American multinational software corporation Autodesk is drumming support for digital construction in Nigeria to enhance the industry’s profitability.
Speaking at a one-day forum dubbed “The Future of Making Things” in Lagos, Simon Bromfield, Autodesk’s Africa Lead and Channel Manager said that for players such as contractors to work efficiently, innovation was urgently required.
“Contractors are pressured on many sides, operating in a market driven by money and risk. Securing a profitable place in tomorrow’s market will be linked to a contractor’s ability to innovate. We urgently need to focus on the future- the future of making things with technology,” said M r Bromfield.
He observed that while other industries have embraced digitization, the contraction industry still lags behind.
He however expressed confidence that digital construction in Africa was gaining momentum.
“When you see how this connectivity influences every facet of a construction site—improving the efficiency, safety, and cost—it is not even a question of whether the industry will move in this direction, only how quickly” he said.
The forum held at Radisson Blu Hotel also sought to look into some of the challenges facing the construction industry such as project complexity, globalization of construction, skills shortage, and access to capital.
The event further explored the relevance of augmented and virtual reality, generative design, AI/Machine learning, smart cities, factory of the future, and climate change solutions, in the future of construction and infrastructure.
But participants also acknowledged that adoption of cloud-enabled technologies present an opportunity for disruption in the way we design and operate buildings and infrastructure.
The Future’s Forum targets Mid-level to Senior Management Executives and stakeholders in architecture, engineering and construction in Nigeria.
Autodesk desires to help people digitize the construction process and project management, building a unified construction data platform to provide accurate information at the point of decision-making and drive better decisions and more profitable project outcomes.