@esriuk New GIS product connects with Autodesk Construction Cloud to bridge gap between GIS and BIM Esri today announced the release of ArcGIS GeoBIM, a new product that links GIS and BIM systems and workflows, expanding the ability for BIM project teams to benefit from GIS. By connecting Esri’s ArcGIS with
Prolojik is collaborating with the Smart Building Show this year, joining the impressive list of sponsors as Sponsor of The Training Theatre and Show Catalogue, as well as showcasing the latest SuperSensing range along side SmartServer™ by Diaog. Prolojik, which has developed an open protocol lighting control system that gives
As of today, stressed-out house hunters have a new tool at their disposal to keep nuisance cold callers at bay, thanks to Homebuyer Conveyancer Quotes. Their free online portal allows users to find and compare the best conveyancing quotes without the need to enter any personal details – unlike many other
Schneider Electric, the leader in digital transformation of energy management and automation, announces a robust roadmap for its Matter-compliant smart home solutions, committing to being among the first group of Matter-compliant devices immediately after the standard is approved. Schneider also plans to bridge its Wiser smart home ecosystem with Matter-connected
ProperPR, the property specialist PR agency, are set to host a live, online event on the afternoon of Thursday 23rd September which will seek to gently probe representatives from Rightmove, Zoopla, On The Market, Boomin and One Dome on a number of related questions. It will be a face to
Everyone understands the reasons risk management is important – both within construction and elsewhere – but at a time of great pressure to ‘build back better’ and rebuild the economy, it’s more vital than ever to manage risk smoothly and efficiently. Here, Dr Stuart Kings, director at Sypro and NEC4
In recent years, there’s been a growing trend in smart technology for the home, with many homeowners upgrading their properties with all sorts of internet enabled features and devices that can be operated from a single interface such as a smartphone or tablet. Increasingly, contemporary homes have heating thermostats and
Do you like the idea of relaxing on the couch at home and turning off the upstairs lights without having to move? The ever-expanding options of smart technology enable you to do just that. Controlled by a simple smartphone or computer, you have the power to control lights, air conditioning,
Construction software platform, Zutec, has been tasked with helping global commercial real estate company, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, to build the largest shopping mall in Europe In 2008, the world faced one of the greatest economic crises in modern history. Many businesses suffered, and the high street appeared to become a thing of
FOLLOWING the outbreak of Covid-19, the construction industry was forced to move many of its processes online and modernise at a rapid rate in order to stay afloat. As we start to come through the pandemic and restrictions are beginning to ease, many of these practices have been implemented permanently
@esriuk New GIS product connects with Autodesk Construction Cloud to bridge gap between GIS and BIM Esri today announced the release of ArcGIS GeoBIM, a new product that links GIS and BIM systems and workflows, expanding the ability for BIM project teams to benefit from GIS. By connecting Esri’s ArcGIS with Autodesk Construction Cloud, the new product gives BIM the benefit of spatial context during the design, construction and operation of large AEC projects. ArcGIS GeoBIM provides an easy-to-use web-based experience, allowing AEC teams to explore and collaborate using data from multiple systems, in a geospatial context. The new product connects to Autodesk BIM Collaborate Pro, a cloud-based design collaboration, coordination and model co-authoring software, built on the Autodesk Construction Cloud. ArcGIS GeoBIM is available from 5 