A Paperless Project

The Missouri Safe and Sound Project to reconstruct and rehabilitate 802 Missouri bridges required more than 550 geotechnical investigations in an 18-month period. This article describes how collaboration software was used for electronic data management, report development, scheduling, and communication for this complex project. Although spreadsheets traditionally would have been used to track work, the numerous files spread across multiple offices led the contractor to use Microsoft SharePoint software as a collaboration tool. The first issue was managing nearly a terabyte of electronic files and photographs. Using a custom list tool within the collaboration software, the client spreadsheet information was imported, additional fields were added for tracking purposes, and the spreadsheet was transformed from one-dimensional data to an interactive library of tasks, links, schedules, and performance indices. This one list became the co-located office, the sole source of all information. The collaboration software also provided an efficient means of developing an electronic filing system and the added benefit of controlling and tracking draft reports, reviewers, comments, and accessibility at each stage of the report-development process. By using existing tools in the software programs, the contractor was able to document the review process completely and in accordance with existing quality procedures. Using similar task tools as identified for the report-development process, the contractor was able to create calendars, automated notifications, tracking methods, and real-time updates that were available to all team members. The project was not without its challenges, including unfamiliarity with all of the features of the technology and discomfort by some employees with remote interaction and use of technology to manage tasks that were traditionally performed by the project manager. Although the Missouri Safe and Sound Project currently is on hold, the experience of using collaborative software should facilitate future transition to a more automated office.

• Record URL:
  • http://www.cenews.com/article.asp?id=3347
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/10519629
• Authors:
  • Harwood, David D
• Publication Date: 2008-12

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Photos;
• Pagination: pp 30, 33
• Serial:
  • CE News
  • Volume: 20
  • Issue Number: 11
  • Publisher: Zweig White Information Services
  • ISSN: 1051-9629
  • Serial URL: http://www.cenews.com

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automation; Bridges; Case studies; Cooperation; Information management; Project management; Software
• Geographic Terms: Missouri
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Data and Information Technology; Highways; I10: Economics and Administration;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01118539
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 22 2009 9:32AM