On November 30, 2017, ASM’s Chuck Asmar moderated the District of Columbia Building Industry Association’s second Project Delivery Symposium: “Trust in Technology?” The purpose of the symposium was to examine new technology trends & developments in project delivery, including Building Information Modeling (BIM); virtual design & construction (VDC); virtual reality and AR project delivery methods; offsite, modular build and prefabrication methods; and incorporation of new technology trends into contract language. The distinguished panel represented all facets of the construction industry and included individuals and companies responsible for billions of dollars of projects across the nation:
- Darrell Hardie, Project Manager, DGS (Public Owner’s perspective)
- David Shirey, Associate Principal, Perkins Eastman (Architect’s perspective)
- Al Hedin, Project Director for Hines (Private Owner’s perspective)
- Roy Malcolm BIM Manager, DPR Construction (Contractor’s perspective)
- Paul Reibel, Director of Business Development, Old Castle (Manufacturer/Subcontractor’s perspective)
- Tiffany Hosey, President of BuilDATAAnalytics (will offer perspectives from all sides)
Of his experience moderating, Chuck said, “In my discussions with the panel, I learned that there are many ways that construction technology can better project delivery if implemented properly. Most importantly, technology can increase efficiency. Technology significantly reduces rework, which in turn saves time and money on a project.” Chuck also noted that modular project delivery is trending significantly in the DC Metropolitan area, nationally, and internationally. “Not only is there a cost savings associated with modular project delivery, but modular projects have significantly fewer safety incidents while preserving end-product quality.”
Interestingly, one mentioned benefit of the increase of the use of technology in the construction industry is the attraction of a younger generation, which is significant in a field where the average age is 46. Construction jobs, which may have previously be viewed as antiquated, are technologically sophisticated and lucrative.
