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Computing 

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A seismic shift 

Using Archicad in structural engineering to 

transform architecture and enhance its beauty 

Ahead of the curve 

Lovell Leverages AI and 360 degree photo 

capture building safety compliance 

Joined-up data 

Autodesk acquires Datum360 to 

democratise data access 

JULY/AUGUST 2024 

VOL 20 NO 04 

Revu - the 'go-to' tool 

Bluebeam improves measurement and 

document management 

The Hammers 2024 

A call for projects for the 19th 

Construction Computing Awards 

@CCMagAndAwards

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OPTION 

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professional visualization tools, 

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workflows, and open, multidisciplinary 

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CONTENTS 

JULY/AUGUST 2024 

CONTENTS 

SHOWSTOPPERS 14 

Vectorworks demonstrated three powerful new 

tools at Digital Construction Week that 

featured AI-driven design, VR - and Excel, 

says David Chadwick 

AN OLYMPIAN EFFORT 22 

Tekla's precise coordination hits all on the right 

notes on the Olympia West Music Hall project, 

which is being built over Olympia's existing 

West Exhibition Hall 

JOINED-UP DATA 26 

Sasha Crotty, leader of Autodesk’s AEC 

Design Data team, explains how the 

acquisition of Datum360 democratises data 

access for its AECO customers 

A WALK IN THE PARK 30 

Looq AI's new handheld device and cloud 

platform integrates cameras, GPS, and AI for 

rapid data collection from sites and automated 

analysis for the infrastructure industry 

NEWS.................................................INDUSTRY NEWS.......................................................................................................6 

• A BESPOKE WELLBEING STREAMING SERVICE • MULTI-USER COLLABORATION FOR ASTA VISION 

CASE STUDY......................................A SEISMIC SHIFT................................................................................................10 

• USING ARCHICAD IN STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING TO TRANSFORM ARCHITECTURE WHILE ENHANCING ITS BEAUTY 

CASE STUDY......................................GETTING AHEAD OF THE CURVE....................................................................12 

• LOVELL LEVERAGES AI AND 360 DEGREE PHOTO CAPTURE FOR BUILDING SAFETY COMPLIANCE EXCELLENCE 

TECHNOLOGY FOCUS......................REAL ESTATE.....................................................................................................16 

• ACCESS COINS DISCUSS WHY HOUSEBUILDERS NEED A CONSTRUCTION-SPECIFIC ERP 

AWARDS.............................................NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR THE HAMMERS 2024............................................18 

• NOW'S THE TIME TO SUBMIT PROJECTS AND NOMINATIONS FOR THIS YEAR'S CONSTRUCTION COMPUTING AWARDS 

TECHNOLOGY FOCUS......................FINANCE FOR SMART BUILDINGS...................................................................20 

• WHY RETROFITTING NON-RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS IS A CRITICAL STEP IN THE REDUCTION OF CARBON EMISSIONS 

EXHIBITION FOCUS...........................A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE............................................................................24 

• DIGITAL CONSTRUCTION WEEK 2024 DUBBED ''THE BEST EVENT THERE IS IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY'' 

CASE STUDY......................................REVU - THE 'GO-TO' TOOL...............................................................................28 

• R&P USES BLUEBEAM TO IMPROVE MEASUREMENT AND DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT 

TRAINING MAP...................................AUTODESK TRAINING.......................................................................................32 

• YOUR GUIDE TO AUTODESK TRAINING 

CASE STUDY......................................DIGITAL TWINS IN THE BUILDING STOCK.......................................................34 

• REAL ESTATE MANAGER BENO RELIES ON DTWIN TO SET UP AND MANAGE ITS DIVERSE BUILDING PORTFOLIO 

July/August 2024 3

COMMENT 

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Comment 

Round the houses 

by David Chadwick 

Labour hasn't wasted any time since 

winning the election, and in her first 

speech the new Chancellor Rachel 

Reeves has confirmed their manifesto 

commitments to build more houses - 

aiming at 1.5 million over the next five 

years - by announcing that they will free up 

planning restrictions and force local 

councils to build more homes by 

reinstating compulsory targets. 

This reverses Michael Gove's removal of 

mandatory targets for councils in 2023. 

