One focus of the Construction Administration program at Columbia has been integrating technology in the construction industry. With an eye on the future of construction projects, faculty and alumni of the program are bringing these innovative tools and ideas to their work in the field. Lecturers Rawle Sawh and James Ward are working to educate professionals in the industry about the advantages of Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) and cutting-edge building technology.
Construction Tech Review recently published a white paper written by Rawle Sawh, Construction Administration Lecturer and Director of VDC at the Gilbane Building Company. In the article, “Leveraging the Full Power of VDC to Eliminate Challenges,” Sawh advocates for leveraging comprehensive VDC processes. “What if we could live in a world where constructibility challenges were resolved prior to construction?,” Sawh proposes.
Building a project virtually enables everyone who is a project stakeholder to have a seat at the table, creating transparency and facilitating collaboration and problem-solving.
Lecturer James Ward, Senior Innovation Manager at JRM Construction Management, is also actively encouraging the integration of technology into the industry. He recently participated in the Commercial Observer Third Annual Building Technology Forum, during which the panel of experts discussed how to harness technology and enhance design strategies for significant competitive advantages. In addition, as a lecturer, Ward teaches students how 3D data can be used in the construction management process.
In todays modern construction practice we must leverage our digital tools to work smarter; utilizing accurate digital twins, collaborating in real-time, and with a single source of truth. All to deliver projects with time-savings and at higher quality.
Sawh and Ward are among the many Construction Administration faculty members who have managed and continue to work on New York’s most important, advanced, and large-scale construction projects.
Read Rawle Sawh’s "Leveraging the Full Power of VDC to Eliminate Challenges," and learn more about Columbia’s Construction Administration program.
