By opening up to the public around your construction project, by consulting with them and asking them for feedback, you can create a unique collaboration between your team and the surrounding community. Technology plays a crucial role in this, as it does not only enhance public consultation, it also makes it measurable.
The Publiq app is just one way of using technology as a part of public consultation. Some other examples are digital notice boards and interactive screens. You can even set up a VR area where residents can ‘walk’ through the neighbourhood to experience the final results before your project has even started.
There are so many ways in which you can incorporate technology in public consultation. We have published a series of blogs on the subject of public consultation in construction already. Here we will look at the role of technology in order to enhance public consultation and feedback even further.
When you think of public consultation, you might think of public meetings, showrooms, and visitors’ lounges, a stand in the square, or a ballot during one of your site’s open days. Theoretically, public consultation and feedback does not need technology.
There are several reasons, however, why technology comes in very handy when public consultation and feedback is concerned. This list below explains.
Using technology for public consultation makes the gap between you and the public around your site smaller. If you need to know how the local residents feel about something tomorrow, you can raise a poll in Publiq today to find out. Technology makes that poll more accessible for those invited to answer, and you will likely get more replies as well.
But watch out. Because by using technology as your only public consultation tool, you will actually achieve the opposite. The gap between you and the public will expand, because technology remains impersonal. It is a handy tool to have when you want quick answers, share a digital presentation, or reach a select group of residents. But its benefits really come to light, when you combine it with face-to-face communication with the public as well.
The people in the community around your project are more likely to cooperate if they have spoken to you personally already. You will get many more replies to a poll raised under local residents if they visited your public meeting prior to that. With face-to-face communication, you give your building site a face and a character. Done right, that makes you automatically more accessible, friendlier and more sympathetic. Add technology to that, and your public consultation methods are complete.
Publiq is an app which allows you to incorporate technology in your public consultation and feedback. It has a feed where you can post videos, pictures, messages, milestones and other communications. You can raise a poll, ask people how they feel, and share contact details for questions, feedback, and issues.
On top of that, the data in Publiq is collected for you and presented in useful formats. You can make your own reports, store them and use them in future presentations. Moreover, this data will help you perfect the way you use public consultation in all your future construction projects.
Are you interested in hearing more about how the Publiq app can bridge the gap between your building site and the surrounding community? Or are you active in a different field, where Publiq could be a helpful tool as well? We are happy to give you a demo and to show you in person what our app can do.
Alternatively, you can download our brochure to read at your leisure or contact us for more information.