Digital Transformation of Civil Engineering Surveyor
Abstract: The current state of digital engineering adoption falls short of its potential in terms of efficient data sharing and survey expertise in the field of civil engineering. There exists a disconnection between commercial management and geospatial surveyors, which has led to unsustainable practices in construction. To address this issue, our proposal emphasizes the importance of improved data management for sustainable growth in the construction industry. We believe that civil engineering surveyors should take the lead in bridging the gap between geospatial and commercial management through digital engineering, benefiting both the industry and society. To achieve this vision, the Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors (CICES) recognizes digital transformation as a crucial aspect for the future of the profession, ensuring its relevance beyond 2050. This paper identifies the barriers hindering the adoption of digital engineering, including information management, data sharing, and building information modeling (BIM) in infrastructure projects. It also outlines how surveyors can assess their digital maturity and take the necessary steps to overcome current and future challenges. In addition to individual efforts, this paper highlights the supportive roles of contracts, protocols, technology, education, training, standards, and professional bodies in enabling the desired change. A deeper understanding of the expertise of geospatial surveyors and commercial managers is crucial for informed decision-making in infrastructure projects. The paper recommends involving civil engineering surveyors earlier in the planning phase, as their input during this stage can significantly impact project outcomes. By understanding the required data, its accuracy, and its use in scenario planning, costing, scheduling, and monitoring, efficiency gains can be realized, leveraging the expertise of surveyors. The roles and engagement of surveyors throughout the project lifecycle are also outlined in the paper. The drafting of this paper involved the collaboration of over 30 surveyors, with the participation of industry bodies such as Survey4BIM, the UK BIM Alliance, Women in BIM, BIM4Heritage, and the BIM Academic Forum.
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Introduction
Current Situation: The utilization of digital engineering is not at the desired level to achieve the benefits of effective data sharing and survey expertise. In civil engineering, there exists a gap between commercial management and geospatial surveyors.
Consequences: The conventional approach to construction, which has been followed for centuries, cannot be sustained due to various factors such as time, costs, social impact, and environmental concerns.
Our Proposal: To ensure sustainable growth in the construction industry, it is essential to improve data management, with civil engineering surveyors taking the lead in this transition. We aim to use digital engineering to connect geospatial and commercial management disciplines within civil engineering, benefiting both the industry and society.
Approach: Recognizing digital transformation as a crucial element for building a profession that is well-suited for the future, the Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors (CICES) has identified barriers to the adoption of digital engineering in infrastructure projects. These barriers include information management, data sharing, and building information modeling (BIM). This paper outlines how surveyors can assess their digital maturity, determine the necessary steps to address current and future challenges, and position themselves optimally for the coming decades.
In addition to individual efforts, this paper explores the supportive roles of contracts, protocols, technology, education, training, standards, and professional bodies in facilitating the required changes.
A key aspect of this transformation is gaining a better understanding of the expertise of geospatial surveyors and commercial managers, and how their knowledge can inform decision-making in infrastructure projects. The paper recommends a shift in the traditional engagement of civil engineering surveyors, emphasizing their significant contributions during the planning phase. Understanding the specific data requirements, their accuracy, and how this data will be utilized in scenario planning, costing, scheduling, and monitoring will lead to improved efficiencies and effective utilization of surveyors’ expertise. The roles and timing of surveyor involvement throughout the project are also outlined in the paper.
The drafting process of this paper involved the collaboration of over 30 surveyors, including participation from industry bodies such as Survey4BIM, the UK BIM Alliance, Women in BIM, BIM4Heritage, and the BIM Academic Forum.
Key aspects of Digital Transformation in Civil Engineering
Digital transformation has had a significant impact on civil engineering, revolutionizing various aspects of the industry. Here are some key impacts of digital transformation in civil engineering:
Improved Design and Visualization: Digital tools and software enable engineers to create sophisticated 3D models and visualizations of infrastructure projects. This enhances the design process, allowing engineers to identify potential issues and optimize designs before construction begins.
Enhanced Collaboration and Communication: Digital transformation has facilitated better collaboration among project stakeholders. With the use of cloud-based platforms, teams can share and access project data in real-time, leading to improved communication, coordination, and decision-making.
Increased Efficiency and Cost Savings: Digital technologies such as Building Information Modeling (BIM) streamline workflows, improve project coordination, and reduce errors and rework. This leads to enhanced project efficiency, reduced costs, and shortened construction schedules.
Data-Driven Decision Making: Digital transformation enables the collection and analysis of vast amounts of data throughout the project lifecycle. This data-driven approach allows engineers to make informed decisions, optimize designs, monitor construction progress, and predict and prevent potential issues.
Improved Safety: Digital tools and technologies, such as drones and remote sensing, help identify potential safety hazards on construction sites. Real-time data monitoring and analysis also enable proactive safety measures, reducing the risk of accidents and improving overall safety.
Sustainable Design and Construction: Digital transformation has contributed to sustainable practices in civil engineering. Through the use of advanced modeling and simulation tools, engineers can optimize designs for energy efficiency, resource conservation, and environmental impact reduction.
