Approaches for Computer-Integrated Construction

The American construction industry has declined in productivity for more than 20 years. Past research has indicated that a weak interface between design and construction is at least partly responsible. Computer-integrated construction (CIC) is an application of concurrent engineering that shows promise in improving data transfer across the interface. This article explains the design-phase data necessary to assess constructability, the problems associated with working constructability information into the design process, the differences between construction and manufacturing that prevent the direct application of successful computer-integrated manufacturing (CIM) technologies to the construction domain, recent attempts at breaking down the barriers between design and construction, and suggestions for CIC research directions.