flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

U.S. construction companies not embracing technology: KPMG survey

U.S. construction companies not embracing technology: KPMG survey

Contractors fall short on adopting robotics, drones, RFID technology, and mobile technology.


September 16, 2016
NEW YORK, Sept. 14, 2016 – U.S. construction companies are not embracing technological advancements, such as drone aircrafts, robotics, RFID equipment and materials tracking, and data analytics, according to KPMG International’s Global Construction Survey 2016, “Building a technology advantage (http://bit.ly/2d0zNSb).
 
The KPMG survey found that nearly half of organizations use multiple software platforms that are manually monitored, rather than a single, fully integrated project management information aystem (PMIS). When it comes to mobile technology and platforms, while most use remote monitoring on projects, 19% do not use mobile technology at all. Among those who do utilize mobile technology for projects, nearly 40% do not have them linked to an integrated system or broader enterprise-wide project management system.
 
“The survey responses reflect the industry’s innate conservatism towards technologies, with most firms content to follow rather than lead,” says Geno Armstrong, International Sector Leader, Engineering & Construction, KPMG in the U.S. “Many lack a clear technology strategy, and either adopt it in a piecemeal fashion, or not at all. The rapidly evolving infrastructure challenges of the next decade demands that both owners and engineering and construction firms embrace technology more strategically and at a far more rapid pace than in the past.”
 
In the KPMG study, two-thirds of respondents (67%) said they could not push one button on their desktop to obtain fully integrated real-time data on a project. Seventy percent do not use robotic or automated technology; most have no plans to use it in the future. In addition to traditional cost and schedule analytics, 65% do not use data analytics for any other aspects of their organizations’ projects.
 
“Integrated, real-time project reporting is still a myth, rather than a reality for most,” said Armstrong. “That’s largely because firms tend to use multiple software platforms that are manually monitored and disconnected, which severely compromises their effectiveness.”
 

A solid majority of respondents (61%) said their companies use building information modeling on projects.

On the bright side, 36% of construction executives surveyed said they felt construction has emerged from the recession and is starting to grow. Nearly a fourth (24%) said that things are looking up for all participants. Another 27% indicated that discrete segments are growing fast. Only 13% said they are seeing market declines or no growth in the past year.

 
Armstrong feels that embracing technology and innovation is a sure way to improve results. “Projects are becoming bigger, bolder and more complex – and with complexity comes risk,” he said. “Innovations like remote monitoring, automation and visualization have enormous potential to speed up project progress, improve accuracy and safety.”
 
About the survey
Building a technology advantage – Global Construction Survey 2016 highlights the views of over 200 senior executives from major project owners and engineering and construction companies – over 50 of which are in the U.S. The report looks at how the industry is embracing a range of technologies including data and analytics, robotics, drones, remote monitoring and visualization. The survey, now in its 10th year, includes both private companies and government agencies, with project owners from many industries including energy and natural resources, technology and healthcare. 

Related Stories

| May 18, 2011

Lab personnel find comfort in former Winchester gun factory

The former Winchester Repeating Arms Factory in New Haven, Conn., is the new home of PepsiCo’s Biology Innovation Research Laboratory.

| May 18, 2011

Addition provides new school for pre-K and special-needs kids outside Chicago

Perkins+Will, Chicago, designed the Early Learning Center, a $9 million, 37,000-sf addition to Barrington Middle School in Barrington, Ill., to create an easily accessible and safe learning environment for pre-kindergarten and special-needs students.

| May 18, 2011

Raphael Viñoly’s serpentine-shaped building snakes up San Francisco hillside

The hillside location for the Ray and Dagmar Dolby Regeneration Medicine building at the University of California, San Francisco, presented a challenge to the Building Team of Raphael Viñoly, SmithGroup, DPR Construction, and Forell/Elsesser Engineers. The 660-foot-long serpentine-shaped building sits on a structural framework 40 to 70 feet off the ground to accommodate the hillside’s steep 60-degree slope.

| May 18, 2011

New center provides home to medical specialties

Construction has begun on the 150,000-sf Medical Arts Pavilion at the University Medical Center in Princeton, N.J.

| May 18, 2011

Improvements add to Detroit convention center’s appeal

Interior and exterior renovations and updates will make the Detroit Cobo Center more appealing to conventioneers. A new 40,000-sf ballroom will take advantage of the center’s riverfront location, with views of the river and downtown.

| May 18, 2011

One of Delaware’s largest high schools seeks LEED for Schools designation

The $82 million, 280,000-sf Dover (Del.) High School will have capacity for 1,800 students and feature a 900-seat theater, a 2,500-seat gymnasium, and a 5,000-seat football stadium.

| May 18, 2011

Carnegie Hall vaults into the 21st century with a $200 million renovation

Historic Carnegie Hall in New York City is in the midst of a major $200 million renovation that will bring the building up to contemporary standards, increase educational and backstage space, and target LEED Silver.

| May 17, 2011

Sustainability tops the syllabus at net-zero energy school in Texas

Texas-based firm Corgan designed the 152,200-sf Lady Bird Johnson Middle School in Irving, Texas, with the goal of creating the largest net-zero educational facility in the nation, and the first in the state. The facility is expected to use 50% less energy than a standard school.

| May 17, 2011

Gilbane partners with Steel Orca on ultra-green data center

Gilbane, along with Crabtree, Rohrbaugh & Associates, has been selected to partner with Steel Orca to design and build a 300,000-sf data center in Bucks County, Pa., that will be powered entirely through renewable energy sources--gas, solar, fuel cells, wind and geo-thermal. Completion is scheduled for 2013.

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category

Construction Costs

Data center construction costs for 2024

Gordian’s data features more than 100 building models, including computer data centers. These localized models allow architects, engineers, and other preconstruction professionals to quickly and accurately create conceptual estimates for future builds. This table shows a five-year view of costs per square foot for one-story computer data centers. 


Sustainability

Grimshaw launches free online tool to help accelerate decarbonization of buildings

Minoro, an online platform to help accelerate the decarbonization of buildings, was recently launched by architecture firm Grimshaw, in collaboration with more than 20 supporting organizations including World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), RIBA, Architecture 2030, the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) and several national Green Building Councils from across the globe.



Healthcare Facilities

Watch on-demand: Key Trends in the Healthcare Facilities Market for 2024-2025

Join the Building Design+Construction editorial team for this on-demand webinar on key trends, innovations, and opportunities in the $65 billion U.S. healthcare buildings market. A panel of healthcare design and construction experts present their latest projects, trends, innovations, opportunities, and data/research on key healthcare facilities sub-sectors. A 2024-2025 U.S. healthcare facilities market outlook is also presented.

halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021