We have the technology: How digitalisation could solve UK construction’s productivity problem, starting now

Abstract

Reports bemoaning construction's poor productivity date back almost to time immemorial, but nothing ever seems to change. Even as the industry wrestles with BIM, outside its unhappy bubble relevant technology is developing quickly across a range of fronts, from artificial intelligence to robotics, which could complement BIM. Exploring these, say practitioners interviewed here, could be transformative, but two things are necessary: a common data environment, and leadership. How likely are either of these developments?