Capgemini will enter into a new partnership agreement with Autodesk, a leader in 3D design, engineering, construction and entertainment software, to deploy ReflectIoD, a new cloud-enabled and secure digital twin platform. The new Building Information Modelling (BIM) platform for building and infrastructure operators integrates natively 1D to 3D, point cloud,
A pioneering Scottish engineering design specialist has become one of the first independent consultancies to exploit the advantages of IDEA STatiCa, the first software in the world which can design and check all steel connections and joints regardless of complexity. Applied Engineering Design (AED), which has offices in Edinburgh and Bath,
Leading UK packaging supplier, Kite Packaging, has relaunched its custom tape offering, focusing on improved user experience through new technology as a part of the order process. The employee-owned business has also significantly expanded the range of packaging tapes that customers have available to brand. Businesses throughout the UK
As with most industries, evolving technology is changing the way that the construction industry operates. With engineers increasingly using software for architectural purposes, could we also see other roles within the industry change too e.g. robots performing manual tasks, or building design via virtual reality (VR)? In this article,
Building a home is a rewarding and exciting project. Planning every step and making decisions about the project is a huge responsibility. Also, it can be a daunting experience, even for skilled people. Evaluating the project before starting can make the process go smoothly. So if you to build your
Arthur Online – the cloud-based property management platform – has made property management simpler by integrating with Advanced Tenant Referencing and Signable. You can now manage the tenant onboarding process from end-to-end using the Arthur Online app or desktop platform, without a single piece of paper exchanging hands. This new
Structural drafting is the foundation of any construction project. The ideas in our mind are given life in the form of drawings. Computer-aided tools are invaluable to architects and engineers in creating precision drawings or illustrations. The structural industry has embraced software to help in the creation of engineering drawings.
A business obviously has to make a profit to survive, but once a profit is being made the next goal is increasing it. If a business isn’t making a profit or barely breaking even then clearly more income is required. In both cases the remedy is to increase profit margins
Corecom Consulting, a Leeds-headquartered IT recruitment firm, has recorded substantial growth within the last 12 months, as it opened an extra office in Manchester. The company has also extended its charity partnerships and gained new clients. Opened in January 2018, the Manchester office marked the launch of software testing community
There is no doubt that the adoption of PropTech has grown during 2018. Vicky Green, associate director in Trident’s Leeds office, explains: “Mobile data capture software is instrumental to Trident’s work today. On site, we access data efficiently using hand-held technology which we then upload to reporting software, ensuring that
Capgemini will enter into a new partnership agreement with Autodesk, a leader in 3D design, engineering, construction and entertainment software, to deploy ReflectIoD, a new cloud-enabled and secure digital twin platform. The new Building Information Modelling (BIM) platform for building and infrastructure operators integrates natively 1D to 3D, point cloud, geographical information, and Internet of Things (IOT) data while offering value added services to improve operations and maintenance. This agreement is a step towards meeting the ever growing needs of enterprises for standardized brownfields management along their entire lifecycle. The world’s population is expected to reach 10 billion by 2050, with 75% living in cities. Globalization and urbanization are driving unprecedented demand for new and rehabilitated buildings and infrastructure. Given this context, a BIM single source of truth enabling data centric collaboration across the extended enterprise is a requirement. Capgemini’s services in Digital Engineering and Manufacturing are leading the convergence of the physical and digital worlds to boost its clients’ competitiveness. Its solutions, particularly for the AEC (Architecture, Engineering and Construction) sector, leverage model intelligence, digital workflows and powerful data insights to shape smart factories and assets, comfortable and secure buildings, and data-enabled infrastructure towards an efficient, sustainable and livable future. Backed by Capgemini and Autodesk’s expertise, ReflectIOD will provide operators with consistent services from handover to operations, including design reviews in operations, progressive handover and commissioning, support for real time diagnosis and inspections, IoT alerting to prevent fluctuations, remote assistance and asset revamping. “The essence of a digital twin is data- centric collaborations. Capgemini’s agreement with Autodesk will provide BIM operators with a unique cloud- enabled and secured digital twin platform. This collaboration gathers a unique set of digital transformation skills and technologies,” said Jean-Pierre Petit, Director of Digital Manufacturing at Capgemini. The platform integrates Autodesk Forge APIs and geographical information systems, as well as Capgemini integration services and platforms such as X-IoT for device management, and Andy 3D for remote assistance and asset revamping on hybrid 3D. It can be configured according to industry and project specific requirements and is adaptable to change following agile and incremental implementation. Furthermore, as certified Forge Systems Integrator, Capgemini can support and advance its clients Forge based initiatives.
