Database management system modeling for construction project cost and time data process

In order to successfully manage a construction project, cost and time controls are two important project management functions and their related information usually draws more concern from project managers. A database management system can be designed to collect, store and manage these data throughout the construction process to satisfy information needs for decision making.; The critical part of designing a database management system is the abstraction of the conceptual data model from reality. The primary objective of this research was to develop a formal conceptual database model for construction project cost and time related data. This conceptual model was developed using the entity-relationship database modeling method. A construction company's business process was analyzed to identify the project construction processes and events. Data generated in these processes was recorded around these events with what (resources) and who (agents) are involved. A prototyping database structure based on this conceptual model was implemented into the MS Access environment. Two case studies were conducted to evaluate the model application in construction practice.