Reeves said she would also reform the 

planning system to make it easier to build 

houses on less desirable parts of the green 

belt hereafter known, thanks to Prime 

Minister Keir Starmer, as the "grey belt," 

areas such as old car parks, wastelands, 

quarries or other green spaces with "little 

intrinsic beauty or character". There are also 

plans to recruit additional planning officers 

to speed up the planning process. 

The Government is also going to prioritise 

building energy infrastructure projects, 

making decisions nationally, rather than on 

a local basis, and lift a de facto ban on 

onshore wind projects across the UK. Their 

manifesto also sets out Labour's mission to 

make Britain 'a clean energy superpower' in 

their drive to achieve net zero by 2030, part 

of which involves setting up a new publiclyowned 

company in Scotland, Great British 

Energy, targeted with building supply 

chains across the UK, and to work with the 

private sector to double onshore wind, triple 

solar power, and quadruple offshore wind. 

There has also been wind of a rethink on 

the building of the HS2 line up to Crewe, at 

least, once Labour has checked the cost 

and worked out what's left in the kitty. 

It's the announcements on house 

building which are the most interesting 

though, as they come rapidly on the heels 

of another report which states that more 

than 1 million planning applications have 

been approved since 2015 and not acted 

upon - around a third of the total 

approved. The Planning Portal Market 

Index, operated by TerraQuest, provides 

statistics on planning approvals and state 

of play drawn from planning applications 

submitted to local authorities in England 

and Wales, 90% of which are made 

through the Planning Portal. 

According to Geoff Keal, CEO at 

TerraQuest, it is not just the planning 

process which prevented the 

Conservatives from achieving their target 

of 300,000 a year - coincidentally the same 

rate as Labour's target - but other factors 

with which we are all too familiar with, such 

as recent high interest rates damping the 

housing market, the high cost of 

borrowing to finance projects, and the 

skills shortage leaving the industry's 

headcount a quarter of a million short of 

what it needs. You can also add in a 

shortfall in the supply of bricks and blocks, 

down by 4.3% and 9.8% respectively. 

We're delighted with the affirmation of 

Labour's manifesto commitments but wait 

avidly to see how the fundamental issues 

affecting the construction industry can be 

resolved, allowing them to meet those 

commitments. I'm also a supporter of HS2, 

as well, and deploring the last government's 

handling of the project, wait avidly to see 

whether Labour will reaffirm their 

commitment to growth and kick the project 

into life again. It's not just about getting to 

Manchester half an hour earlier, but 

rebuilding an integrated rail network for fast, 

freight and local trains that seemed to work 

efficiently 100 years ago. 

This issue of the magazine also includes 

our annoucement of the awards categories 

for the Construction Computing Awards 

2024, our 19th year of 'The Hammers'. The 

awards are always a great occasion to 

meet old friends, celebrate success stories 

and see what's new and most exciting 

within the industry. 

4 July/August 2024

Design 

Day 

London 

1 October 2024 

RIBA 66 Portland Place, London 

Experience exciting presentations, industry-leading speakers, 

case studies, and the latest innovations from Vectorworks.

INDUSTRY news 

A BESPOKE WELLBEING STREAMING SERVICE 

National construction and 

civil engineering company 

GRAHAM has launched a new 

wellbeing streaming service to 

support its employees and 

suppliers using technology 

from Frog Systems. 

With bespoke branding and 

incorporating GRAHAM’s internally 

generated content, the 

company's employees, their 

families, and supply chain partners 

will have access to a digital 

safe space featuring 16 

channels of preventative wellbeing 

support and information 

developed and built by the 

team at Frog. 

Launching Well-zone is a significant 

milestone in GRAHAM's 

wellbeing journey. The company 

is the first organisation in the 

UK to be awarded Investor In 

People's highest accreditation - 

the Platinum standard - for 

embedding support for its people 

through all levels of its business. 

Davy Daly, Wellbeing 

Manager at GRAHAM, said 

"The GRAHAM Well-zone app 

offers the best available wellbeing 

resources, and is a platform 

we will continue to develop 

in partnership with Frog 

Systems to complement the 

needs of our people." 

Frog's media-rich platform is 

an on-demand content library 

covering a broad range of wellbeing 

topics presented in 

video, podcast and article formats. 

