Critics of the report suggest that NAM overlooked the struggles of lower-paid workers and overemphasized the importance of international trade. The industry has yet to simplify the process of cataloging and pricing materials for the Internet, which has prevented the widespread adoption of e-procurement. The Internet can prevent the high cost of change orders and lawsuits that often arise when contractors rely on complicated, error-prone paperwork, according to a report from Arthur Andersen. The Internet also eliminates the time needed to ship that paperwork between contractors. The Internet is changing the construction industry in other ways.
Firms can use Web sites both to monitor a project and to update clients a project's progress.
The Costa Mesa, Calif.-based firm Birtcher even uses its Web site to check weather conditions at its construction sites. Enacting new technology such as this can be time-consuming and frustrating, but the advantages for firms willing to make the commitment are significant. There is nothing such a robot could do that a human being could not do at a much lesser cost. However, a team of scientists at Brandeis University has found a new way to approach the robot dilemma. They have programmed a computer that can develop, test, and modify robot designs without any human assistance.