Paul Doherty, AIA (Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Monday, May 12, 2003 - 12:15 pm: |    |
I would enjoy a discussion regarding AEC firm’s adoption of web-based systems.
I’ve been involved intimately with the first generation of these systems like:
Blueline/Online/Cephren/Bidcom/Citadon
Buzzsaw
Constructware
Lately, many firms I’ve been bumping into are using some of these systems in meaningful ways (i.e.; value-add). I’ve also seen some huge strides and inroads being made with web-based systems that can best be called the “Second Generation” like:
Meridian Prolog
Primavera PrimeContract
TRIRIGA
My first questions to y’all would be:
1. Are Web-based systems being used in your organization?
2. What features would you, as a specifier, like to see in a web-based system?
3. What would you pay for something like this?
In my world, I would love to see a web-based system that would stop focusing only on document management and move into real-time data. An example would be a feature that would allow a specifier a “Semantic” search through the Web and other Internet resources. This means that when I search for a “gliding door” that another manufacturer may call a “sliding door”, that the web-based system will understand this and find all data relevant to my search. This is a small example, but I think you get the picture.
Unfortunately, most of the Web systems for our industry are “Web-enabled” rather than “Web-based”. The difference being that software built for computers (MAC, Windows, etc.) that have Web elements are called Web-enabled, rather than software that was designed and built for the Internet from scratch, leveraging databased elements and processes (Web-based).
I’m also finding that firm’s are very unwilling to pay much for this, even in the second generation services. I guess it’s the chicken and egg game… you know you want it, but its another cost and who is going to pay for it.
Comments?
- Paul |
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