The construction industry is in the eye of a perfect storm. A major skills shortage, an ageing workforce and economic uncertainty are making it harder to run profitable projects. But rather than letting these obstacles rain on their parade, building companies are ready to face today’s challenges head-on. And digital
Elecosoft, the international building software specialist, has officially been awarded accreditation from the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Certification Service for its entire range of UK training courses. Elecosoft has been providing training programmes to its customers in a variety of formats for over 35 years, some of which were already
Bentley Systems, Incorporated, the infrastructure engineering software company, today announced the winner of Bentley Education’s iTwin4Good Challenge. Organized in partnership with international nonprofit organization Enactus, the iTwin4Good Challenge saw university students in the United Kingdom combine creativity and software development abilities with their passion for environmental and social action to
A new app can deliver more than 40,000 decorating, plumbing, heating, electrical and general building products to tradespeople’s doors in just two hours, with the average delivery time in central London being 57 minutes. The TradeKart app was launched in December 2021, with a mission to bring convenience and flexibility
City Plumbing, the UK’s leading plumbing and heating merchant, has partnered with technology firm, Vericon Systems, to bring a series of new tools to the market, helping private and social landlords remotely monitor and manage heating systems using real-time data. Vericon uses a universally compatible piece of telematics hardware, called
A new partnership between Planning Portal and Barbour ABI will provide the construction industry with the quickest access to planning application data available. The new system is expected to speed up the release of this information by an average of 1 month compared to the current process, where people must
Digital transformation continues to open new doors for streamlining processes, innovating faster and improving the customer experience. And, it’s influencing how companies run their asset and facility maintenance operations. Digitising maintenance through computerised maintenance management system (CMMS) and computer-aided facilities management (CAFM) solutions positively impacts the maintenance workforce. Companies are
DIGITAL construction platform Construct.id has announced a strategic partnership with its first national framework provider, Pagabo, in an effort to raise standards and drive betterment among contractors on national construction frameworks. Being offered first to the 94 contractors on Pagabo’s new Medium Works Framework, the digital credential platform will be
Golden thread dashboard puts all building information and processes in one place to manage document collation, actions, approvals, gateways and compliance. Today, Zutec, the leading common data environment (CDE) for developers, clients and asset owners in the residential sector, announces the availability of its new Golden Thread Dashboard. Designed to
The Nemetschek Group, a leading global software provider for the AEC/O and media & entertainment industries, announced today their investment in the start-up Preoptima, a carbon hub for the built environment. This investment further expands the Nemetschek Group’s venture strategy of driving sustainability and innovation in the construction industry. Preoptima’s
The construction industry is in the eye of a perfect storm. A major skills shortage, an ageing workforce and economic uncertainty are making it harder to run profitable projects. But rather than letting these obstacles rain on their parade, building companies are ready to face today’s challenges head-on. And digital transformation is providing a much-needed solution. Technology is opening new doors for digital collaboration, creating more effective ways to share data, drive progress and save time and resources. Why is digital transformation such a game-changer in the current climate? And how can it deliver a bright future for building project management? Let’s take a deeper dive… Grey clouds loom over construction’s sunny forecast While UK construction output is forecast to grow by 2.2% this year, multiple forces are battering profitability. Project leaders are navigating difficult and complex challenges, including: With these grey clouds looming, doing nothing is not an option. In January 2023 alone, 15 UK building companies went into administration. Surviving construction’s perfect storm means investing in new solutions to overcome sector shortages and offset rising costs. Using technology to tackle the storm Digital transformation is helping construction companies overcome adverse industry conditions. 66% of building firms have already digitised some of their cost estimation, prediction, planning and control processes, according to RICS. But more significantly, 60% are using digitised techniques to implement whole-of-life thinking. Digital transformation isn’t just changing practices; it’s revolutionising approaches. For example, construction companies are using cutting-edge technologies such as information management software to improve collaboration and streamline ways of working. By managing people’s time more efficiently and combining skills and expertise, building firms are offsetting the impact of recruitment challenges and rising contractor costs. A single source of truth for all stakeholders Let’s take a closer look at how information management software can help companies to improve collaboration and tackle construction’s perfect storm. An information management solution allows building firms to communicate