Civil Engineering October 2021 | Vol 29 No 9

From the Pres ident ’ s desk Civil Engineering October 2021 1 O ver the past few years, the concen- tration on infrastructure develop- ment has shifted from purely construction of physical amenities to the suitable delivery of basic services. Social and environmental factors have become part of infrastructure development and planning. However, most infrastructure projects are not linked to innovative and technological advancement efforts. As the world forges ahead with the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) it is important to promote greater use of digital technologies in the development of our infrastructure so that such technologies can improve and modernise all processes, from the planning stages to operations and maintenance. There is no doubt that innovative management application tools and material resources create opportuni- ties to disrupt and, in doing so, drastically improve the delivery of sustainable infra- structure. There must be more impetus to make use of established digital tech- nologies and digital engineering that will support the construction and maintenance of infrastructure in a more efficient, timely, sustainable and transparent manner. The use of innovative digital technolo- gies in various countries has proven to improve infrastructure results through significant cost savings, reduced construc- tion time, improved quality of work and better safety. It is more important than ever to modernise how we design, construct, and manage infrastructure so that funding can be used optimally to maximise service delivery. In advancing innovation in infrastruc- ture delivery and maintenance there is a strong focus on BIM (building information modelling), digital engineering and other digital platforms to design and construct smart infrastructure. BIM improves the management of information as well as promotes constant interaction with built environment profes- sionals who can work simultaneously on planning and design aspects of a project. More importantly, digital and innovative technologies like BIM can result in other upshots like the use of renewable energy solutions and reduced emissions during and after construction. Furthermore, by using computer models and simula- tions, the resistance to extreme climatic conditions like floods, earthquakes, hurricanes and other natural disasters can be improved. Currently, drone technology is being used extensively to survey construction sites and facilitate digital inspections of structures that are difficult to access and can provide real-time information and analysis. In addition, artificial intel- ligence, through big data, is being used to evaluate infrastructure projects in significant detail. IMPEDIMENTS It is no secret that the construction sector has not fully embraced 4IR and is considered as one of the least digitised sectors of the economy. It is at times resistant to implementing technologies for the planning and operational aspects of construction processes and activities. This may be partly due to the exceedingly dis- jointed nature of the infrastructure sector, and the many traditionalists not willing to embrace new technologies. Furthermore, most procurement practices look at the lowest cost bids, which are based on long- established engineering practices that do not include costly technological hardware and software requirements. SOLUTIONS Currently, innovation and digital technolo- gies are used by much larger organisations who have the time and resources to upskill their employees, leaving the majority of the sector behind in this realm. In order to achieve some sort of level playing field, organisations and government must introduce systems to encourage the use of innovative technologies and knowledge- sharing so that everybody can learn about what is working, what challenges are being faced, and how they are overcome. There is also a need to promote better adoption of international and local standards relating to BIM, GIS, risk management and project management. Adopting reliant operational efficiencies has the potential to reduce costs while improving the overall outcomes of infrastructure delivery. CONCLUSION The construction sector is gradually improving the way in which infrastruc- ture projects are delivered and operated; however, much still needs to be done in the long term. By embracing innovation and digital technologies to deliver world- class infrastructure, there is hope that, as a country and sector, we can continue to improve the way in which we use innovation and technology to redefine the way we look at infrastructure develop- ment to make a positive contribution to the economy. SAICE is currently playing its part in this digital revolution and, with industry partners, we have hosted free CPD-accredited webinars on BIM, which aim to highlight the new career paths that innovative technology has created as well as how we can do our bit to bridge the gap and assist our members to embrace and keep abreast with the latest innovations and technologies to ensure that we are acknowledged as world-class engineering professionals. Vishal Krishandutt SAICE President 2021 president@saice.org.za The impact of innovation on infrastructure delivery “Unprecedented and simultaneous advances in artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, the internet of things, autonomous vehicles, 3D printing, nanotechnology, biotechnology, ma- terials science, energy storage, quantum computing and others are redefining industries, blurring traditional boundaries, and creating new opportunities. We have dubbed this the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and it is fundamentally changing the way we live, work and relate to one another.” – Professor Klaus Schwab