By Tomas Hernandez Jr., Associate Partner, Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates

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Whether it's a shopping mall or a new stadium, the key to any successful construction project is not only quality, but ensuring that the building is delivered on time and on budget. Each day that completion is delayed means lost revenue that can never be recovered. Fortunately, a number of new software tools are available to assist in the planning, design and management of complex projects.

Having matured in recent years, today's construction software features technologies for managing virtually all aspects of the building project. While companies such as Primavera, Meridian Project Systems and Timberline continue to deliver mature suites of software solutions, relative newcomers like ViaNovus and Welcom provide solutions specifically tailored to the owner. On the design front, manufacturers Autodesk and Bentley continue to develop products that not only assist in creating CAD documents, but also in managing the design process.

Scheduling systems
Used by builders such as Lehrer McGovern Bovis and Fluor Daniel, Primavera Systems provides a full menu of applications ranging from project planning and scheduling to construction administration. Of Primavera's programs, Project Planner (P3) is among the most widely used in project planning, particularly for preconstruction activities such as scheduling, phasing and cost estimating. In addition to support for multiple projects and resource tracking, the product features a rich graphical interface, chart output and multiple templates based on Primavera's experience with multiple building types. The software also features a PERT reporting program that provides an interactive purelogic view of activities and relationships, thus making it easier to evaluate a schedule's critical path.

The software supports multiple users and subprojects. In addition, it has impressive reporting capabilities and a Web Publishing Wizard that creates a hierarchy of projects and reports on the Web. A feature called Primavera Post Office allows team members in remote locations to access project data.

Construction administration
Planning a construction project is one thing, but executing it, of course, is another. Administration can be a nightmare if logging and data retrieval are not performed correctly, or in a timely manner. Based on client/server technology, Expedition is Primavera's software solution for project administration. Its purpose is to ensure that all project items are designed, specified, ordered, delivered and erected on time and on budget. The program allows all project members to share contract items such as requests for information (RFI), change orders and shop drawing submittals. Primavera recently began shipping an add-on called Expedition Express, a Web-enabled application that delivers secure real-time access to project data. Express allows RFIs to be answered quickly and meeting minutes to be issued immediately. Further, up-todate reports and logs can be viewed on-line. The product runs on a single Windows NT server maintained by the contractor, who has full editing capabilities. A limited number of licenses are available to other team members for project data input.

Sacramento, Calif.-based Meridian Project Systems has assembled a suite of software solutions that likewise addresses construction administration issues. The company recently introduced the Meridian Project Pack, which includes Prolog Manager 5.0, Prolog Executive 1.0 and Prolog Web Site 1.0. Like Primavera's product, it has flexible reporting capabilities and can be accessed from the Internet.

Incorporated into the software pack is Report Manager, a function that allows the user to customize formulas for sorting and organizing reports. These advanced sorting capabilities allow information from one project to be collated with data from another project to achieve a multiproject perspective.

The Pack's integrated Security Manager allows software administrators to control the availability of reports to various users, as well as the data that users can view in those reports. A11 Pack applications check access privileges each time a user runs a report, and hide restricted information without disturbing report formatting.

Recognizing the growing need for project management tools, some suppliers are either entering the market on their own or as partners with existing players. TimberLine Software, a long-time developer of cost-estimating and accounting software for the construction and property management industries, announced plans in July to diversify into the project management market. Noting the difficulty that project managers experience when attempting to integrate their accounting, estimating and project management software, the Beaverton, Ore.based company indicated that it plans to provide a fully integrated solution that streamlines these functions.

Companies that offer Web-based products are positioning themselves in this market as well. MP Interactive, the developer of Extranet Solutions and Meridian Project Systems, recently announced the formation of a strategic alliance that will provide Prolog Manager 5.0 on the Internet for a low monthly fee. This should greatly reduce the time and expense required to set up Prolog's software.

Like Meridian, Framework Technologies Corp., the leading developer of Web-based project Extranets, recently announced the integration of its ActiveProject software with Primavera Expedition. Available as a service from Framework Technologies' Professional Services Group, the joint-venture delivers real-time Web access to information required to make decisions and keep projects moving. Construction teams can use a standard Web browser to retrieve and discuss Expedition-based information on a secure project Web site created with ActiveProject. In addition, project participants can leverage ActiveProject's collaborative capabilities to review alternatives and resolve issues without costly travel or delays.

Management systems for owners
Some project management systems are more specifically tailored to the building owner. To manage a $4 billion building program that includes the construction of 20 new stores and the renovation of 40 existing properties, Sears Roebuck & Co. is currently implementing Open Plan Professional and Open Plan Desktop, two of manufacturer Welcom's project management software programs. In the past, Sears has used Open Plan in both its facilities planning department and five of its construction offices. With it client/server database technology, Open Plan has been used not only for scheduling the delivery of construction-related items, fixtures and store merchandise, but also for managing the timelines of business-related strategic rollouts.

When a single date change is made using Open Plan, other affected dates -- and costs -- are adjusted accordingly, and scheduling conflicts are flagged. Changes are then communicated to the appropriate parties, including contractors, subcontractors and members of the facilities team. A Web-enabled version is due in the near future.

ViaNovus is another provider of project management software. Its PARAGON Program Management System™ 4.0 allows users to track and report on every project element, including daily reports, weekly statements, RFIs, meeting minutes, field memos, contracts, payments and change orders. In addition, the software provides a fully integrated program view in real time. The new PARAGON Version 5.0 will provide online program viewing with drill-down capability to project details, as well as improved schedule integration with Primavera's P3 and MS Project.

The PARAGON Program Management System has been used to manage large and complex projects such as the San Francisco International Airport. It has also been used by large owners, including Continental Airlines and the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.