"DOT COMS" EDGE THE "BIG DIG" FOR CWA SURVEY HONORS
February, 2001
The pervasive influence of the Internet and e-commerce in the design and construction industry has been voted the top news story of 2000 by the Construction Writers Association (CWA). The story finished just ahead of Boston's massive and costly Central Artery/Tunnel project in the organization's annual survey of the five leading industry-related news items and events for the past 12 months. Rounding out the CWA Top 5 were the 2000 Presidential race, the continuing see-saw battle over sprawl in the nation's suburbs, and the tightening labor market.
Voters in the CWA survey cited the proliferation of Web-based business management and marketing tools and how they have changed the way firms do business with project owners, customers, and each other. Applications range from on-line purchases of supplies, equipment, and services to project management "Intranets" that facilitate real-time coordination and exchange among contractors, design consultants, and owners. The industry has also seen its share of specialized "dot.com" start-ups emerge in recent years. Some have blossomed into popular, profitable enterprises, while others have faded into cyber-oblivion.
"As with any other type of business, the successful players in the construction industry are the ones can maximize their efficiency and productivity in serving their customers," says CWA President Gordon Wright. "Web-based technology allows firms of all sizes to enhance the quality of their products and services, engage in more productive business relationships, and exploit new opportunities. Some may perceive construction as a very hands-on "bricks and mortar" business. The reality is that the industry is the source of some of the most advanced and exciting applications of Internet technology."
The runner-up in CWA's Top 5 Survey--the Central Artery/Tunnel--represents one of the most complex and controversial public works "megaprojects" of the past 40 years. Under construction since late 1991 and still three years away from scheduled completion, the $14 billion program calls for underground expressways, bridges, and tunnels beneath Boston Harbor to relieve the city's notorious traffic congestion. The "Big Dig" has also become a lightning rod for controversy as escalating costs and other problems have diminished expectations about the project's ultimate benefits.
"Many other cities face infrastructure problems similar to Boston's, but no one else has been willing to undertake a project of this scale,�" Wright says. "It may be years before we learn whether the Big Dig was worth the expense."
The results of the CWA news survey are based on a poll of the association's 225-plus members, who regularly cover the construction industry. Stories eligible for consideration include news events, trends, and projects that had a significant, far-reaching impact on the construction industry during the past year.
"The design and construction industry is one of the largest segments of the U.S. economy, accounting for over eight percent of the Gross National Product, and employing nearly five percent of the nation's workforce," says Wright. "Because the industry's health and advancement has a direct bearing on both the U.S. and global economy, its stories and accomplishments will likewise have a major influence on our nation's business outlook and quality of life. The fact this year's CWA Top 5 mirrors similar surveys by the general news media is testimony to that fact."