Site Monitoring: Project Manager’s Perspective
Construction is a trillion dollar industry for a reason. Even small construction projects can cost millions of dollars in investments. Commercial jobs with this kind of scale and value require a high degree of monitoring in order to effectively secure the developer’s return on investment (ROI). Construction site monitoring can’t be limited to a photographer or a security team. It needs to be implemented from the top-down, using a manager’s perspective.
Areas to Monitor as a Site Manager
Construction site monitoring is more than just photographs and working logs. It involves constantly auditing the productivity and security of a job from as many angles as possible. The more in-depth your managerial perspective is, the more effective your monitoring will be. Here are a few of the areas that are integral to any manager’s construction site monitoring.
Quality and Productivity
This should be the number one priority when it comes to job site monitoring. As a manager, you will need to inspect every level of production in order to ensure that the quality of work is sufficient and efficient. Quality and productivity often combat one another. Creating superior products in a short amount of time is a corporate expectation that is very difficult to execute. The only way you can satisfy both demands is through fully-implemented monitoring. Using a manager’s perspective, you need to audit every level of the process, from construction workers to material delivery to job supervision.
Dedicating time to review is always an extremely worthwhile proposition, especially for larger projects. The38-road project in Siem Reap, for example, has hired nine different technical groups to oversee the implementation of this massive development. The Ministry of Public Works in Cambodia is one of the many organizations that see the value in daily quality inspection. After all, mistakes on projects of such size could be extremely costly.
Security
It isn’t always about productivity when it comes to monitoring a construction site. With a greater reliance on technology and equipment, the number of workers on any given job site has decreased. Less people, means more unattended areas. This leaves equipment, vehicles, and other assets vulnerable to being tampered with or stolen. Theft is a big deal when you are using expensive tools to complete a costly and time-sensitive project. If anything is stolen or damaged then construction companies could be looking at potentially tens of thousands of dollars worth of costs, especially if you are renting equipment. The best thing to do in the case of security is be proactive. Use your manager’s perspective to actively update site security at every level.
Measures to Follow
To successfully monitor existing security measures, a manager should perform regular, detailed inspections on the following items:
- Barriers to Entry
- Locks and Security Equipment
- Surveillance Coverage
- Anti-theft Protocols
These measures allow managers to establish multiple layers of security to protect site assets from even the most determined criminals. When correctly integrated, these safety measures can become effective security tools. And each requires a certain level of nuance and attention depending on the project.
In light of the recentcrane climbing trend, job site security has extended beyond just the loss of assets. It is also about the safety of intruders, and preventing their access entirely. If someone were to enter a worksite without the proper training or safety equipment, they would be at a higher risk of getting injured.
Safety
As important as productivity and security are, nothing should supersede a worker’s health and safety. Ineffective construction site monitoring can lead to gaps in on-site safety standards. Mistakes like these could endanger the lives of employees and future tenants (if the project is a building). The only way to minimize risks and maximize safety, a manager needs to establish effective communications channels and reporting systems. A manager alone won’t be able to monitor the safety of an entire site. That’s why they need systems in place to deliver safety updates, risk assessments, and hazard detection as quickly as possible. There are many cloud-based systems that help with this kind of delivery.
Recording Progress and Information
Enlisting photographers can be a great way to record the visual progress of any construction project. This form of monitoring is much more accessible for investors who are interested in viewing the job’s development. While photographers are integral to this form of recording, it is just as important to have the proper equipment. If you want to provide a visual ledger of your site’s progression, you should use a time lapse.
A time lapse is a collection of photographs that capture events over a given period of time. Common time lapses are those that record human or vehicular activity. If you are looking to incorporate time lapses into your construction site monitoring, you’re going to need the right equipment.
It is also important to consider your camera strategy for the entire project before you break ground. And soon, we’ll have a tool for that, so be sure to check back or sign up for our newsletter to be the first to receive it.
CamDo offers high-quality cameras that are specifically designed for construction time lapse and remote, on-site monitoring. Using one of theConstruction Time Lapse Camera Packs, you can gain access to reliable 4K photography with cloud capabilities. At CamDo, we pride ourselves on providing customers with industry-leading products at great values. That way you can monitor your site and improve your ROI all at the same time. To learn more about how CamDo can improve your construction site monitoring,contact us today.
