New Civil Engineer / Bentley Systems Insight Report

“Going Digital” | Are you prepared for true digital transformation?

“Going Digital” is today’s hottest topic. Many infrastructure firms are developing their digital strategies to adopt new and exciting digital technologies for better project delivery.

But what impact will this have on civil engineers and their careers?

New Civil Engineer wishes to explore this further. We have therefore teamed up with Bentley Systems, the global technology provider, to conduct extensive global research around engineers’ readiness and preparedness for “Going Digital”. This research will also explore which technology trends are set to have the greatest impact and where the biggest gaps between opportunity and readiness exist.

This survey forms a key part of this research, and we thank you for taking part. The findings will be reported in New Civil Engineer later this year.

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* 1. PART 1

These questions are about you and your personal views on how technology is changing your career and that of your colleagues.
What technology do you feel will have the highest impact on engineering professionals?

Software technologies:

	No impact	Some impact	Modest impact	Significant impact	Transformational impact
Big Data and analytics	Big Data and analytics No impact	Big Data and analytics Some impact	Big Data and analytics Modest impact	Big Data and analytics Significant impact	Big Data and analytics Transformational impact
Artificial intelligence/cognitive analytics/machine learning	Artificial intelligence/cognitive analytics/machine learning No impact	Artificial intelligence/cognitive analytics/machine learning Some impact	Artificial intelligence/cognitive analytics/machine learning Modest impact	Artificial intelligence/cognitive analytics/machine learning Significant impact	Artificial intelligence/cognitive analytics/machine learning Transformational impact
Internet of Things/sensors	Internet of Things/sensors No impact	Internet of Things/sensors Some impact	Internet of Things/sensors Modest impact	Internet of Things/sensors Significant impact	Internet of Things/sensors Transformational impact
Augmented and virtual reality	Augmented and virtual reality No impact	Augmented and virtual reality Some impact	Augmented and virtual reality Modest impact	Augmented and virtual reality Significant impact	Augmented and virtual reality Transformational impact
Blockchain (secure group sharing database platform)	Blockchain (secure group sharing database platform) No impact	Blockchain (secure group sharing database platform) Some impact	Blockchain (secure group sharing database platform) Modest impact	Blockchain (secure group sharing database platform) Significant impact	Blockchain (secure group sharing database platform) Transformational impact
Sharing economy platforms (Uber-like supply chain platforms)	Sharing economy platforms (Uber-like supply chain platforms) No impact	Sharing economy platforms (Uber-like supply chain platforms) Some impact	Sharing economy platforms (Uber-like supply chain platforms) Modest impact	Sharing economy platforms (Uber-like supply chain platforms) Significant impact	Sharing economy platforms (Uber-like supply chain platforms) Transformational impact
Cloud-based applications	Cloud-based applications No impact	Cloud-based applications Some impact	Cloud-based applications Modest impact	Cloud-based applications Significant impact	Cloud-based applications Transformational impact

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* 2. Where do you believe your company to be when it comes to adopting these technologies?

Information/analytics technologies:

	Not pursuing	Early, proof of concept	Developing, one/more initiatives	Somewhat advanced, applying in certain areas of supply chain	Advanced, ongoing in multiple areas	Transformational, company-wide application
Advanced data and analytics	Advanced data and analytics Not pursuing	Advanced data and analytics Early, proof of concept	Advanced data and analytics Developing, one/more initiatives	Advanced data and analytics Somewhat advanced, applying in certain areas of supply chain	Advanced data and analytics Advanced, ongoing in multiple areas	Advanced data and analytics Transformational, company-wide application
Artificial intelligence/cognitive analytics/machine learning	Artificial intelligence/cognitive analytics/machine learning Not pursuing	Artificial intelligence/cognitive analytics/machine learning Early, proof of concept	Artificial intelligence/cognitive analytics/machine learning Developing, one/more initiatives	Artificial intelligence/cognitive analytics/machine learning Somewhat advanced, applying in certain areas of supply chain	Artificial intelligence/cognitive analytics/machine learning Advanced, ongoing in multiple areas	Artificial intelligence/cognitive analytics/machine learning Transformational, company-wide application
Internet of Things/sensors	Internet of Things/sensors Not pursuing	Internet of Things/sensors Early, proof of concept	Internet of Things/sensors Developing, one/more initiatives	Internet of Things/sensors Somewhat advanced, applying in certain areas of supply chain	Internet of Things/sensors Advanced, ongoing in multiple areas	Internet of Things/sensors Transformational, company-wide application
Blockchain (secure group sharing database platform)	Blockchain (secure group sharing database platform) Not pursuing	Blockchain (secure group sharing database platform) Early, proof of concept	Blockchain (secure group sharing database platform) Developing, one/more initiatives	Blockchain (secure group sharing database platform) Somewhat advanced, applying in certain areas of supply chain	Blockchain (secure group sharing database platform) Advanced, ongoing in multiple areas	Blockchain (secure group sharing database platform) Transformational, company-wide application
Sharing economy platforms (Uber-like supply chain platforms)	Sharing economy platforms (Uber-like supply chain platforms) Not pursuing	Sharing economy platforms (Uber-like supply chain platforms) Early, proof of concept	Sharing economy platforms (Uber-like supply chain platforms) Developing, one/more initiatives	Sharing economy platforms (Uber-like supply chain platforms) Somewhat advanced, applying in certain areas of supply chain	Sharing economy platforms (Uber-like supply chain platforms) Advanced, ongoing in multiple areas	Sharing economy platforms (Uber-like supply chain platforms) Transformational, company-wide application
Cloud-based applications	Cloud-based applications Not pursuing	Cloud-based applications Early, proof of concept	Cloud-based applications Developing, one/more initiatives	Cloud-based applications Somewhat advanced, applying in certain areas of supply chain	Cloud-based applications Advanced, ongoing in multiple areas	Cloud-based applications Transformational, company-wide application

