Using technology to provide information required under the new Building Safety Act 2022 – which has been enforceable since October 1st – can help relieve the pressure on suppliers who are responsible for submitting the data, says Bob Glendenning, Fire Design Engineering Manager of Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine Coatings. The
NBS’ 2023 Digital Construction Report shows strong appetite for emerging tech NBS, the platform for connected construction information, has revealed the results of its 2023 Digital Construction Report. Focusing on emerging tech and the industry’s approach to digital transformation, the report offers a snapshot of industry professionals’ various views and
Johnson Controls, the global leader for smart, healthy and sustainable buildings, has announced it was named a leader in energy management software by independent industry analyst firm Verdantix in its Green Quadrant: Energy Management Software 2023�report. “Buildings contribute nearly 40% of global emissions and new levels of efficiency and sustainability can
Scotts Timber Engineering and MiTek UK & Ireland have announced a partnership to offer highly detailed 3D modelling and automated design features for housebuilders. MiTek PAMIR is a specialised roof-truss and Posi-Joist 3D modelling and design software system, which is a powerful and versatile fully integrated CAD, layout and engineering
Leading housebuilder Redrow has developed and launched its innovative new mobile app, helping homeowners find their dream new home in just a few taps. Building on its reputation for digital innovation and customer experience, the app is the first and only one of its type on iOS and Android. Built
Deepki, the global leader in ESG for real estate, is bolstering its leadership team to support its continued international expansion, with the announcement of three new hires as well as four internal promotions. Deepki is the only company in the world offering a fully populated ESG data intelligence platform to
Smart Spaces announces today that it has won the Santander Technology Business of the Year at the Growing Business Awards 2023 – an annual event which honours the UK’s most outstanding entrepreneurs and high growth SME businesses. Smart Spaces won because the judges were impressed by how much it had
NBS’ 2023 Digital Construction Report reveals major drive for green metrics Today, NBS, the platform for connected construction information, reveals the results of its Digital Construction Report. The study explores the industry’s evolving relationship between digital technology and safety and sustainability – the sector’s biggest challenges. This year it showed
Dynamic scheduling software specialist FLS – FAST LEAN SMART has won a field service planning and scheduling contract for E.ON, one of the UK’s leading energy providers. E.ON is a leading installer of energy efficiency solutions including smart meters, solar panels, air source heat pumps, batteries and electric vehicle chargers.
The leading construction procurement platform attributes its 753% revenue growth to a fantastic team, valued customers, engaged suppliers and supportive investors YardLink, the UK’s leading construction procurement platform, today announced that it ranked 41st in the 2023 Deloitte UK Technology Fast 50, a ranking of the 50 fastest-growing technology companies in
Using technology to provide information required under the new Building Safety Act 2022 – which has been enforceable since October 1st – can help relieve the pressure on suppliers who are responsible for submitting the data, says Bob Glendenning, Fire Design Engineering Manager of Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine Coatings. The Building Safety Act is designed to take forward a fundamental reform of the building safety system and address the issues identified by Dame Judith Hackitt in her independent review, Building a Safer Future. The Government stated that the Act would deliver ‘the biggest changes to building safety for nearly 40 years and make residents safer in their homes’ and named the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) as the new Building Safety Regulator to oversee the safety and standards of all buildings. In doing so, the legislation has also brought challenges for those in the complex supply chain who are required to provide specific information at each key stage which should be digitally stored and available for the lifetime of the building, described as The Golden Thread of information. For the protection of structural steel with intumescent coatings, the different parts of the engineering community and the supply chain also need to understand more detail of certain stages or Gateways as they are described under the terms of the act. Structural engineers, designers and specifiers will be more concerned with the requirements under gateways one covering the planning stage and parts of gateway two dealing with building control approval. Applicators will need to understand parts of gateway two on building control and gateway three covering safety information. Fabricators will need to understand the wider picture across all three gateways. Overhaul