Advancing the competitiveness and efficiency of the U.S. construction industry / Committee on Advancing the Productivity and Competitiveness of the U.S. Industry Workshop, Board on Infrastructure and the Constructed Environment, Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences, National Research Council of the National Academies.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

National Research Council (U.S.). Board on Infrastructure and the Constructed Environment.

National Research Council (U.S.). Committee on Advancing the Productivity and Competitiveness of the U.S. Construction Industry.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Construction industry--Econometric models.

Construction industry.

Construction industry--Forecasting.

Construction industry--United States.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (123 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Washington, D.C. : National Academies Press, c2009.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Construction productivity--how well, how quickly, and at what cost buildings and infrastructure can be constructed--directly affects prices for homes and consumer goods and the robustness of the national economy. Industry analysts differ on whether construction industry productivity is improving or declining. Still, advances in available and emerging technologies offer significant opportunities to improve construction efficiency substantially in the 21st century and to help meet other national challenges, such as environmental sustainability. Advancing the Competitiveness and Efficiency of the U.S. Construction Industry identifies five interrelated activities that could significantly improve the quality, timeliness, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability of construction projects. These activities include widespread deployment and use of interoperable technology applications; improved job-site efficiency through more effective interfacing of people, processes, materials, equipment, and information; greater use of prefabrication, preassembly, modularization, and off-site fabrication techniques and processes; innovative, widespread use of demonstration installations; and effective performance measurement to drive efficiency and support innovation. The book recommends that the National Institute of Standards and Technology work with industry leaders to develop a collaborative strategy to fully implement and deploy the five activities

Contents:

""Front Matter""; ""Acknowledgments""; ""Contents""; ""Summary""; ""1 Background""; ""2 Obstacles to Improving Construction Productivity""; ""3 Opportunities for Breakthrough Improvements in the U.S. Construction Industry""; ""4 Implementing Activities for Breakthrough Improvements: Recommended Actions""; ""References""; ""Appendixes""; ""Appendix A: Biosketches of Committee Members""; ""Appendix B: Workshop Agenda and List of Participants""; ""Appendix C: An International Perspective on Construction Competitiveness and Productivity

Carl Haas""

""Appendix D: Technical Change and Its Impact on Construction Productivity

Paul M. Goodrum""""Appendix E: Creating and Cultivating the Next Generation of Construction Professionals

Jeffrey S. Russell""

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN:

9786612437267

9780309147477

0309147476

9781282437265

1282437267

9780309141925

0309141923

OCLC:

923281035