Determine Project Communications

1. Determine Project Communications

2. Introduction Aim This presentation is prepared to support and give a general overview of the ‘How to Determine Project Communications’ Guide and should be read in conjunction with the publication. Use of the Guide This guide aims to inform Project and IT Managers within construction companies of the communications technologies currently available, and the impact of deploying various business applications across them. The guide covers: • Future of communications • Business drivers • Communications technologies • Communication methods • Technology roadmap

3. Future of Communications • Various technologies to communicate since A. Graham Bell • Telephone • Internet • UMTS (Universal Mobile Telephony Service) • Optical fibre

4. Future of Communications • Efficient site communications save time and money • Working with communications provider ensures the solution that best suits the project • Provision and management of communication services on site can provide valuable revenue for the main contractor • Keeping pace with technology • Contractors and subcontractors currently rely on plant hire companies to provide essential equipment • There’s been a boom in exchange-based services for the construction industry.

5. Business Drivers • Trying to keep ahead in business? • You want better communication between your sites • You want to take advantage of new technology and applications • You need flexibility to bring on bandwidth when you need it • You want a solution for today which leads your business into the future • You need to work collaboratively with your business partners and clients.

6. Business Drivers • Why are construction sites demanding more than simple telephone lines to run their operations? • Unlocking corporate information • Extending reach – remote and mobile corporate workers • Accessing outside information • Harnessing the public Internet • Working with papers

7. Business Drivers • e-business Using e-commerce applications to transform business processes. For example: • An employee placing an order for stationery with a different department, using the company Intranet. • A research organisation distributing reports to clients around the world, via the Internet.

8. Business Drivers • e-commerce Using networked computing to conduct transactions. For example: The contractor need some building materials, say ‘brick’. • Visit a ‘construction portal’ and compare costs , availability, delivery times, etc of the specified component from a number of suppliers. • The service captures all the information needed to enable the supplier to deliver the materials to the site in order to comply with the contractor’s requirement.

9. Communication Technologies • Analogue and digital transmission • Nowadays the preferred method for information transmission is by digital transmission. Digital transmission of signals is much cleaner and clearer compared to analogue transmission. • Modem • In order for digital data to be sent over a telephone line, it must first be converted to analogue form and then converted back to digital at the other end. This is achieved by means of a modem (Modulator DEModulator) at either end of the line.

10. Communication Technologies • Terminal adapters, routers, multiplexers • A terminal adapter is a device that connects your computer to a digital line (ISDN), allowing you to communicate in the way you want – over the Internet, by phone or fax. • A router is used on more sophisticated networks. Routers have the ability to connect different physically and logically organised networks. • A multiplexer is a device that can send several signals over a single line. They are then separated by a similar device at the other end of the link.

11. Communication Technologies • Bandwidth • Bandwidth is a physical limitation of any practical communication system. The lower the bandwidth of the system, the cheaper it is to produce, but the rate at which data can be transferred is usually slower. • Dialup networking • PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network): Regular old-fashioned telephone system. • ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network): ISDN upgrades today’s analogue telephone network to a digital system. It is quite simply a very quick way of sending data via a digital phone line.

12. Communication Technologies • ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) • A high speed data service which will turn an ordinary telephone line into a high speed digital connection, capable of carrying information at between 10 and 40 times the speed. • Data services • Private Circuits: Private Circuits are permanently connected communications links dedicated for your exclusive use. There can be data-only services, voice-only services, as well as services that combine voice, data and image. • Short Haul Data Services (SHDS): (SHDS) are high-speed data services enabling customers to interconnect LANs up to 25km apart. • Virtual Private Networks (VPN):A VPN is a private connection through a public network. The primary concerns with VPNs are performance and security.

13. Communication Technologies • Wireless Technology • e-mail • PDA • GPRS • Mobile phones

14. Communication Methods • Telephony • Fax • E-mail • The Internet • It is a collection of interconnected computer networks that span the globe, linked by telecommunication systems. • Intranet • An Intranet is a private company-wide Web site usually only accessible by members of the organisation. individuals and organisations. • Extranet • Extending the Intranet applications to the business partners, customers and suppliers, such as access to information on products, services, pricing, inventory and scheduling. • Conferencing • Modern communication enables meetings without the physical participation of people.

15. Communications Checklist • What factors do you need to consider when selecting communications link to site? • How many people will be office-based on site and the types of services they will require? • What applications will be used? How frequently? and by Whom? • When do you need the services on site? • Where do you want to connect to and from? • Do you have a corporate network? • Site programme / Site duration? • Do I need to provide services for other parties (client, design team members, subcontractors etc...)? • Do you need a telephone system? • What else do I need to make it all work?

16. Communications Checklist • For Micro Sites: • Typically less than 6 site office staff (e.g. site agent, QS, etc…) • e-mail usage will continue to grow and specific applications relating to the construction industry are available over the Internet, • It is recommended that the minimum service which construction companies should deploy on any site is ISDN2. • Small and Medium Contracts: • A broad range of sites with vastly differing requirements but generally requiring both voice and data services. • For Major Projects: • Large complex projects where there is generally a need to communicate with back office systems such as the corporate Intranet, EDMS etc… • The group IS/IT strategy and that of partner organisations must be considered prior to selection of communication services.

17. Other Considerations • Resilience • Resilience in your network is like buying an insurance policy in case something unforeseen happens. • Security • In order to make your network systems safe from the outside world you need to ensure you have adequate security protection. • Future Proofing • It is important to consider the short, medium and long-term requirements of the project, and base investment decisions on solutions that are scaleable to meet changing requirements. • Maintenance • In addition to capital installation and rental cost, maintenance charges for equipment must also be considered. • Service Lead Times • Constituent products and services should be implemented to provide effective communications when they are most needed.