Knowledge management through observatories

Abstract

Considering that decision-making related to the construction sector in Costa Rica has lacked easily accessible and standardized sources of information, even though there are highly prestigious entities that generate valuable data, such as the Federated College of Engineers and Architects, Public Universities, Ministries, Autonomous Institutions, Municipalities, the National Public Information System, the National Registry, the Chamber of Construction, among others.  Likewise, there is a disorderly urban development, lacking planning, generating an increase in negative impacts on the environment, increasing project execution times, with little analysis of those involved and lack of appropriation by future users. It is because of this that a group of researchers from the Technological Institute of Costa Rica have proposed a research project called the Construction Observatory, whose first phase aims to implement an observatory through a website that generates tools for decision-making related to the issue of construction and its impact on Costa Rica. This article presents the elements that should be considered to generate a research observatory and the characteristics that such sites should have. Recommendations for information management focused on the information hierarchy are described. An analysis of the elements expected in the construction observatory is also included, including the activities carried out to support the components to be incorporated. Finally, the components to be considered in the construction observatory and future work are described.