Construction conference to focus on technology
The Big 5 Construct Kenya conference that opens at KICC, Nairobi next week will offer free training for building professionals on new technologies.
Tech experts from Google, Autodesk, Aecom, IBM and Microsoft4Afrika, among others, will assist exhibitors and visitors from the construction industry during the November 5 to 7 forum.
The free-entry event offers education on 40 certified sessions set to boost the role of technology in Kenya’s construction sector. Aside from updating professionals on the latest challenges and trends in the sector, the certification to delegates at the workshops supports career development goals.
Maye Edwin, Web Developer and Technology Advocate for Google, says adoption of technology in Kenya’s construction sector is in its early phase. For example, drone technology is not yet widely adopted. “The Big 5 Construct Kenya is the ideal platform to provide information on how to adopt different technologies in the industry and how to best do that from a professional perspective,” says Maye.
Drones usage
Also holding back adoption of technology in the construction industry is the notion that it is a means of cutting jobs. Emmanuel Maenda, AEC Technical Sales Specialist at Autodesk Inc says technology helps to improve the way we already work.
Specifically, he foresees that document management systems, along with the usage of drones to perform engineering inspections, are the next technological solutions to be widely adopted in the African market.
“The local construction sector has at times grappled with traditional manual process and unmanageable deliverables. The digitisation of construction, however, is resulting in faster approvals and timely on budget, delivery of projects,” says Emmanuel.
Muhammed Kazi, Portfolio Director at organiser dmg events, says the new Disruptive Technology Series is a response to the construction sector’s need for more time and cost-effective solutions as it strives to meet Kenya’s growing transport, residential and infrastructure demands. Held under the patronage of the Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure, Housing, Urban Development and Public Works, the event will host 40 workshops under popular themes such as project management as well as sustainable future construction.
More than 200 local and international exhibitors from over 30 countries will display their products.
