Technology innovation is likely to boost productivity and increase effectiveness for the GCC construction market beyond mega-projects, said experts ahead of a key industry event being hosted by Trimble, a global construction technology company.

To be held on October 25 in Dubai, Trimble’s Construction Summit Middle East aims to stimulate construction, innovation and business transformation through application of technology.

The summit will be held under the theme “Delivering Innovation in Construction Through Technology," and comes at a crucial time amid a recent report by research firm Preqin showing that $42 billion worth of infrastructure deals have been completed in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena).
 
New research from McKinsey Global Institute found that the global construction industry is ripe for disruption. Adopting best practices in seven key areas could boost productivity by 50 to 60 per cent, which would result in gains worth $1.6 trillion a year, or boost global GDP by two per cent, it stated.

“The research suggests large-scale industry players engaged in heavy construction such as civil and industrial work and large-scale housing tend to have 20 to 40 per cent higher productivity than smaller firms,” remarked Dr Ghassan Ziadat, the vice president of major projects, McKinsey & Company, ahead of his event talk.

The Construction Summit Middle East is a business forum aimed at enabling top players in the construction industry to boost productivity and increase effectiveness.

"Construction is currently among the least digitised industries, and the sector will benefit from adapting to, and adopting technologies that increase productivity," stated Dr Ziadat.

"Adopting technologies such as digital collaboration tools could raise productivity by as much as 15 per cent and reduce project costs by up to 45 per cent," he added.

The event agenda will include industry leaders that are driving innovation, such as the Dubai-headquartered firm AESG, whose Middle East projects include Masdar's Irena Headquarters and the Expo 2020 UAE Pavilion.

"Government initiatives are helping to drive Dubai and the UAE as one of the world’s most innovative construction markets," remarked Scott Coombes, the managing partner of AESG.

"Middle East construction firms that combine building information modeling (BIM) software with innovations, such as 3D printing, will be ideally-positioned to drive business success," explained Coombes.

According to experts, civil engineering and construction professionals can learn about horizontal construction of roads and rails.

General contractors and construction managers can enhance project management, cost control, and electrical design with 4D and 5D software such as BIM (building information modelling), robotic station layout, and laser scanning.

Architects too can model concepts, and geospatial professionals can use hardware and software technology for more effective surveying.

“Digital transformation has the power to engage, optimise and empower, while reinventing the ways in which organisations approach their industries,” remarked Mohammed Arif, the head of Windows and Devices, Microsoft Gulf.  

"Trimble’s summit comes at a crucial moment for the region’s construction industry, as companies throughout the sector look for ways to innovate – to do more with less," said Arif.

"This event is a great platform for Microsoft to showcase our devices and solutions, that are built from the ground up to work as business accelerators in the construction sector, enabling them to thrive and bridge technological gaps – empowering them to achieve more," he added.

Breakout sessions will cover regional markets and three streams: buildings, geospatial, and civil and marine construction.

"This summit will be the Middle East’s only thought leadership platform and construction event in 2017 that will explore how hardware and software can transform the construction continuum," remarked Paul Wallett, regional director of Trimble Solutions Middle East and India.

"Attendees can experience the latest construction technologies, gain key market analysis, and develop business partnerships to drive business growth," he added.-TradeArabia News Service