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* 3. What do you see as the estimated timescale for widespread adoption?

Information/analytics technologies:

	Already adopted	0-2 years	2-5 years	5-10 years	10 years+
Advanced data and analytics	Advanced data and analytics Already adopted	Advanced data and analytics 0-2 years	Advanced data and analytics 2-5 years	Advanced data and analytics 5-10 years	Advanced data and analytics 10 years+
Artificial intelligence/cognitive analytics/machine learning	Artificial intelligence/cognitive analytics/machine learning Already adopted	Artificial intelligence/cognitive analytics/machine learning 0-2 years	Artificial intelligence/cognitive analytics/machine learning 2-5 years	Artificial intelligence/cognitive analytics/machine learning 5-10 years	Artificial intelligence/cognitive analytics/machine learning 10 years+
Internet of Things/sensors	Internet of Things/sensors Already adopted	Internet of Things/sensors 0-2 years	Internet of Things/sensors 2-5 years	Internet of Things/sensors 5-10 years	Internet of Things/sensors 10 years+
Blockchain (secure group sharing database platform)	Blockchain (secure group sharing database platform) Already adopted	Blockchain (secure group sharing database platform) 0-2 years	Blockchain (secure group sharing database platform) 2-5 years	Blockchain (secure group sharing database platform) 5-10 years	Blockchain (secure group sharing database platform) 10 years+
Sharing economy platforms (Uber-like supply chain platforms)	Sharing economy platforms (Uber-like supply chain platforms) Already adopted	Sharing economy platforms (Uber-like supply chain platforms) 0-2 years	Sharing economy platforms (Uber-like supply chain platforms) 2-5 years	Sharing economy platforms (Uber-like supply chain platforms) 5-10 years	Sharing economy platforms (Uber-like supply chain platforms) 10 years+
Cloud-based applications	Cloud-based applications Already adopted	Cloud-based applications 0-2 years	Cloud-based applications 2-5 years	Cloud-based applications 5-10 years	Cloud-based applications 10 years+

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* 4. How severe do you expect the skills gap to be in making these technologies widely adopted?

Information/analytics technologies:

	None	Capability already exists	Moderate	Severe
Advanced data and analytics	Advanced data and analytics None	Advanced data and analytics Capability already exists	Advanced data and analytics Moderate	Advanced data and analytics Severe
Artificial intelligence/cognitive analytics/machine learning	Artificial intelligence/cognitive analytics/machine learning None	Artificial intelligence/cognitive analytics/machine learning Capability already exists	Artificial intelligence/cognitive analytics/machine learning Moderate	Artificial intelligence/cognitive analytics/machine learning Severe
Internet of Things/sensors	Internet of Things/sensors None	Internet of Things/sensors Capability already exists	Internet of Things/sensors Moderate	Internet of Things/sensors Severe
Blockchain (secure group sharing database platform)	Blockchain (secure group sharing database platform) None	Blockchain (secure group sharing database platform) Capability already exists	Blockchain (secure group sharing database platform) Moderate	Blockchain (secure group sharing database platform) Severe
Sharing economy platforms (Uber-like supply chain platforms)	Sharing economy platforms (Uber-like supply chain platforms) None	Sharing economy platforms (Uber-like supply chain platforms) Capability already exists	Sharing economy platforms (Uber-like supply chain platforms) Moderate	Sharing economy platforms (Uber-like supply chain platforms) Severe
Cloud-based applications	Cloud-based applications None	Cloud-based applications Capability already exists	Cloud-based applications Moderate	Cloud-based applications Severe

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* 5. Where are the biggest challenges to widespread adoption of technology in your business? (select a maximum of TWO)

