I’m curious to get some perspective from the construction professionals in this group, particularly those who have developed deep expertise in a specific trade or division.
I’ve been working on an early-stage construction technology project that relies heavily on interpreting things like codes and standards, manufacturer documentation, installation requirements, tested systems, and real-world field conditions.
One of the biggest things I’m learning is that having the documentation is one thing, having experienced construction professionals validate how that information gets interpreted and applied is another.
Right now, the areas we’re working with are:
Division 03 — Concrete
Division 07 — Firestopping
Division 09 — Finishes
Division 22 — Plumbing
Division 26 — Electrical
We’ve gotten to the point where I don’t want the next stage to happen in a technology bubble. I want people who have actually designed, installed, inspected, managed, estimated, or troubleshot these systems involved in reviewing the kinds of questions and answers the system is producing.
The challenge I’m trying to figure out is how to structure that participation in a way that actually makes sense for experienced construction professionals.
For those of you who would be considered the “go-to person” in your area:
What would make you willing to participate in something like this?
Would you prefer:
A small number of scheduled review sessions?
Questions sent asynchronously that you could review when you have time?
A defined set of questions per review cycle?
Short-term milestone-based involvement rather than an ongoing commitment?
Some other structure entirely?
I’m also curious how people in the industry feel about compensation for this type of early-stage involvement. For a self-funded project where resources are limited, would you rather see a modest honorarium attached to defined review milestones, or is there another structure you’ve seen work well?
And finally, how would you go about finding the right people?
Not necessarily people with “Subject Matter Expert” in their title, but the superintendent, foreman, inspector, engineer, PM, estimator, tradesperson, etc. who has enough experience that other people routinely come to them for answers.
I’d really appreciate perspectives from people who have been on either side of this. I’m trying to understand how to involve industry practitioners without wasting their time or asking for an unrealistic commitment.
