i_cGdDqLJ0
Windows
presentation video for the Office Windows app: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Mb0Qagt6Ig
Brief summary of what solutions were prototyped and deployed: ( P. & D. )
■ Health & Safety I proposed the implementation of mandatory usage of an OEM smartwatch at a construction site to all construction workers.
■ Improve response time and communication Implemented a communication chat with photos and video sharing, between office workers and workers at a construction site using the well-known Slack Messaging Mobile App. Remote managing and drastically lowered response time on issues, occurrences, and problems encountered by workers: from bad planning to detection of project errors during the execution phase.
■ Management of workers' attendance P&D a cloud database for management of attendance at a construction site, using NFC smartcards handed to each construction worker with a photo ID and work category.
■ Remote Management of work tasks P&D a Logging of extra hours of work not stated on the initial contract
■ P&D a remote Management of building materials stocks, tools, and machinery at the construction site. Documental Logging of all delivery notes from building materials delivered at the construction site
■ Technologies: Visual Studio VB.NET, Android Studio SDK 28, PHP 7.x , HTML 5, CSS 3, MySQL 5.x, AES 128bit encryption, Cloud ReST API, Development & Deployment using AGILE.
Enterprises I was involved, as a project manager, and doing construction site management using this logistics platform
Duchêne SA at the construction site
- Tramway in the outskirts of Liège for building a Tram Gare (2019/20)
Thomas & Piron at the construction sites
- Building a residential apartment building in the city center of Nivelles (2018/19);
- Building a residential apartment building on the outskirts of Balmoral (2019/20);
Wust at the construction sites**
- Building a 'Maison de Repo' near Perwez (2018/20);
- Repurposing a “Palais de Justice” building in Eupen;
- Construction of a school in Ans near Liege;
- Building a residential apartment building in Evere (2019/20)
BAUNV at the construction sites
- Renovation and repurposing of a building in the city center of Antwerp (2019);
- Building a residential apartment building in Mechelen (2019/20);
- Repurpose a residential apartment building in Verviers (2020);
Unfortunately, COVID-19 happened in 2020, Quality Construction s.p.r.l. Laid me off, and this logistics solution is now parked here on GitHub. Anyone can view all the programming code. In there, you will find links to tutorial videos on my YouTube channel.
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Android :
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the code for the foreman Android app (SDK 29) :
https://github.com/aeonSolutions/Site-Logistics-Platform/tree/main/Android/Foreman
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the code for the construction worker Android app (SDK 29):
https://github.com/aeonSolutions/AeonLabs-Site-Logistics-Platform/tree/main/Android/siteWorker
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Windows : the code for the office Windows app (latest working vb.net):
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Cloud: the code for the Cloud API (PHP 7.x, MySQL 5.x ) :
https://github.com/aeonSolutions/Site-Logistics-Platform/tree/main/Cloud/Current
Anyone Can view a Photo Log here, with more than 100 photos, for the construction sites where i did remote project managment and this digital transformation.
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