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But this will not be an entirely major leap for the local industries . Covid-19 requirements have already introduced a shift towards virtual planning and electronic meetings .
The new generation of leadership within engineering and construction are all early adapters of technology and have the curiosity and skills to embrace the next generation of applications .
The obvious question is whether these technologies are applicable within the current South African environment in which there are still huge disparities in the resources available to large primary contractors and small and medium enterprises , predominantly owned by women and Black people .
Will these technologies only be found in the toolboxes of established conglomerates or will emerging contractors also be able to function within this space ? The costs of programmes and applications are still premium , but will , inevitably , become accessible to medium-sized and niche contractors who want to expand their businesses .
These are issues which need to be addressed within the broader construction and engineering sectors as the indications are that construction activity is picking up and government ’ s expansive infrastructure programme will be a major driver of future growth .
Construction is , by definition , a highly collaborative sector which requires high levels of teamwork between contractors from various disciplines .
The Construction Industry Development Board ( cidb ) in South Africa , is strategically placed to provide leadership and industry experience in this field . Our primary mandates are to transform the industry , to facilitate access to public sector construction opportunities , and to champion the participation of emerging contractors . In addition , we need to collaborate with all industry partners to achieve these strategic interventions linked to its legislative mandate , functions and responsibilities
We are already assisting emerging contractors with support programmes to grow their skills and improve their capacity to move up through the contractor levels . As will the introduction of virtual technologies .
Examples of these are software developers who produce applications which are tailor made for South African conditions and offer the requisite training . Such solutions are already on the market in the property , surveying and planning environments .
Moreover , the cidb can play a catalytic role to provide software developers and the research community with valuable insights into the nature of the local construction sector .
Virtual and augmented reality applications are becoming agile and more intuitive daily and are increasingly being integrated into standard construction software . As the technology becomes mature and gain acceptance , it will become more cost effective and deliver better returns on investment .
This presents exciting new opportunities for the South African construction industry .
The Construction Industry Development Board is established in terms of the CIDB Act 38 of 2000 to lead transformation and development of the construction industry . RACA stephan sorkin | Unsplash
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