October 2021. “With many global initiatives underway to improve construction, design and planning practices it is critical that today’s AEC professionals can collaborate together with a common view of assets in a geospatial context,” said Craig Evenden, Head of AEC & BIM at Esri UK. “ArcGIS GeoBIM lets teams work on BIM and GIS data in one place, see all their BIM projects on one map, share information with stakeholders more easily and minimizes costly data conversion, as they don’t need to keep switching between GIS and BIM systems.” ArcGIS GeoBIM will provide project leaders and stakeholders in the AEC industry with a common view of asset locations, costs, issues, risks and timelines throughout the project lifecycle. “Autodesk and Esri’s cloud-to-cloud connection gives our shared customers a unified experience and the information they need at their fingertips – regardless of whether it’s BIM or GIS data,” said Amy Bunszel, Autodesk Executive Vice President of AEC Design Solutions. “This will improve efficiency and decision-making during planning, construction and operations. Ultimately, our collaboration will help enable the industry to deliver more sustainable and resilient infrastructure.” “What we need is a single, authoritative source of truth access point for everyone on our team, a way to bring data and information together that originates from multiple formats,” said Darin Welch, HNTB Associate Vice President and National Geospatial and Virtual Engagement Manager. “Esri’s ArcGIS GeoBIM connection to the Autodesk Construction Cloud combines survey, design and planning workflows that offer a blended BIM-GIS data experience that equips our team with more informed decision making.” @esriuk
Prolojik is collaborating with the Smart Building Show this year, joining the impressive list of sponsors as Sponsor of The Training Theatre and Show Catalogue, as well as showcasing the latest SuperSensing range along side SmartServer™ by Diaog. Prolojik, which has developed an open protocol lighting control system that gives users complete control over their lit environment; control that reduces energy output and saves money, has become the catalogue and training theatre sponsor at this year’s Smart Buildings Show (ExCeL, London, 6-7 October, 2021). Asela Rodrigo, managing director, commented, “We are thrilled to be sponsoring and supporting Smart Building Show, in partnership with Dialog, as sponsors of the catalogue and the training theatre. It is our belief that as we slowly emerge from the pandemic, the adoption of smart technology in buildings will gather pace as the benefits have become more apparent. We are looking forward to catching up with our industry colleagues; listening and presenting the latest updates in this important sector”. Please come and visit Prolojik on stand E40. Prolojik will also be hosting a panel discussion as well as a CPD session during the show. Re-engaging the Workplace – Thursday 7th October – 13.00pm This panel session looks at how to get the most out of smart tech post pandemic as well as the issues around sustainability goals and understanding the management of challenges such as limited embodied carbon in construction. The panel will be chaired by Helen Parton an architecture and interiors journalist with over 15 years experience, and on the panel will be Asela Rodrigo managing director of Prolojik, Gary Wingrove Global Real Estates Capital Projects Director at Boston Consulting Group, Martin Frohock Head of Facilities UK Global FM Compliance Lead at Arm and Jules Barker Global Director of Product at WiredScore. Super Sensor x Smart Server – Wednesday 6th October – 15:00pm Hosted by Asela Rodrigo and Kalim Shadam Global Sales Director at Dialog Semiconductor this CPD looks at the different challenges to introduce enabling SMART technology in to existing legacy buildings as well as newly built environments and how this can be achieved by implementing SuperSensors and SmartServers over your existings lighting and data networks.
