IT research for construction as a manufacturing process an EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council) view

UK construction is internationally strong; its expertise in design and handling complex processes and in the involvement of specialists are highly valued overseas. Nevertheless, in spite of some of the lowest input costs in the developed world, the industry is blighted by over specification, and high output costs. Most components used on site are tailor made for the project in response to the designer´s specific requirements. They are nearly all small, provide little repetition and are designed without regard for manufacturing or assembly efficiency. This interface is but one in a fragmented industry split between clients, architects and design engineers, manufacturers and building contractors. Contractual and legal constraints further discourage integration. If the EPSRC is to make a significant contribution towards transforming the above situation it will be important to plan on a large scale and concentrate on research of the highest quality and ingenuity. The overall grand design could be for selected universities to work towards developing a series of expert systems fully integrated into a prestigious “client friendly” advanced construction design centre which would exploit virtual reality. It would include an intelligent computer aided design system and would ultimately contain a wide range of software tools associated with every aspect of construction and ancillary processes