Forces Affecting Opportunities for Construction Means and Methods R&D in the Public Sector

The level of funding for construction-related research is frequently cited as being low. However, funding of research for construction means and methods is even more neglected, especially considering the potential for cost benefit. (RR46-11, p. 1)

Funding agencies have traditionally focused on research to support the owner and designer in specifying material performance and supporting development of design criteria. The construction process has been viewed as the responsibility of private sector industry. (RR46-11, p. 68)

Contractors don’t generally fund research, but they need to participate and to use some of their influence to get agencies to understand the need for and fund construction means and methods R&D that will ultimately benefit the public owner, the taxpayer, through lower initial and long term costs. (RR46-11, p. 75)

Funding agencies need to better understand the economics of project delivery in prioritizing research, and to place more emphasis on the construction process. Savings in initial labor costs from use of effective technology could be invested in higher quality materials to reduce life-cycle costs. (RR46-11, p. 75)

University construction programs must stress the importance of engineering the construction process including more emphasis on education and research concerning construction means and methods technologies and methods for identification and evaluation of technologies. (RR46-11, p. 75)

Means and methods technology use must be effectively designed into the construction process by the contractor. Contractors must place more emphasis on engineering the construction process. (RR46-11, p. 75)