Findings and Path Forward: Leveraging Project and Career Success
Publication: Practice Periodical on Structural Design and Construction
Volume 19, Issue 1
Abstract
Fostering the development of the next generation of construction engineers requires broad input from both industry and academia. The 2014 Construction Engineering Conference (CEC) aimed to bring industry and academic leaders together to recognize emerging challenges in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry and present ideas for a path forward. The conference papers showed the following three emerging themes: (1) the need for industry-academia integration in the delivery of case-based learning; (2) the role of building information modeling (BIM) in project coordination and construction engineering education; and (3) the increasing need for integrated project teams. This paper summarizes the current state of the AEC industry, trajectory, educational opportunities, and future directions of each theme drawing upon the papers submitted to the 2014 CEC. This aggregation yielded compelling conclusions that the industry is facing an exciting but challenging path forward. Potential methods for achieving success include enhanced collaboration between industry and academia focused on skills needed to adapt to change and increasing project complexity; using BIM and other technologies to support project team integration; and the involvement of multiple disciplines early in project development and in educational activities.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Practice Periodical on Structural Design and Construction
Volume 19 • Issue 1 • February 2014
Pages: 142 - 147
Copyright
© 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jun 12, 2013
Accepted: Aug 27, 2013
Published online: Aug 29, 2013
Published in print: Feb 1, 2014
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