in existing regulations The intention is to ensure that the right people have the right information at the right time to ensure buildings are safe and building safety risks are managed throughout the building’s lifecycle. For the construction industry, and related specialisms such as Passive Fire Protection, this means an overhaul in existing regulations, with new guidance in how higher risk buildings should be designed, constructed and managed to ensure that those who use them are safe and feel safe. These buildings are defined as being a minimum of 18 metres or seven storeys in height and comprise of at least two domestic premises. Resource is limited in many organisations, so how are suppliers to approach these challenging requirements without cutting corners? At Sherwin-Williams, we use our years of expertise along with the appropriate technology. This technology allows us to understand what is required at the start of the process working in collaboration with our customers. To this end, we have invested in Building Information Modelling (BIM) process and technology for many years and also partner with leading global software developers including Trimble. Such systems allow for data transfer and make storage much simpler. They are future-proofed and permanent. They also provide important information and documentation required under the new act in the digital format required. Benefits to the process are apparent for main contractors, architects, structural engineers, steel fabricators and site inspectors. Accessing a BIM model collaboratively aids efficiency and versatility, particularly on projects with global players, where project team members may reside in different geographies around the world. All can access the model over the internet and collaborate using cloud-sharing technology. We have been committed to this approach for some years and, to this end, we have developed our own proprietary software called the FIRETEX Design Estimator 2.0 (FDE). The software offers calculated solutions for the safe protection of structural steelwork framing elements, and embraces BIM with an integrated plugin tool allowing 3D modelling data to be directly linked into the software. Manging the whole process This offers the capability of providing calculations for coatings thicknesses of all shapes and sizes of steel sections, fire engineering, and in the case of cellular beams, allows for any configuration of web apertures to be seamlessly incorporated and the fire protection specification passed back into the model. For the steelwork fabricator, the approach with BIM means they can manage the whole process from concept to design through to delivery of materials on site including the off-site applied fire protection. The same principle could also be adopted for use with on-site applied fire protection, offering advantages to the main contractor and eventually to the owner-operator. FIRETEX embodied carbon values, using our third-party certificated EPDs, are also stored within the 3D model. Once the fire protection properties have been passed back into the BIM model, future interested stakeholders can access any of that information to manage many areas such as inspection and onward building fire maintenance. Even fire and rescue services could create strategies using this data. There are real savings in efficiencies, time and cost here, with the added benefits for the users in the longer term. One example of these efficiencies can be seen in the huge time savings in a recent project where all the floor plates were unique. That in-turn made all the floor beams – which were cellular beams – unique designs in themselves so this was a huge design undertaking. The BIM workflow is a ‘push-pull’ system. We added missing dry film thickness design properties to the steelwork 3D model using the FDE. All of the coatings properties were then stored on every piece in the model, including the EPD values, meaning we had access to this information to share with other parties for the lifetime of the building. The newest development released very recently includes the ability to synchronise any optimised steel profiles back into the model. After synchronisation the end-user can then produce documents, drawings, labels, barcodes and any other relevant documentation. This is fast and accurate and provides certainty for the purposes of the new Building Safety Act. New powers of enforcement This information is critical and the technology enables us to be accurate from the outset for our customers in the interests of safety. As a reminder as to why this information is so
