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E L E C T R I C A L CO N N E C T I O N
S P R I N G 2 0 16
TECH
T
echnology is changing the
way we live our lives; how we
communicate, entertain ourselves
and work. And as the construction
industry has always been a hotbed of
innovation, it makes sense that with the
ever-quickening pace of technological
development, it is a sector that will
potentially undergo dramatic change in
the coming years.
Construction Skills Queensland (CSQ)
seeks to identify and adapt to
this change before it happens –
instead of trying to play catch-up. In
order to do this, the organisation has
partnered with the CSIRO on a research
project they have aptly named the
Farsight Project.
“CSQ approached the CSIRO late
last year about this project because
we realised there is an enormous
amount of technological change
happening right now and it seemed to
us that the construction industry as
a whole isn’t really talking about it,”
says CSQ director of evidence and data
Robert Sobyra.
“We wanted to start a conversation
because we think these changes
are going to hit the construction
industry harder than most. We are
particularly concerned about how
these changes will shift job definitions
and skills requirements.
“Now is the time to prepare and
position ourselves – not when the
technology is already on top of us.
We want the industry to lead the
change, not be led by it. So we put
this concept to CSIRO’s Futures Unit
who immediately saw the value of the
project and came on board to conduct a
rigorous scientific study into the major
trends that are afoot and how they may
20/20 FARSIGHT
The construction industry
is entering into a period of
technological change. To
identify how this will affect jobs
and their required skill-sets,
Construction Skills Queensland
teamed up with the CSIRO on
a unique endeavour.
Jacob
Harris
explains.