A pioneering Scottish engineering design specialist has become one of the first independent consultancies to exploit the advantages of IDEA STatiCa, the first software in the world which can design and check all steel connections and joints regardless of complexity. Applied Engineering Design (AED), which has offices in Edinburgh and Bath, is one of the few smaller firms to offer clients the revolutionary system which designs and checks welded or bolted connections, 2D or 3D joints, anchoring or footing of all topologies. IDEA STatiCa streamlines fabrication for clients and provides clear pass/fail checks according to EC/AISC/CISC standards as well as importing data from the most widespread FEA and CAD programs. AED is using the technique on a major project for the multi-billion pound Battersea Power Station development in London, which is providing 4000 new homes on the south bank of the River Thames. Together with its client Icon Fabrications, AED has been tasked by the Robert Bird Group with creating a high-level temporary roadway at the site which is capable of carrying heavy construction traffic. Once its use as a site connection is finished, the structural beams and columns will be encased in concrete and flats will be built on top of the deck. Tim Hetherington, Director of AED, said: “It is a particularly complex commission and we have become early adopters of IDEA STatiCa because its advanced design and check process is both powerful and quick enough to be a useful tool in our everyday work as structural engineers for fabricators. “I had become aware of the limitations of commonplace software and I had been looking for an alternative. IDEA STatiCa is very expensive, which is why it is largely used by bigger consultancies, but I have been persuaded by the value that it adds to our offering.” AED has also employed the software on work for the new £12.5 million Laidlaw Music Centre, which is being constructed at the University of St Andrews. The building will house a performance venue, a rehearsal space and a high-tech recording facility. IDEA STatiCa’s advanced steel connection designs have also been introduced by AED into the steel podium for a new Edinburgh flats development at Waterfront 3, where the unique capabilities of the software have enabled the use of innovative connection types, delivering better value for AED’s clients. AED was founded in 2008 and now has offices in Edinburgh and Bath. It has a turnover of £650,000 and employs 10 people. It undertakes most of its detailed design and coordination work in house. The company serves individuals and businesses in sectors including industry and commerce, sport and education, infrastructure and property maintenance.
Leading UK packaging supplier, Kite Packaging, has relaunched its custom tape offering, focusing on improved user experience through new technology as a part of the order process. The employee-owned business has also significantly expanded the range of packaging tapes that customers have available to brand. Businesses throughout the UK are looking more to customised packaging that carry their brand and now customers can benefit from Kite’s custom printed tape tool – a simple, cost-effective way of personalising packaging. A key benefit of purchasing custom printed tape is the positive effect it has on brand reputation, as well as providing a further layer of security to make sure goods travel from A to B in the same condition they left the warehouse in. Kite’s new custom printed tape functionality offers a more user friendly and dynamic order process with three easy steps to create your desired customised tape and a simple reorder option for repeat order customers. Users can choose from a range of tapes, including Acrylic (PP), Hot melt (PP) and Vinyl (PVC), or for a more environmentally-friendly branded solution, customers can select gummed paper or Kraft paper tape. There are also three backdrop colours and widths available to choose from, letting customers find the right printed tape for their business. Brand building is an integral part of day to day business and packaging is often seen as an extension of the product that it contains, making it a very important element to take advantage of. With its low-cost brand awareness benefits and enhanced usability, Kite’s new custom printed tape creates a great customer experience and maintains the company’s focus on the best range at the best price. To find out more about Kite Packaging’s custom printed tape or for any other bespoke packaging enquiries, please visit kitepackaging.co.uk.
