Construction industry ‘must go further in embracing digital’
Large construction and infrastructure projects were experiencing their fair share of delays and cost increases before Covid-19, but the pandemic has exacerbated any bottlenecks. The prices of certain materials have risen and supply chains have been disrupted.
As contractors become more and more squeezed, the situation has reinforced calls for a smarter way to construct builds.
On top of this, the UK government has put infrastructure at the heart of its post-Covid-19 Build Back Better plan and has ambitions to become net-zero by 2050. Building houses, offices and transport systems that are energy efficient will be an essential part of cities that are sustainable.
In order for this lofty goal to be realised, the construction industry needs to undergo a transformation. The problem, however, is that the industry has been something of a laggard when it comes to embracing technology or innovation. As Paul Dunn, executive director of architecture company CallisonRTKL, said: “If the industry is going to achieve transformational change it must go further in embracing digital, advanced materials and new technologies.”
As contractors become more and more squeezed, the situation has reinforced calls for a smarter way to construct builds.
On top of this, the UK government has put infrastructure at the heart of its post-Covid-19 Build Back Better plan and has ambitions to become net-zero by 2050. Building houses, offices and transport systems that are energy efficient will be an essential part of cities that are sustainable.
In order for this lofty goal to be realised, the construction industry needs to undergo a transformation. The problem, however, is that the industry has been something of a laggard when it comes to embracing technology or innovation. As Paul Dunn, executive director of architecture company CallisonRTKL, said: “If the industry is going to achieve transformational change it must go further in embracing digital, advanced materials and new technologies.”
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