specifications and standards for every project. All programme data is stored on a single platform so stakeholders can easily access drawings, specifications, schedules and budgets. Centralising project data prevents delays, as each person has the digital documentation they need to get on with their job. More importantly, establishing a common data environment means all updates are made in the same place. As a result, project leaders can maintain a single source of truth, and project documentation is no longer affected by version control issues. Why is this important to address industry challenges? Construction companies may need to work with contractors they’ve never used, or invest in entry-level talent. Clear specifications and standards ensure new recruits have accurate information to work from. And linking design and build teams enables the initial project vision to be executed correctly. Information management software also streamlines workflows so teams can spend more time on strategic activities. Project managers can minimise the number of people involved without compromising on quality – and working with a smaller team can offset the rising cost of building materials. Enabling on-site updates It’s not just the capabilities of information management software that improve collaboration, either. The format in which data is delivered drives close-knit working. Rather than waiting for weekly progress meetings, construction teams can use cloud-based collaboration software to respond to changing requirements in real-time. Solutions can be workshopped virtually, with design and build teams making joint decisions on how best to proceed. This rapid response prevents schedule and budget overruns, which is particularly important when contractor availability is limited. The most effective information management solutions can also integrate with other construction software to further optimise decisions, manage costs and improve project outcomes. Specialist software can deliver a bright future Building companies are open to improving collaboration using cutting-edge technology. But some fall into the trap of believing that generic project management software will ‘get the job done’. Digital transformation is not a mission to find the broadest solution; it’s an opportunity to optimise every business area using specialist technology. Choice of software will make a huge difference to how construction companies weather industry storms. Investing in construction information management technology like Elecosoft’s IconSystem will be critical to shaping the built environment and helping firms to mitigate the impact of internal and external challenges. It’s the cornerstone of clear communication and collaboration. With people and skills in short supply, and project costs continuing to rise, construction leaders need to equip their teams with the necessary tools to work together efficiently. The common data environment provided by information management software is essential to running collaborative construction projects that deliver outstanding results. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Elecosoft, the international building software specialist, has officially been awarded accreditation from the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Certification Service for its entire range of UK training courses. Elecosoft has been providing training programmes to its customers in a variety of formats for over 35 years, some of which were already CPD accredited. Now the CPD accreditations have been extended to encompass all UK training courses. The CPD certification across the full course programme recognises Elecosoft’s commitment to providing high-quality training to the construction professionals working in the built environment industry. In a recent report published by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), it was noted that it is critical to invest in new skills for workers to ensure they stay in the construction industry. Shawn Ackermann, Elecosoft’s professional services director comments, “The team has worked extremely hard to ensure our courses are delivered to the highest of standards and we are very proud to have gained CPD Accreditation.” The CPD certification assures Elecosoft’s customers that the training their colleagues undertake supports the obligations and policies of professional bodies and academic institutes. Ackermann continues, “With the CPD accreditation, Elecosoft is now industry recognised to service its customers with the latest skills and knowledge needed to use our software in the ever-evolving built environment industry. Each UK training course, including training on our ShireSystem Maintenance (CMMS) and Facilities Management (CAFM) software, reinforces knowledge and practical implications for customers of our extremely powerful tools.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Bentley Systems, Incorporated, the infrastructure engineering software company, today announced the winner of Bentley Education’s iTwin4Good Challenge. Organized in partnership with international nonprofit organization Enactus, the iTwin4Good Challenge saw university students in the United Kingdom combine creativity and software development abilities with their passion for environmental and social action to create infrastructure digital twins that addressed a particular need within their local community. The contest involved 44 students from 18 universities competing to address UN Sustainable Development Goals, such as affordable and clean energy, sustainable cities and communities, and climate action, using the Bentley iTwin Platform. Announced at the Enactus National Expo at the ExCel London, the winner of the 2023 Bentley iTwin4Good challenge is: The Rubbish Group, Loughborough University The Rubbish