EDUCATING THE NEXT GENERATION OF CONSTRUCTION PROFESSIONALS By David Cartwright from Buildsoft

There’s no doubt technology has changed - and continues to change - our lives and the lives of those around us. From mobile phones to the internet to self-driving cars, the changes experienced and now demanded by society have been immense and show no signs of slowing down.

But what has that meant for the construction industry?

Traditionally our industry has been slower than others to adopt new technologies, whether due to lack of time to implement new processes or simply an inertia to change; and in so doing has been lagging behind in reaping the immense benefits on offer. Some parts of the industry have already progressed rapidly into the digital age.

Drones and 3D scanners are now used to record huge quantities of data to help analyse construction sites, on-site workers are using wearable technology so employers can manage their health and safety in real time, and construction companies are using estimating software to ensure the profitability and longevity of their business. It is time to come together as an industry to not only embrace technology but to take an active and leading role in shaping its development into the future.

But how can we encourage this adoption to come about?

One of the ways this is taking place is through educational institutions like the University of Newcastle, where lecturer Dr Trevor Hilaire introduces emerging construction professionals to innovative technology; inspiring a new generation that embraces software as a fundamental part of the industry’s success.

Dr Hilaire teaches a number of courses as part of the Bachelor of Construction Management (Building), an AIQS accredited degree; and with decades as a Quantity Surveyor and ten years of educating under his belt, he’s perfectly poised to usher in the next generation of construction professionals. “In my view, technology is the most significant change in the industry, and the impact on construction management has been great'', says Dr Hilaire. “I see technology as being ingrained in construction as we look forward to the future, and look for ways to make further improvements on our existing technology.”

Education is critical to the continued introduction of a skilled workforce into the industry, especially in the areas of construction management, cost management, and cost planning. Teaching them the value of construction technology at an early stage of their career plays a big part in that. “Education should provide a grounding in advancement, in both technology and processes”, Dr Hilaire says, “and expose students to areas of the industry where they had no previous knowledge”.

By providing this kind of exposure, educators like Dr Hilaire enable students to see the potential of a career in estimating, which he identifies as something many students previously never knew existed. One of the courses Dr Hilaire teaches within the degree is Cost Planning and Estimating, which introduces students to estimating principles, and then the basics of cost planning and familiarity with building elements. Along with two courses in measurement, this is the way the next generation is getting their first taste of life as a Quantity Surveyor.

“The construction industry is bounded by what is known as the ‘Iron Triangle’ of time, cost, and quality'' says Dr Hilaire. “As it is difficult to manage something without understanding the extent of it, quantity impacts time. In addition, cost is also based on the quantity or extent of work an organisation needs to meet costs to survive. Therefore, being able to use technology that can identify the extent of work has to be very important for both time and cost - two essential ingredients of the Iron Triangle.”

This is how students are introduced to and realise the value of estimating software. “My students come to understand that estimating is expensive but crucial to a construction organisation’s survival,'' says Dr Hilaire. “If an estimate is too low the organisation will have to dip into other funds to complete the project, depleting resources. If the estimate is too high, the bid will be unsuccessful and the organisation’s resources will be depleted by funding unsuccessful estimates”.

As a Quantity Surveyor knows, this is the crux of what it means to work as a professional estimator. For the very survival of your company, you need to know how to prepare and use accurate data. The challenge of accuracy, among others, is one of the most prominent in the life of a Quantity Surveyor, and it is through using software as a solution to that challenge that a Quantity Surveyor can find lessens the burden. “I introduce my students to the measurement of trades using sophisticated software that can expedite the estimating process and improve the accuracy of an estimate,'' says Dr Hilaire. “Students learn that such software is very beneficial to construction organisations, as it could reduce the cost and time to produce accurate estimates, enabling a greater number of more accurate bids. I think it’s crucial that our next generation of professionals are adept at working with construction technologies that help solve the challenges they will face.”

Industry innovators like Buildsoft have been championing technological changes to provide solutions to the everyday challenges faced by Quantity Surveyors and Commercial Builders to drive more accuracy and greater efficiencies. And it’s this technology that the University of Newcastle and many other educational institutions all around the world use to train and develop the skills of emerging construction professionals. “Working with Buildsoft to introduce our students to advanced estimating software like Cubit, for me is essential,” says Dr Hilaire. “Many of the students who start with me want to learn and are passionate about the industry. By graduation, they are aware of the responsibility they have, take pride in quality, timely completion, and being problem solvers, so they are the very best for their employer. And being adept at using technology like Cubit is a part of that”. James Cunningham, Director of Software Operations at Buildsoft, understands the need to offer exposure to critical industry technology such as Cubit, and is passionate about equipping them with the tools they need for a successful career.

“We definitely recognise the importance of educating students in estimating software,” says James. “It gives them a solid grounding before commencing employment, and offers them skills to take with them so they can do their best work. That’s why we’re driven to partner with universities to provide access to our software”.

Cameron Beard AAIQS, CQS, Quantity Surveyor and former Director at Muller Partnership, has been working in the field for more than 17 years and also sees software as an important part of the education of emerging construction professionals. “A career in construction is diverse, and you get the see things built that change lives,” says Cameron. “More and more information is being created and distributed electronically. As more interoperability occurs, if you do not familiarise yourself with these systems and take advantage of the efficiencies they bring, then you will be left behind”. Along with many other experienced Quantity Surveyors, Cameron has seen the introduction of technology during his career, and experienced first-hand how it has impacted his work. “As a Quantity Surveyor, I believe I am part Architect, part Engineer, part Builder, part Project Manager, and part Accountant. The level of IT is also growing, so part Computer Scientist is possibly the way of the future,” says Cameron.

Cameron’s views reiterate Dr Hilaire’s comments on the Iron Triangle, and he sees the impacts software can have on cost and time. “There seems to be more and more information to include when completing an estimate, with project deadlines seeming to get shorter and shorter. Technology in construction can bring efficiencies that offer clients potential time and cost savings, as well as allowing for more sustainable developments.” This technology will have an important part to play in the future of the construction industry, and the next generation of estimators will be equipped to make the most of the possibilities of the future.

But like any technology, construction software will need to continue to evolve with the industry, as new challenges arise, new solutions and better ways of working will need to be created.

More than 30 years ago Buildsoft pioneered estimating software in Australia, bringing digitisation to the industry, to many for the first time. Dr Hilaire fondly remembers his first exposure to estimating software in 1986. “I bought my first copy of Buildsoft Global and I could not believe how easy it made things; at that time, it was so advanced that I could not envisage any improvement. Then the digitiser module was released and I was awestruck by the immense leap in technology. I was unable to ever envision technology like Cubit. However, the technology moved to become mainstream and is continuing to evolve.”

As we continue into an age of increasing use of software solutions throughout the construction industry, organisations like Buildsoft will continue to innovate solutions to common problems. However, both Dr Hilaire and Cameron Beard acknowledge that education isn’t solely for the younger generation. “With almost 18 years within the industry to date and probably another 25 years to go, if you are not educating yourself as an existing construction professional, then you will get left behind,” says Cameron. “With the changes I have seen in the past 18 years, I can only imagine what changes will occur in the next 25.” As the adoption of this technology continues to grow through the education of the next generation as well as through use by existing professionals, the industry will be in a better position to take an active role in leading the development of software and shaping their own future.