Information Technology in Civil Engineering—Future Trends

On November 13–14, 2003, a group of approximately 100 researchers and practitioners convened in Nashville at the ASCE 4th International Joint Symposium on Information Technology in Civil Engineering to develop their vision for the future use and development of information technology ~IT! in civil engineering. The group discussed the previous successes and failures of IT usage, current professional needs, emerging information technologies, future directions of information technology, as well as barriers and potential solutions for implementing IT solutions in civil engineering. Although the group largely comprised attendees from Europe and North America, perspectives and opinions were presented from all around the globe. The meeting held this past November was exceptionally lively and upbeat. Companies were found to be actively experimenting with a variety of information and sensing technologies on construction sites and reporting on their progress. Owners, with the guidance of organizations such as FIATECH ~a consortium of owners, vendors, government researchers, and academics!, are in the process of creating a vision for how information technologies could be integrated into a facility delivery process. Studies show that IT can have a significant impact on the bottom line of a project even before these technologies are integrated.