As of today, stressed-out house hunters have a new tool at their disposal to keep nuisance cold callers at bay, thanks to Homebuyer Conveyancer Quotes. Their free online portal allows users to find and compare the best conveyancing quotes without the need to enter any personal details – unlike many other price comparison sites. This free to browse service makes finding an Approved Lender Conveyancer fast and hassle-free. At the click of a button, users can view a list of like-for-like conveyancing quotes direct from High Street Solicitors. In the current climate, competition remains fierce for properties on the market with the so-called ‘race for space’ driving increased demand for houses with bigger gardens and capacity to work from home. It is more crucial than ever to understand and budget for the cost of conveyancing from the outset and be ready to set the wheels in motion as soon as an offer gets accepted. With the Homebuyer Conveyancing Quotes comparison service, users can filter results by cheapest price, location and by approved Mortgage Lender in an instant. This can help speed up the process and ultimately reduce failure in the chain. Moving house and re-mortgaging is big business in the UK and the main issue is that the deal only becomes binding once the seller and buyer have exchanged contracts. This can take several months, and a lot can happen in that timeframe to derail the sales progress such as bad surveys, gazumping or expired mortgage offers. Due to the pandemic and the chancellor’s extended stamp duty holiday, house hunters are already having to deal with unpredictable changes to prices and demand as well as gridlocked conveyancers. The goal of Homebuyer Conveyancer Quotes is to help people get the best deal in the fastest time, without any added stress. Duncan Pattinson, Managing Director said: “When you use websites that insist you enter your contact details, you WILL be emailed and called. This can be annoying to anyone, but with all the added stress of moving the last thing you need is endless nuisance sales calls coming through especially when you are at the early stages of budgeting. With Homebuyer Conveyancing Quotes, only when you want to take a quote away do you enter your contact details. Once this is done you can schedule a timed call back when it suits you. At a budgeting stage, you can save yourself a lot of inconvenience.” Additionally, The Purchase Homebuyer Conveyancing Quotes now offers customers a Search Pledge, which replaces the disbursement searches for free up to a value of £300 for the buyer’s replacement property. This provides an additional safety net to help those having to secure a replacement property. Here are some top tips for finding the best conveyancing deal: Look for transparent pricing for accurate comparisons Check the best-case scenario for how fast your completion can take place Understand your Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) liability and factor this into your budgeting Prepare questions for when you speak to potential conveyancers – this is where a timed call back really comes in handy Instruct a conveyancer prior to offer acceptance Pass details of the Solicitor onto the Sellers Agent only when an acceptable offer has been taken For more information and help with buying or selling a UK Property, visit the secure website: https://www.homebuyerconveyancing.com.
Schneider Electric, the leader in digital transformation of energy management and automation, announces a robust roadmap for its Matter-compliant smart home solutions, committing to being among the first group of Matter-compliant devices immediately after the standard is approved. Schneider also plans to bridge its Wiser smart home ecosystem with Matter-connected systems by the same time. As a board member of the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) and an active contributor to the Matter protocol development, Schneider believes that interoperability is the key for homes and buildings of the future. Matter builds upon market-proven technologies and best practices, and is the industry-unifying standard that aims to simplify connected experiences and provide greater interoperability in smart homes and buildings. By integrating technologies such as renewable energy generation and EV charging that are rapidly being adopted, Matter compliance can help in supporting the Schneider Electric sentiment around the sustainable future for our homes, and help pave a pathway to self-sufficient, net zero homes, while reducing e-waste and improving circularity. The Schneider Electric Matter implementation roadmap includes: Innovating to create Matter-compliant smart home products. Schneider Electric will become one of the first few companies in the world to offer native Matter solutions. Bridging to connect existing and new systems. The Wiser smart home ecosystem ensures Matter compliance while retaining native Zigbee connectivity. Existing and new Wiser devices based on Zigbee will join the Matter ecosystem using the ‘bridge’ functionality of upgraded Wiser Hubs*, ensuring a sustainable approach where the installed base of devices do not become obsolete with the arrival of the new standard. Advocating for more Matter-compliant interoperability with others. Making interoperability and usage of products easier for consumers starts with industry wide collaboration to include Matter as a connectivity standard in the Wiser App. Jai Thampi, SVP for Strategy and Innovation in the Home and Distribution Division, Schneider Electric said: “By ensuring smart home technology supports Matter – anticipated to be a widely accepted connectivity language – we will achieve much more than device compatibility and effortless comfort for the homeowner. Interoperability among connected products will be at the heart of making our homes, offices, and entire cities more sustainable, more energy efficient, and more resilient in the face of the global threat of climate change. I firmly believe that Matter is an important project for the future of smart home, and we are committed to making it successful in the long run, while innovating at scale. Open, global standards such as Matter are essential for improving consumer experience, while ensuring a smart and sustainable connected future.” About Schneider Electric Schneider’s purpose is to empower all to make the most of our energy and resources, bridging progress and sustainability for all. We call this Life Is On. Our mission is to be your digital partner for Sustainability and Efficiency. We drive digital transformation by integrating world-leading process and energy technologies, endpoint to cloud connecting products, controls, software, and services, across the entire lifecycle, enabling integrated company management, for homes, buildings, data centers, infrastructure and industries. We are the most local of global companies. We are advocates of open standards and partnership ecosystems that are passionate about our shared Meaningful Purpose, Inclusive and Empowered values.
