Challenges in Construction Management: Technology and Environment

This essay examines the multifaceted challenges confronting construction managers in the Australian construction industry. It delves into the difficulties associated with adopting new technologies, such as augmented reality, drones, and 3D printing, highlighting issues like IT standards and data protection. Furthermore, the essay explores the challenges of environmental sustainability, emphasizing the need for sustainable building practices, waste management, and adherence to environmental policies. It underscores the importance of integrating environmental concerns and striving for innovation in sustainable development, ultimately advocating for a balance between technological advancements and environmentally conscious practices to ensure economically and environmentally sustainable building projects. The essay references several academic sources to support its claims.

RUNNING HEAD: CONSTRUCTION MANAGENENT 0
2020
Construction Management
Student’s Details-

CONSTRUCTION MANAGENENT 1
Challenges Faced by Construction Managers in terms of
New Technology and Environment Stability
Australian construction industry faces several challenges in the management of complex
projects. The industry faces the challenges for the acquiring of the skilled workforce and also in
the adoption of the new technology in the day to day operations (Zujo, et al., 2017). Further, the
construction manager faces challenges in the sustainable development for reducing the negative
impact on the environment and making use of the sustainable practices at the operational
process. Here, the essay will discuss the challenges faced by the construction manager in terms
of new technology and also in terms of the environmental sustainability.
Technology has the capacity to transform the construction industry. Making investments in the
new and innovative technologies is still a challenge for the construction managers. The managers
face the challenges in the process and product innovations in the engineering and construction
sector which has improved the productivity and efficiency of the industries (Wang, et al., 2017).
The construction managers make use of the augmented reality, drones, autonomous equipment
and the building up of the materials which not only boost the productivity but also streamline the
project management. This can also enhance the quality and safety of the construction process.
Moreover, the construction manager brings the new technology in three ways which are
workforce, product and the process used. The use of technology can avail the automation through
the smart devices. The challenges are faced in terms of bringing the virtual experience into the
construction projects through the use of big data and analytics for making engagements in real-
time communication for the facilitation of the information (Chen, 2019).
The introduction of new technology in terms of the 3D printing which has a disruptive impact on
the construction industry. This has the capacity to gain the customized components at a much
lower cost. This is remained as a challenge for the construction industry for cutting down the
cost and bring economies of scale. The construction managers face challenge in the building up
of the smart equipment which can occur due to the technological advances that drives the cost of
the computing, data storage and sensors (World Economic Forum, 2016). This development
affects all built assets and sectors which are emerging as a result of the smart technology which
enables parking. However, there are certain issues faced by the construction manager which can

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restrict the uptake of such smart technology. There are challenges in terms of the Information
Technology (IT) related standards, low-quality legacy standards and increasing the concerns
about the data protection (Leviäkangas, et al., 2017). This requires the construction manager to
build the collaboration along the value chain and also convincing of the customers about the
long-term advantages of such equipment.
The second challenge which is faced by the construction managers is the environmental
sustainability. This sustainability is maintained in terms of quality and also meeting the
environmental standards which can systematize the entire process. In the construction sector,
more investment is required for the building up of the certified buildings than the normal
buildings (World Economic Forum, 2016). The manager faces the challenges in terms of
building up of the sustainable building which is the final product and also choosing a sustainable
way of construction which is the process. Moreover, investment in the infrastructure requires the
environmental sustainability which has become an important aspect of the Australian
construction industry (Hamilton-Foster, 2014). Also, there are challenges in terms of adhering
with the environmental policy, objective and corporate sustainability reporting which can
integrate the environmental concerns and can maintain the environmental performance. There are
sustainability concerns for the managers within the construction industry as this can have an
impact on the environment as the construction industry is the significant contributor of the
environmental pollution. This can impact the health of the communities.
Besides, construction manager faces the challenges in the management of the wastages under the
construction industry which involves the loss of valuable minerals and organic materials. The
environmental sustainability is maintained through the use of the quality of materials and the
construction used. Also, the manager faces the challenges in the aging infrastructure which has
an impact on the carbon footprint (Hussin, et al., 2013). There are challenges associated with the
political and regulatory standards which are built up for the safeguarding the interests of the
communities and the associated people. The managers face the challenges in striving for
innovation for sustainable development by drawing the attention towards the energy efficient
buildings, carbon efficiency, interior air quality and eco-friendly design of the sustainable
construction (Zujo, et al., 2017). Also, the managers face the difficulty in the creation of the
sustainable performance in managing the operational performance into the designing of the

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construction sites. Moreover, the motive of the construction industry to show the concerns for the
environment through the building up of the sustainable buildings which are duly compiled with
the energy efficient resources and the capabilities.
Conclusively, it can be examined that construction managers play a vital role in the development
of the building which are economically and environmentally sustainable. Due to the changes into
the technological advances and the increasing concerns towards the environment, it has become
important to make use of the emerging technologies and also making use of the integration and
implementation of the environmental standards. Here, the essay is based on the challenges faced
in the construction management which are needed to be alleviated through transforming the
construction into more advanced and also making use of the sustainable practices for reducing
the negative impact on the environment.

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References
Chen, Z., 2019. Grand challenges in construction management. Frontiers in Built Environment,
Volume 5.
Hamilton-Foster, E., 2014. The Australian Engineering Construction Sector: shifting
environmental values and practices. Global Bioethics, 25(3), pp. 178-194.
Hussin, J., Rahman, I. & Memon, A., 2013. The way forward in sustainable construction: issues
and challenges. International Journal of Advances in Applied Sciences, 2(1), pp. 15-24.
Leviäkangas, P., Paik, S. & Moon, S., 2017. Keeping up with the pace of digitization: The case
of the Australian construction industry. Technology in Society, Volume 50, pp. 33-43.
Wang, J., Wu, P., Wang, X. & Shou, W., 2017. The outlook of blockchain technology for
construction engineering management. Frontiers of engineering management, pp. 67-75.
World Economic Forum, 2016. Shaping the Future of Construction A Breakthrough in Mindset
and Technology. [Online]
Available at:
http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Shaping_the_Future_of_Construction_full_report__.pdf
[Accessed 13 April 2020].
Zujo, V., Zileska Pancovska, V., Pertuseva, S. & Petrovski, A., 2017. Construction managers'
perception for sustainable construction contributing factors: Analysis using support vector
machine. TEM Journal, 6(2), pp. 391-399.