Construction Ops

Project Overview

In large-scale construction, the "last mile" of data—what happens daily on-site—is often lost in manual logs. I designed the mobile experience for Site Engineers and Stock Managers to bridge this gap, focusing on real-time task reporting and material tracking. While the administrative backend handled setup, my mission was to ensure the "boots on the ground" had a tool that worked as hard as they do.

The Goal: Transition from manual, error-prone reporting to a structured, digital-first progression system.

My Role

As a Solo UX/UI Designer, I was responsible for the end-to-end mobile experience for both personas, including user research through site interviews, information architecture, and high-fidelity UI design.

Opportunities

Usability Gap

Engineers work in chaotic environments and often cannot finish a report in one sitting.

Feature Expansion

The need for a "Material Intent" (Request) system linked directly to specific tasks.

Design Standardization

Creating a consistent hierarchy (Project → Task → Progress) to reduce cognitive load.

Approach

Design Framework

I utilized a User-Centered Design (UCD) approach, beginning with contextual inquiries with actual site engineers.

Discovery

Mapped the daily journey and identified the need for a "Draft" state for field reports.

Information Architecture

Defined a 4-tab navigation (Dashboard, Projects, Indents, Inventory) to separate daily "doing" from long-term "tracking".

Execution

Developed a multi-step "Daily Progress" wizard with an asynchronous saving mechanism.

Key Design Decisions

I designed the experience for two distinct primary users: The Site Engineer (Objective: Report daily progress and request materials) and The Stock Manager (Objective: Manage inventory equilibrium and track procurement). The interface decisions were tailored to support their specific on-site objectives.

Impact and Outcomes

High User Adoption

Site engineers specifically praised the "Save for Later" feature as it mirrored their actual workflow.

Accuracy

Linking material consumption directly to specific tasks significantly decreased stock management errors.

Visibility

Stakeholders now compare "Planned Date" vs. "Actual Date" in real-time, allowing for faster intervention on delayed tasks.

Glimpse of Output: The Site Engineer Experience

The mobile experience for engineers focuses on data integrity and "boots-on-the-ground" usability.

1. The "Save for Later" Progress Wizard

The Feature: A 3-step reporting flow (Task Status → Material Consumption → Photo Proof) equipped with an Unpublished Progress state.

Why it Impresses: It acknowledges the reality of site interruptions, allowing engineers to pause a report at Step 1 and resume it later without data loss.

2. Multi-Project Adaptive Dashboard

The Feature: A high-density dashboard that allows for seamless switching between assigned projects (e.g., Skyline Enclave, Greenfield Towers).

Why it Impresses: It showcases your ability to design a scalable Information Architecture where the entire UI adapts based on the project context.

3. Task Dependency & Status Logic

The Feature: A tabbed task view (Details, Materials, Dependencies) that highlights Planned vs. Actual dates and prerequisite tasks.

Why it Impresses: It proves you understand the "domino effect" of construction (e.g., Foundation must be done before Pillars), turning complex project management logic into an intuitive UI.

Glimpse of Output: The Stock Manager Experience

The stock manager’s interface acts as a logistical command center, bridging the gap between site and warehouse.

1. Comparative Inventory Heatmaps

The Feature: Material cards (Tiles, Cement, Steel) that use dual-colored progress bars to compare Instock vs. Required amounts.

Why it Impresses: This feature functions as a visual "Low-Stock" warning system, allowing managers to anticipate shortages before they cause site delays.

2. The 4-Stage Indent Lifecycle Tracker

The Feature: A granular tracking system for material requests (Indents) categorized by: Pending, Partially Ordered, Pending Delivery, and Delivered.

Why it Impresses: Designing for the "Partially Ordered" state is a sophisticated UX decision that eliminates the "Information Black Hole" between the procurement team and the site engineer.

3. Allocation vs. Consumption Metrics

The Feature: Real-time tracking of materials that are "Allocated" (promised to a task) versus "Consumed" (already used).

Why it Impresses: It demonstrates Business Logic awareness; you aren't just showing what's in the warehouse, you're preventing the Stock Manager from double-promising materials to different tasks.

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