Monthly Focus |
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By Anna McCrea, senior consultant at Davis Langdon Management Consulting. |
Over 90% of data for organisations such as utilities, local government, emergency services and other regional agencies relates to a spatial location, and geographic information systems are now becoming central to most IS (Information Systems) infrastructures. Recent independent research has shown that geographic information supports around £100 billion of business in Great Britain. There would be major economic and operational benefits if it was possible to share maintenance of, and access to, up-to-date and complete data models of underground services relating to a particular geographical location.
The scope and extent of buried services is massive, and affects almost every public and private road, every urban path, and all residential and commercial property in the UK. Every local network comprises of many million of kilometres of cables and pipes, whether gas, water, electricity, cable, phone, sewerage, or drains. Of great value to both the owners and the nation as a whole, it all requires protection and maintainance.
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What's New |
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The IT Construction Forum 2006 Annual Conference - 24th May
Make sure you don't miss this annual event for our members, managed for The IT Construction Forum by Construction News. See the February issue of insITe, our print newsletter, for more details.
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Thank you to all who took part in our recent survey. The findings will help us to develop the Forum to suit your needs. Here is a snapshot of some of our findings:
Summary of findings
Over a quarter of respondents within the construction industry said their organisation is likely to spend over £250K on IT in the next 12 months.
ITCF Members - IT spend over the next 12 months
The key reasons stated for becoming a member of the IT Construction Forum were:
- Case studies and guidance material (86% stated this as a reason)
- Information on use of IT and new technologies (72%)
40% of members who responded said they access the website more than once a month.
When asked about their last visit to the web site 38% said it was for information on either mobile technology or collaborative working tools.
Case studies and the quarterly print newsletter, insITe, are rated as the most useful ITCF services, each scoring about 14% of the overall total points. Close behind were the monthly e-news and guidance on specific IT applications.
On services our members would be likely to use in the future, the highest scores were given to 'signposting to advice and information' (14% of overall scores), 'information on new technologies' (13.6%), 'independent assessments of technology' (13.5%) and demonstrations and case studies (13.1%).
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Don't forget, all our members can claim a discount on the new book on knowledge management in construction edited by Chimay J. Anumba, Charles Egbu and Patricia Carrillo. Sir Michael Latham says "I consider it essential reading for all participants in the construction process".
Contributors from industry and research show how managing construction knowledge can bring real benefits to organisations and projects. |
An edited extract will appear in the next issue of insITe to be published early in February but you can read the introduction to the book now at www.blackwellpublishing.com/1405129727.
In the shops at £49.95, members of The IT Construction Forum pay just £35.00 plus £2.75 for postage. To claim your discount call 01235 465550 and quote the code ANB2.
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We've been running, on a irregular basis, a short poll on the web site home page. Perhaps not surprisingly, our biggest pulling poll of the year was to the question: In your view, what is the impact of online reverse auctions (e-bidding) on construction? With 368 responses, 87.3% of you felt that e-bidding leads to more adversarial relationships. 8.4% said it creates price savings for clients and buyers, but 3% said it leads to higher pricing through increased claims. Just 1.4% believe it leads to a more informed supply chain.
Please email us with any additional thoughts you might have on this or any other IT-related topic. We will try to gather them together and publish summaries throughout the year.
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There are still many of you who have not supplied sufficient information to continue to qualify as 'free members' of the Forum. We hope to contact you in the next month or two to check if you want to continue to receive membership benefits. Do please take a few moments to reply.
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The IT Construction Forum
Constructing Excellence
Warwick House
25 Buckingham Palace Road
London SW1W 0PP
Helpdesk: 0845 605 5556
itcf@constructingexcellence.org.uk
Karl Williams, Manager of The IT Construction Forum, can be contacted on 020 7592 1137
This e-news is edited for The IT Construction Forum by Mary-Lou Nash. Material for this e-news or our print newsletter, insITe, can be submitted to: itcf@constructingexcellence.org.uk
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About The IT Construction Forum |
The IT Construction Forum supports companies in the construction sector make better use of IT in their business and management practices.
Get more information about the Forum at: www.itconstructionforum.org.uk.
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