OSPE - The Voice - Winter 2021 - 35

NEWS & EVENTS
Our industry is changing rapidly in other ways, not just in
technology adoption. Disruptive technologies are attracting
non-engineering businesses into the AEC market. Both Google,
with their Sidewalk Labs division, and Microsoft have made
significant investments in developing services and products
focused on the built environment.
WHAT IS THE IMPACT TO CONSULTING
ENGINEERING?
Consulting engineering is in the process of reorganizing itself,
not just because of technological advancements, but also market
pressures, evolving client expectations and generational change.
Firms that embrace technology to improve operations are better
able to scale, manage and attract talent, and improve productivity
and profitability.
The growing role of technology has blurred the lines between
traditional consulting engineering and technology work (i.e.
software and application development). We're often as likely to be
designing and developing apps, prototypes, databases, and cloud
platforms as we are doing project management, construction
admin, load calculations or other 'traditional engineering' tasks.
The distinction between an engineer and a software solution
provider or cloud expert are converging, because the future
requires understanding of all these.
Clients' expectations of engineering consultants are also
changing, regarding how we solve their problems, and the types
of consultants involved in design and construction. It may mean
that non-traditional design consultants become involved - such
as management consultants, tech start-ups or cloud computing
consultants.
At HH Angus, technology and changing expectations of
clients and staff have impacted how we work. We began offering
digital strategy consulting services a number of years ago, first
in healthcare and then to commercial and institutional clients,
because our clients were asking for it and no one else in the
market was offering it. We have a Digital Services team with a
range of services including reality capture, digital twins, cloud
applications and smart buildings consulting.
THE CONSULTING ENGINEER OF THE FUTURE
As in many other industries, the perspective on how we work
has shifted between older generations and the more digitally
savvy next generation. So, what kind of skills will this consulting
engineer of the future need? Certainly, a critical skill set will
revolve around software development. Programming and
software development are skills that have become required in
many industries; however, it's relatively new within the AEC
industry. It is not just the knowledge of how to program software,
it is understanding what software is capable of, from both specific
applications to enterprise scale. Engineers don't necessarily
need to know how to code or write software, but they will need to
understand how software can be applied to solve problems.
There are tools available that improve how we conduct our
work, validate our assumptions and use data to inform our future
designs. Beyond that, there is a major opportunity for consulting
engineers to provide unique solutions to clients. It might seem a
stretch to say every engineering consultant is going to become a
software developer/provider; however, by going beyond simple
automations and engaging in research partnerships and pilot
projects, we can provide valuable insights, and have the potential
for creating something novel and valuable to the client. The
application of machine learning to our workflows is not in the
distant future - it can be applied effectively today in appropriate
use cases.
At HH Angus, we have found that engaging in pilot projects
with clients is an effective way for us to understand the impact
of these technologies to deliver better project and business
outcomes, while also building our own competencies in these
emerging technologies. The common theme is that we are
employing and developing skills that are atypical of traditional
engineering and with greater emphasis on new technology
hardware and programming.
SUMMARY
It's important for consulting engineers to invest in developing a
range of skills. Through HH Angus' research initiatives and pilot
projects, we have enjoyed success and learned some key lessons:
* Gain a better understanding of emerging technologies and
when and where they can be effectively employed
* Create a work environment in which we can work more
efficiently
* Enable a culture where entrepreneurship and ideas are
valued and new services can emerge
* Better engage staff and attract new talent
By expanding our skills so that we can understand and leverage
emerging technologies, deliver novel solutions, become more
efficient in our own processes, and better leverage their building
assets, consulting engineers can continue to be trusted advisors
to our clients.
December 2021 THE VOICE
35
OSPE - The Voice - Winter 2021

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