As with most industries, evolving technology is changing the way that the construction industry operates. With engineers increasingly using software for architectural purposes, could we also see other roles within the industry change too e.g. robots performing manual tasks, or building design via virtual reality (VR)? In this article, structure design software specialists, Oasys, investigate potential changes that could be on the way with regard to both builders and construction workers, as our world becomes more advanced with technology. Will jobs be under threat? This is a common question that is asked in the workplace, but the answer is never a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’. Technology will not steal our jobs, but just replace us as we shift roles. But how will this impact the construction industry? To understand, we need to have an oversight on statistics that have been released regarding this issue. Boston Consulting Group has said that by 2025, up to a quarter of jobs will be replaced by smart software or robots. This includes a range of professions, from factory workers to doctors, and even journalists. However, a study carried out by Oxford University has said that 35% of existing jobs in Britain are at risk of automation in the next 20 years. In terms of reduction in physical workers, there is a lot of uncertainty. However, this can be challenged if we start preparing early and encourage current and future workers to adapt to the changes. This could include advancing their own skillset with a focus on how they can do their job better with the use of technology. Evolving technology, evolving roles? With news that implies technology will replace physical workers, it is often forgotten that people need to manage this technology and make sure that it is operating correctly. It’s also left unmentioned that workers will need to use technology, and that leads us to the decision that in the construction industry, builders of the future will become programmers. Over the years, we have seen constant changes in the way we work, and the construction sector has been very accepting to new and innovative methods to make jobs easier. From hammers to nail guns, shovels to diggers — and now practical labour to programming. However, this cannot be achieved overnight. Programming is a topic that schools around the UK should be looking to implement into their curriculums as a core subject to keep up with the demand of jobs and to keep up with the constant changes in technology. If we’re teaching young people old ways, they will be useless when it comes to doing the work and there might not even be jobs available that match their skillsets. With the constant growth in technology surrounding construction, young people need to be prepared with the skills and this shouldn’t be up for debate. Like the studies discussed earlier, more jobs are at risk of being lost due to smart software and robots. Workers need to be as good as the technology. When it comes to a common piece of software that is used in construction, Building Information Modelling (BIM) is an element that can be beneficial, as it allows the appropriate people to access all of the information about a project in one place. It can look at key stages of a project across the lifecycle of a job and provide the information that is needed. This can save both time and money for any construction company and allows builders to have a clear oversight. BIM can help illustrate the entire building, from starting processes to its demolition, and can even show how materials can be reused. This suggests that technology is taking over, and if people want to remain in the loop of having a career and developing personally with the changes, it’s best to start sooner rather than later. Sources: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-33327659 https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/mar/19/robot-based-economy-san-francisco
Building a home is a rewarding and exciting project. Planning every step and making decisions about the project is a huge responsibility. Also, it can be a daunting experience, even for skilled people. Evaluating the project before starting can make the process go smoothly. So if you to build your home follow these steps: Decide the location You need to choose or decide the location and position of the house. Next, you’ll drive stakes into the ground to mark this. But you can employ a surveyor for because surveyors know the restrictions and codes of the area you want to build in Clear and Excavate The process involves removing roots, trees, and rocks from the construction location. Further, you can also, rough grade the site. It involves moving the debris around to create your preferred driveway, yard, and drainage. Also, excavating involves digging a hole for your foundation. Get necessary utilities for building You’ll need water, power and a portable toilet while building the house. Also, you can get a well drilled so water will be available at all times during construction. Make and pour the footings Footing holds the foundation of your house. You can pour it into wooden trenches or forms. Create the foundation A good foundation holds the home’s structure. Make the completed foundation high enough to prevent water from entering the house. Also, the foundation must be waterproofed to prevent water from gathering in crawl space. Install plumbing materials It involves fixing any plumbing that needs to go beneath the concrete. Create Slabs Slabs are then formed and poured concrete in garages and the basement. Build septic systems You need a septic tank, especially there’s no town sewer. It’s a system that makes disposing of your household waste easy. Paint This is where you need to finish off any drywall repairs and carry out the last painting process. You may need to touch up some few things. Don’t worry, it’s normal. You can carry out the last finish on the floor and install the carpets too. Clean the house after painting Here, you’ll need to clean both the outside and inside of the house after painting. Driveway As soon as the builders have removed all the equipment after completing their job, you can create a driveway. Create a garden It’s time to grow trees, shrubs, and grass to create flower beds. Also, you can add any garden or mulch to the house. This will complete the appearance of your home so you can move in! Building your home can be stressful, but architects can show you your future house with Cedreo, the best home design software.
