In China, the construction industry is primarily divided into two sectors: the design sector and the construction sector. The integration of information technology—including computer technology—into this industry is referred to as construction industry informatization. China’s construction industry informatization has a history of nearly 40 years. Reflecting on this journey, those who have personally experienced it find it familiar and inspiring. For others, it provides an opportunity to summarize patterns, analyze development trends, and facilitate a greater role for information technology in construction.
Overall, informatization in the construction industry has developed across both the design and construction sectors. Regardless of the sector, informatization has mainly served as a tool for production and management. However, the focus differs: in the design sector, computer-aided design tools provided by information technology are primarily used for production. Some design organizations have also adopted information systems for process management, though this aspect remains less prominent. Conversely, within the construction sector, informatization tools are more focused on management. For instance, many construction companies have implemented various information systems, while only a few have begun using production-oriented technologies like virtual construction. This overall analysis sets the stage for reviewing the history of information technology development in the industry.
The Origin of Informatization in China’s Construction Industry
In the late 1960s, China began undertaking complex, large-scale construction projects that required advanced mechanical analysis in structural design. Traditional analytical methods struggled with these challenges. At the time, computers had already seen use in other industries, such as manufacturing. Against this backdrop, some design professionals started utilizing computers for structural analysis in buildings.
Informatization in the construction sector began in the early 1990s. By the late 1980s, microcomputers were widely used, creating favorable conditions for computer applications in construction enterprise management. Financial management and preliminary budgeting are vital tasks for construction companies, and the rapid industry growth at the time significantly increased their workload. As a result, some construction companies pioneered the use of computers for financial management and budgeting.
The Rise and Development of Informatization in the Construction Industry
Based on the application characteristics of information technology, informatization in China’s design sector can be divided into three stages:
- The first stage (1960s–mid-1980s): characterized by the application and gradual popularization of computers in structural analysis.
- The second stage (mid-1980s–early 21st century): marked by the use of computers in design and drawing processes.
- The third stage (early 21st century–present): characterized by the adoption of information technology in collaborative design and design management, with growing popularity.
It is important to note that these stages are interconnected, forming a gradual and continuous development process. Currently, leading design enterprises such as Shanghai Architectural Design Group Co., Ltd. have achieved high levels of information technology use in structural analysis, design and drawing, design management, and system design. Computers have become indispensable and powerful tools.
For the design sector, it is particularly noteworthy that, through these three stages, domestic architectural engineering design application software has developed rapidly. After more than 20 years of effort, Chinese software has continuously improved its technological capabilities while meeting market demand. For example, the PKPM software series from the China Academy of Building Research covers various specialties in architectural engineering design, dominates the domestic market, possesses independent intellectual property rights, and has established its own brand and characteristics. The development and application of domestic professional software not only meet the needs of China’s architectural engineering design but also reduce software costs for design organizations.
In the construction sector, informatization can be analyzed separately in terms of management and production. For management, the six-stage model proposed by American scholar Nolan is often referenced:
- Initial stage: A department or project begins using computers.
- Dissemination stage: Other departments observe benefits and adopt computers.
- Control stage: Enterprises coordinate and control technology use for better results.
- Integration stage: Enterprises develop integrated systems beyond mere control.
- Data management stage: Important data increases, prompting better management through IT.
- Maturity stage: Informatization becomes a strategic business tool.
In terms of management, informatization in China’s construction sector remains at a relatively low stage. Although informatization began in the 1990s and a few enterprises have reached the data management stage, most are still in the control and integration stages, with many remaining at the initial stage. As none of the stages have been fully completed, the overall development stage remains unclear.
Notably, some companies, such as Fujian Industrial Equipment Installation Co., Ltd., which began informatization in the 1990s, have advanced to the integration or data management stages in recent years and achieved success. Therefore, construction enterprises may not necessarily progress through each stage in sequence but can achieve leapfrog development.
In terms of production, informatization in China’s construction sector also started in the 1990s. For example, computer-controlled automatic lifting technology was used in constructing the Oriental Pearl TV Tower in Shanghai. Recently, technologies such as automatic monitoring and back analysis have been adopted in large foundation pit construction, known as information-based construction technology. In some large-scale projects, virtual construction technology is also used. However, the application of information technology in production remains localized and is mainly seen in large projects.
The Role of National Policies
National policies have played a pivotal role in advancing informatization within the construction industry. In the 1990s, regulatory authorities made workstation systems a prerequisite for qualification assessment of Class A design institutes, setting the goal of “eliminating drawing boards” by 2000. Following this requirement, many design units responded and adopted workstations, despite high costs and imperfect software. Workstations significantly improved informatization levels and ended the era of manual drawing. Without these policies, achieving the 2000 goal would have been difficult.
In 2001, the former Ministry of Construction issued the “Basic Points for Informatization Work in the Construction Field,” and organized the “Digital Engineering of Urban Planning, Construction, Management, and Services” national research project during the Tenth Five-Year Plan, including over 70 demonstration projects. Many enterprises were motivated by this project to begin their informatization efforts. At the end of 2007, the Ministry set information technology standards in the “Qualification Standards for Special Grade Construction Enterprises,” making informatization a requirement and further promoting its adoption across the industry. Although implementation was delayed due to the financial crisis, many construction companies now value enterprise informatization, invest more, and are developing or preparing to implement information systems.
Insights for Further Promoting Informatization in the Construction Industry
In today’s era of mature information technology, construction enterprises must continuously promote informatization to gain competitive advantages and achieve leapfrog development. The development process shows that informatization serves as an essential tool for both management and production. For design companies, it is mainly a production tool; for construction companies, it functions as a management tool. Moving forward, it is important to enhance current applications while exploring improvements in other areas. For instance, in the design sector, efforts should focus on both production and management applications of information technology.
Policy promotion remains necessary for the development of informatization in China’s construction industry. The market economy is still maturing, especially regarding information technology, which requires policy guidance for progress. Compared to foreign countries, China’s construction industry foundation for informatization is weak, and enterprises lack the capacity for independent development. Moreover, low profits make it difficult for companies to reach consensus on IT investment, necessitating external policy support.
The popularization of informatization in the construction industry demands long-term development and significant effort. Every phase—from initial application to widespread adoption—takes 10 to 20 years and requires persistent commitment from both the government and the industry. In the future, the rapid, healthy development of informatization will continue to rely on government policy promotion, including organizing major scientific and technological research projects and supporting research institutions and software developers in creating products tailored to the needs of China’s construction enterprises.
Reprinted from: Architecture Chinese Website
Source: Tsinghua University
Author: Ma Zhiliang
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