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==Construction Technology News==
 
==Construction Technology News==
  
====February 15, 2025====
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====March 20, 2025====
  
AASHTOWare Project 5.02 is here!
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Happy first day of Spring! Below are the updates made as part of this month’s release train.
On February 15th MDOT upgraded to the 5.02 version of AASHTOWare Project software. By upgrading from version 5.00 to 5.02, MDOT is now able to take advantage of the more than 296 fixes and enhancements that were added across the system. Many of the fixes were behind the scenes and won’t be directly apparent to you as a user. However, there were a few that we would like to point out that will show up in the new version. We have compiled the list below with some matching updates to this manual.
 
  
*'''''Provide Method To Print A Page''''' - Users can now use standard print functionality of supported browsers to print pages of the system. Additionally, users can update their My Settings to allow for multiple expandable record rows to be expanded at a time, so that more content can be printed at once. See updated guidance here: [[Updating My Settings for Expanding Multiple Rows]]
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'''Report Updates'''
  
*'''''Provide More Precise Control Over What Is Copied on a DWR''''' – When copying information from an existing DWR to a new DWR, the system now provides construction users with greater flexibility regarding the types of information they can copy. On the Copy Contract Daily Work Report component, users can change the selection options which are: Weather, Remarks, Contractors, Postings, and Comments. See updated guidance here: [https://mdotwiki.state.mi.us/aashtoware/index.php?title=Daily_Work_Reports#Copying_a_Daily_Work_Report Copying a Daily Work Report]
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*'''''Contract Item Status Report XLS''''' – The authorized quantity field on the report has been corrected.
  
*'''''Calendar Time Adjustment Time Units available for update on a Draft Change Order''''' - For contract times with a time type of Calendar Time on draft change orders, construction users can now update the Adjustment Time Units field. When users click Save, the system auto calculates the Adjustment Completion Date field.
 
  
 +
'''System Configurations and Guidance Updates'''
  
'''Delayed Features'''
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*'''''Designating Major Items''''' – A new process has been created that when a new contract is let, the items of work will be designated correctly as major/minor items based on section 101.03 of the spec book.
  
The following fixes and enhancements were delayed due to further testing or extra intra-departmental coordination being needed to ensure no bugs exist or are introduced in the MDOT data network, these will be activated and implemented in a future monthly update.
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*'''''Effective Dates on Person Qualifications''''' – When adding a qualification to a person record, the effective date is now required.
  
*'''''Make Lump Sum Item Estimate Payments for a Specific Dollar Amount or a Specific Quantity''''' - This required more coordination with the Development area and Preconstruction as it requires the flagging of specific pay items this feature affects.
 
  
*'''''Allow User-Generated Quantity-Based Item Pay Estimate Adjustments To Be Made Permanent''''' – This requires more testing and coordination with Finance to ensure this does not introduce payment errors.
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'''Did you know?...'''
  
 
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If you are an Office Tech, you may be able to save time by using the [https://mdotwiki.state.mi.us/aashtoware/index.php?title=Materials_Acceptance#Copying_Material_Approvals_.28Sample_Records.29 copy sample record feature.] If you need to make another sample record that is close to one of your existing sample records, use the copy feature and then edit what you need to without having to enter everything by hand.
'''Other Announcements'''
 
 
 
*Infotech will be taking over the webinars for the Contractor training. They use zoom which is like Microsoft teams. You can sign up for their trainings here: [https://events.zoom.us/ev/AosxlIaCvDlCRHlHSVqLqR-BNtNrPjeSV64ojaZQKh3dvp6OjwWr~AgGyBdpq2nz2OpCd_yuQcEsdkLc2jn-GWnNXSrtoCkV1rXnma4qZgePngA Michigan APCM for Contractors]. The link has been added to the Contractor Corner page and provided in the Course description on our Microsoft Bookings Page.
 
 
 
*We are also happy to announce a new feature in the monthly Construction Technology Newsletter called “Did You Know…?”. This section will showcase some of the advanced features within the system that users may not be aware of and will provide an area to announce and share best business practices that are being used by others within the system.
 
