Digital Transformation Takes Center Stage at CII Conference

Erin Jones of ExxonMobil paired up with other firms and academics to conduct key digital tool study.
Photo courtesy CII

A research team comprised of academics and industry professionals rolled out a new tool to assist firms with maximizing the value of their digital transformation on capital projects.

The Digital Transformation roadmapping tool, available through the Construction Industry Institute—an industry R&D thinktank based at the University of Texas, Austin—collates searchable data based on nearly 200 surveys, case studies and interviews with companies making digital investments. The tool aims to aid users in deciphering their best path forward to adopting technologies such as AI and 5D BIM.

Most respondents to the survey “said they are in the middle of their digital transformation,” said Erin Jones, the study team’s vice chair and ExxonMobil’s project design data and technology supervisor, in presenting findings at CII’s San Diego conference last month. “The most technologically advanced organizations have said they have built a roadmap unique to the business drivers and challenges that they are tackling.”

of attendees also heard the latest research on AI and other technologies, along with ways to optimize advanced work packages for larger projects. One such research paper examined the impact of a project team’s culture on project delivery. The study examined the impact of deploying a clearly outlined vision for collaboration and communication from day one with a multinational team constructing a $2-billion-plus chemical production plant for ExxonMobil. Thom Sinkovic, its senior executive advisor for global projects, said aligning cultural behaviors boosted safety performance, schedule adherence and deployment of leading-edge technologies.

Blair leads day-to-day operations of the ENR editorial team to ensure brand quality and further best practices. He spearheads ENR's various competitions, including Best Projects and the Award of Excellence, and organizes editorial content at events including the Top Young Professionals conference. A Jesse H. Neal, Construction Media Alliance and AZBEES-award-winning writer and videographer, Blair frequently contributes to ENR’s burgeoning video channel with project tour videos and interviews with industry leaders. He is also a frequent speaker and moderator on topics such as diversity and inclusion, design and jobsite technology, construction means and methods and marketing.

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