ProperPR, the property specialist PR agency, are set to host a live, online event on the afternoon of Thursday 23rd September which will seek to gently probe representatives from Rightmove, Zoopla, On The Market, Boomin and One Dome on a number of related questions. It will be a face to face ‘Question Time’ style event broadcast live on the Unissu platform and available to watch back thereafter. It’s hoped that the outcome will be a frank and constructive exchange of views on what a portal really offers to their estate agency customers and to consumers; what the future holds in terms of innovation and technology features; and where the portal and agent relationship will look like in say five years’ time. The same as now? Better? Or worse? Co-founder of property PR specialists ProperPR and organiser, Russell Quirk, says “Senior representatives of each of the top five property portals have all been invited to this important event and most have confirmed their attendance. This will be no Punch and Judy show – but instead a reasoned debate amongst the sector’s main players to probe their business model, their success and their overall approach to property search. We’ll ask how they think about agents and consumers and where the future lies for them and their stakeholders’. ‘We will be asking grown up questions, the type of questions that the estate agency industry would like clarification on and not least how the relationship between portals and agents is likely to develop in the coming years. Given the enormity of the portal space now, with its value at close to £10bn, this is an opportunity for the property portals to sell themselves and to justify their propositions and indeed their value”. Russell asks “If agents have specific questions that they would like asked and answered, email me at russell@ProperPR.co.uk for consideration. There will also be a live chat facility during the session where the digital audience can pose questions”. You can sign up to the FREE event on the Unissu Events platform here
Everyone understands the reasons risk management is important – both within construction and elsewhere – but at a time of great pressure to ‘build back better’ and rebuild the economy, it’s more vital than ever to manage risk smoothly and efficiently. Here, Dr Stuart Kings, director at Sypro and NEC4 co-author, examines how the introduction of the Early Warning Register within NEC4 works closely with cloud-based contract management systems to communicate and effectively manage potential risks, while minimising further impact elsewhere. The construction industry is currently facing a whole host of challenges that present risk to ongoing and upcoming projects, with the risks primarily being driven by a shortage of both materials and labour within construction – all set against the background of post-pandemic recovery. Earlier this year, the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) warned that a fair approach was needed towards supply of materials, going as far as suggesting rationing to make sure smaller firms get their fair share of dwindling supplies. Several months later, the demand for supplies both in the UK and globally continues to dramatically outstrip supply. Record sales of building materials are putting enormous pressure on supply chains, which are still in the process of recovery from the pandemic – and there is no indication of shortages improving over the coming months. This of course presents construction schemes with the risk of not being able to acquire supplies critical to their completion, paying much higher prices that squeeze budgets further, or having to alter designs and source alternative products. Indeed, surge in demand will impact smaller companies in greater ways, with SMEs unable to purchase key materials off the shelves, or even afford them. Some may be forced to delay starting schemes on site altogether until they have certainty on product availability in order to keep risks as low as possible – but all of this ramps up the financial pressure, especially on smaller businesses. Another big issue causing potential risk to construction schemes is a shortage of hauliers to get supplies to where they are needed. Brexit has led to the loss of some 15,000 European drivers this year, and the remaining drivers are having to undertake COVID tests and self-isolate where necessary, further exacerbating the shortage. The global shipping industry is also struggling in its post-pandemic recovery, facing congested shipping routes, container cancellations and higher costs, which continue to impact global supply chains – including construction materials. It is crucial that builders and contractors maintain open communications with their customers regarding lead times, possible product substitutions and early notice of price increases – which is where excellent project and contract management systems will become incredibly important. But, how best to manage this risk assessment and communication? NEC contracts have a clear and simple, yet centrally important process for early warnings, whereby the Contractor and Project Manager must notify each other of any matter that could affect the cost, completion, progress or quality of the project. The move from NEC3 to NEC4 was labelled as an ‘evolution, not a revolution’, building on and improving what we were already working with. The updates were about the key principles of being risk-focussed, planned and transparent. As well as mitigating