The standard version is 

known as Ashia and is regularly 

updated to reflect key awareness 

moments and includes a 

rail of wellbeing-related offers 

and discounts. 

www.graham.co.uk 

MAKING THE SMART CHOICE THIS OCTOBER 

Registration is now open for 

Smart Buildings Show 

2024, the UK's largest commercial 

smart buildings event, 

which will take place on 9th- 

10th October 2024 at ExCeL 

London and is free to attend. 

Last year a stream of more 

than 2,000 visitors flowed 

through the exhibition hall and 

attended presentations from 

over 70 speakers, underlining 

the show's ability to connect 

visitors to the latest information 

and technology in the smart 

buildings industry. The event 

will once again host an engaging 

conference programme 

across four theatres packed full 

of industry leaders delivering 

thought-provoking content and 

inspiring visitors to further 

explore the latest trends and 

opportunities. 

You can keep up to date with 

news on this year's exhibitors, 

speakers and seminars here: 

https://smartbuildingsshow.com 

MULTI-USER COLLABORATION FOR ASTA VISION 

Asta Vision Live is a groundbreaking 

new solution from 

Elecosoft designed to offer 

unprecedented real-time, ondemand 

collaboration within the 

Asta Vision platform. 

A cutting-edge, encrypted, 

SaaS cloud-based solution that 

allows multiple project planners 

and stakeholders to work concurrently 

on the same project 

plans, Asta Vision Live leverages 

the full capabilities of Elecosoft's 

flagship product, Asta 

Powerproject®, which is relied 

upon by construction firms 

throughout the world. The 

seamless, multi-user environment 

eliminates the need for 

cumbersome file sharing and 

merging, thereby accelerating 

planning cycles and significantly 

boosting productivity. 

Buildots founders Aviv Leibovici, 

Yakir Sudry and Roy Danon 

(Credit: Eyal Toueg) 

Mark Chapman, Elecosoft's 

Head of Innovation, added: 

"Elecosoft has refined our project 

planning solutions through 

decades of collaboration with 

industry stakeholders. We 

believe that our Vision Live 

capability, combined with Gantt 

and 4D functionalities, will significantly 

enhance project 

processes and outcomes for 

our users. We are proud to offer 

a flexible, cloud-based solution 

that incorporates industry best 

practises and promotes teamwork. 

This launch marks a significant 

advancement not just 

for Elecosoft, but for the construction 

industry as a whole." 

Asta Vision Live is available 

now as an add-on to the Asta 

Vision platform. 

https://urlis.net/3nzhg0gt 

BUILDOTS SECURES $15M INVESTMENT 

Buildots has secured a 

$15M investment led by 

Intel Capital with participation 

from OG Tech Partners and 

previous investors. In conjunction 

with the financing, Lisa 

Cohen, Investment Director at 

Intel Capital, will join as a 

board observer. 

"Intel Capital has recognised 

that the construction industry, 

a fundamental pillar of the 

global economy, has not yet 

fully benefited from the digital 

age," said Roy Danon, cofounder 

and CEO of Buildots. 

"Over the past five years, Buildots 

has been at the forefront 

of integrating AI-powered 

progress tracking and 

advanced analytics software 

into this multi-trillion dollar 

industry, driving a transformative 

shift towards performancedriven 

construction management. 

We are proud to work 

with Intel Capital to propel 

large-scale construction into a 

more efficient and controlled 

future, taking out the guesswork 

and providing decisionmakers 

with comprehensive 

and precise oversight." 

https://buildots.com 

6 

July/August 2024

Six times a year 

just isn’t enough! 

Construction Computing is now available in e-Newsletter 

form every single month 

Construction Computing is no longer just a print magazine it’s also online – the Construction Computing eNewsletter goes out to over 

15,000 readers every month, featuring all the best content from the print edition and much more: 

• Up to the minute news stories 

• Interviews 

• Opinions and views from the industry 

• Case studies 

• White papers and other useful downloads 

• Product reviews 

To make sure you aren’t missing out, register now at: 

http://www.btc.co.uk/newsletter/register.html

INDUSTRY news 

NEW RETROFIT DESIGNER COURSE LAUNCHED 

Contractors looking to 

expand their career in 

retrofit can now apply for the 

new Retrofit Designer course 

from the UK's leading retrofit 

knowledge and skills provider. 

The UK's first Retrofit Designer 

course created around the 

PAS 2035 framework has 

been curated by The Retrofit 

Academy and a panel of 

industry experts to equip 

learners with the expertise 

needed to prepare precise, 

bespoke, and suitable design 

for domestic properties. 

