As the Covid-19 pandemic normalized the idea of virtual working, the importance of technology in the built environment sector is exponentially rising. It can decrease the demand for civil engineers and architects who lack technological and other skills to cope with the evolving real estate and construction sector. Indeed, the knowledge of requisite software and technology should be a part of the course curriculum and learnings so students can shape their bright career in the built environment sector. To fully understand what potential development changes and paradigm shift the Covid-19 brings in the built environment sector, we first need to understand how the built environment sector has evolved and what technology is being used in the process.
Evolution of each function in the built environment sector
Technology has played a crucial role in shaping the built environment sector by augmenting processes, streamlining activities, and integrating innovations to propel the functioning. Till date, technology has evolved numerous elements of this sector, including construction engineering, construction technology, structural engineering, infrastructure engineering, and building/construction management. All of this helped the built environment sector to be future-ready.
Current and upcoming technology in the built environment sector
Currently, building information modeling is a prominent practice in the built environment sector. It includes an illustration and pre-execution overview of the functional and physical characteristics of places. Some of the other tools currently used in the construction industry are Autodesk BIM 360, Tekla BIMsight, and Revit.
On the other hand, 3D printing, drone-based surveying, smart building management, and an intelligent transport system are some of the technologies that will play a vital role in shaping the future built environment sector.
Required software knowledge to function smoothly in the built environment sector
As mentioned earlier, Autodesk BIM 360, Revit, Tekla BIMsight, Navisworks, BIMx, and BIMobject are some of the tools or software currently used in the built environment sector. While Artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, the Internet of Things (IoT), and other technologies are transforming the built environment sector, individuals need to have a strong grasp on these technologies to be a successful professional in the industry.
From the above points, it is clear that software and technical knowledge needs to be a part of the course curriculum and learnings. Keeping this in mind, RICS SBE, an industry-led institution, shapes each and every student to excel in the futuristic requirements of the industry by imparting required technological knowledge.
To conclude, newly introduced technological innovations will help recover from downtime of the pandemic impacts and hence, post Covid-19 era will bring tremendous career opportunities for professionals in the industry. Also, if professionals are seeking to grab these upcoming opportunities, then they can utilize this time and upgrading their knowledge by pursuing a specialized MBA from a well-renowned construction management college.