Against the preceding background two strategic questions were posed by the Panel. One is market driven, the other is technology driven.

The market driven question is:
“How best can the Irish Construction Industry produce an efficient and sustainable infrastructure and meet the other requirements of the market, together with the economic, social, environmental and regulatory conditions of the world of 2015?”

The technology driven question is:
“How best can the Irish Construction Industry make use of knowledge based and other relevant technologies and product possibilities including those from other industries to develop and sustain a competitive market in the world of 2015?”

3.2 Strategic Approach

The strategic approach is that the physical infrastructure and the industry that creates it will operate to European standards in 2015. The target may be ambitious but the attitude recognises that Ireland will be even more fully integrated into Europe in 2015, that a quality infrastructure underpins our economic and social partnership with Europe and that construction Ireland will be part of construction Europe and will account for 15 to 20 per cent of GNP in terms of output and employment.

3.3 Strategic Vision

The vision of the built infrastructure is that it is an accepted and integrated part of the European infrastructure of 2015. It is one that is user and environmentally friendly, sustainable, maintained, maintainable and efficient. It also provides a sense of place for the individual. Housing is available, industrial parks are environmentally managed and the offices and distance working systems of the information society represent environmental gains for the urban system and for the individual. Technology has reduced the intrusiveness of waste management systems and sewage disposal. Road and rail transportation is a network that has reduced congestion in cities and towns and has completed its primary route development programme. Networking between transportation elements is well established. The built infrastructure is a valued and recognised component of economic and social development and national wealth.

The vision of the industry that produces the built environment, the construction industry, is one that is high in public esteem. It is an industry that uses the best technology to improve the living environment, building beautiful buildings and creating towns in which people are happy to live, work and play, providing good and affordable housing and efficient uncongested infrastructure. People are glad to commission construction in the knowledge that it will be reasonably free of worry and conflict and that the end product is safe, healthy and easy to maintain. School leavers and graduates are eager to enter a prestigious, rewarding, creative and secure career which contributes to improving the environment. Information technology liberates designers and managers for more creative tasks and to select well proven products and constructions. Contractors use IT to bid and network more effectively and to replace the dangerous and difficult site tasks by mechanisation, factory produced components and easy-to-use materials, leaving craftsmen to use their skills productively. Construction is viewed by government as a tool for underpinning the future society by providing efficient infrastructure when and where it is needed. The Irish industry is capable of selectively competing with and in Europe. It is a profitable industry that provides a margin for research, development and innovation.

The strategies proposed below are directed to move construction and infrastructure towards the above vision.

3.4 Needs

The achievement of the above strategic vision of construction and infrastructure by 2015 requires that the following needs be addressed:

• The built environment needs to be brought up to European standards and form an integrated part of European infrastructure

• Sustainability, culture and practice for infrastructure and infrastructural development to be in place

• The integration and planning of demand for infrastructure and an integrated user-friendly regulatory environment

• Develop the competitiveness of construction in its national and international segments

• Effect a culture change in construction that addresses the above strategic vision and uses the best of appropriate technology to achieve it including new materials technologies

• Optimise the potential of IT in infrastructural development and management and in construction

• Generate sustained systems and funding for the identification, development and use of the technologies and the educational programmes needed to achieve the standards that will be required in 2015

• Change policies towards construction to allow it to benefit from State aids for industrial development and for research and development

• An integrated government/industry approach to the above

• The recognition of the national importance of construction and infrastructure.

3.5 Strategies

3.5.1 Preliminary

The Forum for the Construction Industry, which was established jointly by the construction industry and the Department of the Environment and Local Government in 1997 following the publication of the Strategic Review of the Construction Industry, is currently engaged in overseeing implementation of the recommendations of that review. It is recommended that any actions resulting from this report should be taken in full liaison with the Forum. This being a Technology Foresight exercise the strategies that are proposed below are those which are dependent at least in part on technology, education and training and they have medium to long-term objectives. They are loosely prioritised and are limited in number in recognition of budgetary and other financial realities and the intention is to recommend a few strategies that are likely to be implemented and that will make a difference. The idea is to start a change for the better that will gather its own momentum within the industry, the administration and society. A target spend of 1.0 per cent of construction output on RTD by 2015 is recommended.

3.5.2 Strategy No. 1 – Changing the Cultures

Application
Construction and Infrastructure

Objective:
To change the external and internal perception, culture and practises of construction and infrastructure to ones that are more appropriate to their national and European roles.

Suggested Elements

(Note: S denotes S&T and E denotes Education and Training initiatives)

• Demonstrate that infrastructure is essential to national life, built heritage and national wealth

• Emphasise consumer and environmentally oriented construction and a sustainable infrastructure

• (E)Include construction and infrastructure and built heritage elements in curricula in primary and secondary education including industrial and operational visits

• (S)Publish cost benefit studies on infrastructure

• Promote construction and infrastructure in a manner similar to the current promotion of food and tourism

• (E)Client education and integration with the construction process.

