FEATURES
Working Culture in Kenya’s Construction Sites to Transform through Digital Technology Digital technology has transformed operations in several industries, significantly improving efficiency and convenience. The field of architecture and construction is no exception in this, following the global changes witnessed both at project design and implementation on sites. There has been application of Building Information Modelling (BIM), Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, 3D printing and robotics among other innovative technology concepts that are proving very useful in project planning, presentation and management. The Kenyan construction industry is picking up with the trends of technology. Several firms are keen to apply advanced technology in planning, costing and packaging their projects. The uptake is however still slow, especially at the construction stage on sites. The delight of every professional is for their designed projects to be executed to the final detail, with minimal or no discrepancies. Designers, project managers and other experts therefore have a reason for concern when the bulk of construction processes are still very manual and disjointed; a recipe that delivers food whose ingredients cannot be authenticated.
A quick online survey undertaken by our team between August and October 2021 among construction professionals and building contractors in Nairobi revealed that majority of site operations are yet to significantly appreciate digital technology, with 65% of the pool reporting their need for this transition on construction sites. Our random visits to few sites in Nairobi revealed the role of perception in the adoption of digital technology, with inertia taking lead since many builders seem comfortable working the traditional way. That notwithstanding, some projects have made commendable efforts in applying digital technology in construction through available platforms such as iBuild.,
By Lameck Owesi A 2019 report published by Ministry of ICT on Emerging Technologies for Kenya mentioned the government’s commitment to apply digital technology in the affordable housing project. A good commitment that demands aggressive implementation for this to be fully realized. It is important to note that most projects in Kenya are usually faced with time and cost overruns, ultimately affecting project delivery. Needless to mention is the issue of quality associated with this process and the occasional conflicts. These conflicts can partly be solved through keen application of technology in project delivery.
Majority of site operations are yet to significantly appreciate digital technology on construction sites. with 65% of the pool reporting their need for this transition on construction sites. 15
Issue 004 | December 2021
