Impact of large scale engineering products and processes on society: The eLSEwise view

The universal impact of Large Scale Engineering (LSE) projects is in evidence in diverse aspects of the personal and working lives of citizens around the globe. This does not only include the direct impact of the LSE product or facility but also encompasses the effects on society resulting from new ways of working. These new ways of working have been visualized by the eLSEwise (European Large Scale Engineering Wide Integration Support Effort) project as part of its postulated vision of how LSE construction projects may be delivered in the future, fully utilizing the benefits of emergent information and communication technologies to satisfy the business needs. This paper describes different effects on society resulting from LSE construction products and processes based on the eLSEwise vision and provides recommendations for ensuring that the benefits to society can be achieved.