Arthur Online – the cloud-based property management platform – has made property management simpler by integrating with Advanced Tenant Referencing and Signable. You can now manage the tenant onboarding process from end-to-end using the Arthur Online app or desktop platform, without a single piece of paper exchanging hands. This new integration enables you to swiftly and securely complete your tenant reference check and update your account with the new tenant’s details. Your prospective tenant can even sign all documents via the app. Arthur Online’s integration with AdvancedRent, a market leader in tenant referencing, allows for efficient management by seamlessly moving data from one software to another, saving time and money. With a simple push of a button, the information from the prospective tenant is sent out for referencing. Our tracking system allows you to easily track the progress of the reference. When complete, Arthur Online will notify you, your team, the owner and the tenant of the outcome. And, if anything needs to be signed, the Signable integration means that the tenancy agreement can be completed in minutes. Marc Trup, founder and CEO of Arthur Online, says: “Paperwork used to be the bane of property management, especially when it comes to HMOs. The paperwork and checks for just one building could zap a whole day. But now, with our integration to Advanced Tenant Referencing you only have to put the tenant’s information in once to get it checked, issue the tenancy, file the details with the accountant and deal with any issues that arise. At Arthur Online, we are all about enabling our clients to navigate the minefield that is property management, and Signable and Advanced Tenant Referencing are the latest of a number of leading tools we use to do just that.” Arthur Online gives property managers unprecedented control of their portfolio, whether dealing with tenants, contractors, accountants or agents. Arthur Online is available as an app and desktop platform from www.arthuronline.co.uk , you can sign up for a free 30-day trial today.
Structural drafting is the foundation of any construction project. The ideas in our mind are given life in the form of drawings. Computer-aided tools are invaluable to architects and engineers in creating precision drawings or illustrations. The structural industry has embraced software to help in the creation of engineering drawings. Most importantly, the drawings specify each construction detail to the contractor and thus help avoid blunders and bad execution of the approved design. This article on AutoCAD for Architects give you a great feel for what can be done by a beginner. Architectural drawings Architectural drawing is the technical drawing of a building project. Architectural plans include the working drawings, schedules, floor plans, foundation plans, and roof plans. Architectural plans demonstrate not only the location of the building but also the details of where the building parts will be placed. With the help of a computer-aided software such as AutoCAD architectural drawings describe precision methods, as well as materials, colors, and texture to be used in the construction project. Structural drawings Structural drawings are technical drawings that show details of the structural elements. The drawings provide information that includes the strength of the various structural components, structural materials, size, grade, and also the placement of reinforcement. A structural analysis is crucial as it helps evaluate whether the structural design has what it takes to withstand internal and external stresses as well as the forces expected for the design. CAD software is invaluable for the creation of precision structural drawings. Electrical drawings Electrical drawings refer to technical drawings that provide detailed information about power, lighting, and communication of construction or any engineering project. CAD software can help in the design of any type of electrical drawings including circuit diagrams and drawings, circuit panels, electrical schematic drawings, an electrical blueprint for floors, electrical grid systems, as well as any electrical engineering diagrams. Electrical diagrams save time in that they help professionals anticipate problem areas such as wet spots, tight spaces, or sharp corners. The professional can plan for the areas in advance. The drawing also helps in reducing costs as you can shop once for the entire project. Also, the drawings can reduce or eliminate the risk of injury as the professional can anticipate the areas that have the potential for injury. Plumbing and sanitary drawings These are drawings that show the location of the sanitary, fixture, piping for water supplies, and how to connect the fixtures. Plumbing drawings are essential for any construction project as they show how to bring water to the building for human consumption, and how to remove wastewater from the structure. Finishing drawings Finishing drawings are the drawings that show the finishing and the appearance of the building. They include details of tiles, marbles, etc. Finishes usually are the final part of a construction project, and they are used for both internal and external elements. Finishing drawings are necessary as they form the part that people see and usually perceive the quality of the building. A competent CAD software can help bring out the best appearance and protection of a building project.
