Article: Apocalypse Soon.(advent of Internet threatens to undermine local builders as mega builders gain instant access to raw demographic, zoning and other data)

Online access to local information gives big builders new tools for widespread consolidation. If they move aggressively, small builders could face rapid extinction.

THE FIRST TIME CHESS GRAND MASter Garry Kasparov challenged IBM's "Deep Blue" supercomputer in 1996, he trounced the soulless machine. But just one year later, his rematch with the upgraded number cruncher took a different turn. The machine became the master.

Such is the model for competition in the age of digital convergence. Cleverness and guile may win a battle, but the fastest processor, linked to the best database, ultimately decides the war's outcome.

The 100 biggest builders ...

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