• (S+E)Improve health and safety on sites; progressively introduce new safety technologies and robotics. ‘More brain less brawn on site’

• (E)Life long education and training for new technologies and skills

• (S+E)Develop a customised quality and value culture for construction, including adopting state-of-the-art business, world class manufacturing and real quality systems. Support this with relevant education and training

• (S)Public sector to act as ideal clients using purchasing power and procurement methods to promote quality and innovation

• Promote labelling schemes for construction performance

• Registration of the principal partners to the construction process

• Involve all partners at all levels of infrastructural development and maintenance from policy to client to construction to operative in this strategy

• Foster a culture of innovation in construction and infrastructure.

Relevant Parties:
Department of the Environment and Local Government, Construction Industry, Council/Forum, Office of Science and Technology (OST), Primary/Secondary and Third Level Education, Third Level Research and Development, EU Framework Programmes

3.5.3 Strategy No. 2 – Information Technology

Application
Construction

Objective:
To introduce IT throughout the construction process

One of the recommendations of the strategic review of the construction industry, which was completed in 1997, is for a programme to establish linkages for the introduction of computerised documentation systems for the construction industry. This is to be funded jointly by the Department of the Environment and Local Government and the industry. The Forum for the Construction Industry is progressing this matter.

The Foresight strategy is for the introduction of IT into all aspects of the construction process. The present situation is that there is a wide range of software available and in use for design, management, stock control, quantities, estimating and finance. What is needed is a pro-active process to develop integrated customised and networked systems for construction by building on the existing systems.

Suggested Elements

• (S+E)Develop customised electronic data interchange (EDI) for the whole construction process

• (S+E)Develop customised capability for planning, architectural and engineering design including the use of virtual reality for dialogue with clients and the development of designs

• (S+E)Develop customised systems for project cost management including budget development, estimating, quantity surveying, cash flow, planning and final accounts

• (S+E)Develop customised systems for contracting. These to include project planning, estimating, tendering, project management cost control, statutory payments, sub-contract networking, final accounting. The objective is the ‘electronic’ contractor

• (S+E)Develop IT back-up systems for the evolving construction and infrastructural development projects and associated funding mechanisms. These include public/private funding, leaseback, tolling and turnkey

• Develop customised decision support systems

• (S&E)Co-ordinate all of the above in a customised IT network for the construction process

• (S+E)Support the network with database information systems for the sector including aspects such as call for tenders, sourcing of skills, products and materials, technical regulatory environment, labour relations criteria, insurance and bonding to name a few

• Educational programmes in construction IT.

Relevant Parties:
Department of the Environment and Local Government, Construction Industry Forum, OST, IT Industry, Department of Education, Third Level R&D, EU Framework Programmes.

3.5.4 Strategy No. 3 – STI Access and Transfer Centre

Application:
Construction and Infrastructure.

Objective:
To create a permanent centre/focus for the identification, dissemination, management, transfer and implementation of appropriate new technology and ‘best practice’ technologies into infrastructural development and maintenance and into the construction process. The centre to be customer and demand driven with a strong element of ‘ownership’ by the industry.

Suggested Elements

• (S)Monitoring and assessing new technology and best practice developments and developing associated databases

• (S)Monitoring and assessing co-operative R&D opportunities and funding and providing assistance with participation including the development of consortia for such participation

• (S)Development of demonstration projects

• (S)Maintaining databases on construction related third level and other STI expertise and R&D capability indicating precise specialisations and experience and where necessary networking such capability to meet industrial and infrastructural needs

• (S)Maintaining databases on STI facilities in Ireland and Europe, their applications and capacity, back-up expertise, services offered and availability

• Providing an information and referral service to the above expertise and capability, so as to develop creative linkages with the industry

• (S)Maintaining databases on the technical regulatory environment in Ireland and Europe, such as planning norms, directives, codes, procurement and building regulations, standards and technical certification requirements

• (S)Maintaining databases on certified construction products and processes in Ireland and Europe

• (S)Providing a technology brokerage service including the negotiation of licenses and other technology transfer arrangements

• The service to include the special needs of the small companies operating in the national market.

Relevant Parties:
Department of the Environment and Local Government, Construction Industry Forum, OST, Third Level Education.

3.5.5 Strategy No. 4 – Improving Competitiveness

Application:
Construction and Infrastructure

Objective:
To improve and sustain the competitiveness of construction and infrastructure.

In this context competitiveness is the ability to provide an infrastructure that meets customer and societal expectations for efficiency, quality, performance and life-cycle value.