A business obviously has to make a profit to survive, but once a profit is being made the next goal is increasing it. If a business isn’t making a profit or barely breaking even then clearly more income is required. In both cases the remedy is to increase profit margins – but how? The simple answer is to either increase income or lower expenses – ideally both for an extra boost to margins. Lowering expenses Increase efficiency – improving stock control and cutting down on wastage can be achieved through using modern stock tracking software. Reducing waste immediately cuts expenses on re-stocking and perhaps over spending on stock that’s not required so helping profit margins widen. Good stock control systems provide intelligence about what’s selling and when, so you can focus more on products that are shifting quicker than slower moving items. Review your buying habits – are you getting the best deal from your suppliers? It pays to regularly check. Maybe buying in more bulk might reduce the overall price per item? Be careful not to overdo this though and end up with items sitting around unsold tying up money. Check you’re not paying over the odds with other items such as utilities and stationery supplies. Any savings you can make all help improve margins. Marketing costs – you may be able to reduce the cost of each sale by lowering how much you spend on getting each customer ‘through the door’. If you haven’t looked into digital marketing methods such as social media maybe it’s time you did? In general, social media and email marketing can cost much less than traditional forms such as on page advertising. Focus on existing customers – it’s far less expensive to sell to existing customers than finding new ones, so spend time actively selling to your existing customer base. Reduce overheads – perhaps consider the following: Premises – maybe you could scale back on where you do business. Perhaps you’re not fully utilizing the space you’re paying for so smaller and less costly premises might be worth considering. Staffing – redundancies are a major move in reducing overheads, but other less drastic measures can reduce costs. Outsourcing instead of hiring for certain roles could save money; no office space to provide, no pension contributions and other ‘plus salary’ costs. If someone has left perhaps their job can be absorbed by others or outsourced? Increasing profits Increase average customer spend – the classic way many successful companies maximize revenue and margins is to sell more to the same customer. Fast food giant McDonald’s has the classic “do you want fries with that?” or “go large for XX extra” as a way of making more from each sale. People spending even a little more per sale can make a huge difference to the bottom line. When factoring in Business Process Outsource for use, this will ensure the best savings. Along with offering add ons, up selling and cross selling is worth doing if appropriate in your business. Amazon do this as a matter of course by showing other items on product pages under the captions: ‘others also bought this’ and ‘you might also be interested in this’. Focus on higher margin and best selling lines – if you offer a range of products or services then maybe it’s worth focusing on those with the best margins or those that sell the best. Spending time and money in lower performing areas could be cut or at least reduced so focusing on the higher margin areas. Raise prices – an obvious move to increase margins but when did you last raise your prices? This will largely depend on what business you’re in of course, and maybe it’s a very price sensitive market you’re in, but as your costs increase you’re in effect lowering your profit margin if your prices stay the same. Overall review of service It’s worth periodically reviewing your business offering and how you provide it. By changing aspects of your service you may be able to, for example, lower overheads without compromising on the quality of your products or services
Corecom Consulting, a Leeds-headquartered IT recruitment firm, has recorded substantial growth within the last 12 months, as it opened an extra office in Manchester. The company has also extended its charity partnerships and gained new clients. Opened in January 2018, the Manchester office marked the launch of software testing community networking events in the region. The company has extended its support for Emmaus, a charity for the previously homeless, partnering with its Salford community in addition to Leeds. “We are ahead of our five per cent forecasted growth figure and on track to achieve a turnover of £4,940,125 and net profit of £474,978 by the end of 2018,” said Jonathan Sanderson, managing director at Corecom Consulting. Since the start of the year, the company has achieved 10 award shortlists including those for the company’s innovative marketing strategy, presence in the Manchester region, contributions to charity and for its entrepreneurial company leaders. “By 2019, we plan to open a third office in London. We are looking forward to and are committed to expanding our relationships across the North West and South East of England, including sharing our knowledge and expertise in the local communities in which we operate,” said Jonathan about future plans. Established in 2008, Corecom Consulting has grown from 15 to 24 employees over the last 12 months and the company plans to recruit an additional six members of staff at its Leeds HQ and is forecasting a year on year growth of eight per cent in both Leeds and Manchester by December 2019.
