Online BS in Construction Management: Capitol Tech Builds a Better Breed of Builders

The United States is on course to spending $8.5 trillion on critical infrastructure projects by 2040. In fact, according to the Global Infrastructure Hub– a G20 Initiative, our nation should really be spending closer to $12 trillion.

For young women and men interested in pursuing a career in non-residential construction, these numbers alone point to a very promising future.

However, the technological and social dynamics underlying how, why, and where these trillions will be spent is more important than ever for future construction managers to understand – especially before investing in a BS in Construction Management degree program.

In the executive summary of KPMG’s recent report – Emerging Trends in Infrastructure its authors write: “This will be a year of data-driven enlightenment for the infrastructure sector. It is the year where data and analytics matures in the sector; it is the year where evidence-based decision-making starts to become commonplace; it is the year where all organizations begin to uncover new insights that lead to new opportunities and — ultimately — important choices.”

It's also worth noting the Future of Construction, Global 2030 report released by ResearchAndMarkets.com in the fourth quarter of this past year: “ The construction industry is starting to evolve. Changing the technological environment and evolving business models will bring about a major disruption in the construction industry. Technology is a primary disruptor - from IoT devices to innovative sensor technologies - for data collection. Novel business advances will be driven by data monetization and digital marketplaces. We will also see a shift toward new data-driven business models that will be focusing on sustainability.”

The report goes on to identify six key trends that will shape the future of construction. As Washington DC’s premier STEM university, two trends are of particular relevance to us.

The first is “Digitization” that is being driven by AI, 5D BIM, AR/VR, and electrification powered by 5G-speed connectivity.

The second is “Autonomy” where the construction industry is seeing a shift towards automation driven by the need to solve safety challenges. Drones are already beginning to reduce the need for certain people to be on site and are increasing the accuracy of data that’s collected.

For Capitol Tech, the future couldn’t be clearer: Our society’s ability to create smarter, safer and sustainable cities, power systems, food systems, water systems, transportation systems, and more demands a new breed of builders. Our critical infrastructure will soon require construction managers who are as attuned to data communications, cryptography processes and algorithms, and computer and cybersecurity as they are to interpreting engineering drawings and creating safe and efficient worksites.

This is why we built our Online BS in Construction Management and Critical Infrastructure degree program a lot differently than the rest. For young working people looking to refocus their careers, this online program helps them bring a unique skill set to their role in construction – one that with every passing day demands that they be tech savvy.

Capitol Tech not only prepares these students to manage construction projects, but also enhances their skills in cybersecurity, physical security and remotely operated computer systems. Our Online BS in Construction Management and Critical Infrastructure even includes a course in unmanned systems.

Capitol Tech’s cybersecurity program is regarded as one of the best in the nation. We are also proud to have pioneered the first BS degree program in unmanned and autonomous systems in the state of Maryland. While our Online BS in Construction Management degree is unique among other construction management programs out there, it is a very natural addition to Capitol’s mix of exclusively tech-focused undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs.

“All of Capitol Tech's programs are built by industry professionals with current and future field needs in mind,” said Dr. Bradford Sims, president of Capitol Technology. “In these uniquely designed courses, our faculty focus on providing students with the skills and training to meet employer needs and become industry leaders upon graduation.”

Given where the industry is moving, our advice to anybody looking to capitalize on the promise of a successful career in construction management and critical infrastructure is this: Invest your time and your money in an education that’s built on securing your future – not on programs mired in what’s worked in the past.