NBS’ 2023 Digital Construction Report shows strong appetite for emerging tech NBS, the platform for connected construction information, has revealed the results of its 2023 Digital Construction Report. Focusing on emerging tech and the industry’s approach to digital transformation, the report offers a snapshot of industry professionals’ various views and evolving opinions. One of the most hotly debated topics from this year’s study concerns the industry’s rate of tech adoption and whether it now excels in terms of digital expertise. Despite an overall rise in the use of digital technologies, nearly half (47%) are concerned the industry is behind the times. Moreover, 36% of respondents said they worry that they will be left behind when it comes to digital know-how. However, around a quarter (26%) believe this is an outdated view and is no longer the case, and that construction has finally found its ‘digital feet’. With such a divided split, it could suggest that ‘digitisation’ is more prominent in some areas of construction than others. Further wins for digital twins and off-site NBS also found that the use of digital twins has increased by 50% since 2021 from 16% to 25%. What’s more, just over half (55%) of those that use digital twins, do so to mirror construction from other projects and to create an ‘as-built model’. This could be evidence that building safety and efficiency is now taking precedence. Figures relating to the number of projects using elements of off-site construction also showed an uptick. Over half of professionals (57%) had been involved in a project that used MMC in the past twelve months. In 2021, this figure was hovering at around 50% so an upward trend is taking place. Suppliers were the most likely (70%) followed by contractors (63%) and consultants (58%). The increased uptake of off-site construction has also been reflected in project data from Glenigan. Its industry intelligence shows a value-adjusted percentage of 11% of new-build projects using MMC during the first nine months of 2023. Glenigan predicts further growth to this figure over the next few years, with nearly 9% of new-build projects securing detailed planning approval during the first nine months of 2023 involving an off-site element. Becoming Immersed The study also flagged a growing appetite for the use of immersive technologies, such as AR (Augmented Reality), VR (Virtual Reality), and MR (Mixed-Reality) which are playing an increasingly important role. More than one in three professionals (36%) are already using this type of technology and a further one in five (20%) plans to within the next three years. Overwhelmingly, its main use is for stakeholder engagement (74%), where upcoming or ongoing projects can be digitally generated to present detailed plans. However, for two in three users (62%), immersive tech offers a way to visualise design interfaces, so they can better understand how construction projects fit within existing surroundings. Just over a third (35%) use it for marketing purposes, particularly amongst suppliers (67%) who recognise its value when selling products and systems. Machine learning Interest in AI (Artificial Intelligence) and machine learning has also seen a sharp rise within the past year following the launch of ChatGPT and other algorithm-based language models. Looking back to 2020, two in five (38%) said they were unsure if their organisation was using it, of those who did, just 9% were using AI. Although the use of AI in construction is yet to take its grip (43% said they have no plans to use it), signs of early adopters are already visible. More than one in five (22%) have already adopted AI, and a similar number (20%) said they will do so within a year. Head in the clouds Eight in ten now also use a form of cloud computing as part of their daily workflow. While mainly in the form of storage, including Google Drive, OnePoll, DropBox, etc, the study revealed that over seven in ten use it to share documents and information with clients. Three-quarters (75%) also use it to collaborate with other team members, particularly on 3D models and specifications. Given the industry’s push towards the Golden Thread and focus on digital information management, it shows that the sector is making the essential investment to increase efficiency and reduce risk in the built environment. A point of interest within the report was that despite overall growth in the use of tech, opinions on whether the industry is still lagging behind others remain divided. Nearly half (47%) are still concerned the industry is behind the times when it comes to the adoption of digital technologies, but over a quarter believe it’s no longer the case. Speaking on this year’s report, David Bain, Research Manager at NBS, said: “It’s clear from the results that construction has ramped up digital adoption in recent years and is a far stride from where it was three years ago. “Looking ahead, it will be fascinating to see next year’s report as 2024 is shaping up to be big on AI and machine learning.” Russell Haworth, NBS CEO, added: “Looking at the evidence, we can see that construction is shaking off old and tired misconceptions and now relies on all manner of digital skills to produce building excellence. That said, there are still some areas for improvement and no doubt next year will bring further leaps in tech know-how and application.” Click here for the full report. 723 construction professionals took part in this year’s Digital Construction Survey, which included views from architects/engineers and other consultants, contractors, clients, and suppliers in the UK and beyond. Previously known as the NBS BIM Report, the study is a benchmark for changing attitudes towards tech adoption and new technologies.
