Experiment

In this study, an experiment was conducted to test and validate the designed QA protocol. To explain this experiment, the experiment will be explained based on the steps performed during this experiment.

The experiment consists of the following five steps: Introduction, Work instruction, Execution of the QA protocol on the construction site, Survey, and Interview. The entire QA experiment setup is attached in Appendix V.

6.1.1. Introduction

First, an introduction about the study was given to provide the participant with a clear understanding of the purpose of this experiment. The purpose of this experiment is to validate the designed new QA protocol. This introduction was done on the basis of a verbal explanation. Before the experiment could be carried out, the consent form was signed by the participant, which is further explained in Chapter 3.4.

6.1.2. Work instruction

Secondly, an explanation of the five different processes is given below by going through the printed work instructions, which are included in Appendix XI. In these work instructions, the objective, parties involved, necessary data (input), working method and result (output) are described for each QA process. The working method with the various steps that must be followed is also explained step by step by means of screenshots.

6.1.3. Execution QA protocol

Thirdly, the four processes based on the QA protocol were carried out at the construction site.

The fifth process, business office, was carried out by the two planners at the business office.

The experiment was conducted by five different participants, and these can be found in Chapter 3.3. Of these five participants, two were site managers, two were planners, and one was a foreman. The experiment was carried out on three different projects. The two site managers and the foreman conducted the experiment on the construction site regarding the first four QA processes and answered parts 1 to 4 of the survey. To validate part 5, the two planners carried out and answered this part.

Page 86 of 282 For the experiment at the building site, fictitious deviations were used to give a clear picture to the participant. The QA protocol was set up in the Dalux system. Dalux is a software system in making construction processes more efficient with software for working with a BIM on the construction site, document management and augmented reality (Dalux, n.d.). Dalux can be used on various devices, such as a mobile phone, tablet and computer. In addition to the software programme Dalux, there are also similar software programmes. Based on Consultancy (2020), there are software programmes that offer the possibility of quality assurance on the construction site, such as Admicom, Docstream, SnagR, and 4PS Construct.

These four software programmes offer the possibility of a data management system in which quality can be recorded. A total of 31 software programmes have been appointed by Consultancy (2020) as software in the context of the new WKB Act. The difference between Dalux and other programmes is that Dalux has AR functionality, whereas others do not.

Furthermore, this software programme was selected because it was available for the research.

Dalux does not have all the predefined functionalities available in the program. The functionality named in Table 5 (17) 'Structure with a timetable with a clear view of what, whom, and when must do' is not present in this software programme. For this reason, this functionality was not tested during this experiment. In the survey, this functionality was included, with the question if it was missed in the experiment in order to gain insight into this functionality.

A tablet was used in this experiment. The Dalux data was downloaded offline at the construction office, where Wi-Fi is available. Functionality ‘8. Use tablet for inspection list out of the construction office’ is available within the software, but the tablets used by the company does not have any internet connection on the construction site, based on mobile connection and Wi-Fi. The software can also be used on a mobile, which has an available internet connection on the construction site. So the software can only be run on a mobile on the construction site. Furthermore, the functionality ‘Structure with a timetable with a clear overview of who should do what, when (17)’ is not available in the software program with which the experiment will be executed. The new QA system experiences are available in the QA system except for ‘22. Give a quality value to subcontractors’. But the data which is gathered within the software can be used by the company to analyse and create a quality value for the subcontractors. But this analysis and creation are not available in the software.

The inspection list was executed at the building site for the HSB (Timber frame construction) wall, and steel construction components. These inspection lists were digitally set up in Dalux and are shown below in Figure 22 with a screenshot from the mobile phone.

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Figure 22 - Inspection List Screenshot

As described in the QA protocol, a task follow-up can be carried out when a deviation is detected. How this task follow-up works and how it is organised in Dalux is explained in more detail below. Once an inspection list has been completed, it is saved in the digital environment. All inspection list output is included in Appendix III.

After completing the inspection lists, the process of the visual inspection was carried out and tested. The steel structure was visually inspected in two construction projects. This visual inspection was carried out by means of AR. The AR functionality was used during the experiment as an instrument for visual control. This process is explained in more detail in section 5.3.2.2. The BIM model of the building project was added to Dalux and the AR function was used on the basis of this model. Figure 23 shows a screenshot of what this AR visual inspection looks like. All visual control output is included in Appendix IV.

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Figure 23 - Visual Control AR Screenshot

The third process is the creation of an observed deviation during work. By creating a task as a Problem, it is recorded what and where the problem is. When creating such a task, a responsible user can be appointed by means of task follow-up. In order to be able to make this task follow up to the person responsible, an authority system has been set up in Dalux with the users. This indicates who can create tasks and to whom they can be sent. Figure 24 below shows a screenshot from the mobile phone of a task follow-up. A photo and/or file can be added and the problem can be linked to the location on the construction drawing or 3D model. Furthermore, the subject and the person responsible can be chosen and a description of the problem can be added. After completing the task, it can be sent to the person responsible. After that, the person in charge can solve the problem and send it back for approval. All task (problem) output is included in Appendix IV.

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Figure 24 - Task Follow-up Screenshot

The fourth process from the QA protocol is the recording of a major completed building component. In this process, a major building component is recorded by means of a Quality Assurance task. The system works here in the same way as for a Problem task, only the type of task has changed. Further content that needs to be filled in remains the same, except for the mandatory filling in of a responsible party. This is not mandatory, as a task can be completed immediately as a capture since the quality is captured. All task (quality assurance) output is included in Appendix II.

The fifth process of the QA protocol is the one that has to be carried out in the business office.

Here, the two planners carried out the designed processes. They worked on the software system to get a clear picture of how the QA protocol has been designed.

6.1.4. Survey

As mentioned above, parts 1 to 4 of the survey were completed by the two site managers and the foreman, and part 5 was completed by the two planners. The reason for this is that parts 1 to 4 are about the use at the construction site, and part 5 is about the process at the business office. The surveys were carried out after the QA protocol was executed. The results of these surveys will be discussed in detail in section 6.2. The results of the surveys are attached in Appendix I.

Page 90 of 282 6.1.5. Interview

After conducting the surveys, semi-structured interviews were conducted. The purpose of these interviews was to gain more in-depth knowledge of the results from the surveys. In Chapter 3.2.3, a more detailed explanation was given on how the interviews were organised.

The results of these interviews will be explained in more detail in Chapter 6.3. The interview results have been transcribed and these are included in Appendix VI.