Creating built environments of new opportunities

The purpose of this article is to present the method used for preparing the Research Road Map on Construction in Brazil and the results of this study that involved a broad participatory process.   Academia and the private sector, with the participation of the public sector, jointly reviewed and proposed strategies, under the leadership of two institutions:  The Brazilian Chamber of the
Construction Industry (CBIC) and the Brazilian Association of Technology of the Built Environment (ANTAC).  Although elaborating strategic proposals normally involves a complex approach, a working method was chosen that simplified this procedure.  A more orthodox approach would have required mounting an extensive data survey, and undertaking numerous analyses and diagnoses; a wide spectrum of research sources would have been needed for this.  A shorter method was adopted, commencing with the preparation of a document that described interalia the resources that already existed for the production of STI in the Built Environment, and that indicated the level of subject-relevant collaboration existing between academia and industry.  This document analysed the main postgraduate centres relevant to the subject in Brazil.  A series of challenges to be confronted by the construction industry was also identified, as well as various issues that needed to be resolved prior to tackling them.  The document also emphasized the need to establish an STI policy for the construction industry. The second step was to hold five thematic workshops, bringing together experts from academia, government agencies, and companies and their offshoots.  They hosted 318 guest participants.  Given their expertise and the dynamic interface established, the data collection, analysis and diagnosis phase was avoided, and the participants progressed quickly and confidently to formulate a set of consistent and relevant strategies.  The output from these workshops led to a set of 19 strategic lines of research.  Nine obstacles were identified that needed to be overcome, and a description was included of the type of STI infrastructure required for the successful of their implementation.  Six strategic projects for developing STI, together with four strategic public policies, were proposed and detailed for overcoming these barriers and for deploying the required STI infrastructure.

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