Johnson Controls, the global leader for smart, healthy and sustainable buildings, has announced it was named a leader in energy management software by independent industry analyst firm Verdantix in its Green Quadrant: Energy Management Software 2023�report. “Buildings contribute nearly 40% of global emissions and new levels of efficiency and sustainability can only be achieved through digitalisation,” said Johnson Controls Chief Technology Officer Vijay Sankaran. “Recognition as a leader in the Energy Management Software industry speaks volumes about our work and solutions that continue to create the spaces and places that improve well-being, achieve climate goals and save money.” This Green Quadrant: Energy Management Software 2023 report provides a detailed, fact-based comparison of the most prominent energy management software (EMS) vendors evaluated on their innovation and product strategy and customer satisfaction through product demonstrations, vendor responses and interviews. Through its analysis, Verdantix found a dramatic improvement of energy management capabilities in Johnson Controls’ offerings since evaluations in 2015 and 2018. Through the launch of OpenBlue and a targeted acquisition strategy to bolster and deepen capabilities, Johnson Controls has enriched its offering with additional energy and sustainability management features. Johnson Controls received high scores relative to fifteen leading EMS vendors both in capabilities (e.g., breadth and depth of functionality) and momentum (e.g., customer adoption, strategy investment). OpenBlue is rated higher than other EMS software providers for capabilities including autonomous operations and control, energy monitoring and reporting and innovation and product strategy. “As a Green Quadrant Leader in Energy Management Software, Johnson Controls has established itself as a leader in the energy management space and is helping customers unlock energy efficiencies, achieve sustainability goals, and harness digital insights,” said Harry Wilson, Industry Analyst, Verdantix. “We found the company’s offerings are transitioning from those of a traditional building technology manufacturer, to those of a software solutions provider with a deeper focus on equipment integration and control capabilities.” Already recognised as a leader in the Green Quadrant: IOT Platforms for Smart Buildings 2022, the cornerstone of the Johnson Controls energy management offering is OpenBlue, an industry-leading ecosystem of connected technologies, expertise and services. OpenBlue Enterprise Manager (OBEM) is a suite of software solutions that form a comprehensive building performance management platform to power a new class of smart buildings that are secure, healthy and sustainable. Combining data from across the building’s systems and utility bills, and using advanced digital experiences augmented with AI, OBEM provides actionable insights and controls that save more energy and reduce more emissions than possible with isolated systems. It also helps customers in simplifying carbon disclosure reporting and regulatory compliance with building performance standards. With deployments across the globe spanning commercial office spaces, healthcare, education, campuses and more, OBEM enables real-time data visibility across assets, people and processes, empowering customers to drive intelligent and proactive operations from a single pane of glass. To learn more about how Johnson Controls OpenBlue is transforming smart buildings, please visit: http://www.johnsoncontrols.com/OpenBlue. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Scotts Timber Engineering and MiTek UK & Ireland have announced a partnership to offer highly detailed 3D modelling and automated design features for housebuilders. MiTek PAMIR is a specialised roof-truss and Posi-Joist 3D modelling and design software system, which is a powerful and versatile fully integrated CAD, layout and engineering package with full EC5 engineering to the latest design codes. These advanced capabilities translate into numerous advantages for Scotts Timber Engineering’s customers, including higher quality drawings and quicker turnaround times when detailing and amending drawings. James Scott, managing director, Scotts Timber Engineering says: “One of the key strengths of MiTek’s PAMIR design platform is its seamless integration with third-party information systems such as PDF, AutoCAD, and Revit. This compatibility enables Scotts Timber Engineering to import and export information and details from architects or engineers quickly and easily, streamlining our workflow.” MiTek’s PAMIR design software allows the design team at Scotts to create accurate designs more efficiently, resulting in a faster turnaround time for customers. As a result, quote stage designs are more accurate, which reduces the amount of work required to bring preliminary designs up to construction quality. The transition to MiTek PAMIR involved a comprehensive review and restructuring of Scotts Timber Engineering’s operations. By reevaluating each process, the company was able to identify areas for improvement and build a more efficient workflow. Billy Richardson, head of sales, Scotts Timber Engineering says: “It is clear that MiTek is investing and developing in its systems beyond its competition, and we wanted to be a part of that. PAMIR has made complicated designs more accurate and