ICT and Automation (ICTA) Scoping Study Report
The ICT and Automation (ICTA) Scoping Study Report, was prepared by The National Platform for the Built Environment, and published in October 2008.
The National Platform for the Built Environment (The National Platform) is a UK-based strategic body established to promote the built environment and define research priorities to UK and EU research funders. It is an industry-owned organisation with members from business, research and academia.
ICTA stands for Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and Automation. In June 2006, the National Platform’s Strategic Research Agenda identiified the importance of research into ICTA and automation for the future competitiveness of the UK construction industry, and an ICTA Working Group was established.
The ICTA Scoping Study was commissioned in August 2007. It was intended to produce a long-term research programme / roadmap for ICTA and to identify and engage key stakeholders.
In the foreword to the report, Keith Clarke (National Platform High Level Group Chairman) and Bob White (National Platform Support Group Chairman) suggest that ‘The future success of the UK construction industry in an increasingly competitive global market will depend upon the efficiency with which we create and reuse information throughout the design, construction and whole life management of our built assets. Innovations here will also support dramatic improvements in how we collaborate in the timely and efficient creation of a more sustainable built environment.’
The report was intended as a ‘Call to Arms’ for the industry identifying the types of information, communication and automation technologies that needed to be developed and providing a vision for how they might be integrated.
The report identified five key research topics:
- Collaborative prototyping to define and deliver client requirements.
- Efficient, seamless sharing of information across built environment stakeholders.
- Ability to interact with real-time information regardless of physical location or timezone.
- Mass adoption and application of off-site manufacturing, automation and mechanisation processes and systems.
- Well trained, well qualified workforce able to use the latest best-practice technologies.
For each of these research topics, a detailed roadmap was created, setting out the products, services and technologies necessary to address key drivers.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
Featured articles and news
What they are, how they work and why they are popular in many countries.
Plastic, recycling and its symbol
Student competition winning, M.C.Esher inspired Möbius strip design symbolising continuity within a finite entity.
Do you take the lead in a circular construction economy?
Help us develop and expand this wiki as a resource for academia and industry alike.
Warm Homes Plan Workforce Taskforce
Risks of undermining UK’s energy transition due to lack of electrotechnical industry representation, says ECA.
Cost Optimal Domestic Electrification CODE
Modelling retrofits only on costs that directly impact the consumer: upfront cost of equipment, energy costs and maintenance costs.
The Warm Homes Plan details released
What's new and what is not, with industry reactions.
Could AI and VR cause an increase the value of heritage?
The Orange book: 2026 Amendment 4 to BS 7671:2018
ECA welcomes IET and BSI content sign off.
How neural technologies could transform the design future
Enhancing legacy parametric engines, offering novel ways to explore solutions and generate geometry.
Key AI related terms to be aware of
With explanations from the UK government and other bodies.
From QS to further education teacher
Applying real world skills with the next generation.
A guide on how children can use LEGO to mirror real engineering processes.
Data infrastructure for next-generation materials science
Research Data Express to automate data processing and create AI-ready datasets for materials research.
Wired for the Future with ECA; powering skills and progress
ECA South Wales Business Day 2025, a day to remember.
AI for the conservation professional
A level of sophistication previously reserved for science fiction.
Biomass harvested in cycles of less than ten years.
An interview with the new CIAT President
Usman Yaqub BSc (Hons) PCIAT MFPWS.
Cost benefit model report of building safety regime in Wales
Proposed policy option costs for design and construction stage of the new building safety regime in Wales.
Do you receive our free biweekly newsletter?
If not you can sign up to receive it in your mailbox here.