Group aimed to reduce littering around Loughborough University’s campus by enabling students to report where litter has been dropped using an interactive mobile app. The app is paired with a digital twin of the campus, allowing litter reports to be mapped to their specific location. The concentration of reports will be logged using a heat map feature that will show the university site team where more litter bins are needed. Over time, an accurate representation of the campus, and where the most litter is dropped, will be provided. The application addressed three main Sustainable Development Goals: good health and well-being, sustainable cities and communities, and climate action. Runner-up: Peaky Ducks, Universities of Southampton, Hertfordshire, Greenwich and Hull The Peaky Ducks aimed to create a smart heating sensor and integrate it into the Bentley iTwin Platform. The project would reduce energy consumption by optimizing heating systems using smart sensors and machine learning algorithms to analyze temperature, humidity, and other environmental factors. The goal of the project is to develop efficient and cost-effective heating systems while reducing energy consumption, ultimately lowering greenhouse gas emissions. Zeljko Djuretic, head of Bentley Education, said, “We want university students to learn more about the infrastructure engineering solutions of the future while solving issues that affect the planet today. Not only have these students shown incredible creativity, but they have also produced genuine solutions that could have a real impact in meeting sustainable development goals. What’s more, by producing their own infrastructure digital twins, these students will have a real advantage when they enter the engineering workforce.” Katriona Lord-Levins, Chief Success Officer, Bentley Systems, said, “Bentley Education programs are designed to help students discover a career in infrastructure and bridge the digital skills gap for organizations. Among engineering businesses in the U.K., 49% are currently experiencing difficulties recruiting workers with the skills they need, contributing to an annual shortfall of GBP 1.5 billion to the U.K.’s economy. Bentley addresses this challenge by building a talent pipeline that gives students the skills and experiences they need for future careers in building the world’s infrastructure. iTwin4Good is one example of how Bentley is using thought-provoking contests, challenges, and hackathons to put cutting-edge technology into the hands of future AEC professionals.” Enactus is the U.K.’s leading charity using social youth and youth social enterprise that supports thousands of students across the country, delivering hundreds of projects that promote social impact. Last academic year, Enactus worked with 60 teams across the country, delivering over 230 projects created and managed by over 3,500 students. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A new app can deliver more than 40,000 decorating, plumbing, heating, electrical and general building products to tradespeople’s doors in just two hours, with the average delivery time in central London being 57 minutes. The TradeKart app was launched in December 2021, with a mission to bring convenience and flexibility to tradespeople by making it easier to order from local builders’ merchants in their area. Just over one year on, TradeKart can now deliver to more than 900 postcodes throughout north and Central London, with more being added all the time. The rapid delivery app for tradespeople was founded by Alistair McAuley, previously Managing Director at AkzoNobel. He started TradeKart to give tradespeople back their valuable time, while also offering local merchants a valuable last-mile delivery solution to attract new customers and delight existing ones. Alistair explains: “Tradespeople lose an average of 3-4 hours each week from having to leave the site to collect materials. That’s a staggering two days every month and a huge financial and time cost. Working closely with a number of contractors, TradeKart has been able to help them reduce the cost of getting materials to site by 80%, saving them each more than £50,000 a year. “We’re passionate about supporting the thriving building and trade communities right across the UK. That’s why we created TradeKart, to follow in the footsteps of other well-known delivery apps that offer convenience and flexibility. TradeKart is our opportunity to take the hassle out of collecting materials, giving tradespeople back that all-important gift of time.” TradeKart is partnering with local merchants including MP Moran, London Decorators Merchants, Paint Centre, Topdec Decorating Supplies, Nicholls & Clarke and Paint Stop. Through the app, tradespeople get to see live stock availability with access to competitive trade prices across all major brands. To use TradeKart, simply download the app for free and create an account, then the app will connect you with available local merchants in your area. You simply choose the products you need, then select a convenient delivery slot from within the next two hours if you need the items in a hurry, right through to the following week. A flat £5 fee is charged for every delivery and, once payment is made, the order is sent straight to the merchant to prepare the items for dispatch. A TradeKart delivery driver will then bring the products directly to your door, with the app allowing you to follow the delivery’s progress in real time. “I use TradeKart for all of my orders. It’s so quick and simple and it saves me so much time. It’s brilliant…my last order arrived in 25 minutes!”, says Nick Dean of InsideOut Decorating. TradeKart is compatible with both iOS and Android devices and can be downloaded from the App Store and Google Play. For more information, or to find out if TradeKart delivers in your area, visit www.tradekart.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
