Geopolitical uncertainty and 61% innovation push: key takeaways for civil engineers
Reviewed by Joe Ashwell
First reported on New Civil Engineer
30 Second Briefing
Geopolitical and economic uncertainty is pushing 61% of construction businesses to increase their commitment to innovation, according to Ayming’s International Innovation Barometer 2027. The survey points to firms prioritising digital tools, new construction materials and process optimisation to manage cost volatility and supply chain disruption. For civil and infrastructure engineers, this signals stronger client appetite for technologies such as BIM-based design coordination, offsite fabrication and alternative material specifications to de-risk programme and budget.
Technical Brief
- Geographic coverage, sample size and sector split within construction are not specified, limiting segmentation.
- Time horizon of the survey (single-year snapshot vs multi-year panel) is not detailed, constraining trend analysis.
Our Take
Within our 913 Infrastructure stories, relatively few research-led pieces quantify attitudes to innovation, so a 61% shift in commitment gives project owners and tier‑one contractors a benchmark when justifying spend on BIM, CDEs and digital handover tools like those discussed in New Civil Engineer’s webinar on the ‘data handover gap’.
For New Civil Engineer, combining this barometer with its 2027 awards portfolio coverage creates a feedback loop where firms can use survey benchmarks to shape entries and internal KPIs, effectively turning perceived geopolitical risk into a differentiator in awards and bid evaluations.
Prepared by collating external sources, AI-assisted tools, and Geomechanics.io’s proprietary mining database, then reviewed for technical accuracy & edited by our geotechnical team.