The new retrofit course was 

created by retrofit designers, 

for retrofit designers to 

enhance the existing skills of 

Chartered Architects, Architectural 

Technologists & Technicians, 

Chartered Building Surveyors, 

and professionals 

associated with the Chartered 

Institute of Building, to enable 

them to design sustainable 

buildings for the future. 

Retrofit designers take the 

lead in shaping energy-efficient 

homes and are tasked with 

creating comprehensive documentation 

of each retrofit project, 

and specifying the materials, 

products, and systems 

implemented by other industry 

professionals. They are also 

responsible for the overall 

design, ensuring every team 

working on a project is 

accountable for the quality and 

efficacy of their delivery. 

With the need for sustainable 

upgrades to UK buildings continuing 

to grow, a network of 

competent retrofit designers is 

needed to meet this demand. 

The Retrofit Academy aims to 

develop the knowledge of 

those who can lead the charge 

and help meet the Government's 

target of reaching net 

zero by 2050. This latest addition 

to The Retrofit Academy's 

accredited courses can be 

found alongside theLevel 5 

Diploma in Retrofit Coordination 

and Risk Management and 

Level 4 Award in Domestic 

Retrofit Assessment. 

"With over 15 comprehensive 

modules that have been 

expertly curated by a panel of 

architects and are taught by 

expert mentors, learners 

receive all of the necessary 

tools they need to lead and 

take responsibility for the 

design of retrofit projects," 

said David Pierpoint, CEO 

and founder of The Retrofit 

Academy. "The demand for 

qualified retrofit design professionals 

isn't slowing down 

and the opportunity to enter 

this growing industry is here 

for the taking." 

https://retrofitacademy.org 

IDEATE ENHANCES REVIT ADD-IN APPLICATIONS 

Ideate Software has unveiled 

significant enhancements to its 

suite of Revit add-in applications. 

These improvements not 

only align the software with Revit 

2025-2022 but also introduce a 

range of user-centric upgrades 

aimed at streamlining workflows 

and enhancing usability. 

Notable new features include: 

IdeateApps Annotate: Distribute 

text notes, tags, and 

keynotes from the Top Down or 

Bottom Up with customisable 

spacing as well as the ability to 

align text within a text note to 

the same alignment settings. 

IdeateApps ViewCreator: 

Effortlessly generate new views 

by selecting from various view 

types or templates; batch create 

views and sheets across 

different disciplines. 

Enhanced Feedback in Ideate 

Automation: Gain insights into 

incomplete tasks with the Task 

Results pane displaying 

detailed task log information. 

Existing Ideate customers can 

access the enhancements and 

updates by downloading the 

latest versions. Trial versions 

are also available for download 

on the Ideate Software website: 

https://ideatesoftware.com/ 

download-revit-addins 

A CONSTRUCTIVE OUTLOOK POST-ELECTION 

NBS and Glenigan (both 

part of Byggfakta Group) 

have released their latest findings 

from a poll of architects 

and construction professionals 

which has found half of those 

working in construction (52%) 

expect more projects to get off 

the ground post-election, and 

predict a greater range of projects 

and opportunities coming 

their way. Interestingly, the most 

bullish were those working in 

construction firms with a revenue 

of (£50-£100 million), with 

61% expecting more work. 

One in three construction professionals 

say infrastructure, 

social housing, and planning 

policy are important to this generation 

of politicians. A similar 

number expect clients to greenlight 

projects more easily. However, 

while most people feel 

positive about the sector in the 

coming months, one in five are 

pessimistic. The study, which 

focused on industry sentiment 

in the run-up to the election, 

found optimism was running 

high for the new government. 

Making sustainability a priority 

was a consistent call from built 

environment professionals. Only 

one in twenty did not want to 

see the new government focus 

on net zero. A third of construction 

and architectural specialists 

called for tax incentives and 

subsidies to support sustainable 

projects, and a similar 

number wanted tougher measures 

on construction waste. 

www.thenbs.com 

8 

July/August 2024

Connecting you to the latest 

information and technology 

in the smart buildings industry 

Smart Buildings Show is the UK’s leading commercial smart 

buildings conference and exhibition and is free to attend. 

