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2017 Insights into the Civil Engineering and Survey Industries · 2017 Insights into the Civil...
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[email protected] www.imaginit.com 800.356.9050 0 20 40 60 80 100 WHITEPAPER 2017 Insights into the Civil Engineering and Survey Industries In May 2017, IMAGINiT Technologies conducted research on civil/survey trends. Over a period of two weeks, 261 individuals participated. The results revealed the following insights. The adoption of advanced technology such as Civil 3D is increasing, but firms may not be using tools to their full potential. The data provided by survey respondents shed light on technology adoption trends, as well as perceptions about technology. Firms indicated that CAD usage increased slightly this year, with 1.1% more respondents indicating that they have adopted this technology. They also indicated that the use of 3D modeling or BIM technology decreased this year by 5.3%. At the same time, 6.5% more people indicated in 2017 that they are using Autodesk® AutoCAD® Civil 3D® as their primary tool for design work. This information is somewhat contradictory, since Civil 3D is a BIM for infrastructure solution. Since organizations still perceive that Civil 3D is a CAD tool, it suggests that they are not using Civil 3D to its fullest potential. 93.6% 97.0% 58.0% 49.8% 62.1% 67.6% 56.8% 74.1% 98.1% 2015 2016 2017 CAD 3D Modeling / BIM Civil 3D
Transcript of 2017 Insights into the Civil Engineering and Survey Industries · 2017 Insights into the Civil...
[email protected] www.imaginit.com800.356.9050
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WHITEPAPER
2017 Insights into the Civil Engineering and Survey Industries
In May 2017, IMAGINiT Technologies conducted research on civil/survey trends. Over a period of two weeks, 261 individuals participated. The results revealed the following insights.
The adoption of advanced technology such as Civil 3D is increasing, but firms may not be using tools to their full potential.
The data provided by survey respondents shed light on technology adoption trends, as well as perceptions about technology. Firms indicated that CAD usage increased slightly this year, with 1.1% more respondents indicating that they have adopted this technology. They also indicated that the use of 3D modeling or BIM technology decreased this year by 5.3%. At the same time, 6.5% more people indicated in 2017 that they are using Autodesk® AutoCAD® Civil 3D® as their primary tool for design work.
This information is somewhat contradictory, since Civil 3D is a BIM for infrastructure solution. Since organizations still perceive that Civil 3D is a CAD tool, it suggests that they are not using Civil 3D to its fullest potential.
93.6%97.0%
58.0%
49.8%
62.1%67.6%
56.8%
74.1%
98.1%
2015 2016 2017
CAD 3D Modeling / BIM Civil 3D
2017 Insights into the Civil Engineering and Survey Industries 2
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Additional assistance with technology deployment and management could help firms make the most of their investments and work more efficiently.
Although adoption of tools like Civil 3D is on the rise, over half of organizations (55.7%) report that they don’t have a full-time resource like a CAD manager to configure and deploy software, answer technical questions, create content such as documen-tation and styles, and train staff members. Of those teams that do have a full-time CAD manager, over half (52.1%) indicate that this individual either spends around half of his or her time on reactive issues, or spends more time on reactive support issues than proactive strategic planning and deployments. Seeking outside assistance from an experienced CAD manager on a part-time basis could help organizations use solutions like Civil 3D to their fullest potential.
Scope creep, communication, collaboration, tight timeframes, and staff training issues are the biggest challenges to completing projects on time and on budget.
When asked to identify the biggest hurdles to project completion, the most common responses were scope creep (25.8%), communication and collaboration (17.2%), tight turnaround or time frames (15.0%), as well as a lack of staff training (15.0%). With the exception of scope creep, many of these obstacles could be overcome by engaging a part-time, remote resource with CAD and project management expertise. This type of resource is an effective way to reduce the pressure on teams, increase productivity, and free time for more strategic tasks.
26.5% It’s about 50/50
29.9% I have no idea what this person
spends their time doing
17.9% More time being proactive
than reactive
25.6% More time being reactive
than proactive
How much time does your CAD Manager have to devote to proactive planning and deployments versus handling reactive support issues?
2017 Insights into the Civil Engineering and Survey Industries 3
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What is your biggest challenge in completing projects on time/on budget?