City Plumbing, the UK’s leading plumbing and heating merchant, has partnered with technology firm, Vericon Systems, to bring a series of new tools to the market, helping private and social landlords remotely monitor and manage heating systems using real-time data. Vericon uses a universally compatible piece of telematics hardware, called the Boiler Control Module (BCM), that can be connected to each boiler in the housing portfolio. From here, data is centrally collated in real-time to continually monitor the health of the heating system. As well as allowing customers to monitor system efficiency, the technology notifies housing providers of the fault code when detected, allowing the right engineer with the right part to be sent to complete the repair. “By working with Vericon we’re able to help social housing providers and local authorities take a more proactive approach to the mitigation and prevention of mould and damp at a time when such a solution is critically needed,” said Dave Griggs, Managing Director of Spares at City Plumbing. “As a specialist in plumbing and heating supplies and an advocate for new technologies, City Plumbing is actively developing and supplying solutions that give its social housing customers the tools they need to improve their homes. This latest collaboration with Vericon is just one in a series of digital tools and partnerships designed to enhance diagnostics and servicing.” Through real time monitoring, housing providers are in complete control, being first to know about potential issues with heating systems before the residents may even be aware of them. To measure temperature and humidity and alert housing providers of potential mould and damp issues within a property, Vericon has also developed the MultiDot. By gaining valuable insights from this aggregated data, landlords can conduct preventative maintenance, take early action, and advise residents on how best to avoid humid conditions that can lead to mould. “Using the latest in technical innovations and smart devices, social landlords and housing associations can more effectively maintain heating health in their properties, ensuring a healthier environment for their residents and preventing costly maintenance issues by identifying problems before they become severe,” added Jorden Guest, Marketing Manager for Vericon Systems. The partnership between Vericon and City Plumbing comes at a time when the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) is calling for housing providers to respond swiftly to the sector-wide damp and mould issue. Following the inquest into the tragic death of two-year old Awaab Ishak, the RSH published a report revealing between 40-80,000 social homes in England have serious category-two damp and mould hazards. With Vericon’s monitored and connected technologies, providers can tackle boiler faults quickly and efficiently and identify homes at a high risk of mould. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A new partnership between Planning Portal and Barbour ABI will provide the construction industry with the quickest access to planning application data available. The new system is expected to speed up the release of this information by an average of 1 month compared to the current process, where people must wait for local authorities to publish the information. The deal benefits product manufacturers, main contractors and specialist contractors who can now access planning applications faster through Barbour ABI’s FastPlan service and feed this information into their work-winning process. Barbour ABI Group Director Simon Mahoney said: “Barbour ABI has the largest team of researchers in the UK looking at market intelligence. This partnership means they will receive planning applications from this exclusive planning data source at the point of submission. At that moment, our research engine will kick in – adding value to the project information and qualifying it well before the local authorities even publish it. “We’ll be able to provide information about planning applications one month before anyone else, meaning companies can respond dynamically to valuable opportunities and increase profitability.” The partnership supports the Government’s goal of simplifying and digitalising the planning system to improve clarity, enable better-informed decisions and meet local and national planning objectives. Sarah Chilcott, Managing Director Planning Portal commented: “This new exclusive partnership provides a digital solution that will help create a more dynamic and responsive construction market, supporting the local and national goals of the planning system.” “As the market’s leading construction intelligence, Barbour ABI was perfectly placed to help us get this information to market faster and maximise its impact. This will help construction companies provide the services the industry needs, when it needs them, improving the planning and construction process overall.” The Planning Portal is the home of the national planning application service. Formerly operated by the government, it has been run by a joint venture between the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and TerraQuest Solutions Ltd since 2015. To find out more visit https://www.planningportal.co.uk/ Founded over 80 years ago, Barbour ABI delivers market-leading intelligence, insight and analysis, so customers can identify new business opportunities, monitor clients and competitor relationships, and make smarter, more timely decisions. To find out more, visit https://barbour-abi.com/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Digital transformation continues to open new doors for streamlining