■ Keep up to date with the latest innovations and technologies 

■ Meet the leading suppliers to the market 

■ Find new partners and business opportunities 

■ Network with your peers from other organisations 

REGISTER NOW AT: 

WWW.SMARTBUILDINGSSHOW.COM 

SPONSORS

CASEstudy 

A seismic shift 

Using Archicad in structural engineering to transform architecture while enhancing its beauty 

Valladares Pagliotti & Asociados, VPA, 

has developed more than 800 

projects in structural engineering, 

using Archicad for their structural 

engineering work. Graphisoft recently 

asked Enzo Valladares Pagliotti, Managing 

Partner and Civil Structural Engineer, about 

their philosophy and unique workflow. We 

felt that the ensuing conversation, which 

references some of their projects, raised 

valuable insights into the benefits to all 

structural engineers within the industry. 

HOW DO YOU COMMUNICATE THE 

INITIAL DESIGN IDEA WITH 

ARCHITECTS? 

For us, the client is the architect. I always 

ask the architect to explain his method 

and his architectural stance regarding the 

project to me. Knowing this, one can 

propose structural solutions that respond 

to his vision, using our knowledge to 

create a structure that responds to that, 

"transforming the architecture, but 

enhancing its beauty" - words from a 

professor of architecture at the University 

of Rome, which I quote when the architect 

asks me for something. 

HOW DO YOU ADAPT THE 

STRUCTURAL DESIGN TO THE 

EXISTING CONDITIONS? 

In the Esmeralda House project, we 

chose to project a solid structural 

element, with the ridge 

becoming part of the 

frame, creating a 

structural steel 

system. 

Thus, it does not need an attached 

structure to support it. The columns are 

earthquake proof and the thickness of the 

first floor slab was raised to control 

punching shears. 

The Tierra Patagonia Hotel used many 

materials in its building (wood and 

plywood, reinforced concrete, and steel). 

Controlling the wind effects was a big 

challenge, because winds can exceed 80 

km/h during a typical summer. 

As for the Faculty of Economics and 

Business at the University of Chile, the 

building was designed as three sections 

that may have been independent but were 

structured together because the width of 

the central building linked the three 

buildings. This was achieved with a lighter 

slab of about 40 cm thick in a span of 9 m. 

Finally, although the diagonal' system 

performs a seismic-resistant function, the 

building's interior is also a mixed system 

with architectural bracing in reinforced 

concrete and partition walls inside. 

HOW DO YOU CHOOSE MATERIALS? 

Generally, if the style or look of the project is 

very sculptural, you opt for reinforced 

concrete (making a mold and pouring 

liquid inside) which requires excellent 

carpenters. An example would be Emerald 

House's stairs or Max Núñez's MAD 

building for the Grange School in Santiago. 

When transparency is sought, steel 

allows you to generate very narrow or 

slender elements. On the other hand, if 

the expression is more robust, you can 

opt for wood. But, the geographical 

location can be a determining factor in all 

projects because of the transportation of 

building materials. 

In the case of the Faculty of Economics 

and Business, we aimed to provide 

people with comfort because all the 

teachers offices are in the building. This 

was achieved with a lighter slab that is 

more rigid and with greater inertia: the 

natural vibration frequency of the 

structural element gives a pleasant 

feeling to those who inhabit it, especially 

in a seismic country like Chile. 

Concrete, as it is less elastic, has a much 

higher level of rigidity but, once tensioned, 

and "working," scarcely moves. However, 

steel is much more flexible and generates 

more vibration levels, while comfort is 

slightly lower. 

WHAT CHALLENGES YOU THE MOST? 

The architect's intentions are essential 

because when he conceives each project, 

the price of the building is already set, and 

the engineer cannot do much about it. For 

big spaces, the cost of building them with 

wood, concrete, or steel varies marginally, 

as creating large spaces already has a 

price. A more complex project will be more 

expensive, independent of the presence of 

a structural engineer. 

In Chile, we used to measure things per 

unit area, which is a mistake because 

some one-story buildings are 15m high 

with a very high surface cost. So, the size 

per m3, per volume of the building, is 

already set when the architect conceives 

the building. 

WHAT KINDS OF SOFTWARE TOOLS 

DO YOU USE IN YOUR PRACTICE? 

