punch list software

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Author Message Anonymous   Posted on Monday, May 07, 2007 - 03:53 pm:    I am looking for a versatile punch list software program for larger projects. Does anybody have a recommendation of software that you have used? Ralph Liebing, RA, CSI Senior Member Username: rliebing Post Number: 617 Registered: 02-2003 Posted on Monday, May 07, 2007 - 04:25 pm:    Sorry, don't have one, but wouldn't it be great if you could merely talk to a recorder that then could be downloaded into written form? No on-site "writing" or word processing, etc. Would be faster on-site, less bulky and could contain a great deal of information [needs disciplined person to avoid "going on and on"!]. Could even use an on-person mike to free up the hands! David Axt, AIA, CCS, CSI Senior Member Username: david_axt Post Number: 859 Registered: 03-2002 Posted on Monday, May 07, 2007 - 04:39 pm:    When we do punchlists for our projects we have two people at the site. The project architect does the inspection and marks flaws with blue tape. He/she dictates to an administrative assistant takes notes on a portable laptop on a roller stand. We have found that this is very efficient. Nathan Woods, CCCA, LEED AP Senior Member Username: nwoods Post Number: 204 Registered: 08-2005 Posted on Monday, May 07, 2007 - 04:51 pm:    My old office had a team that got to use Sequeway transports at a large aerospace facility... I've seen people try to use tablet PC's, but with mixed results. I think the best way is to have the Contractor develop the Contractors Correction List, with the Architect there to point out issues that the Contractor logs during the walkthrough. Sigh....never seems to be that easy though :-) Nathan Woods, CCCA, LEED AP Senior Member Username: nwoods Post Number: 205 Registered: 08-2005 Posted on Monday, May 07, 2007 - 04:54 pm:    Depending on the size of the facility, I take 11x17 floor plan and elevations and a site plan, and just mark it up as I go. For larger projects, I use a simple ruled pad for each building/floor/area, and make numbered observations. I use a systematic process for each space: 1. Floor 2. Ceiling 3. Wall 1 (plan north) 4. Wall 2 (plan east) 5. Wall 3 (plan south) 6. Wall 4 (plan west) 7. Special features/fixtures/items/furnishings Ellis C. Whitby, AIA, PE, CSI, LEED® AP Senior Member Username: ecwhitby Post Number: 36 Registered: 03-2003 Posted on Tuesday, May 08, 2007 - 08:40 am:    For most large projects, I take a select set of ½ size drawings (site plan, floor plans, RCP, elevations), a camera, and a recorder (if there is staff available who can transcribe dictation). I initially start by walking through some typical spaces. I do this for several reasons: the most important is to determine if the space (or building) is ready for a punch list. I have had contractors ask for a punch on spaces that are not ready (usually when they are behind schedule). Performing a punch is then a waste of everyone’s time and I usually am successful in getting the Owner to agree that a punch is not warranted. I also do a walkthrough to get a “feel” for the typical type of punch items I will encounter. I start my notes by writing up my observations for a couple of typical areas (which vary on what I am punching – Office buildings are different from Labs). I then generate a typical list of comments which I write-up and use as a “short-hand” to speed the process. For example, I might have “typical notes” 1 – Adjust closer”, “2 – Clean Diffusers”, “3 – Touch-up paint”, etc. I will supplement my notes (or dictation) with notes and photos where appropriate. I will then list the area, and just note the appropriate numbers: “Room 402; North wall: 3, 10, 12; Ceiling: 2, 4, 15; ….. “. I add new “typical” notes when appropriate and write out comments when necessary. I find that this makes the most efficient use of my time on site. I also have less of a problem with “writers cramp” since I write less. I know some people prefer to write out all their comments, but I find that I get impatient if I rewrite the same comment again and again. I usually “print” the punchlist in Word, but sometimes in Excel if that is the project standard. I include photos (with notation) when necessary to clarify an issue. For example, I find that photographs of exterior stonework is useful: instead of having to describe the location of a damaged piece (counting blocks from a door or window), I will include one or more photos. This makes the location clear, and usually makes the issue clear to even then most intransigent contractor (“I don’t see any staining” “What chip”). Showing the Owner the issue helps also. I tried the dictation software some years ago and was not satisfied with the quality. I understand improvements have been made and may try it again if I can get authorization for the purchase. I have observed the use of an admin assistant accompanying the person performing the “punch-out”, but frankly most projects don’t seem to cover the added cost. I do think the added efficiency would be an overall cost savings, but have yet to develop a convincing argument for the Project managers. I have also tried using a Table PC, but it was too slow (in fact it was glacial). I do like the idea of having a notebook with all the contract documentation (including RFIs, test reports, etc) at hand to speed the work. I have often taken a lot of notes and later (a the office) checked the project documents and discovered I missed something that I should have looked at, or I challenged something that was built “per plans and specs” only to discover later I did not have the correct “version” of the room plan or detail. My “fantasy” is to be able to use a light weight video cam (with an audio track) tied into the building plans via GPS. When conducting the punch list walkthrough I could just describe the items (zooming in when appropriate) and the camera time-stamp would include the room number and camera direction. Software would then “index” the digital recording by “time” and room number. A transcription of the audio would also be made. Technically, this is no doubt some years away at best. T.J. Simons, CSI, CCS (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest Posted on Tuesday, June 26, 2012 - 07:16 pm:    http://www.velasystems.com - We just finished a hospital with this, and if I have anything to say about it, I'll never do another Punch List without it. Nathan Woods, CSI, CCCA, LEED AP Senior Member Username: nwoods Post Number: 600 Registered: 08-2005 Posted on Wednesday, October 01, 2014 - 02:07 pm:    Time to update this thread again. I've been experimenting with a few programs, and have learned about others. I'd like to add to the collective knowledge-base from what you are using out in the real world. Excel users need not reply :-) - BIM360 Field (http://www.autodesk.com/products/bim-360-field/overview) formerly known as Vela System until purchased by AutoDesk. - Bluebeam Revu + Revu for iPad (http://bluebeam.com/us/solutions/workflows/punch.asp) - KOpunchlist (www.kopunchlist.com) - PlanGrid (http://www.plangrid.com/en) - Newforma punchlist app (http://www.newforma.com/products-services/newforma-mobile-apps/) - TurboSite (http://www.turboapps.com/TurboApps/TurboSite) - ProCore (http://www.procore.com/features/construction-punch-list-software) - FinishLine Pro (http://www.punchlist.net/) - ArchiPad (http://www.archipad.com) - OAC Punchlist (http://oacpunchlist.com/) - Prolog mobile by Meridian (http://www.meridiansystems.com/products/prolog/prolog-mobile/) - Architect's Punch (iOS only): https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/architects-punch/id880616360?mt=8 Please add to the list with software and systems you've used. Personally, I like Bluebeam and BIM360 Field. BIM360 was harder to set up (by far), but easy to use in the field and I LOVED the website integration which made dealing with the punchlist a lot easier after it was created. I recently used it on a large project that had a combined 15,000 punchlist issues we were tracking. It's not great, but it's pretty good, and could have been better had we set it up better in the beginning. Similarly, we did another large project in Bluebeam, and that worked well too. Data Entry isn't as slick in Revue for iPad, but once the content is created, it was pretty flexible in how you status'd items, shared them, assigned them, etc... I also have Newforma, but haven't used the Punchlist app yet. PlanGrid is appealing to me, but haven't had a project to use it on.