 
 
 
 
'''Did You Know…?'''
 
 
 
Did you know that you can have more than one window of AASHTOWare Project Open at a time?
 
 
 
When you are already in the system, simply right click on any link and select “Open link in new window.” This will allow you to have two windows open simultaneously.  
 
 
 
Review a Change Order while viewing the associated Daily Work Reports, or review estimate items while looking at subcontracts, the combinations are endless!
 
  
  

Revision as of 16:34, 20 March 2025

  • MDOT LOGO.png
  • AW Project Logo Construction & Materials.png
AASHTOWare Project Construction & Materials
Software Manual

Introduction

Welcome to the MDOT AASHTOWare Project Construction & Materials Software Manual!

AASHTOWare Project Construction & Materials is a fast, easy-to-use, web-based system for documenting construction progress, initiating contractor payment, and communicating with your agency's central office administration applications. Construction & Materials focuses on refining the work flow of construction contract management at all agency levels. With Construction & Materials, the field office can manage field-gathered data and then interface with a central office. Construction & Materials allows several users to update contract information, and it implements a shared database to expand an agency's data sharing ability. This user's guide is the key to discovering Construction & Materials’ vast capabilities and is a valuable resource both for novice and experienced users.

For more background information regarding AASHTOWare Project software visit the AASHTOWare Project webpage or the AASHTOWare Project Construction & Materials webpage.

Construction Technology News

March 20, 2025

Happy first day of Spring! Below are the updates made as part of this month’s release train.

Report Updates

  • Contract Item Status Report XLS – The authorized quantity field on the report has been corrected.


System Configurations and Guidance Updates

  • Designating Major Items – A new process has been created that when a new contract is let, the items of work will be designated correctly as major/minor items based on section 101.03 of the spec book.
  • Effective Dates on Person Qualifications – When adding a qualification to a person record, the effective date is now required.


Did you know?...

If you are an Office Tech, you may be able to save time by using the copy sample record feature. If you need to make another sample record that is close to one of your existing sample records, use the copy feature and then edit what you need to without having to enter everything by hand.


To view previous news articles, visit the Construction Technology News Archive.

Recent Updates

Recent Major Changes

The table below is a list of Major changes.

Updated Page Summary What Changed
05/07/2024
Daily Work Reports Removed Material Comments and Sources section and updated New section related to Posting Item and Material Quantities to a Daily Work Report See what changed here.
04/15/2024
Contract Administration New section related to Adding Subcontracts See what changed here.
4/1/2022
Materials Acceptance
Created new page for related content N/A
6/16/2021
-
Uploaded manual. N/A

Recent Minor Changes

The table below is a list of Minor changes.

Updated Page Summary What Changed
12/26/2024
Generating Materials and Acceptance Actions Updated Generating Materials and Acceptance Actions. See what changed here.
09/12/2024
Main Page Updated the Construction Technology News section for Fiscal Year-End updates. See Main Page changes here.
08/29/2024
Main Page Updated the Construction Technology News section for August system updates. Updated guidance on entering subcontracts for trucking. See Main Page changes here.

See Subcontract changes here.

06/20/2024
Change Orders Updated content related to verifying funding source. Funding field is no longer shown on the screen in APCM, Related bullet point removed from following Change Order Sections: See what changed here.
04/15/2024
Change Orders Updated content related to verifying funding source in the following Change Order Sections: See what changed here.
04/15/2024
Daily Work Reports Added note specifically related to Approving Daily Work Reports See what changed here.
04/15/2024
Main Page Update related to the release of AASHTOWare Project 5.00 See Construction Technology News
03/01/2024
Special Topics Created new Special Topics Page for Final Project Review Reporting See what changed here.
01/30/2024
Contract Administration Created section related to Transferring Contracts Between Offices See what changed here.
01/08/2024
Contract Administration - Closing and Archiving a Contract Updated steps for Closing and Archiving a Contract. See what changed here.
01/09/2023
Mobile Applications Provided content related to Syncing Contracts with Mobile Inspector Next section added [here]
09/29/2022
Change Orders Minor updates to clarify use of New Items tab for a change order. Changed title of Contract Items section and added explanation note to adding new items.
03/29/2022
Access and Roles - Available Roles Added page to main menu and added role names and descriptions to page. Tables for abbreviations and role names
03/24/2022
Contract Administration - Closing and Archiving a Contract Updated the Workflow Phase selection when archiving a contract. "Archived Contract" was changed to "Finance Closeout"

