Partial Support: Building Research Board Study on Science and Technology to Meet the Challenge of International Com- petition in the Construction Industry

建筑业是美国最大的产业。目前，它每年完成超过3亿美元的工作，雇用550万工人。这些工人加上材料、机械、保险和设计的供应商，占劳动力的17%。建设占全国资本投资的55%至65%。美国建筑业在海外遭遇挫折。国际建筑市场萎缩，美国在这些较小市场的份额下降。与此同时，美国建筑业在研究和技术开发方面的投资严重不足，估计投资仅为。占总收入的39%，远低于美国其他行业的水平，也远低于那些可能与我们竞争的国家的建筑业。在与美国国家工程院（NAE）的讨论中，提出了一项建议，即由建筑研究委员会（BRB）组织和开展一项研究，研究美国建筑业在国内外迎接外国竞争挑战的科学和技术机会。在NAE技术领导计划的精神下，拟议的研究将与NAE之前组织的一些关于美国工业竞争的研究相平行，这些研究涉及汽车、电子、钢铁、纺织、机床、制药、民用航空制造。将成立一个由大约15名建筑领域领导人组成的委员会，代表学术界、工业界和政府参与决策职位。该委员会将在第一年举行四次会议，在BRB工作人员和顾问的支持下编写报告，其中将包括对工业反应和大学研究活动的建议。资金还由美国陆军工程兵团、国际发展合作署、国家工程院和BRB先进建筑技术委员会提供。建议对部分支持给予奖励。

The construction industry is America's largest industry. Currently it performs more than $300 million of work per year ard employs 5.5 million workers. These workers combined with the suppliers of materials, machinery, insurance, and designs account for 17 percent of the work force. Construction has comprised 55 to 65 percent of the nation's capital investment. The U.S. construction industry has suffered setbacks abroad. International construction markets have shrunk and U.S. share in those smaller markets has decreased. At the same time the U.S. construction industry suffers from severe under investment in research and technology development, with an estimated investment of only .39% of gross receipts, much below those of other U.S. industries, and substantially less than the construction industry of those countries with which we might be expected to compete. In discussion with the NationaI Academy of Engineering (NAE) there has developed a suggestion that the Building Research Board (BRB) organize and conduct a study of science and technology opportunities for the U.S. construction industry to meet the challenge of foreign competition at home and abroad. In the spirit of the NAE Technological Leadership Program, the proposed study will parallel a number of previous studies organized by the NAE on U.S. industry competition--involving automobiles, electronics, steel, textiles, machine tools, pharmaceuticals, civil aviation manufacturing. A committee of approximately 15 leaders in the construction field will be established, representing academic, industry and government participants in decision-making positions. The committee, which will meet four times in the course fo the first year will be supported by BRB staff and consultants in preparation of their report, which will include recommendations for industrial response, and for university research activity. Funds are also provided for by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the International Development Cooperation Agency, the National Academy of Engineering and the BRB Advanced Building Technology Council. An award for partial support is recommended.