any impairment on a project, the focus is to safeguard timelines, objectives and change the procedure of risk reporting, and therefore mirror the principles of good project management. With regards to early warnings, in NEC4 the ‘Risk Register’ was renamed to the ‘Early Warning Register’ to help separate it from the project risk register, which is often used as a wider project management tool. Default periods for early warning meetings have been set to allow the Project Manager and project team to mitigate any risks quickly and efficiently. There were shortcomings in the previous iteration, including the fact that the Project Manager did not convene meetings and did not put together a first Risk Register. Additionally, early warning meetings were held sporadically and not always with the involvement of the supply chain. Following the changes, there is a clear mandate that the Project Manager issues an Early Warning Register to the Contractor within one week of the starting date. Secondly, the Project Manger convenes a first early warning meeting within two weeks of the starting date and thereafter imposes regular meetings – at the interval states in the Contract Data – to initiate a better ethos and culture of risk under the Engineering and Construction Contract. These key changes appear under clause 15.2 to promote a better management of risk, and so the role of the Project Manager becomes much clearer and proactive in managing the process. The early warning process is simple in principle and critical to the success of NEC contracts and facilitating the spirit of mutual trust and cooperation required by clause 10.1 of the contract. The contract administrator must give the process, and the associated risk, the attention it deserves and develop and use their soft skills to get the best out of risk reduction meetings. Any software system for contract management should facilitate this using a cloud-based – and therefore paperless – process. This is easy to implement under NEC4, which states that ‘if the Scope specifies the use of a communication system, a communication has effect when it is communicated through that system specified in the Scope’ – meaning that the communication has effect only when it takes place through the system. With a cloud-based system, the Project Manager and Contractor can seamlessly manage risk ‘on the go’ from any handheld device – with the digital approach creating one central point of truth, minimising the risks of miscommunication that could exacerbate any issues further. Considering the pressures facing the industry at the moment presenting more risk than ever, the implementation of systems that improve transparency, efficiency, information exchange and the all-important element of risk management will ensure that we keep projects on track, building back better and delivering the high-quality schemes the construction industry is known for. For more information, please
In recent years, there’s been a growing trend in smart technology for the home, with many homeowners upgrading their properties with all sorts of internet enabled features and devices that can be operated from a single interface such as a smartphone or tablet. Increasingly, contemporary homes have heating thermostats and lighting controls that can be operated and adjusted from anywhere, WiFi connected security systems with live video footage that can be viewed remotely and, of course, all manner of smart appliances including TVs, fridge freezers and dishwashers that can be controlled via a smartphone app or smart speaker devices like Amazon Alexa or Google Nest. According to recent survey findings, 57% of homes in Britain now contain at least one smart device, and there are 2.22 million homes in the UK with at least two smart devices. For sure, smart homes are the future, however most features are retrofitted after construction. With the current drive to substantially increase the nation’s housing stock in full swing, why are UK housebuilders not integrating more smart technology into new builds right from the design stage? Let’s take a look at some of the most common hurdles. Higher build cost: A complete smart home system can add 5% to the cost of the build with an unproven return on the investment for housebuilders in a highly competitive market. It’s a financial risk many developers are unwilling to take. What’s more, building a home with smart technology requires niche skills, materials and methodologies that are comparatively new to the housing industry, adding time and cost to the process. New ways of cooperating between smart home professionals, architects and site managers are required. Security concerns: According to industry figures, 86% of real estate pros are concerned about cyber attacks and the risk of hacking with smart home technology is on the increase. The more smart features and devices are used, the greater the vulnerability to the householder. Outdoor devices with embedded computers that have little in the way of security protocol pose the greatest risk, such as garage door openers and wireless doorbells are a case in point. Weak communication protocols and configuration settings may also be an issue for smartphone app controlled devices such as personal home assistants, smart thermostats and even baby monitors. Software problems: Software integration can become a real issue for systems that use incompatible technologies and won’t ‘speak’ to each other, or are unable to accommodate additional