Tracked Known Issues

Most Recent Identified Known Issues
Issue Number Area of Impact Description Date Identified Workaround Fix Plan Fix Status Manual Reference Link
8 Unattached Items Currently, the system will incorrectly pay the entire posted quantity of an Unattached Item, up to that Payment Estimate period end date and does not account for any overrun based on related agency options settings. 7/28/2023 Currently running a SQL statement weekly, to proactively identify which contracts are affected, once identified Contracts will be manualy adjusted to assure proper payment. Escalated APR-26692 to Critical status, will be a patch for APCM 4.8 Open
9 Materials Section within the Wiki Please remove the phone number for the help desk as noted, below. 2/29/2024 Open Materials Acceptance - AASHTOWare Wiki (state.mi.us)
10 Pay Estimate Exception, Item/Material being flagged as insufficient A new known issue has been discovered within APCM and we are working with InfoTech to correct the issue.If materials are posted to the wrong source, our guidance has been to back out the posting with an opposite/negative posting if a DWR revision is not possible. This guidance is still valid, however we have discovered that in some instances the system is getting locked up and not resetting the insufficient flag, thus continuing to claim the material is insufficient even after the user has corrected the issue by posting a negative material / source posting. 8/20/2024 If you believe you are experiencing this known issue, please double check your materials, sources, and approval documentation to ensure that the item should be paid.  An override for the exception can be used to force payment remembering that you must add a comment when overriding the exception. Other states have also reported this issue and we are working with InfoTech to get a patch to fix this issue. Open

Tracked Issues Complete List

The complete list of tracked known issues can be found on the Known Issues List page.

Support Information

MI MDOT Software Support.png

AASHTOWare Construction & Materials Helpdesk
MDOT-ConstructionSoftware@michigan.gov

Preamble

This manual provides guidance to administrative, engineering, and technical staff. Engineering practice requires that professionals use a combination of technical skills and judgment in decision making. Engineering judgment is necessary to allow decisions to account for unique site-specific conditions and considerations to provide high quality products, within budget, and to protect the public health, safety, and welfare. This manual provides the general operational guidelines; however, it is understood that adaptation, adjustments, and deviations are sometimes necessary. Innovation is a key foundational element to advance the state of engineering practice and develop more effective and efficient engineering solutions and materials. As such, it is essential that our engineering manuals provide a vehicle to promote, pilot, or implement technologies or practices that provide efficiencies and quality products, while maintaining the safety, health, and welfare of the public. It is expected when making significant or impactful deviations from the technical information from these guidance materials, that reasonable consultations with experts, technical committees, and/or policy setting bodies occur prior to actions within the timeframes allowed. It is also expected that these consultations will eliminate any potential conflicts of interest, perceived or otherwise. MDOT Leadership is committed to a culture of innovation to optimize engineering solutions. The National Society of Professional Engineers Code of Ethics for Engineering is founded on six fundamental canons. Those canons are provided below. Engineers, in the fulfillment of their professional duties, shall:

  1. Hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public.
  2. Perform Services only in areas of their competence.
  3. Issue public statement only in an objective and truthful manner.
  4. Act for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees.
  5. Avoid deceptive acts.
  6. Conduct themselves honorably, reasonably, ethically and lawfully so as to enhance the honor, reputation, and usefulness of the profession.


Additional information about MDOT Construction Practices and Policies can be found on the Wiki Construction Manual.

For additional information about the AASHTOWare Wiki and to submit revision suggestions, please contact the AASHTOWare Construction & Materials Helpdesk.