streamlined our entire design process. We can now respond more efficiently to client feedback without the need to start from scratch.” Tim Garner, Commercial Director of MiTek UK and Ireland says: “MiTek are delighted to be working in partnership with Scotts Timber Engineering, and it’s great that Scotts are already seeing the many benefits of our software and service. Our design software PAMIR unlocks unparalleled efficiencies, allowing designers to work with speed, accuracy, flexibility and quality. We continue to invest heavily in our suite of software, and we’re very excited to bring timber frame detailing into our PAMIR platform in response to the growing adoption of MMC by homebuilders. We look forward to a long and successful partnership with Scotts.” About Scotts Timber Engineering: Scotts Timber Engineering works with major volume housebuilders, specialist luxury homebuilders and other developers across the country. From its manufacturing centres in Thrapston (Northamptonshire) and Redditch (Worcestershire), it designs, manufactures and supplies timber engineered roof trusses, spandrel panels, metal web joists, porches and canopies, as well as car barns and carports. It is part of the prestigious Scotts of Thrapston Group which was established over 100 years ago. The company has a strong reputation for high-quality, PEFC-certified specialist timber products and, as a long-standing member of the Trussed Rafter Association, Scotts maintains high technical and quality assurance standards and a commitment to best practices and the TRA’s code of conduct. About MiTek:fing systems. MiTek’s structural floor joist system – Posi-Joist – has become the go-to product in the industry for housebuilders looking to create high quality homes. Thanks to its open metal web system, housebuilders can make great strides in offsite construction and respond to the demands of the Future Homes Standard. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Leading housebuilder Redrow has developed and launched its innovative new mobile app, helping homeowners find their dream new home in just a few taps. Building on its reputation for digital innovation and customer experience, the app is the first and only one of its type on iOS and Android. Built to support market demand and customer needs, the latest research from Redrow shows that almost 40% of prospective homebuyers will use a property app to search for their new home. Redrow’s new app caters to homebuyers’ behaviour while offering the quickest and easiest way to find their new home. The research shows the top five ‘must have’ home features when searching online, which includes: having a garden (52%), a high energy efficiency rating (34%), natural light (32%), off road parking (31%), and space to work from home (26%)*. The Redrow app builds on this with customers able to create personalised searches of their own ‘must have’ features, offering a quick and convenient way to find a home that suits their needs and preferences. Key benefits and features include: Matt Grayson, Group Customer & Marketing Director at Redrow, said: “We are excited to launch our first-ever app, thanks to the dedicated hard work and expertise of our in-house IT & digital marketing teams, to help homebuyers looking for a beautiful new energy-efficient Redrow home. The app is the next step in Redrow’s ongoing investment to help customers find eco-friendly homes and builds on our industry-first online technology experience. Using the personalised search, customers can get instant notifications whenever new homes that meet their criteria become available and book and manage appointments all within the app – making it the quickest and easiest way to find your new home.”Making further strides in digital innovation, Redrow offers a unique digital customer journey. The launch of the app follows the premium homebuilder’s recent award win for the Best Application of Technology at the UK Customer Satisfaction Awards 2023, and Best Customer Satisfaction Initiative at Housebuilder awards, highlighting how the business has successfully deployed technology to improve its customer service and satisfaction offering. Download the Redrow app today on Apple and Android here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Deepki, the global leader in ESG for real estate, is bolstering its leadership team to support its continued international expansion, with the announcement of three new hires as well as four internal promotions. Deepki is the only company in the world offering a fully populated ESG data intelligence platform to help commercial real estate investors, owners and managers improve the ESG performance of their real estate assets, and in the process enhance their value. Following a successful €150 million fundraising round in March 2022, Deepki has enjoyed substantial growth, expanding its workforce from 150 to 400 employees, and extending its operations both organically and through strategic acquisitions. These acquisitions include British competitor Fabriq, and Nooco, a firm boasting a complementary platform that analyzes the carbon footprint of buildings, from construction, through renovation, to end-of-life. To support the rapid expansion of its business and teams, maintain its innovative momentum, and support its entry into new markets, Deepki has appointed three new leaders to its senior management team. They are: Emmanuelle