Building Research Establishment

www.bre.co.uk

Garston, Watford WD25 9XX

Summary:

The Building Research Establishment required an application to handle financial and resource management.

PSE developed a Window client-server solution linked to an Oracle database and now develop and maintain the software.The application covers database editing, contractor selection, project management and resourcing.

Since developing this solution, PSE have developed systems for other areas of BRE including the building of the company's finance system.

The brief

The main aim of the application was to provide a central database of project information to enable management to report on project status to its client, the Government and the Carbon trust.

The main requirements included:

• Secure access
• Integration with the finance system to read project costs
• Exports in XML format
• Graphical Gantt chart project management system
• Form-based data entry of project information
• Bespoke management reports
• Contractor search system

How we answered it

The application was developed as a Visual Basic client-server application linked to a central Oracle database. The system provides the following features:

• Logon system linked to a central user table
• Access-style browsing of project and contract information with column sorting, filtering and export to Excel built in
• Timesheet entry with multiple project lines on a dailiy, weekly or monthly resolution
• Gantt-chart project planning screen with automatic timing adjustments based on pre-requisites
• Resouce sheets for each project to handle staff allocations and annual staff rates to be charges
• Consultants database allowing the assessment and selection of consultants using an extensive database built up from questionnaires and past performance
• Bespoke management reports in Excel and printable formats

The technology we used

The following development languages and technologies were used in the development of this solution

• Visual Basic (VB)
• Oracle
• Oracle PL/SQL stored procedures
• Access
• Excel VBA
• OLE automation
• Installshield

What the client thought

"PSE Ltd. have provided a consistently high quality of service. They have provided a prompt response to all of our requests for support and have delivered our requirements on time and within budget. P.S.E. have designed solutions that link several areas of our business to improve communication and productivity."

Margaret Minton
Programme Office Manager
Building Research Establishment