Computer-aided projects

Many projects generate an important quantity of data that one wishes to keep, thanks to the technical possibilities brought by the computer tools and the nearly unlimited numerical storage capacities.

Unfortunately, an inappropriately organised storage leads to a waste of time, of data or accuracy, what is opposite to the original goal.

Moreover, the collected data are, usually, the basis for the technical reports to be produced by the client of the project (monthly execution report, summary of the actions and works, consumption reports, etc.).

The consultant offers his expertise for the development of software tools (databases, project follow-up, computer-aided decision making, geographical information systems) for :

• Identification of the clients’ needs,
• Personalized and evolutive solutions,
• Adaptation and improvement of existing systems,
• Follow-up of projects (financial, technical, administrative),
• Geographical Information System of the achievements.

The keywords for his methodology are :

• The needs of the client and users,
• Use of actually available resources (human, technical, technological means),
• Long-lasting and efficient solutions.

The proposed working method is the drafting of a software tool, allowing the rationalisation and the automation of the project management tasks. It is obvious that several software are present on the market, but the added-value in the services are : the personalisation and the field experience. The philosophy is : “the software must adapt to the technique, and not the opposite”. Moreover, thanks to the acquired experience, it is possible to show the client unknown possibilities or risks to take into consideration.

The follow-up and evaluation of development projects ask for the storage and sorting of all the data generated, in order to remember the life of the project, easily produce activity reports, automate procedures, keep the decision-taking process objective.

The applications are based on the VIPS products (www.vips.be), which have numerous references.

Before the creation of the tool itself, brainstorming meetings are organised with the client, but also with the end-users, in order to precisely determine the actual needs, the information circuits, the physical constraints of the project.

The inserting of the data is made through encoding forms, that are as similar as possible to the paper documents.

If data are properly stored and sorted, the periodical activity reports are automatically published. Moreover, all along the life of the project, mails have to be sent (on paper or electronically) to the several stakeholders (funding agencies, beneficiaries, local administration, etc.). These mails, if they are systematic, can also be drafted by the software.

In the case of micro-projects financing, it is usually requested to take a decision on the order of priority for execution or eligibility. This decision can be made objective with a multi-criteria analysis and decision making (list of objective conditions, technical and administrative criteria, weight coefficient). This way, the ordering of priorities will be made by the computer-aided decision making tool, and no more by a single person.

Finally, if the project management tool is linked to a visualisation application (GIS), the actions and works appear automatically and clearly on the map of the project area, according to an intuitive and didactic symbology.

The presentation of the activities to the hierarchy, the funding agencies, the beneficiaries is immediate and clear. The visualisation allows the drawing of conclusions of the geographical repartition of the activities.