Nello, Chief People Officer Emmanuelle’s focus is on change management, reinforcing talent acquisition and development, and establishing the tools and processes necessary to fuel the growth of Deepki’s workforce. Emmanuelle also oversees the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Diversity department, engaging all team members in significant projects that create positive impact, reflecting the company’s core values. Olivier Pin, Chief Product Officer Olivier is responsible for defining and organizing the entire product strategy, R&D, and management of Nooco’s teams, a company recently acquired by Deepki. His mission is to continue helping real estate professionals accelerate their transition to net zero through the Deepki and Nooco product range, by best anticipating their needs, while ensuring and developing Deepki’s technological leadership. Colin Brown, VP UK & Ireland, Head of Global Sales Leveraging his customer-centric and strategic vision, Colin leads Deepki’s UK, Ireland and Global sales teams from Deepki’s London office. He and his team are dedicated to bringing maximum value to real estate players and their clients by empowering them to improve their sustainability through robust, data-driven ESG strategies. Additionally, he will drive Deepki’s entry into new markets, including the Nordics and the Netherlands, which represent significant growth potential for the company. Vincent Bryant, CEO and co-founder of Deepki, comments: “We are incredibly proud to announce the appointments of Colin, Emmanuelle and Olivier. As the company continues its expansion, we remain committed to strengthening our senior management with top-tier professionals. Their extensive experience in senior leadership roles and international environments will be invaluable in Deepki’s continued growth. I am thrilled to welcome them to our team.” Along with these three key appointments, the company has also made four internal promotions: Philippe Parlange, as Chief Client Officer Philippe joined Deepki in 2020 as Head of Consulting Services before being appointed Head of Client Delivery. He has recently been promoted to Chief Client Officer, overseeing the entire team managing client relations. Philippe’s role is pivotal in guiding clients in the definition of their ESG strategies, ensuring outstanding client experiences that align with Deepki’s mission of accelerating the real estate sector’s decarbonization. He is actively involved in recruiting, structuring, and developing Deepki’s Consulting, Customer Success Management, and Energy Management teams to ensure high levels of satisfaction. Clémentine Hardy as Partner Operations & Transverse Delivery Functions Leader After five years as Deepki’s Head of Customer Operations, Clémentine takes on the role of Partner Operations & Transverse Delivery Functions Leader, establishing and expanding a new practice within Deepki. In her new role, she leads the team in managing and deploying complex platform configurations and functionalities, ensuring both the solution’s quality and its seamless integration into the software ecosystem. Additionally, she organizes and conducts partner training, fostering satisfaction and loyalty through a relationship built on trust and expertise. Elise Jacques as Sr. VP Strategy and Transformation Elise has been promoted to the position of Sr. VP Strategy & Transformation after just one year at Deepki. Working closely with the CEO, she is responsible for M&A operations, exploring new business opportunities, and contributing to the structuration of new teams, projects, and processes, taking on interim management roles as required. She develops and structures a strategic approach to business intelligence, facilitating decision-making based on market and performance data across various regions to ensure the company’s growth and performance. Xana Muñiz as Vice President Southern Europe & LATAM Having joined Deepki in 2019 as Country Manager for Spain, Xana Muñiz has since expanded her role to cover the Iberia and LATAM regions. With a proven track record in these territories, Xana now takes on the role of Vice President Southern Europe & LATAM, continuing to support Deepki’s development in the Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and Latin American markets. Spain and Italy were the first two subsidiaries to open after Deepki’s founding in Paris, and today represent key markets for the company. About Deepki Founded in 2014, Deepki has developed a SaaS solution that uses data intelligence to guide real estate players in their net zero transition. The solution leverages customer data to improve assets’ ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) performance and maximize asset value. Deepki operates in 52 countries, with over 400 team members across offices in Paris, London, Berlin, Milan and Madrid. The company serves clients including Generali Real Estate, SwissLife Asset Managers and the French government, helping to make their real estate assets more sustainable at scale. In March 2022 Deepki raised €150 million in a Series C funding round which was jointly led by Highland Europe and One Peak Partners. Other investors include Bpifrance, through their Large Venture fund and Revaia. Since then, Deepki has carried out strategic acquisitions including that of its principal UK-based competitor, Fabriq, and complementary SaaS solution, Nooco. For further information about Deepki’s end-to-end solutions, visit: deepki.