connections further down the line. With the co-existence of various communication protocols as the proliferation of ever more sophisticated smart devices continues, there is no guarantee that the latest tech used today won’t be obsolete in a few years’ time Again, it’s a financial risk that many housebuilders will want to avoid. On the other hand, it is clear that the emergence of smart home technologies over the last 20 years can no longer be considered a passing phase. Home automation has steadily increased in popularity since the early 2000s, and it might be unwise for the UK housebuilding industry to ignore this fast-growing demand among consumers wanting the latest technology in their homes. Here are some of the main benefits of smart new builds: Smart homes sell faster than comparative properties without the added features, and they fetch premium prices too, particularly among younger homebuyers. Survey findings show that 61% of millennials would pay extra money to live in a home with smart features. Reliable long-term performance of smart home systems is best achieved via upfront integration. Designing the entire system at the beginning will ensure smoother and more efficient operations as opposed to the piecemeal retrofitting of individual features. Greater vigilance offered via connected devices means homeowners are alerted to problems such as burglaries or fires early. This results in fewer home insurance claims and, in turn, potentially lower premiums. Smart homes enable the homeowner to cut down on energy waste such as lights left on or rooms heated unnecessarily, by up to a third. This can help UK housebuilders meet energy efficiency standards and build more sustainable homes. Smart home technology can be particularly beneficial to physically disabled and elderly residents. Home management tasks and home security all become much easier, creating more inclusive home environments. The fact that a growing number of home buyers are now prioritising technology in the home is a clear sign that there is an opportunity to maximise future profits for the UK housebuilding industry by building more smart homes. Not only is the Internet of Things already bringing the benefits of connected living to an increasing number of people, but the next generation of property buyers are looking for homes that align with their values. From environmentally conscious and energy-efficient solutions to more interconnected communications for work and home, smart homes are able to offer all that and more.
Do you like the idea of relaxing on the couch at home and turning off the upstairs lights without having to move? The ever-expanding options of smart technology enable you to do just that. Controlled by a simple smartphone or computer, you have the power to control lights, air conditioning, garage doors, deadbolts, security cameras and more. If this sounds like a dream come true, read on to learn all the benefits of installing smart technology in your home. Increase Your Home’s Resale Value Realtors and smart home builders around the nation are aware that a home that offers the latest in technology is a selling point for buyers. In fact, where repainting walls or updating carpets were suggested improvements before selling a home, now sellers are advised to install automated systems within their home before listing. Buyers see the convenience of having the equipment preinstalled and are more interested in a home that current owners have kept updated. Monitor Your House When You’re Not There A smart home provides peace of mind for the times you are away. Devices connect with a cell phone, computer, or tablet, which allows you to check on your home and its occupants. You can check to make sure you locked the front door, shut the garage door, and remembered to turn off the oven no matter where you are. Not only are appliances available with smart technology, but most security systems are also controlled remotely. This setup allows you to check on your home when you’re away, receive alerts if there’s motion around your home, and view security footage in real-time. These features provide a feeling of reassurance if you have children or elderly parents at home by themselves. Save Money By Saving Energy When your home has smart options, not only can you control appliances from a distance, most of these items are programmable. The thermostat can be programmed to run only when you’re at home, and some are smart enough to adjust the amount of air flowing in empty rooms. Do your children constantly forget to shut off the lights? Smart lights are programmed to sense when there’s no movement in a room and automatically shut off. These features are incredible ways to cut energy and save money. Answer the Front Door at Any Time Another benefit of having smart technology is seeing who is at the door without being by it. Doorbell security systems alert you when someone rings the bell or motion is detected by the front door. You can view who is there and speak directly with them through an app without opening the door. This means that your home and occupants are also safer without opening the door to strangers. What about when your parents stop by unannounced while you’re at the store? No worries, use the app to speak directly with them, then unlock the front door to let them in without making them wait for you to get home. Equipping your home with updated smart technology has numerous benefits. The only decision is choosing what to buy first.
