Engineer self-evaluation checklist for effective site visits

Site visits are necessary and important for construction projects. Construction engineers spend much time on site visits, but visit effectiveness has not been explored and its effect on project performance is unclear. In this study, a checklist to improve the effectiveness of site visits was developed, based on site visit deficiencies and construction productivity factors found in the recent literature and the most frequently occurring defects from 338 construction projects. The checklist was then used on eight ongoing road and bridge projects to test its applicability and effectiveness. Results show that proper use of the checklist by contractors indicated a high level of project quality. Time spent on site visits was also reduced through using the checklist. This research links site visit practices with management knowledge, such as work planning, quality management, and coordination. The checklist developed in this research incorporates management knowledge as a systematic tool that complements technical checklists to guide and improve the effectiveness of site visits.