AECCafe Today Susan Smith
Susan Smith has worked as an editor and writer in the technology industry for over 16 years. As an editor she has been responsible for the launch of a number of technology trade publications, both in print and online. Currently, Susan is the Editor of GISCafe and AECCafe, as well as those sites’ … More » 2012 Predictions: Autodesk on AECJanuary 30th, 2012 by Susan Smith
The AEC business will see an increase in consolidated, super-firms with heightened focus on differentiating themselves in a competitive market. It will become important for firms to move beyond traditional offerings to include energy and water analyses as part of their conventional business. To this end, more large firms will acquire specialty firms and conduct mandatory training to expand the breadth of capabilities across their workforce In 2012, building projects will become more complex, driven by performance requirements, particularly sustainable performance objectives. As a result, this will create a need for more multi-faceted construction systems, including an increase in fabricated building components based on digital processes. To accommodate this change, a new generation of “smart” building managers will emerge to take responsibility for handling these demanding, complex assets. These building managers will be accompanied by a new generation of digital-enabled fabricators who will be the intellectual engine of this change. The rise in mobile devices and digital information cannot be ignored in 2012. This trend, which has asserted itself in every industry, will become increasingly important for the construction industry – specifically, project management and team communication. The rise in digital information will drive demands for better access and management of project information across the lifecycle and construction firms – and their subcontractors – will expect to access that information from anywhere, on any platform. The owner-operator relationship will continue to evolve in the coming year, as success parameters for a project are expanded beyond “on-time” and “on-budget.” First-year operating costs (i.e. energy and water) as well as predicted performance characteristics, such as hours of traffic congestion (for transit) or percentage daylight penetration (for buildings and factories) will be important factors to measure future success. – Autodesk AEC Executive Team Tags: 2012 predictions, AEC, Autodesk, building, construction, digital information, mobile devices, owner-operator, project information, project lifecycle Category: Autodesk |