Driving Forces and Capabilities for Projects of the Future

Need to Anticipate Projects of the Future

What will be the new characteristics of selected types of engineering and construction projects in 2000? What technical and managerial capabilities will be required to design and construct these projects? The purpose of this research is to seek answers to these questions and to assist firms in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry to prepare for future projects. This is important to improve and to compete.

The scope of this research included projects in the process, industrial, power, and building segments of the engineering and construction industry. The study relied on key managers in leading owners’ organizations to evaluate potential influences, including new technology, that determine facility needs and characteristics—their vision of future facilities—and to anticipate the AEC capabilities needed to provide these facilities. Managers in leading design and construction firms also provided important input regarding future facilities and preparing for future projects.

This research focused on the demands of future projects and the new technical and managerial capabilities (and thus potential sources of competitive advantage) that they will require. It was not designed to produce quantitative forecasts of construction volume or numbers of specific project types.