FIATECH

Potential Benefits & Opportunities

Emerging technologies will drive the evolution of new workforce paradigms that transform long-held division of roles. These technologies will empower different types of workers to make full use of captured knowledge, advanced information delivery mechanisms, and next-generation automated systems across the project and facility lifecycle. Tightly integrated workflows enabled by vastly improved project management systems, demand-based resourcing, and total visibility into the job site will significantly reduce the time and cost of construction. Much of the time compression will result from on-demand access to accurate information, and advanced training delivery and task guidance mechanisms. Improved coordination between workers at all levels will enable far more operations to be performed simultaneously rather than sequentially.

Improved tools, equipment, and materials will enable all workers to perform their tasks faster, easier, and with assured quality and safety. Wearable computers, heads-up displays, wireless communications, and smart tools and equipment will be integrated with site monitoring and control systems. The coordination of stepwise tasks with extremely high efficiency will guide each worker in the task at hand. These systems will assure that tasks are performed correctly, alerting workers to problems and providing on-demand guidance and training as well as assuring that they have the tools, materials, and other resources they need to do their jobs.

The benefits apply to all segments of the industry. Assurance of a properly trained and skilled labor supply will bolster confidence and stability. Improved skills and knowledge empowerment will improve productivity and employment security. Safety, health, and environmental compliance will be dramatically improved. Specific benefits for industry stakeholders are outlined in thee table below.