The Construction Industry in the information age

Abstract

The construction industry is still lagging behind other industry sectors concerning the use of information and communication technologies. Globalisation and the new world panorama, as well as the current Brazilian scenario, in which there is less public intervention and lack of financing, demand urgent improvement in productivity and competitiveness in the construction sector. Innovation in products and processes, especially with information technology support, can help this sector to find its way to a brighter future. Several factors must be considered in the introduction of IT solutions, such as information overload and the lack of strategic information. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the barriers to the use of IT in the construction sector and to identify future trends.