Brown and Caldwell use Power Platform to streamline data collection for large capital construction projects

Brown and Caldwell are a leading environmental engineering and construction firm that manages large capital construction projects (up to $1 billion or more), such as water treatment facilities. The firm needed a better way to collect, standardize, and turn over the data of the assets and equipment that go into the construction of these facilities.

Summary

Lantern partnered with Brown and Caldwell to design and develop a data collection application that leverages Power Apps and Dataverse to streamline and improve this process. The solution enables the construction contractors to upload and edit the data throughout the program’s life (which can last between 5-10 years), rather than at the end, and ensures that the data is in a structured and consistent format. The application also leverages their existing Office 365 environment and allows for easy data extraction and reporting.

The solution improves the quality and completeness of the data that is provided to the end client (city or municipality), who will use it for ongoing maintenance and operations of the facility. The application also reduces the time and cost of data collection and submission giving Brown and Caldwell a competitive advantage in the construction industry.

The Challenge: Improving Data Management for Large Construction Projects

Brown and Caldwell are experts in managing large capital construction projects for water treatment plants, wastewater facilities and stormwater systems.

These projects require hundreds of contractors and subcontractors to install and commission various assets and equipment that go into the construction of these facilities.  These assets and equipment must be documented and handed over to the end customer, who will operate and maintain the facility.

This documentation includes important information such as serial numbers, model numbers, specifications, warranties, manuals, photos, and test results.

However, the data collection and submission process were done manually at the end of the program.  Contractors used different tools and formats, such as spreadsheets, emails, and paper forms, to record and send the data.  This resulted in a lot of errors, inconsistencies, and missing data.

Brown and Caldwell had to spend thousands of hours on large projects to verify, consolidate, and extract the data for their customer’s use.

That’s why Brown and Caldwell decided to improve this process by creating a standardized and streamlined data management system for the contractors and the end customer.  This system would make the data collection and submission process more efficient, accurate, and consistent.

It would also save time and money for both Brown and Caldwell and their customers.

How Brown and Caldwell Built a Data Collection App with Power Platform

Brown and Caldwell engaged Lantern to create a data collection app that would streamline and standardize this process.  Utilizing the Power Platform to build this solution was a natural extension of their existing environment.  On a prior project, we helped them build a project management information system to manage programs within Office 365.

We created a Canvas app in Power Apps that serves as the user interface for the data collection tool.  The app:

• Allows the contractors to easily upload and edit the data of the assets they are responsible for.
• Validates, controls and exports the data.
• Shows dashboards that track the status and progress of the data collection and submission process.

Brown and Caldwell can now collaborate more effectively with all stakeholders throughout the entirety of the project.

The app leverages Dataverse, another component of the Power Platform, as the backend data store. Dataverse integrates with Office 365 and other Microsoft services, and provides security, scalability, and reliability.

The app was designed and developed following an agile methodology, with frequent demos, feedback, and iterations.

• The project team included a product owner from Brown and Caldwell, a business analyst, and a developer from Lantern.
• We used Figma for wireframing, Azure DevOps for user stories and tracking, and Power Platform ALM tools for solution deployment.
• The project had three milestone releases and a planned dot release for further enhancements.

The Benefits of the Data Collection App for Brown and Caldwell and their Customers

The Power Platform data collection app has many benefits for Brown and Caldwell, the contractors and the end client.  The app:

• Improves the quality and completeness of the data for the end client, who will use it to operate and maintain the facility.
• Reduces the time and cost of data collection and submission – saving thousands of hours for the program.
• Allows the contractors to upload and edit the data throughout the program, rather than at the end, which reduces errors, missing data, and delays.
• Provides validation and quality control features, such as mandatory fields, data types, and approval workflows, to ensure accuracy and consistency.
• Ensures that the data is in a structured and standardized format, which makes it easier for the end client to verify, consolidate, and extract the data for their own use.
• Provides dashboards and reports that show the status and progress of the data collection and submission process, which provides visibility and transparency to all stakeholders. The app also allows for customizing and filtering the data to suit diverse needs and preferences.
• Gives Brown and Caldwell a competitive edge in the construction industry, as it shows their innovation and efficiency in managing large capital construction projects.
• Enhances Brown and Caldwell’s reputation and relationship with their customers, who will benefit from the improved data quality and reduced time to market.

Learn More About This Solution

Listen to Lantern’s Dale Johnson discuss this case study in more detail with these 1–2-minute audio clips.

• Data Collection and Submission – Improving efficiency and quality for capital construction projects.
• Data Collection Innovation – How the team identified the problem, brainstormed the solution, and convinced management to move forward.
• The Power Platform – How the platform fit the client’s needs, data requirements and timeline.
• Data Quality and Maintenance – How the solution improves the long-term operations of the facility.
• Data Quality and Delivery – How the app enhances customer satisfaction and operational efficiency.
• Power Apps and Dataverse – How the Power Platform enabled rapid and agile development.