There is no doubt that the adoption of PropTech has grown during 2018. Vicky Green, associate director in Trident’s Leeds office, explains: “Mobile data capture software is instrumental to Trident’s work today. On site, we access data efficiently using hand-held technology which we then upload to reporting software, ensuring that a consistent structure is followed and the risk of error is substantially reduced. “Our data capture software collects and compares data with predefined element lists and produces tailored outputs to suit reporting requirements, prioritising expenditure over a specified period. Due to the element grades being consistent and predefined, the software allows for more intelligent decisions to be made across portfolios, often resulting in significant cost savings. Data capture software also allows for rapid data analysis and document preparation, resulting in a faster turnaround. “In addition to increasing efficiencies, this means of reporting enables a greater understanding of the issues and the ability to isolate elements, sub elements, grades or priorities. It allows a building owner or manager to group costs by region or across their entire portfolio, creating greater efficiencies and to budget and prioritise expenditure more effectively and to put in place larger scale programmes of work. Furthermore, the ability for companies to analyse the cost of maintenance versus capital expenditure creates greater transparency in budgeting, as well as bringing to light the efficiency of their current maintenance suppliers/contracts.” So where will the technology take us next? Vicky says: “We are also exploring the use of 3D photography, which enables various sets of data to be linked to a 3D format and as such, links planned preventative maintenance (PPM) to BIM. 3D cameras have substantial benefits. Take working at height, for example. Accessing rooflines, fascias and guttering is a perpetual problem for many property maintenance professionals. Scaffolding and cherry-pickers can be prohibitively expensive and even then are sometimes unsuitable. ”Faced with exactly this dilemma, we recently carried out a series of PPM surveys for a client with unusually remote and inaccessible property assets but were able to capture all of the information using drone technology. Drones have the substantial benefit of not only providing an immediate, cost effective solution, but can photograph remote locations with virtually no disruption. “As a result of data provision through images, cloud surveys and more accurate surveying of existing buildings, BIM – once the province of just building designers – is now increasingly links to both PPM and facilities management, causing efficiencies for each. The benefits of BIM are unparalleled, particularly when a substantial survey needs to be undertaken while the building remains occupied. “And as the Internet of Things becomes more widely used it is inevitable that a building’s plant will communicate directly into PPM reporting and scheduling. “In the last year alone we have seen considerable change in the way in which building consultancy can benefit from technology and we anticipate many more positive changes in the years ahead.” Rights of light There is no doubt that a right to light has become of increasing importance. This was exacerbated following the publication of the Government’s revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) in July, which states that, “When considering applications for housing, authorities should take a flexible approach in applying policies or guidance relating to daylight and sunlight, where they would otherwise inhibit making efficient use of a site.” It is no coincidence that Trident created a new Rights of Light team in 2018. The team is led by Dan Wade, director in Trident’s London office, who comments, “The need for the new service line follows evolving case law and changes to planning policy (both nationally and locally). The main issue today is building tall in city centres. What does this mean for existing affected neighbours and future developers and investors? How will they all stand together? Cooperation and clear communication are key but that’s just the basics. Rights of light assessments get into the finer detail and are something that Trident now deals with.” So, how is it done? “Technology plays a vital part in measuring impact. The future for this service will incorporate PropTech which makes each job more efficient, more accurate and easier to understand. In fact, modern technology methods such as radiance assessments are ahead of those required in current legislation. “As this technology evolves and increasingly integrates with technology such as BIM, I can see it used to better visualise complex data. Working alongside other service lines, such as architecture and project management, we can identify issues in the design stage to allow architects to incorporate design features to combat these issues. This increases our ability to deliver projects on time and on budget too. The use of technology allows us to react to last minute changes and it can speed up what is a complicated process.” The future of office design Architects and designers are repeatedly tasked with generating innovative office designs to tempt an evolving and increasingly diverse workforce. Kim Benam, associate director in Trident’s London office explains: “Increasingly, we are asked to future-proof offices for a new generation of workers. Both Cat A and Cat B design are evolving to suit new ways of working by maximising flexibility and providing multiple ways of occupying workspaces. And as the debate between open and cellular offices continues, so does the research. Desk modules are rapidly reducing in size with shared storage zones, but designs need to be mindful of a human’s need for personal space and privacy. To combat this, soft zones, private booths and even restorative spaces to support people’s cognitive health are becoming key features of office design. This is balanced with areas for teams to congregate and to generate social interaction. The freedom for workers to roam the office to find the right balance of both social and private time, and even preferred room temperature, is also embraced in current workplace trends.” A multi-disciplinary approach to building consultancy With the recent addition of Architecture and Rights of Light to the Trident offer, the