We configured Archicad to generate the 

building's planimetry and pre-set to make 

the process more automatic for structural 

engineering. We use structural calculation 

software for static and seismic 

Casa Esmeralda 

10 

July/August 2024

CASEstudy 

Hotel Tierra Patagonia 

analysis of structures, such as SAP and 

ETABS, and MATLAB for programming. 

We have not set it for steel because we 

get few projects requiring this material. 

Finally, we use Excel spreadsheets for 

internal office work. In the case of MEP, 

although we have offered these services, 

we rarely use it to coordinate special 

assignments. If we do, air conditioning 

projects are set from the beginning of the 

project's development because it can 

greatly impact the structure. 

HOW DO YOU COORDINATE THE 

STRUCTURAL DESIGN WORKFLOW? 

Once we get the architect's concept, and 

when a mini-draft of the structural 

engineering is generated, I create the 

structural part in a BIM immediately; even if 

the architect only gives us a sketch, we still 

develop his project in BIM. 

In the BIM model, different colour coding 

signifies difficult points. Red, for example, 

denotes elements with potential failures. 

Previously made on paper, it is now a mix; 

we project on paper, develop the structural 

conceptualisation, and then "prove" it in the 

project's BIM model. Sometimes I meet with 

the architect, who says, "This is my 

concept." I may reply, "This concept seems 

more suited for concrete; therefore, I need 

shear walls here, rigid frames there, etc." 

We don't make a scale drawing but place 

the elements and then make a BIM model 

to clarify the distribution of the structural 

elements in the building, immediately 

generating the project's planimetry. What 

was formerly the structure outlined on 

paper that ended up in the trash today is 

developed within the BIM model. 

HOW DO YOU COORDINATE WITH 

OTHER ENGINEERS AND THE 

ARCHITECTS? 

If they work in Archicad, our communication 

is far more fluid, as changes are made 

simultaneously in each other's models. 

Using BIM within Archicad, we can explain 

more easily to our clients what we do even 

if they don't use BIM themselves. 

In Chile, very few builders use BIM, and 

they don't have it on the construction site 

because they do not want to pay for it. We 

usually know more than others about the 

project and give them the information they 

need to prevent possible mistakes. 

WHAT IS THE ADVANTAGE OF USING 

ARCHICAD FOR YOU? 

Archicad is software that architects like the 

most. Consequently, it will enable us to 

develop a closer relationship with them. It 

is a friendlier program, simple to operate, 

and allows us to understand the space 

better. In addition, the files are lighter, its 

mobility is faster, and it integrates well with 

other programs that allow us to make 

better presentations. 

We have used Teamwork as well, at the 

Faculty of Economics and Business at the 

University of Chile, which saved us a lot of 

time coordinating between all the projects, 

avoiding many mistakes. We found more 

than 300 observations about conflicts in a 

completed 1500 m2 project, which the 

university did not build, enabling us to 

protect the specialists as well. 

HOW DOES BIMX BENEFIT YOUR 

WORKFLOW? 

BIMx is extremely handy for all our 

presentations and at the construction site. 

It helps because of the volume of projects 

in which we are involved. I am the "boss" 

and manager on the construction sites, 

and keeping up to 20 projects in mind is 

impossible. It helps me to understand 

each project and explain it to the 

construction workers. 

Our observations on the construction site 

are also more quantitative than qualitative. 

When someone suggests, for example, 

"this building has too much concrete," the 

answer I expect from our engineers is that 

as professionals, we must give an 

accurate and precise value. With BIMx 

data, we can defend our project even 

when we are "unauthorised." 

www.graphisoft.com 

July/August 2024 11

CASEstudy 

Getting ahead of the curve 

Lovell Leverages AI and 360 degree photo capture for building safety compliance excellence 

Lovell Partnerships, a wholly owned 

subsidiary of the Morgan Sindall 

Group, is a partnership housing expert 

and a leading provider of innovative 

residential construction and regeneration 

developments across England, Scotland 

and Wales. In 1971, they built the first ever 

affordable partnership homes. Over 50 

years later, this pioneering spirit sustains 

their commitment to working with 

communities as they transform themselves. 

THE CHALLENGE 

To help meet their commitment of working 

to transform communities and respond to 

the ever-evolving landscape of construction 

regulations and quality assurance, Lovell 

has sought innovative ways to streamline 

their processes and achieve compliance 

excellence. This desire to work more 

efficiently has only been heightened by the 

introduction of the Building Safety Act. 

