Due dates help teams prioritize open issues by deadline urgency. This guide covers how due dates work in Siteaware's Shell Verification, with specific guidance for both General Contractors and Trade partners.
What Are Due Dates?
Due dates are deadlines assigned to observations (open issues) that indicate when work should be completed. When a due date is set, the observation appears in the overview page on the Shell Verification overview page, organized by urgency:
| Category | Definition | Action Required |
|---|---|---|
| 🔴 Overdue | Due date has passed | Immediate attention needed |
| 🟡 Next 14 Days | Due today through 14 days from now | Plan and schedule work this week |
| 🟢 Future | Due more than 14 days from now | Awareness for upcoming work |
Note: Not all observations have due dates. Only items that have been prioritized with a deadline will appear in the panel.
For General Contractors
As a GC, you're responsible for setting due dates on observations to help your trade partners prioritize their work effectively.
Setting Due Dates
To set a due date on an observation:
- Navigate to the observation page by clicking on an observation from the list or map view
- Locate the Due Date field in the observation details panel
- Click the date picker and select the target completion date
- The due date is saved automatically and the observation will appear in the relevant trade's Upcoming Deadlines panel
Bulk Due Date Assignment
For efficiency, you can set due dates on multiple observations at once:
- Use the list view filters to select observations you wish to assign a due date to
- Select multiple observations using the checkboxes
- Use the bulk actions menu to assign the same due date to all selected items
Best Practices for Setting Due Dates
- Align with project milestones. Set due dates that correspond to inspection dates, schedules, or closeout deadlines to give trades meaningful targets.
- Prioritize critical path items. Focus due dates on observations that could impact schedule if not addressed promptly.
- Communicate changes. If project timelines shift, update due dates accordingly so trades have accurate priorities.
-
Don't over-assign. Not every observation needs a due date. Reserve deadlines for items where timing genuinely matters.
For Trade Partners
As a trade partner, due dates help you understand which of your open items your GC has prioritized for completion.
What Due Dates Mean for Your Workflow
The Upcoming Deadlines panel on your overview page shows only observations assigned to your company that have a due date set. This helps you:
- Quickly identify time-sensitive work without searching through all open items
- Avoid surprises by seeing upcoming deadlines before they become overdue
-
Communicate proactively if a deadline can't be met
"No Upcoming Deadlines" - What It Means
If you see "No upcoming deadlines" in your overview, it simply means your GC hasn't assigned specific due dates to your open observations. This is normal - not all work requires a hard deadline. Your open items still appear in the main Open Items panel and should be addressed according to your standard workflow and coordination with your GC.
Filtering and Sorting by Due Date
To focus on deadline-driven work:
- Click any section in the Upcoming Deadlines panel (Overdue, Next 14 Days, or Future) to jump to a filtered list view
- Use the list view's sort options to order observations by due date
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Combine due date filters with layer or status filters to further narrow your view
Questions About Your Due Dates?
Due dates are set by your General Contractor based on project priorities. If you have questions about a specific deadline - whether it seems too aggressive, unclear, or you need more context - reach out to your GC project manager or superintendent directly. They can adjust due dates or provide additional context about the priority.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can trade partners set their own due dates?
No. Due dates are managed by the General Contractor to ensure project-wide coordination. If you believe a due date should be added or changed, contact your GC.
What happens when I close an observation with a due date?
Once an observation is closed (either through AI verification or manual closure), it no longer appears in the Upcoming Deadlines panel regardless of its due date.
Are due dates the same as the project schedule?
Due dates in Siteaware are specific to individual observations and may or may not align with your broader project schedule milestones. They represent when your GC wants a specific issue resolved, which might be before or independent of schedule dates.
Why don't all my open items have due dates?
GCs typically assign due dates to observations that are time-sensitive or critical path. Items without due dates should still be addressed, but don't have a specific deadline pressure. Check with your GC if you're unsure about prioritization.