processes, innovating faster and improving the customer experience. And, it’s influencing how companies run their asset and facility maintenance operations. Digitising maintenance through computerised maintenance management system (CMMS) and computer-aided facilities management (CAFM) solutions positively impacts the maintenance workforce. Companies are managing key assets differently to improve their operational and production effectiveness, and it’s delivering significant benefits to their bottom line. The digital transformation of maintenance using CMMS and CAFM technology is also helping companies to tackle some of their biggest business challenges in 2023. Let’s take a closer look at how they’re doing this… Driving efficiency in a difficult economic climate Most organisations are battling tough trading conditions. Economic instability, rising operational costs and increased material prices have affected profitability. UK companies have already reported higher goods and services costs, according to ONS research. And the British Chambers of Commerce estimates that three in four firms are likely to put up their prices in 2022 to 2023. In this climate, organisations are looking for ways to reduce costs and increase efficiency. And this improvement drive is pressurising maintenance teams to optimise asset performance and availability. Replacing equipment comes at a cost, which most businesses would prefer to defer until more predictable times. Maintenance teams are being told to prolong the lifespan of existing assets, which means ensuring those assets and their infrastructure are entirely reliable. This is where CMMS software plays a critical role. If an asset breaks down, it could have a cascading effect on the entire operation. Planning when to regularly check and/or maintain a piece of equipment will prolong its lifespan, as maintenance teams can spot issues before they occur. Monthly checks, quarterly maintenance and annual overhauls are reducing failures, increasing machine efficiency, improving productivity, and enhancing the effectiveness of maintenance teams. Of course, managing these programmes is complex work. As a result, forward-thinking companies have moved away from using a calendar or spreadsheet to plan preventative maintenance schedules. Instead, they use digital CMMS platforms like ShireSystem to manage their maintenance teams and regularly check assets. Using automation to address labour shortages Finding skilled people is a major challenge for many companies right now. Make UK (The Manufacturers’ Organisation) estimates that lost productivity due to staff shortages cost British companies more than £7 billion in 2022. In the USA, meanwhile, industry bodies predict 2.1 million manufacturing jobs could go unfilled by 2030. With talented people in short supply, many companies are automating processes to drive production with a reduced headcount. McKinsey research has found that 85% of companies have embarked on digital transformation to increase their operational efficiency. But more machinery increases the workload of maintenance teams. In light of a greater digital investment, operational leaders are looking for ways to better monitor and manage under-prioritised areas such as asset maintenance. Industry leaders are now using CMMS systems with business intelligence tools such as Microsoft Power BI to combine data from their maintenance systems with information from other production systems. This integrated approach allows them to monitor the effectiveness of production lines. CMMS software is also giving maintenance teams greater insight into their workforce, monitoring the effectiveness of shift teams week by week. Gathering this type of data will allow companies to further reduce skills and efficiency gaps, and ensure they are retaining the right employee levels in their maintenance operations. Improving sustainability using digital maintenance software While profitability is a priority in the current fluctuating market, it’s not the only target. Many companies are also focused on reducing their environmental footprint. 81% of consumers would prefer to buy from a sustainable brand, so focusing on green credentials makes good business sense. And maintenance plays an important role in helping firms to lower their carbon footprint. Slicker asset and facility maintenance enables companies to identify inefficiencies and other technical issues quicker. CMMS software solutions can empower maintenance teams to: Implementing CMMS software as part of an overall digital transformation strategy also helps to bring IT and OT closer together. Well-integrated solutions improve data visibility, which enhances sustainable decision-making. It’s an example of how applying technology to business goals delivers a better result. The merging of IT and OT We’ve touched on the close relationship between operational technology and information technology for data collection and analytics. But there are other ways IT can help companies improve asset maintenance. For example, the transfer of data and controls between a CMMS system and an ERP system helps businesses to manage stock and purchasing processes without manual intervention or double keying entries. CMMS software can use data from other digital assets to operate more efficiently, too. Many ShireSystem users tell us that close-coupling IT and OT systems using API technologies improves metrics and process automation. By establishing such connectivity, maintenance becomes a value-driving area rather than a cost centre. Operational teams can demonstrate and report on how CMMS software boosts efficiency, streamlines processes and reduces waste. Improve your asset maintenance with ShireSystem Market conditions and company goals have turned asset maintenance into much more than a routine process. Today, companies can digitally transform their operations to influence how well they run and grow their profits. And operational teams can now be accountable to upper management, shareholders and customers. Even well-established organisations with well-established plans are taking a fresh look at asset maintenance in 2023. Modern systems and processes can help them overcome economic pressures and future-proof their business. Even within our own customer base, a higher number of people are investing in ShireSystem to improve their asset maintenance. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