Resistance to change/new technologies

Return on investment too uncertain/inadequate

Takes too long to adopt

Lack of leadership/organisational support/commitment

Lack of talent or expertise

Legacy systems

Organisational/data silos

Lack of investment

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* 6. What are the best ways to address these road blocks? (Select a maximum of two)

Making a financial commitment/setting up a R&D fund

Educating, training or upskilling our people

Gaining executive level sponsorship/support

Piloting technologies

Working with supply chain

Doing more research to make better investments

Collaborating with third parties/technology providers

Developing operationally-specific strategies, eg. Design automation

Invest in new personnel

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* 7. What do you see as the greatest benefit to a widespread adoption of technology? (Select maximum of TWO)

Reduced costs/improved profitability

Improved customer service/client satisfaction

Removing data siloes

Having better digital workflows for our work

Improved staff satisfaction/engagement/retention

Improved resource/staff utilisation

Improved supply chain relations

Longer-term business security

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* 8. Do you personally feel your job is at threat from the widespread adoption of technology?

Yes

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* 9. IF YES, How can you best secure your future employability?

Retrain on the job

Upskill with new qualifications

Get a new, less technology-focused role within your organisation

Get a new role with a less technology-focused business

Retire/stop working

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* 10. PART 2

We’d now like to ask you some questions about your company. Please feel to answer as many questions as you feel comfortable. Your answers are totally confidential.

Digital Collaboration - What is your organization’s capability to manage and share project information?

We currently have no capability for digital collaboration.

We have limited capability, because project information is generally paper based and data is siloed.

We have moderate capabilities with project information shared through an electronic file portal.

We have a good capability by sharing and exchanging data through a common data environment.

We have an excellent capability for sharing project information in a connected data environment.

We provide best practice through a connected data environment for all design, construction, and engineering work.

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* 11. Digital Collaboration - Does your organization have a connected modeling environment?

We currently have no connected modeling environment.

We have limited capability for connected modeling due to paper‐based workflows.

We have established a moderate capability for connected modeling, but this does not extend to all stakeholders.

We have a good capability, as all project stakeholders utilize a connected modeling environment.

We have an excellent capability, as our connected modeling environment is open and interoperable with other project information management systems.

We have best practice capabilities through an integrated connected modeling environment that collates and federates data at all phases of the lifecycle.

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* 12. Digital Collaboration - What is your capability for information mobility?

We currently have no capability for information mobility.

Our organization has limited capabilities due to predominately paper‐based workflows and inconsistent identification for digital models.

We have moderate capabilities for information mobility through some established model classification. Our mobile field workflows are only partly digitally connected.

We have good capabilities for information mobility as audits and quality checks follow a documented standard. Our mobile devices are workflow integrated.

We have excellent capabilities with inherent characteristics of the model to support the identification and classification of assets for collation and information handover. Our mobile workflows have real‐time data connectivity.

We have best practice capabilities as operational characteristics are retained, managed and version controlled through formalized change management work processes. Mobile workflows are integrated in real time.

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* 13. Digital Workflows - What digital workflow design and construction capabilities do you have?

We currently have no capability for digital workflows.

Our organization has limited capabilities as much of our modeling is in 2D and paperbased workflows.

We have moderate capabilities for digital workflows as we use model‐based design, review, and mark‐up for new projects.

We have good capabilities as digital workflows deliver model based design, review, and acceptance as standard across our projects.

We have excellent capabilities as digital workflows deliver mainly 3D designs for multi‐disciplines for the entire ecosystem and advanced visualization and off‐site fabrication.

We have best practice as the digital model is the primary deliverable back to the client. We benchmark techniques, capabilities and integration between models and workflows and continuously review and optimize with notification capabilities.

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* 14. Digital Workflows - What simulation and analysis
capabilities does your organization
have?

We currently have no capability for simulation and analysis.

We have limited capabilities as our design and construction models are generally static and 2D, and our data is generally siloed.

We have moderate capabilities as our design and construction modeling simulations are undertaken on some projects, but some processes are still manual.

We have good capabilities as our design and construction modeling simulations are routinely applied to most projects. Information is generally automated between departments and disciplines.

We have excellent capabilities as our design and construction modeling simulations are well established for all projects. Models are integrated and mostly in 3D, and they share multi‐discipline deliverables and connect the entire ecosystem.

We have best practice capabilities as simulation and analysis are “system engineering” integrated and facilitate the schedule, cost, and delivery of projects. The focus is no longer on how to integrate models with other information sources but on how to optimize policy and process efficiencies.

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* 15. Digital Components - Are digital components used at your organization?

We don’t currently use digital components.

We have limited access to digital components. Most digital components are prepared by third‐party software developers and end‐users.

We have moderate use of digital components that are availed through supplier‐generated digital component libraries.

We have good access to digital component libraries as digital components are available through accessible/searchable central component libraries. Components are not interactively connected to supplier’s databases.