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Smart Spaces announces today that it has won the Santander Technology Business of the Year at the Growing Business Awards 2023 – an annual event which honours the UK’s most outstanding entrepreneurs and high growth SME businesses. Smart Spaces won because the judges were impressed by how much it had grown in such a short period of time. Its smart building operating system (OS) is leading the market helping to support customers meet their ESG goals and has subsequently established the UK as a world leader in smart building delivery. Now in its 26th year, the Growing Business Awards took place at an exclusive gala and dinner ceremony on Wednesday 29 November at the Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square in London. Dan Drogman, Smart Spaces’ chief executive officer, says, “Our ambition is to be the world’s leading smart building operating system for commercial real estate. We’re rapidly realising this goal as evidenced by our recent business performance and the future pipeline of projects we’re working on. Winning the Santander Technology Business of the Year at the Growing Business Awards makes us extremely proud given it’s a respected external third party highlighting and endorsing what we’ve achieved.” Key success highlights Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
NBS’ 2023 Digital Construction Report reveals major drive for green metrics Today, NBS, the platform for connected construction information, reveals the results of its Digital Construction Report. The study explores the industry’s evolving relationship between digital technology and safety and sustainability – the sector’s biggest challenges. This year it showed two-thirds of professionals using digital tools to calculate environmental-related metrics, a sign that sustainable design is now intrinsic to construction processes. Significantly, four in ten use digital methods to understand the embodied carbon attached to a project – that is, the amount of CO2 emitted during construction. A similar figure (38%) also uses it to quantify the energy demands of structures and the components that go into them. There’s room for improvement, but the figures show a clear push towards lower carbon outcomes. Off-site on the up Continuing with the theme of sustainable construction, NBS also analysed levels of off-site construction, an area often associated with greener building practices, due to greater control of materials and waste. The results found that MMC (Modern Methods of Construction) continues to gather pace. Over half of professionals (57%) had been part of a construction project that had used or required off-site construction within the last year. This is an increase of 7% since 2021. This news comes despite the closure of several high-profile MMC factories. Delving deeper, manufacturers are the group most likely to be involved with MMC – 7 in 10 had worked with an off-site element, followed by nearly two-thirds of contractors (63%) and over half of consultants (58%). This increase could reflect an industry drive towards net zero as well as recent government backing for further standardisation within MMC. Living in the cloud The report also found that cloud computing is becoming further embedded within building practices, with four out of five now using it. The stats highlight the positive way technology is supporting collaborative working, with three-quarters using it to share documents and information with clients (77%). A similar number (74%) use it to collaborate with team members and produce 3D models, specifications, and other important documents. Taking full responsibility NBS’ Digital Construction Report also highlighted increases in the number of professionals following naming conventions when sharing information (77%, up from 2021 figures) – an area that can improve the organisation and management of data. Additionally, over half of respondents reported using interoperable formats like IFC, revealing the growing importance of easily shareable construction data. However, the report also showed that there are more opportunities to be unlocked by using digital technologies to help with compliance. The study found that only a third of respondents (34%) were involved with detailed responsibility matrixes (DRM), a process that sets out responsibility for each element of design to ensure greater accountability. Worryingly, this figure has dropped since 2021 (39%). Notably, this figure hovered at around half for architects. This comes despite increased levels of legislation attached to the Building Safety Act, such as the introduction of planning ‘gateways’ which requires a detailed breakdown of responsibilities on an individual level. Additionally, less than a third of suppliers (28%) currently use a PIM system to manage product information, pointing to information gaps in the construction supply chain. Nevertheless, well over half (56%) provide digital objects for the majority or all their products, a positive result. Commenting on the survey’s results, David Bain, NBS’ Research Manager, said, “The uptick in professionals seeking environmental-related metrics shows an industry putting sustainability front and centre. The drive towards Net-Zero has no doubt been a catalyst alongside the evolving legislative landscape – there’s never