K-M White

My research looks to understand the challenges of technology adoption in the construction industry beyond the surface level, enabling interventions to be developed to target core issues. The UK construction industry is facing challenges not seen before and in its current state, plagued by technology adoption problems, it will struggle to meet them. The construction industry is a complex environment for innovation given its financial vulnerability, aversion to risk and collaboration reluctance. Construction productivity is currently limited by the low levels of technology adoption. Despite the industry’s long awareness of the problem, little has been done to change the situation.

There is limited research into understanding construction technology adoption challenges. Most research into construction technology doesn’t investigate the adoption of technology, stating there may be barriers and citing broad problems (e.g., risk aversion or financing difficulties). My project will address these gaps and highlight the importance of designing for adoption. I’m supervised by Prof. John Clarkson in the Engineering Design Centre and sponsored by Costain and Trimble.