Page 95 - Built Expressions - Online Construction Magazine - November 2014 Issue

MASTER Stroke thechronicleherald.casites The pace of technological change in construction services will only quicken in the years ahead, and contractors must be prepared to address how change will impact the services they provide to project owners. – have existed for centuries and will likely remain consistent for some time. However, it is clear that construction and structure of an organization and However, recent technical tools and technology are changing its fexibility to incorporate technology advances in horizontal drilling and dramatically. Broadband mobile that ultimately improves the value hydraulic fracturing have made oil communication and handheld proposition for customers. Contractors and gas accessible, transforming the processing power are radically altering need to decide if any new technology global energy landscape and, more the way GCs deliver projects. under consideration will do the importantly, the U.S. economy. U.S. Along with now-ubiquitous following: oil and gas production is booming and smartphones and tablets, the following • Improve the building process for will have a major effect on nearly all innovations are becoming more owners sectors of the economy, specifcally commonplace: • Increase coordination with upstream engineering and construction. • Relatively lightweight laser scanners and downstream subcontractors and Due to these innovations, U.S. that render intensely accurate, multi- trade partners dependency on foreign fossil fuels is dimensional “as-built” drawings in • Provide a stimulating environment being shattered. Signifcant investment minutes for innovation to support fuel-related economic • 3D printers that can fabricate a Leading contractors routinely pose activity is underway and will continue permanent building element in a these challenges to their management for the foreseeable future. For example, matter of hours teams. The pace of technological according to the Oil & Gas Journal, • Truly paperless project sites where change in construction services will expenditures from 2011 to 2013 on drawings, change orders, claims, and only quicken in the years ahead, and crude pipelines will increase from dispute “paperwork” are transmitted contractors must be prepared to $1.4 billion to more than $23 billion. from offce to jobsite to owner using address how change will impact the Natural gas pipeline construction and integrated applications services they provide to project owners. upgrades will more than double to over Technology adoption in the feld is $15 billion in the same timeframe. For inarguably altering the expectations Mega Trend #3: North American a full breakdown, check out the U.S. of services that contractors provide Energy Revolution Energy Construction Market Capital to owners. The sheer effciency with It has been known for decades that Expenditures sidebar. which information can be shared and the U.S. possesses some of the world’s U.S. crude oil imports have declined processed demands that businesses largest reserves of oil and natural by more than two million barrels per change. gas, according to various industry day since 2005. In the past eight For construction market and government publications, years, the U.S. has gone from being participants and the CFMs who lead including studies from the U.S. a net importer to a net exporter of them, there is not as much emphasis Energy Information Agency (EIA). refned petroleum products. More on fnding the next best technology; the However, extracting these resources signifcantly, the U.S. has recently important issues relate to the culture economically has been a challenge. surpassed Saudi Arabia as the Vol: 3 Issue: 11 November 2014 Built Expressions PG95