been a greater emphasis on the environmental impact of building practices. “The study has also yielded unexpectedly positive stats around off-site construction. Despite media headlines and high-profile factory closures giving the impression that MMC isn’t a popular choice, the results show a different story: more professionals are embracing off-site elements than ever before. “Overall, we’ve seen some marked improvements that the industry should be proud of. There’s an opportunity here to improve digital information sharing, for which professionals have a legal requirement. The ‘golden thread’ and the use of structured data is creating a safer future for all.” Click here for the full report 723 construction professionals took part in this year’s Digital Construction Survey, which included views from architects/engineers and other consultants, contractors, clients, and suppliers in the UK and beyond. Previously known as the NBS BIM Report, the study is a benchmark for changing attitudes towards tech adoption and new technologies. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Dynamic scheduling software specialist FLS – FAST LEAN SMART has won a field service planning and scheduling contract for E.ON, one of the UK’s leading energy providers. E.ON is a leading installer of energy efficiency solutions including smart meters, solar panels, air source heat pumps, batteries and electric vehicle chargers. The FLS VISITOUR scheduling solution will improve efficiency and service for more than 1,000 engineers in E.ON’s Smart Field Connections team, tasked with completing 600,000 installations a year in addition to service appointments. With more than 5.5m customers, E.ON is a long-term user of scheduling software and benefited from this experience when selecting a next generation solution. Key to selection was also compatibility with its Microsoft Dynamics 365 Field Service solution. Lee Durham, Head of Technology, UK Solutions at E.ON, said: “Delivering net zero and creating a future energy system that is smart, personalised and sustainable demands engagement with customers on a level never seen before. E.ON is one of the leading installers of smart devices and low carbon solutions in the UK, meaning we need a system to schedule appointments in the most efficient and convenient way for our field agents and, obviously, for our customers.” “We wanted a mature solution with proven capability and integration with Dynamics 365 in order to achieve maximum value and to meet our timescale to be live within a few months.” Selection of FLS VISITOUR FLS VISITOUR will add critical value to E.ON by delivering enhanced real-time planning and scheduling capabilities. Twenty years of development and hundreds of customers across multiple industries has led to exceptional performance and flexibility that will enable E.ON to deploy automation and processes desired, and self-manage future configuration changes. Features of FLS VISITOUR that enable the most accurate routing include AI predictive traffic based driving speeds and appointment booking with the unique FLS PowerOpt algorithm to calculate the relative cost of each possible timeslot through real-time optimisation, not just white space filling in the diary. The result is more efficient routes that cut driving time and mileage and significantly reduce carbon footprints. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The leading construction procurement platform attributes its 753% revenue growth to a fantastic team, valued customers, engaged suppliers and supportive investors YardLink, the UK’s leading construction procurement platform, today announced that it ranked 41st in the 2023 Deloitte UK Technology Fast 50, a ranking of the 50 fastest-growing technology companies in the UK. Rankings are based on percentage revenue growth over the last four years. YardLink grew 753% during this period. YardLink’s CEO, Neeral Shah, said: “Back in 2018, we launched YardLink because we knew supply chain inefficiencies were an outsized cost to construction businesses. The industry had been slower to adopt digital tools, with many businesses using manual and time-consuming processes. For us, that lack of digitisation represented an opportunity for innovation. “I’m proud to see how our team has been at the forefront of the tech revolution in the industry. Our digitisation of the supply chain has already made a huge difference to the bottom line of thousands of construction firms. I’m confident that being recognised as one of the UK’s Fast50 will pave the way for YardLink to have an even more transformational effect on the industry next year.” Kiren Asad, lead partner for the Deloitte UK Technology Fast 50 programme, said: “The impressive growth amongst this year’s Fast 50 companies demonstrates the continued tenacity of the UK’s technology industry, despite ongoing economic headwinds, as it cements itself amongst the top locations for venture capital investment globally. “The Deloitte UK Technology Fast 50 awards acknowledge and showcase the talent and innovation of tech businesses across the country. The 50 fastest-growing UK technology companies, as ranked by Deloitte, generated £808mn in total annual revenues in the year 2022/23 and employed almost 15,000 people. The Deloitte UK Technology Fast 50 recorded an average four-year growth rate of 5,473 per cent.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