DIGITAL construction platform Construct.id has announced a strategic partnership with its first national framework provider, Pagabo, in an effort to raise standards and drive betterment among contractors on national construction frameworks. Being offered first to the 94 contractors on Pagabo’s new Medium Works Framework, the digital credential platform will be introduced to all the provider’s existing construction frameworks retrospectively and added to new framework terms and conditions from April. The partnership aims to result in every skilled worker attending a Pagabo procured project to be registered with Construct.id by the end of 2023. Martin Ward, co-founder and managing director of Construct.id, said: “Having Pagabo on board as an early adopter of Construct.id is a big step in the right direction for the construction industry. It’s a framework provider with significant influence and a large network of suppliers – all of whom will benefit from the savings and improved compliance that our platform provides. “The Pagabo team has been supportive of our vision from day one and is equally driven by breaking boundaries that have held back the construction industry for too long. We have a shared understanding on the importance of industry wide adoption of Construct.id and will be working very closely together to ensure the benefits are maximised for everyone across supply chains.” Serving the entire construction community with an independent, single source of trusted and verified identity, skills and competency data for each skilled worker, the Construct.id platform seeks to empower all corners of the construction supply chain. Contractors are given the ability to set site standards across their supply chains, while subcontractors gain greater visibility of these standards and of their workforce. Timely alerts and notifications on any credentials that have expired will improve governance, but skilled workers can prevent this independently by managing one digital platform holding their right to work and credentials – which can be used anywhere. Jason Stapley, chief procurement officer at The 55 Group, Pagabo’s parent organisation, said: “Our frameworks are designed to create competition and ensure the most suitable supplier is assigned to each job, but in some areas of the construction industry consistency and equally high standards are needed. Through Construct.id, our ecosystem will now be better positioned to tackle shared issues such as modern slavery, data duplication and digital transformation. “Whether it’s increasing site standards or reducing admin and paperwork, Construct.id is a shining example of how technology can remove human error from important processes so that the safety and security of everyone is upheld.” Gerard Toplass, group CEO at The 55 Group, said: “We are constantly seeking ways to support initiatives that we feel are for the betterment of the industry and those that work within it. Data-driven decision making is vital for the healthy future of the construction industry and we see Construct.id as a building block on the journey. “We must reform the construction industry, using data to make us stronger, faster and greener – supporting key motivations such as removing modern slavery, improving the wellbeing of skilled workers, increasing productivity and achieving net zero.” With Pagabo and Willmott Dixon already announced as partners, more Construct.id ambassadors are set to be confirmed soon. For more information visit www.construct.id or follow the business on LinkedIn. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Golden thread dashboard puts all building information and processes in one place to manage document collation, actions, approvals, gateways and compliance. Today, Zutec, the leading common data environment (CDE) for developers, clients and asset owners in the residential sector, announces the availability of its new Golden Thread Dashboard. Designed to capture building information across the asset lifecycle, from design to digital handover and maintenance, the Zutec solution provides one place to store, register and manage information while helping firms meet regulatory compliance. Leveraging Zutec’s decades of experience, it has been specifically developed to support the construction and building maintenance industries to prepare for the imminent arrival of the final provisions of the Building Safety Act (BSA) 2022 later this year. Jeslin Joy, Head of Solutions Engineering at Zutec, says: “With the UK Government’s new building regulations putting an emphasis on digitising data, the golden thread of information will become a fundamental requirement for ensuring building safety and accountability. It is therefore more important than ever to have a robust client tool to manage information from design to build and beyond, and to prepare for this early. Taking the pain out of the document management process, our dashboard offers a comprehensive, consolidated and integrated perspective to building information for users, which is aimed at facilitating and achieving golden thread compliance for clients.” Providing a unified, top-level view of data, the Zutec Golden Thread Dashboard