Using XML to support information exchange in construction projects

With the application of information technology, many parties involved in construction projects have turned to handle the management information using computer systems among themselves, while they still exchange information on papers between them. It has introduced such deficiencies as inefficiency of collaboration and re-entry of data in the management of construction projects. This study aims to develop a system for the parties in construction projects to collaborate on Web to improve the management of the exchanged information. In this paper, the characteristics of the exchanged information in construction projects in China are summarized based on the literature survey and field investigation, and a Web-based approach to developing a system for the management of exchanged information in construction projects is proposed. Then the prototype system that we have developed by using the latest information technologies including eXtensible Markup Language (XML) is examined and its applicability is discussed. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.