Construction software platform, Zutec, has been tasked with helping global commercial real estate company, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, to build the largest shopping mall in Europe In 2008, the world faced one of the greatest economic crises in modern history. Many businesses suffered, and the high street appeared to become a thing of the past. However, against all odds, amidst a fast-deteriorating retail landscape, one company was able to complete the construction of a mall visited by over two million shoppers in its first three weeks of opening. Westfield Group’s Westfield Shopping Mall, in White City, West London, became the largest covered shopping development in London in October of that year. It began with a retail floor area of 1,600,000 sq. ft., and with additional investment and expansion, by 2018 it became the largest shopping centre in Europe, with an area of 2,600,000 sq. ft. To ensure the mall was completed on time despite the poor economic climate, commercial real estate company, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, sought the aid of cloud-based software platform, Zutec, for Phases 1 and 2 of the project from 2007 until present. Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield was formed in 2018 when Unibail-Rodamco SE, a European company, acquired Australian shopping centre operator Westfield Corporation, and has the largest development pipeline in the industry. Phase 1 In 2007, Westfield Design & Construction (now part of Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield) procured Zutec to manage the handover and completion process for the first phase of the shopping centre. When the mall opened the following year, the platform became a powerful tool for the management team, who used it to access interactive and digital operations and maintenance manuals, continuously upload retail fit-out information onto the platform, and update both capital and minor works to maintain a Source of Truth for the entire facility. Phase 2 From 2017 onwards, Westfield D&C once again procured Zutec for the handover and BIM data management and integration of Westfield London’s £600 million Phase 2 retail extension, as well as the URW UK Head Office Building and Newall Court. Early engagement with Westfield’s management team, via workshop sessions held with key management personnel, was crucial to success during the implementation of the software for this phase of the project, which included adding 740,000 sq. ft. of retail space. During this time, Zutec evolved from an interactive folder structure for the capturing of handover information, to a 3D Model Management and Visualisation Solution, and repository for all BIM attributes linked to Asset Registers and Manuals/Documents. Benefits The project was a success due to the multitude of benefits Zutec provides its customers. The platform, which is used for all project data to be defined, captured and managed throughout the entire lifecycle of a project, allowed Westfield quicker access to information, enhanced knowledge of built assets, a reduction in existing condition surveys and a faster reaction time in emergencies. Zutec continues to be utilised as a single Source of Truth, where the as-built records, changes and modifications which take place throughout the facility’s life cycle continue to be updated and maintained. Commenting on the partnership, Zutec’s Global Head of Digitalisation, Tom Boland, said: “This project has been one of our greatest achievements, and we are proud to have been involved from the very beginning. It’s thanks to the hard work and dedication on both sides that Westfield was able to open its doors on time and achieve the level of success that it has experienced to this day. We hope to continue this more than 10-year-long partnership with Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield and collaborate on equally groundbreaking projects in the coming years.”
