Mobile and pervasive computing in construction: An introduction

Abstract

Projects in construction industries normally produce a large quantity of information that needs to be accessed by different stakeholders, such as architects, engineers, project managers, superintendent, even foreman. This information usually has to be retrieved in a remote manner from numerous locations in or outside of the construction site, and even under varied conditions. The current practice of a field team's project information access and retrieval, information editing, and decision making is still limited to 2D paper-based technical drawing and specifications. As the entire industry moves towards more digital information management, mobile and pervasive computing will become an effective means for information access by enhancing and maximizing human abilities involved in performing construction tasks, and in collaborating among numerous parties. This chapter, as an introductory one, covers the basic aspects of mobile and pervasive computing, introducing the fundamentals and principles of mobile and pervasive computing which could prepare audiences for better understanding the paradigms, theories, metaphors in the other technical chapters in this book.