Information systems are revolutionising the way we capture, communicate, and distribute knowledge in society and business.
They have become essential parts of planning, delivering, and maintaining the ‘built environment'. Making sense of the information revolution and delivering the benefits of information technology requires strategic thinking that recognises the importance of people, processes, and standards.
The impact of information systems reaches across all aspects of the engineering business, and over the years, information systems have become the inventive stimulus to our business -- just as new materials and methods were in the industrial revolution. Developing, implementing, and using systems that enable engineers to realise effective, efficient, and practical solutions that not only meet the needs of society but improve the quality of the final product and its operation, is critical.
Over the past few years, ICE's Information Systems Expert Panel has been looking at:
Information Management for Major Projects - Collaborative work in an integrated team environment will allow us to overcome the known problems associated with the construction industry. However, even though the problems have been researched and well documented over the past decades, little has been done in establishing a common industry approach to regularly overcoming the problems. Over the last century the construction industry has accepted that all information used for construction purposes is inaccurate, ambiguous, and incomplete. This situation has not changed over the last century even with the introduction of infinitely accurate Computer Aided Design (CAD) systems that promise quality information.
Other knowledge areas that the panel is involved with include:
Brunel to Broadband - a presentation on information systems, available either as a recording or as a presentation in your area.
Engineering Management in a Digital Economy - a new and exciting research project, bringing together key speakers in industry and academia, culminating in a workshop on 3rd December 2010.
Online community - a special information systems community, bringing together experts on information systems.
Briefing sheets - covering topics relevant to information systems within the construction industy.