Digital disruption is coming ready or not

Digital disruption is coming, ready or notDrones, smart automation, electronic site diaries and building information modelling are just some of the technologies transforming construction project delivery and asset operation, says Aconex head of corporate development, Nick Peace.Aconex, the world’s most widely-used cloud platform for construction projects, is partnering with the Victorian Government to present the Construction Technology Summit from 16 to 17 June in Melbourne.The Summit aims to connect Australia’s leading contractors, developers and consultants with Australian digital construction technology innovators to explore how the construction, infrastructure and asset management sectors will be transformed by the next wave of digital innovation. “There are multiple digital trends that are either coming or are already changing the construction industry landscape,” says Peace.”These trends will lead to efficiency and quality gains across the sector – although this period of transformation also poses risks for those who fail to adapt.””Mobile technology is enabling people to inspect progress on site or monitor assets in the field without vast amounts of paper.”BIM modelling is not only improving the design and construction process, but smoothing the transition to building operations, and is bringing the entire value chain together to deliver an asset that is better from the outset.”The ‘Internet of Things’ will help asset managers operate and manage assets in a way not possible five years ago – and unlock significant efficiencies. However, contractors will need to think through how best to integrate the installation and commissioning of these systems into the construction process, Peace adds.One of the aims of the conference is to provide a platform for thought leadership, and to showcase the range and scale of emerging digital technologies.Drones are now able to aid inspections of a project’s progress from the air. Electronic site diaries and cloud-based job management software places essential information at everyone’s fingertips. Big data tools enable facilities managers to drill down into the detail to identify opportunities for enhanced performance, while smart automation is slashing building running costs.”As one of the largest digital construction players in Australia, we were aware that a lot of start-ups are providing solutions that can improve productivity across the sector. There is a lot of new technology coming – and not everyone understands just how it will affect their business,” Peace explains.Australia’s construction industry needs to understand the opportunities that this wave of digital transformation will bring, and then embrace them, Peace says.”The construction industry has a long and complex supply chain. However new technologies make it easier to align a whole ecosystem across a project in a way that wasn’t feasible even 10 years ago.”The construction industry is rapidly becoming part of a large digital chain. Forward thinking businesses are already capturing the business benefits that these technologies bring – such as increased profit margins and more work. This summit is about helping more companies understand how to capture the benefits too.”Construction Technology Summit features a digital innovators forum on Thursday 16 June, followed by an expo on Friday 17 June. Find out more and register for the Construction Technology Summit 2016.