Asset Management and Maintenance: Digital technologies facilitate the creation of digital twins, virtual replicas of physical assets. These digital twins can be used for asset management, predictive maintenance, and performance monitoring, optimizing the lifespan and operation of infrastructure.
Automation and Robotics: Digital transformation has introduced automation and robotics to civil engineering, improving efficiency and productivity. Robotic technologies are utilized for tasks such as site surveying, material handling, and construction, reducing manual labor and enhancing accuracy.
These are just a few examples of the impact of digital transformation in civil engineering. The integration of digital technologies continues to revolutionize the industry, offering numerous benefits in terms of productivity, sustainability, and project outcomes.
Transforming the Civil Engineering Surveyor
Transforming the role of civil engineering surveyors involves leveraging digital technologies and adopting new approaches to enhance their capabilities and contributions. Here are some key steps to transform the role of civil engineering surveyors:
Embrace Digital Engineering: Civil engineering surveyors should embrace digital engineering practices that utilize advanced technologies such as Building Information Modeling (BIM), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and remote sensing. This involves acquiring the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively use these tools for data collection, analysis, and visualization.
Enhance Data Management: Efficient data management is crucial for the transformation of civil engineering surveyors. This includes implementing robust systems for data collection, storage, and sharing. Embracing cloud-based platforms and adopting standardized data formats and protocols facilitate seamless collaboration and information exchange among project stakeholders.
Develop Digital Skills: Civil engineering surveyors should acquire and develop digital skills relevant to their profession. This may include proficiency in BIM software, GIS tools, data analytics, and automation technologies. Training programs and professional development opportunities can help surveyors enhance their digital skills and keep up with evolving technologies.
Integrate Geospatial and Commercial Management: Bridging the gap between geospatial surveying and commercial management is essential for effective decision-making in infrastructure projects. Civil engineering surveyors should actively engage in project planning and contribute their expertise in geospatial analysis, data interpretation, and cost estimation. This requires a better understanding of the broader project context and collaboration with commercial management professionals.
Adopt Digital Workflows: Surveyors should embrace digital workflows and methodologies to streamline processes and enhance efficiency. This may involve utilizing digital surveying equipment, implementing automated data collection techniques, and integrating survey data seamlessly with BIM models. Adopting digital workflows enables real-time collaboration, reduces errors, and enhances project coordination.
Emphasize Early Engagement: To maximize their impact, civil engineering surveyors should be engaged early in the project lifecycle, particularly during the planning phase. By providing input on data requirements, accuracy, and utilization, surveyors can contribute to informed decision-making, scenario planning, cost estimation, scheduling, and monitoring. Early engagement ensures that the surveyor’s expertise is utilized to its full potential.
Promote Industry Collaboration: Collaboration with industry bodies, professional organizations, and other stakeholders is crucial for the transformation of civil engineering surveyors. Active participation in forums, conferences, and working groups allows surveyors to share knowledge, exchange best practices, and stay updated with the latest industry trends and technological advancements.
By following these steps, civil engineering surveyors can successfully embrace digital transformation and enhance their role in the industry. This transformation enables them to make valuable contributions to project planning, data management, decision-making, and overall project efficiency, ultimately leading to sustainable growth in the construction industry.
In Conclusion
In conclusion, the current state of digital engineering adoption in the construction industry falls short of realizing the full potential of data sharing and survey expertise. The disconnect between commercial management and geospatial surveyors has resulted in unsustainable practices in construction, impacting time, costs, people, and the planet.
To achieve sustainable growth, it is imperative to improve data management practices, with civil engineering surveyors taking the lead in this transformation. The proposal is to use digital engineering to bridge the gap between geospatial and commercial management disciplines, benefiting both the industry and society at large.
Recognizing digital transformation as a crucial element for the future of the profession, the Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors (CICES) has identified barriers and proposes steps to assess and improve digital maturity. This includes considering information management, data sharing, and building information modeling (BIM) within infrastructure projects. The paper emphasizes the supporting roles of contracts, protocols, technology, education, training, standards, and professional bodies in enabling change.
A key aspect of this transformation is gaining a better understanding of the expertise of geospatial surveyors and commercial managers, and leveraging this knowledge to inform decision-making in infrastructure projects. The paper recommends shifting the traditional engagement of civil engineering surveyors, with greater impact achieved during the planning phase. This involves understanding the data requirements, accuracy, and its application in scenario planning, costing, scheduling, and monitoring to realize efficiencies and maximize the utilization of surveyors’ expertise. The paper also outlines the roles of surveyors throughout the project, highlighting when and why their engagement is crucial.
The drafting of this paper involved the collaboration of over 30 surveyors, along with the participation of industry bodies such as Survey4BIM, the UK BIM Alliance, Women in BIM, BIM4Heritage, and the BIM Academic Forum. This collaborative effort underscores the industry’s recognition of the need for digital transformation and the importance of working together to drive positive change in civil engineering surveying practices.
