In 2016 management consultants McKinsey released a report that reverberated around the construction and engineering sectors. This sector, the report said, was consistently delivering projects late—often 20% longer to finish than expected—and over budget: by as much as 80%. The report’s authors pointed out that the tools that could resolve these delays and cost overruns, quite simply weren’t being picked up. Now, nearly a decade on, has the sector made progress?

In this episode, we speak to three AtkinsRéalis experts about the sector’s progress. Sam Stephens describes the origins of digital construction, explaining how offshore incidents in the 1990s led to the mandatory use of BIM on public sector projects in the UK. Lisa Brown examines the challenges facing construction firms as they adopt digital tools, and explains how AtkinsRéalis has adopted a strategic approach to their adoption and deployment. And Jack Li describes the potential boost AI will bring to the sector, and the need to train young engineers to ensure they can bring human discernment to machine-powered efficiency.

Guests

Sam Stephens, Head of Digital, Nuclear, AtkinsRéalis

Lisa Brown, VP, Transformation and Digital, Canada, AtkinsRéalis

Jack Li, Global Head of Future Focus and AI, AtkinsRéalis

Partner

AtkinsRéalis is a world-leading professional services and project management company dedicated to engineering a better future for our planet and its people. Employing over 37,000 people across Canada, the US and Latin America, the UK and Ireland, and Asia, the Middle East, and Australia, AtkinsRéalis creates sustainable solutions that connect people, data and technology to transform the world’s infrastructure and energy systems.

The post #334 Digital Construction’s Past, Present and Future first appeared on Engineering Matters.