AECOM launches virtual public consultation tool
“In the face of unprecedented challenges, it was critical that we create a seamless digital environment to visualise projects, meet virtually and bring communities together in partnership with our clients around the world,” Kevin Carlson, AECOM’s Global Lead for Digital Transformation, comments. “Over the next few months we will continue to focus on bringing new collaborative experiences, driven by our global expertise in digital delivery, to the marketplace.”
Through the new platform, a virtual event can be personalised to show consultation materials, including virtual reality and sound demonstrations, videos, maps, plans and pop-up banners. The tool allows for instant feedback so public reaction can be captured and saved for analysis and accurate reporting. There is also a chat function so on-hand experts can answer questions remotely as visitors look around the materials, similar to what would take place during an in-person event.
“We already use a number of digital tools during our community engagement sessions such as visualisations, sound demonstrations and interactive apps, so it makes complete sense to bring them together on a digital platform,” Andy Thomas, AECOM’s head of Visualisation & VR in EMEA, adds. AECOM clients East Lothian Council, Oxfordshire County Council, Public Health England and the US Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District, have already signed up to use the public consultation tool.
“The use of digital engagement tools enables stakeholders and communities to understand proposals, so as to provide an informed response and participate in the consultation process. This tool means that process can reach a wider audience for more widespread buy-in for major infrastructure projects,” Thomas highlights.
“Using this web-based tool, clients can engage with a wider audience and communicate the impact and benefits of proposed schemes to communities without people leaving their own homes,” James Sachon, AECOM’s technical director of the Stakeholder Engagement team, explains. “This remote approach to stakeholder engagement during the coronavirus pandemic provides our clients and partners with a resilient solution to any consultation process.”
Amid the ongoing global coronavirus pandemic, AECOM is doing everything it can to help ensure the safety and well-being of its employees, maintain operational resilience and provide solutions that can help clients and communities along the path to recovery.
A demonstration of the tool is available at https://consultation.ai/demo/.
Learn more about AECOM’s approach to business resilience and continuity, and its commitment to deliver a better world: https://publications.aecom.com/coronavirus-resilience/.
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Notes to the editor
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About AECOM
AECOM is the world’s premier infrastructure firm, delivering professional services throughout the project lifecycle – from planning, design and engineering to consulting and construction management. We partner with our clients in the public and private sectors to solve their most complex challenges and build legacies for generations to come. On projects spanning transportation, buildings, water, governments, energy and the environment, our teams are driven by a common purpose to deliver a better world. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm with revenue of approximately $20.2 billion during fiscal year 2019. See how we deliver what others can only imagine at aecom.com and @AECOM.
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