FOLLOWING the outbreak of Covid-19, the construction industry was forced to move many of its processes online and modernise at a rapid rate in order to stay afloat. As we start to come through the pandemic and restrictions are beginning to ease, many of these practices have been implemented permanently by businesses that have reaped the benefits of working online – and complete construction partner Stepnell is no exception. The family-run business had been embracing cloud-based technology and digital platforms long before the Covid-19 pandemic, but the positive impact digitisation has had on client satisfaction has become even more prominent throughout the pandemic, making project delivery as cost and time efficient as possible. Stepnell, which works on public and private sector projects across the UK, has been utilising a selection of programmes to maximise efficiency and deliver outstanding service to its clients – as well as recently hiring a new technical manager as part of its company-wide advancement in BIM. One of the programmes currently being used by its team is Fieldview, a cloud-based app which offers managers the ability to view and amend shared documents – such as quality checks and health and safety protocols – on a live platform that provides updates in real time to project teams, stakeholders and sub-contractors. It also allows managers to have a detailed overview of each project while working remotely and collects data that enables Stepnell to make informed improvements about its ways of working. Fieldview runs alongside Viewpoint for Projects, which is a design management tool that stores plans and drawings, allowing architects and sub-contractors to effectively collaborate with the Stepnell team while keeping the client up to date with building design alterations. The team also uses Biosite to maximise site management efficiencies, helping to speed up induction processes, oversee the number of operatives on site and monitor the expiration of qualifying documents such as CSCS cards. Biosite also works to monitor the sustainability of each project, measuring the carbon footprint of each site worker’s commute in order to moderate transport emissions on eco-friendly builds. Tom Wakeford, joint managing director at Stepnell, said: “Without a doubt, the future of the construction sector lies in technology – especially following the pandemic, which forced us to embrace cloud-based platforms and move processes online in order to continuously collaborate while social distancing. Stepnell is intent on being at the forefront of this change, and we believe that these tools are a great place to start on our journey towards digitisation. “As a construction partner, it’s important that our role remains collaborative, so we’re in constant communication with both our clients and sub-contractors to keep them updated on the progress of the build. Transparency is an essential part of our service, and these platforms enable us to deliver this to our clients by not only providing live updates, but also by protecting their personal data and ensuring our teams are trained to a high standard so they can exceed expected requirements.” Stepnell has also been working to upgrade its systems internally, being one of the first businesses in the sector to migrate to the Nutanix Enterprise Cloud. Stepnell has also listened to customers and was one of the first contractors to achieve ISO27001 and Cyber Essentials Plus qualifications, which reinforces the company’s efforts in protecting sensitive client data. The team is also using Clear Review to help manage the performance of its staff online, a programme which helps to set objectives, arrange in person or virtual catch ups with mentors and line managers, and deliver constructive feedback to aid professional development. Tom continued: “Stepnell is constantly looking for ways to evolve and improve, so we are always on the lookout for technology that will help us to develop further. The use of these platforms, and the appointment of our new technical manager, will help us move towards continued growth, and we look forward to seeing how the rest of the construction industry embraces these changes over the next few years.” With more than 14 years’ BIM experience within the sector, new technical manager Charlotte Brogan will be dedicating her time to working with other technical and design managers in the business to improve the use of new and existing platforms across the business, pushing Stepnell to further expand its technological capabilities. Charlotte said: “I’m very excited about getting stuck into my new role and working alongside the Stepnell team to embrace new technologies and processes that will help to continuously elevate the business. “I was initially attracted to Stepnell as it is a family-run business, which means it has the values and company ethos that I often look for in an employer. The scope for development at Stepnell – both as a business and for my personal career growth – is huge and I look forward to working alongside teams in each department to introduce new platforms that can streamline processes and make sure we deliver the best service possible to our clients.” Stepnell is not only using these tools to improve relationships with existing clients, but it is also using online platforms to attract new business and win potential bids. Tom said: “We have also been utilising the Conquest estimating tool for many years and we are currently upgrading to its enquiries system, which will replace our own bespoke system. This will make us more efficient and means our teams can do more. “These platforms have all had an incredible impact on the success of Stepnell, and we’re excited about trialling more BIM products in the future and continuing to push the boundaries of modernisation within construction. Next up is an upgrade to our finance system to make us more efficient.” To find out more about Stepnell, visit https://www.stepnell.co.uk or join the conversation at @Stepnellltd.