Suggested Elements

• Develop partnering mechanisms for finance and operation. This includes capability networking, public/private and private/private financing mechanisms and development packages between the financial sector and the construction sector

• (S)Research to test and improve the project related operating structure of the construction industry

• (S+E)Demonstration projects and practical education on project appropriate integration of all actors in the development process. This includes the client, the planning process, design team, product and materials suppliers and maintenance

• (E)Adopt value based life-cycle competitiveness and sustainability approach rather than first cost

• Adopt performance based tendering

• (S)Research and develop more opportunities for off-site prefabrication, multi functional building products and advanced tools and equipment

• (S)Research and adopt low cost infrastructural maintenance technologies

• (S+E)Develop and adopt world class business, manufacturing and quality systems. The objective is to achieve the performance standards required in the end product

• (S)Identify and develop import substitution and export opportunities in the building product and materials sector

• Set targets for increased value in construction in 2015

Relevant Parties:
Department of Environment and Local Government, Construction Industry Council, OST, Third Level R&D, EU Framework Programmes, Enterprise Ireland.

3.5.6 Strategy No. 5 – Increasing Tradeability

Application:
Construction

Objective:
To develop and sustain the tradeability of the knowledge based and niche elements of construction.

The education and practical experience available to Irish architects, engineers and construction managers places them with competitive capability for Europe and beyond. There is also the potential for niche sub-contracting and craft inputs and added value building products.

Suggested Elements

• (S)Identify and develop increased tradeability of the knowledge-based aspects of construction such as design and project management with particular relevance to the use of IT

• (S+E)Identify and develop niche craft based products for quality buildings at home and abroad

• (S)Identify and develop smart multi functional building products with high added value and therefore economically exportable, e.g. multi functional façade elements

• (S+E)Identify and develop niche sub-contracting skills and enterprise, e.g. installing intelligent systems in buildings, traditional stonework and landscaping

• (S+E)Identify and develop capability in infrastructural repair and maintenance technologies (see also next strategy)

• Develop partnering capability for international participation.

Relevant Parties:
Department of Trade and Industry, Enterprise Ireland,(Trade Board, FÁS), Construction Industry Council, Department of Education and Science.

3.5.7 Strategy No. 6 – Sustainable Development - The built environment

Application:
Construction and Infrastructure

Objective:
To improve the contribution to sustainability of the construction process and of its end product, the built environment.

The built environment represents a substantial and relatively stable environmental resource and national asset. Most buildings and physical developments survive for several decades and some survive for centuries. As indicated in section 1.3, 45 per cent of construction output in Europe is in maintenance, renovation, modernisation and in creating new uses for existing buildings. The construction process and its end product is a substantial user of non-renewable resources such as land, geological materials and energy. A sustainability ethos is required for the construction and use life cycle aspects. This requires changes in approach and practice. Such changes and the associated educational programmes, technologies and skills are also tradeable.

Suggested Elements

• Develop policy on sustainability in construction and infrastructure

• (S)Develop qualitative and quantitative norms for sustainability

• (E)Develop and introduce sustainability elements in appropriate third level curricula

• (S)Research adaptations to regulatory environment to facilitate new uses for existing buildings

• Use technologies for low energy consumption in the construction processes and in the operation of the built infrastructure

• Develop improved networks for above and below ground urban services

• Develop and adopt waste management and disposal technologies

• Adopt recycling and deconstructing technologies

• (S)Identify and develop new and competitive repair and maintenance and restoration technologies and materials

• (S+E)Identify, develop and provide training in associated skills.

Relevant Parties:
Building Materials Federation, OST, Department of the Environment and Local Government, Enterprise Ireland (FÁS) Design Sector, Third Level Education.

3.5.8 Strategy No. 7 – Materials Technology

Application:
Construction and Infrastructure

Objective:
To track and optimise the benefits to construction and infrastructure from advances in materials technology.

Construction has always been a strong user and adopter of technologies and the building products and materials sector of the industry is most engaged in R&D. In addition, the Construction Products Directive (CPD) provides a progressively more harmonised regulatory environment for the introduction of new and innovative construction products in the EU. Historically and healthily, a push-pull relationship has existed between manufacturing and the rest of the sector. The materials sector has seen construction as a large market opportunity and designers and builders have seen products as solutions to performance requirements. However, materials and manufacturing technologies are advancing at an ever-increasing rate and this is expected to continue. This creates the potential for achieving improvements in the efficiency, competitiveness, tradeability, performance and sustainability of construction and infrastructure. What is proposed is a structured co-operation between demand and supply in this area, specifically between the customer, design and contractor on the one hand and the manufacturer on the other.

Suggested Elements

• (S)Establish a materials and manufacturing technology committee including all sectors of the industry, preferably in association with the Forum for the Construction Industry, and third level technology capability. This is to create a synergy between technology supply and demand

• (S)Develop intelligence and dialogue on market, regulatory and social demands on infrastructure

• (S)Develop intelligence and dialogue on the new materials technologies (such as biotechnology) and the potential for smart multi-functional materials

• (S)Increase the multi-functionality and added value of building materials and products and the off-site component of construction

• Address issues such as sustainability, compatibility between related products, toxicity, safety and the integration of the construction process

• Adapt and develop improved waste management technologies

• (S)Undertake common interest RTD programmes

• (S+E)Develop associated databases on technologies and products and information and dissemination facilities for industry and the public.

Relevant Parties:
Construction Industry Forum, Department of the Environment and Local Government, OST, Third Level R&D.