Analysis of empirical data on the effects of the format of engineering deliverables on craft performance

• The influence of the format of engineering deliverables on craft performance in a controlled setting is examined.
• The format of engineering deliverables do influence craft performance while controlling for spatial cognition.
• Having the right information at the right time and in the right format is a critical need among construction craft workers.

A key component to craft success is the quality and fluency of the information at hand. Developments in three-dimensional (3D) computer aided design (CAD), mobile computing and 3D printing provide opportunities for engineering deliverables in new mediums at the face of the work. However, they are not being utilized to their full potential. This research examines the influence that the format of engineering deliverables in the form of two-dimensional (2D) plan sets, 3D CAD via mobile computing, and 3D printed models have on craft performance in completing tasks within a controlled setting. This research discovered that the format of engineering deliverables do influence craft performance while controlling for spatial cognition.