Computer Aided Construction Management

The construction management is an important part of the any construction activity. The construction industry has undergone large scale mechanization with rapid changes and advancement in construction practices as well as in the management of construction work. The term construction is no longer limited only to the physical activity involving men, material and machinery but covers entire gamut of activities from conception to realisation of a construction projects. All over the globe, the construction activity is getting increasingly complex day to day. Rapid improvement in design and technology has added new dimensions to the industry. Skilled and economic use of materials has become imperative because of unexpectedly high escalation in prices and scarcity of the essential material of construction. The need for better construction practices, systematized planning and programming of work and effective management in the industry is, therefore the demand of the day.The construction planning of a civil engineering project must consider the wide range of aspect involved, such as site investigation, market survey, bidding the works, post tender negotiations and agreement, planning for the works (including the mode of construction and supervision, and the requirements of men, materials, machines, and money) monitoring and controlling the progress of work during the execution up to the completion of work, even its maintenance during the stipulated period, the important aspects of settlement of contractual disputes etc. the entire process is very complex and requires deep knowledge and skill of construction management. Today, construction is a highly competitive field. So main aim to present this paper is, to review the brief of history of construction management, various constrains, activities, its objectives, artefacts, approaches & systems in construction management with the introduction of a software package Microsoft project.