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33.2%
45.4%
2.0%
2015 2016 2017
30.2%
47.5%
0.7%
32.2%
42.8%
0.0%
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25
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Scope creep / Client re
visions
Communication/Collaboration
Staff not trained
Tight turnaround/tim
eframes
Understaffed/
Too many projects
Software/hardware issues
Bid was incorrect/need more
hours than proposed
Gathering information/having
accurate information
Approvals process
None/No issues
Management issues
Weather/Utilit
ies/
Outside issues
25.8%
17.2%
15.0% 15.0%13.7% 12.9%
10.3%9.4%
6.9%5.2%
2.1%0.4%
The economy appears to be stabilizing and firms are confident about their business prospects.
As the economic recovery has taken hold, civil engineering firms have abandoned plans to reduce headcount. In 2017, no survey respondents indicated that their firms expected to decrease the survey/design/engineering staff in the next year. Meanwhile, the percentage of firms increasing staff levels grew between 2015 and 2016. Although the firms expecting to hire more staff decreased in 2017, the percentage of firms planning to maintain their current staff increased between 2016 and 2017.
Keep the survey/design/engineering staff the same for next year
Increase the survey/design/engineering staff in the next year
Decrease the survey/design/engineering staff in the next year
2017 Insights into the Civil Engineering and Survey Industries 4
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In addition, civil engineering firms felt confident enough to continue evaluating their fees on a yearly basis. The percentage of firms evaluating their fees on a yearly basis increased 1.9% in 2017 from the prior year.
Forward-looking organizations are adopting new tools and considering expansion into new markets.
To keep up with market trends and enhance productivity, more organizations are implementing new tools for design and collaboration, such as AutoCAD Civil 3D, and InfraWorks.
How often does your firm change (or at least evaluate) its fees?
57.0% We evaluate every year
19.4% Other
6.1% We have never
changed our fees1.5%
We change our fees every other year7.2%
We change our fees every year
8.7% We review our fees
every other year
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AutoCAD Civil 3D InfraWorks
56.1%
48.4%51.0%
17.3%
21.8%
2016 2017
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While the portfolio of services currently offered by civil engineering firms has remained relatively constant, survey respondents indicated an increased interest in expanding into selected new markets over the next year. In 2017, 5.1% of firms indicated that they planned to offer land development services in the next year, compared to 2.7% in 2016. In addition, 8.7% of firms plan to offer reality capture-based surveying in the next year, compared to 6.1% in 2016.
Graph: Services Currently Offered by Survey Respondents
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Land Development Municipal Transportation Surveying/ Land Development
Reality Capture
2015 2016 2017
62.7%
71.9% 72.2% 72.6%72.1%
63.7%
55.3%
64.3%
59.3%
47.5%
62.5% 62.1%
20.7%
30.4% 31.1%
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About IMAGINiT TechnologiesIMAGINiT Technologies, a Rand Worldwide Company, is a leading provider of enterprise solutions to the engineering community, including the building, manufacturing, civil and mapping industries. With over 25 years of experience, and over 40 offices throughout North America, we provide the expertise, training and support to help companies realize the full power of design technology, maximize ROI and gain competitive advantage.
IMAGINiT is a leading provider of Autodesk software solutions and the largest North American Autodesk Authorized Training Center (ATC) partner. All of our locations are supported by a vast pool of engineering resources focused on developing real-life business solutions for their local clients.
When pursuing and winning new business, project pricing and competition continue to be top challenges.
Over one third of survey respondents (37.6%) indicated that costs or price are the biggest hurdles to bringing in new business. The second most frequently cited concern among non-governmental organizations was competition (21.7%). These findings were similar to 2016 and suggest that firms are still looking for ways to showcase their value and to move conversations away from price.
What does it all mean?
Civil engineering and survey organizations continue to gain confidence as the economy has recovered in recent years. In response, they are looking for ways to gain a competitive edge in the market. The goal is to complete projects better, faster, and more efficiently than competitors. In addition, some companies want to differentiate themselves by offering completely new, unique offerings, such as photogrammetry-based site as-built surveys.
To support these objectives, organizations must invest in the right tools and know how to use them to their full potential. Working with a trusted partner like IMAGINiT Technologies can help civil engineering and survey companies work smarter, not harder.
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Cost / Price
Competition
None/Government Agency
Staff issues
Not Having Right People Spec
the Project/Inaccurate Bids/Specs
Marketing/Being Unknown
Knowing the Right People
Software issues
Economy
Management
37.6%
21.7% 21.7%
12.7%
10.0% 9.0%
3.2% 2.3% 1.8% 0.9%
What is your biggest challenge in winning new projects?