We have excellent use of digital components as an integrated part of our design and information management software. Digital components are widely reused across the project lifecycle.

We have best practice for the use of digital as a multi‐way generation and exchange among all project stakeholders through central or meshed repositories. Digital components and component libraries are retained for future projects and consumed for operations and maintenance purposes, for visual operations.

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* 16. Insights and Performance Benchmarking - Does your firm have he capability for insight into projects and organizational performance?

We currently have no capabilities for project insights or performance benchmarks.

We have limited insight into projects and performance as information necessary to support project performance, progress and cost reporting is manually collated, managed, and reported.

We have moderate insight into projects and performance as much of the work we do is manual. We have managed to digitize and develop some automated processes.

We have good insights into projects and performance with project KPIs, progress, and cost reporting.

We have excellent insights into projects and performance with an integrated project information management environment that publishes performance dashboards. We have automated notification alerts for project participants into project progresses.

We have best practice for insights into projects and performance with integrated dashboards, insights, and historical data. We have information that spans our projects portfolio, to direct improvement initiatives.

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* 17. About you:

Name

Job title

Type of firm (Consultant, Contractor, Client, Academia)

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* 18. Digital Context - Does your organization utilize digital context on your projects?

We don’t use digital context capabilities on our projects.

We have limited digital capture and consumption of our existing sites. Project stakeholders do not have confidence in existing information, which is often reworked, resurveyed, and recreated.

We have moderate capabilities for digital capturing of our sites using up‐to‐date methods such as drones and laser scanning data.

We have good capabilities for digital context as the consumption of LiDAR and photogrammetry survey data is increasingly a regular process. We create digital models of existing sites for other workflows.

We have excellent capabilities for digital context for projects as LiDAR and photogrammetry are widely used and reality models go beyond planning, design, and construction.

We have best practice for digital context as reality modeling is deployed across our sites and drone surveys are autonomous and mandated. We combine them with hybrid modeling and augmented reality capabilities for greater immersive capabilities.

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* 19. Age

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* 20. In what country do you work?

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* 21. We may which to contact you for further questioning and potentially invite you to a round table debate to further the debate. Would you be happy to be contacted by us?

Yes

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* 22. If YES

Email address

Phone number

Question Title

* 1. PART 1These questions are about you and your personal views on how technology is changing your career and that of your colleagues.What technology do you feel will have the highest impact on engineering professionals?Software technologies:

Question Title

* 2. Where do you believe your company to be when it comes to adopting these technologies?Information/analytics technologies:

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* 3. What do you see as the estimated timescale for widespread adoption?Information/analytics technologies:

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* 4. How severe do you expect the skills gap to be in making these technologies widely adopted?Information/analytics technologies:

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* 5. Where are the biggest challenges to widespread adoption of technology in your business? (select a maximum of TWO)

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* 6. What are the best ways to address these road blocks? (Select a maximum of two)

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* 7. What do you see as the greatest benefit to a widespread adoption of technology? (Select maximum of TWO)

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* 8. Do you personally feel your job is at threat from the widespread adoption of technology?

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* 9. IF YES, How can you best secure your future employability?

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* 10. PART 2We’d now like to ask you some questions about your company. Please feel to answer as many questions as you feel comfortable. Your answers are totally confidential.Digital Collaboration - What is your organization’s capability to manage and share project information?

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* 11. Digital Collaboration - Does your organization have a connected modeling environment?

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* 12. Digital Collaboration - What is your capability for information mobility?

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* 13. Digital Workflows - What digital workflow design and construction capabilities do you have?

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* 14. Digital Workflows - What simulation and analysiscapabilities does your organizationhave?

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* 15. Digital Components - Are digital components used at your organization?

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* 16. Insights and Performance Benchmarking - Does your firm have he capability for insight into projects and organizational performance?

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* 17. About you:

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* 18. Digital Context - Does your organization utilize digital context on your projects?

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* 19. Age

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* 20. In what country do you work?

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* 21. We may which to contact you for further questioning and potentially invite you to a round table debate to further the debate. Would you be happy to be contacted by us?

Question Title

* 22. If YES

* 1. PART 1

These questions are about you and your personal views on how technology is changing your career and that of your colleagues.
What technology do you feel will have the highest impact on engineering professionals?

Software technologies:

* 2. Where do you believe your company to be when it comes to adopting these technologies?

Information/analytics technologies:

* 3. What do you see as the estimated timescale for widespread adoption?

Information/analytics technologies:

* 4. How severe do you expect the skills gap to be in making these technologies widely adopted?

Information/analytics technologies:

* 10. PART 2

We’d now like to ask you some questions about your company. Please feel to answer as many questions as you feel comfortable. Your answers are totally confidential.

Digital Collaboration - What is your organization’s capability to manage and share project information?

* 14. Digital Workflows - What simulation and analysis
capabilities does your organization
have?