CONSTRUCTION A CHALLENGE FOR THE EUROPEAN INDUSTRY (original) (raw)

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The aim of this study is to define priorities for research in the European Building, Construction and Civil Engineering sector. It is mainly based on in¬put from the construction industry, associations of suppliers and the research community. Priorities have been defined in consultation with a selected group of European experts. The construction and civil engineering sector is one of the largest productive sectors in the European Community. Its total annual turnover is approximately 500 billion ECU, representing a 10% GDP of the European Community and it employs nearly 16 million people. Driving forces like the competition outside Europe, the increasing importance of envi¬ronmental protection, the central role of the consumer and concern about better labour conditions will provoke the construction industry to make some radical changes. Although technology can help to respond to these developments there are certain technology gaps. R&D is needed of which certain parts are most appropriate for collaboration at a European level. To balance the R&D effort of the leading Japanese contractors, the only feasible route to compete is to have a strong R&D effort in construction on a European scale. This calls for an integrated approach in which, within the framework of one main overall objec¬tive, various different technologies would be integrated bringing together researchers, de¬signers, producers & users, with the related industries. A systematic approach defining objectives will increase the possibility that research projects will be complementary and provide more synergy. A more targeted approach around a specific industry such as construction will better relate the needs of the whole industry and the implementation of R&D on a European scale. Integration should be applied to different stages in the construction process, the techniques and methods from different industries, and the integration of effort by focusing activities in a number of targeted areas. The most important technologies which need further development are divided in three separate fields: Design technologies, Materials technologies, and Manufacturing and Construction technologies Design technologies are strategically important for the European construction industry to improve its competitiveness. Design influences a major part of total life cycle costs for buildings and civil engineering structures and has long term consequences which considers the whole product life cycle. An optimization methodology is needed, with regard to cost, durability, serviceability, re¬liability, sustainability, maintainability, recyclability and disposal. This can be achieved through the development of product and process design simplification strategies which include factors such as reduced numbers of parts, standardization of components, use of fewer and more compatible materials, impro-vement of recyclability and the use of advanced jointing techniques. Implementation of simulation models useable for structural design and evaluation will enable the simulation of buildings and allow their performance to be predicted before they are built. Design approaches are needed which tailor the building to meet the particular occupational require¬ments of the users. Consumer Oriented Design is a key item. Development of new material technologies in cooperation with the "related industries" can be used to integrate mechanical integrity, durability, environmental friendly performance and the functions needed in building components. This field of technology in particular offers excellent and numerous opportunities for other industries to partici-pate in construction. In the field of manufacturing and construction technologies there is a need for flexible and open industrialization technology at the site such as new jointing/assembly tech-niques, mechatronics, automation and robots, total quality control (ISO 9000) and improvement of working conditions. Development of advanced (computer and information technology based) techniques for planning is needed, as well as Just in Time delivery with the use of EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) and improved packaging technologies. PROPOSED PROJECTS TO ADDRESS THE MAJOR TECHNOLOGY GAPS PROJECT 1 CONSUMER ORIENTED BUILDING Consumer oriented building can give a great impulse to the European construction indu-stry and related industries. In competition with other consumer goods a real individual ap¬proach could effect a growth of more than 10% of the turnover in new and existing housing by providing more added value. The productivity could increase by fully automated manufacturing and assembly proces¬ses. (2-3% per year for Japan). This proposition offers various chances for a multi-sectoral approach. PROJECT 2 ENVIRONMENTAL ORIENTED CONSTRUCTION The first objective of this project is to organize a design, manufacturing, maintenance, use, and demolition process that is strongly focussed on decreasing the impact of construction of buildings and civil engineering structures on the internal and external environment. The second objective is to develop new design and manufacturing technologies in concert with new materials and products for environmental friendly structures. A multi-sectoral approach would also be very beneficial to this project. PROJECT 3 COMPLEX BUILDING AND CIVIL ENGINEERING STRUCTURES - USE OF NEW TECHNOLOGY AND SYSTEMS TO IMPROVE INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIVENESS The objective of the project would be to further develop technology and systems for large complex structures, ranging from an office complex up to an air terminal, hospital, oil rig or large tunnel system, which tend to be at the leading edge of construction technology. These are the structures which are subject to international competition and for which European companies must be successful. New technologies should be developed to specify the design of such structures in such a way that construction companies are able to offer their own technical solutions with assured performance, especially in open tenders. PROJECT 4 URBAN INFRASTRUCTURES: INTEGRATED URBAN SYSTEMS FOR THE MOVEMENT OF GOODS, SERVICES AND PEOPLE The fourth project has the potential to integrate all technologies which can be related to the functioning of a city. Integrated urban transport building can give a great impulse to the European construction industry and related industries in more than one way. New markets can be expected because of new product-market combinations (renovation of sewerage systems, underground structures, fully integrated construction, electronic systems for guidance and regulation of transport, management systems for underground networks). A multi-sectoral approach would positively make a rewarding contribution to the project. The research of KD/Consultants, and the opinions of the experts are reflected in this report which will go forward to help the Commission (DGXII) with the definition of priorities, to be included in Community funded R&D pro¬grammes. In addition, it can support the construction industry by creating solid proposals for R&D and to initiate and coordinate the collaboration with other related industries. The research team. Voorburg, August 1991. This study was initiated and financed by the Commission of the European Communities, Directorate-General for Science, Research and Development, DGXII We wish to thank all experts and other participants. Without their help this study would not have been possible. We would like to give special attention to: - ENBRI, the European Network of Building Research Institutes and their support with their Symposium "Construction Research Needs in Europe", 31 October 1990 - The support of the working group of representatives of the construction industry and its inspiring Chairman Dr. Michael Tubbs. Voorburg, 15 August 1991 The authors : Karel Dekker Frens Pries Eric Jan Schmidt