July 2003

Ran: San Diego Daily Transcript- Friday, July 25, 2003

Concerns: software and security
Wireless technology beginning to captivate the construction workplace

By: Kevin Christensen

SAN DIEGO - Some may have trouble visualizing their construction workers wielding a tablet computer or Palm Pilot instead of a hammer.

But those that can't make the connection are being left in the rubble as progressive companies are using wireless technologies to streamline jobsite operations by cutting back costs, increasing the productivity, and in some cases, cutting back time-consuming processes by as much as two days.

Henry Amigable, vice president of Douglas E. Barnhart, Inc., said that the company has set up wireless hubs at some jobsite's and purchased new wireless computer equipment.

The hubs save costs in starting a new construction project where a trailer must be set up. A hardwire trailer takes as much as two days to set up and requires maintenance by a full-time technician. The wireless hub takes a half-day and can cost as little as $2,500.

"You have a certain continuity for jobsite to jobsite with the hub because each set up is the same," Amigable said.

Along with the wireless trailer setups, technologies such as tablet computers, a computer about the size of a notebook with a writeable screen, and Palm systems are being used by project managers to enter and receive crucial information while on the jobsite at the location of the problem instead of in the trailer.

Amigable said that Barnhart has also been using both technologies on some jobsites.

"It enables us to be more productive in the jobsite. Instead of having to rewrite it, you just put it into the database," he said. "You can track all kinds of things, like safety, daily reports, submittals.:

The technologies have also been successful in streamlining the request for information (RFI) process on the jobsite.

"RFI's are sent from the jobsite through the Web site immediately and increases the speed of responses - so responses to design changes now take a couple of hours where before it took days," Amigable said.

DPR Inc. is currently using Palm systems to report safety data collected in the field to the central project database. The system also measures safety performance of project teams and subcontractors.

Rudolph and Sletten has begun to explore the possibilities of using Palm Pilots to streamline information transfer, said Mike Jordan, senior project engineer for the general contractor.

Using a product a project management and collaboration software by Meridian Project Systems, called Prolog, Jordan is working to input information via Palm Pilot.

However, the software restricts the amount of characters that can be entered and reports are transmitted incomplete, Jordan said.

It's a really great idea and I know that is something they are working on, it's just that they are still developing the software," JOrdan said. "Once that is in place, I can see construction going in that direction.,"

Security remains a concern of many companies in moving to wireless applications, as many feat that hacking and leaks of vital privileged information.

Software companies, such as Citrix Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: CTXS), offer enterprise access infrastructure products where any employee at any jobsite or office can log into files on any job.

Companies now cater to wireless operations in offering mobile work forces the same universal access to business applications that wired users receive and more advances security options.

Citrix runs information off a centralized server that protects against information leaks because no actual data is transmitted over the network. Additional methods of protection include data encryption and authentication capabilities including passwords and devices for the users, said David Manks, senior director of product marketing for Citrix.

Meanwhile many companies are still running their entire operations from the trailers of the jobsite with time-consuming updates placed at the end of the day or week.

"If something has to be recorded, the project manager has to go to the trailer and enter the information through a land based computer," said Randall Knox, director of business development for Wermers General Contractors.

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