Title: Disruptive Technology Brings Risk and Opportunity to Infrastructure Projects

Language: English

Type: Blog/Article

Nature: Website

Published: August 14, 2017


Region: Global

Country: Global / Non-Specific

Keywords: Age of Disruption

Document Link(s):


Document Summary:

The infrastructure industry has not typically been known for its embrace of new technology. In a recent paper, the World Economic Forum (WEF) attributed the industry’s relatively slow adoption of technological innovation to a number of internal and external challenges in the engineering and construction sector.


Document Details:

Once these innovative infrastructure assets become operational, they will likely include embedded technologies, such as the intelligent transportation systems (ITS) used on many highways and freeways. These incorporate a variety of technologies including Bluetooth, video, and other wireless systems to promote efficient traffic management, allow for toll tracking and billing, enhance emergency response times, and assist law enforcement. With the coming of autonomous vehicles, it’s likely that additional sensing technology will be needed to improve safety.

With innovation comes risk, however, as technological disruption also increases volatility and exacerbates emerging issues, including those related to social stability as well financial viability and cybersecurity:

  • Social disruption
  • Financial viability
  • Cybersecurity


Updated: December 26, 2023