enables users to drill down and define, track and quality check all necessary documents required for compliance with the gateways set out in the BSA, as well as other building regulations. Users can track actions, outstanding deliverables, snags, and remedial works against trade/work packages, so nothing falls through the cracks when it comes to the construction, operations and maintenance documents for a building. Managing RFIs, responses and changes to a build can be done within the tool, with details recorded for effective management of safety measures and auditing. Certificates due for renewal can also be monitored and updated. With search and sharing functionality, all stakeholders get transparency which helps firms meet regulatory requirements in the operations phase too. The user experience is simple, the journey quick, and the view is action-oriented. This takes away the complexity normally seen in a CDE platform, so end users can focus on what matters most – ensuring the safety of tenants and proving their compliance with a full audit trail should it be needed. Administrators can also take advantage of the rich function offered by the Zutec platform, without it affecting the day-to-day user’s efficiency. Joy continued: “We are seeing asset owners and developers keen to firm up on their information management strategies, as the industry moves closer to achieving a golden thread of building information. Client CDEs play a vital role in this longer term; therefore we have built our dashboard in the Zutec CDE to minimise risk, enhance collaboration and streamline the transition of information from construction into the operations phase. By adopting our approach, you own your data so you can ensure critical information is always up-to-date and easily accessible. This instils confidence in building safety for operations teams, as well as occupants who see safety as a top priority.” With a specialism in digital handover from sister company Createmaster, getting started with the Zutec Golden Thread Dashboard has never been easier. As a fully managed service, documents are reviewed and uploaded by a team of experts that professionally collate and deliver handover packs for a seamless transition to operational departments. This gives firms a digital representation of an asset that can be used by building owners, facilities managers and other stakeholders to make informed decisions. For clients, asset owners and developers looking to take the next step towards Golden Thread, Zutec is offering a proof-of-concept package so firms can try the solution on a project or asset before investing across a portfolio. To find out more, or to organise a demo, click here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Nemetschek Group, a leading global software provider for the AEC/O and media & entertainment industries, announced today their investment in the start-up Preoptima, a carbon hub for the built environment. This investment further expands the Nemetschek Group’s venture strategy of driving sustainability and innovation in the construction industry. Preoptima’s software is set to drive radical reductions of carbon in the built environment globally. The funding will be used to launch their WholeLifeCarbon API, which will provide uniquely accurate carbon calculations seamlessly integrated with existing workflows and toolsets. This will extend the current products, which use generative design and Artificial Intelligence to optimize carbon emissions from the earliest design onwards. “Worldwide, more than half of all people live in cities. At the same time, buildings are now responsible for 37% of global CO2 emissions. As urbanization continues, this trend will intensify. The construction industry must act and decarbonize its value chain”, states László Vértesi, Head of Industry Solutions Planning & Design Division at the Nemetschek Group. “Preoptima provides real value to our core market, the building design community, by enabling a precise assessment of full carbon impact of projects in the early design phase”, he adds. Since its launch in the second half of 2022, Preoptima has quickly achieved national and international visibility. Preoptima is an Innovative Startup Member of the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) and has been featured in the UKGBC’s Solutions Library. Preoptima is also one of Tech Nation’s Rising Stars 5.0 City Winners. With pilot projects worldwide, Preoptima aims to accelerate its global growth to avoid carbon emissions through the building lifecycle. “Preoptima’s mission is to radically reduce CO2 emissions from the built environment, which is one of the most impactful levers for reducing emissions globally. By using generative artificial intelligence at the intersection of architecture and engineering, our solutions offer a new approach to tackling the issue of decarbonizing a whole industry,” said Aileen Ryan, co-founder and CEO of Preoptima.” Tanja Kufner, Head of Startups & Venture Investments at the Nemetschek Group, adds, “Preoptima’s cloud-based software platform that predetermines, measures, manages, and mitigates carbon emissions throughout the lifetime by using AI is tackling one of the biggest challenges for the construction industry. Their solution can be used at every stage in the building lifecycle, allowing significant and quantitative carbon discussions between all stakeholders in the built environment.” The Nemetschek Group brings a global reach as an investor in Preoptima and the investment is a perfect fit with their own solutions, such as the Vectorworks Embodied Carbon Calculator or Spacewell Energy Solutions but also with their engagement as one of the supporters of Madaster, the global cadaster for building materials. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
