Construction software

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Screenshot of a construction software; here as an example ArchiCAD

Construction software is a comprehensive term for industry software in construction . Target groups are architects , specialist planners and engineers , project developers , project managers and construction companies . The term construction software is used accordingly vaguely.

General

In principle, construction software can be divided into software for the commercial handling of construction projects, software to support the technical departments of companies in the construction industry, software for computer-aided architectural design, CAAD ( CAD especially for architects), structural software, software for construction site documentation ( Construction diary ), special software for specialist planners and software to support project organization.

The commercial handling of construction projects has special features that cannot be mapped by classic commercial systems. For example, the down payment accounting, the building wages or the special features of the device disposition and device billing. In the area of ​​architects and planners, reference should also be made to fee accounting regulations such as the HOAI .

The creation of specifications , tendering and awarding of partial services (AVA) are special features of the technical processing. The procedures differ greatly from those of a stationary industrial company, since construction projects are unique and pricing is not primarily determined by material bills of material and machine costs, but rather by quantities (e.g. concrete) and wage shares (e.g. installation of concrete). Since service specifications in the construction industry often leave room for maneuver, pricing is often influenced by suspected possible deviations in the planned execution compared to the original plan or by supplements, i.e. additionally required and therefore separately remunerated services.

CAD and structural analysis software have few special features compared to corresponding software available on the market. But here too, special requirements must be observed, for example in structural planning.

Software for documenting the construction process ( construction diary ) has become popular with the advent of mobile data acquisition with smartphone apps. Architects, civil engineers and other site managers are acc. HOAI obliged to keep a construction diary - a job in which time can be saved through the use of software due to recurring texts. The photo documentation in the area of ​​construction progress and the recording of defects also suggests the use of software. Some solutions also offer editing of photos (labels with notes and drawing elements such as arrows) and dictation of the protocol texts so that the paperwork is not carried out on the small device on the construction site, but later in the office.

Specialist planners, such as planners for heating, ventilation, plumbing or electrical installation, usually use software that has been adapted to the specific tasks in the drawing area as well as in the generation of material lists, but which are based on commercially available CAD systems.

Since construction projects are unique, the demands on project organization are particularly high. Typical software systems to support the project organization are scheduling systems ( Gantt diagram ), systems for project documentation and project communication. While scheduling systems have been standard for many years ( construction schedule ), the subject of project documentation and project communication has only been systematically supported by software for a few years. The reasons for this are the growing number of project participants in large construction projects (due to greater specialization) and the need to document more precisely due to disputes among the project participants.

Construction software portals give an overview especially of software products and providers who know the industry and its requirements well.

Vendors and products (selection)

literature

  • Dirk Andreas Klinke: Financial controlling in medium-sized construction companies. 1st edition, GWV Fachverlage GmbH, Wiesbaden 2005, ISBN 3-8350-0033-0 .
  • Uwe Rüppel (Ed.): Networked-cooperative planning processes in structural engineering. Springer Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, Berlin Heidelberg 2007, ISBN 978-3-540-68102-1 .
  • BRZ Deutschland GmbH (Ed.): Controlling and managing construction projects successfully. 2nd edition, Springer Vieweg Fachmedien Verlag, Wiesbaden 2013, ISBN 978-3-658-00236-7 .

See also