The construction sector is facing
major challenges for continued quality-of-life and growth in Europe.
From an industrial point of view, ENCORD has identified the following
priorities which are discussed at regular council meetings, specific
ENCORD workshops and platforms:
- Sustainable construction
- Implementation of Research Activities
- Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP)
Read on to learn more about how we define these subjects and how ENCORD approaches them:
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Meaning: To reduce the impact of the built environment and construction processes on the eco-system. Defining new construction materials, manufacturing technologies and production processes for new materials that have new properties, an optimised life-cycle and thus minimum impact.
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ENCORD activity: ENCORD has held workshops on Sustainable Construction and Energy & Buildings in the past and is now focussing its activities on supporting the JTI E2B.
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Meaning: To support the implementation of lean principles in the ENCORD member companies by discussing objective and the best approaches as well as sharing experience with Lean Construction.
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ENCORD activity: Two successful ENCORD workshops on the topic have been organised and the possibility of forming a Lean Platform within ENCORD is currently being explored.
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Meaning: Develop tools for design (3D/4D/nD), for construction support and control, and for lifecycle maintenance of buildings and infrastructure. To identify the specific user demands of a sustainable construction industry on ICT and to communicate these demands to the key players in the soft- and hardware industry.
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ENCORD activity: 10 ENCORD members are active on the ENCORD Virtual Construction platform, a group within ENCORD that meets regularly to discuss all related issues.
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Meaning: Network systems (highways, railways, waterways, air traffic) and utilities (water, sewage, gas, electricity). Promoting a sustainable industrial approach to developing reliable, maintainable and sustainable infrastructure with a maximum life span and a minimum environmental impact. Furthermore to create space in congested cities by promoting underground infrastructure.
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ENCORD activity: Highway Maintenance & Management has been the topic for two workshops. The future focus is to deal with this topic in a more generic way, as defined above.
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Meaning: Ensure the health and safety of both workers on and off site and citizens against accidents, as well as against damage.
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ENCORD activity: A first workshop on Health & Safety is in preparation.
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Meaning: The basic objective of Knowledge Management is obtaining and creating the right knowledge to the right people at the right time
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ENCORD activity: Working sessions have been initiated and a first workshop organised.
Implementation of Research Activities:
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Meaning: Measuring the value of research results, their use in enterprise policy decision-making and maximising exploitation strategies, thus helping to increase the benefits of research in everyday business.
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ENCORD activity: An international Workshop on the Implementation of Research Results into Production Activities has been organised.
Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP):
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Meaning: The CDP is a non-profit-organisation which gathers information about corporate social responsibility of listed companies regarding their CO2 emission and reduction policies. The idea is to facilitate a dialogue, supported by sound facts, toward a rational reaction to climate change.
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ENCORD activity: ENCORD members are actively involved in this project.
ENCORD will soon be releasing a position paper addressing all of these issues. This position paper will available from this website.