Lovell had faced challenges related to 

progress tracking, compliance 

documentation, and demonstrating 

adherence to regulations; particularly 

focusing on the 'golden thread' approach. 

The need to efficiently manage vast 

amounts of data, ensure compliance with 

the Building Safety Act, and address issues 

like fire safety and construction delays were 

among their primary concerns. 

PREPARING FOR THE BUILDING 

SAFETY ACT 

Lovell took proactive measures to prepare 

for the Building Safety Act. This included 

enhancing competencies, implementing 

training programs, updating QA sheets, and 

incorporating fire consulting reports. "We 

needed to get ahead of the curve and get 

prepared" says Chris Wallace, Construction 

Director at Lovell. 

They turned to Symetri for their expertise 

and guidance around digital data capture. 

Symetri's consultants came in to deliver a 

number of workshops to Lovell's project 

teams across various different sites, to 

emphasise and educate them on digital 

capture and how this can support in 

delivering the golden thread. 

THE SOLUTION 

Symetri's experts also introduced Lovell to 

Oculo: a visual project progress tracking 

and evidencing solution which combines 

artificial intelligence (AI) with 360° hard hat 

cameras.Tony Clissold, Project Manager at 

Lovell recognised the immediate benefits of 

Oculo, seeing it as one of the first steps they 

needed to take on their journey to Building 

Safety compliance as it would significantly 

elevate the quality and quantity of their data 

capture for documenting the golden thread. 

All you need to do is strap on the camera, 

and it will automatically capture your 

surroundings and accurately locate them in 

your design drawings; allowing you to spot 

errors pre-construction, whilst documenting 

and verifying project progress. 

The implementation involved a phased 

approach. Lovell initially rolled out the 

system on a single project, continually 

refining and adapting it based on internal 

feedback and usability. Adjustments were 

made to simplify data capture, eliminate 

duplication, and ensure quality checks. 

"We trusted the system and Symetri so 

much that we put all our eggs in one 

basket. If it didn't work, we were back to 

square one. We took a risk and are now 

rolling it out on various jobs as it makes our 

lives so much easier," says Chris. 

CAPTURING EVIDENCE: CREATING A 

GOLDEN THREAD OF INFORMATION 

Lovell has experienced a paradigm shift in 

12 

July/August 2024

CASEstudy 

progress tracking, employing weekly walks 

and leveraging the system to showcase 

weekly job progress to clients. This has not 

only facilitated transparency but has also 

aided in managing delays and evidencing 

required compliance detail effectively. 

Oculo has since become pivotal in 

capturing crucial data at various stages for 

Lovell, ensuring compliance and aiding in 

retrospective assessments. It also helps 

provide a clear picture of installations for 

acoustics for fire stopping and fire cavity 

barriers. The system's capability to create 

timelapse sequences and compile detailed 

reports with clear visuals has further 

enhanced Lovell's ability to showcase the 

golden thread across projects. 

"The real game changer for us was the 

overlay feature which provides a visual 

identification of any inspection gaps we 

might have, which is pivotal in enhancing 

our overall project management efficiency - 

but particularly for high-risk projects where 

there really is no room for error," adds Chris. 

The overlay feature helps Lovell ensure 

they have all the inspections they need 

room by room in an apartment, apartment 

by apartment, plot by plot. 

BEYOND THE BUILDING SAFETY ACT 

In addition to assisting Lovell in 

demonstrating the golden thread of 

information and eliminating project risk, 

they are also seeing many time saving 

benefits with Oculo. 

"From a progress point of view, if I had to 

scan 140 apartments, I would need at least 

five pictures of each apartment which could 

result in 700+ pics. With Oculo, all I need 

to do is simply click on a room, and I can 

see the progress of the whole room at any 

point in time," says Tony. 

"Upload times with hundreds of pictures is 

also an issue, let alone the time spent 

searching for them and then linking them to 

the model afterwards. It saves us weeks of 

time," he adds. 

This is also helping Lovell save time with 

issue reports and providing them with 

clarity. For instance, by utilising the AI within 

Oculo, the location of the issue is 

automatically captured along with a 

description and photo, meaning they can 

pinpoint exactly where the issue is 

physically and digitally. 

Remote reviewing capabilities are also 

empowering Lovell to assess project 

progress remotely, ensuring a more 

comprehensive oversight of multiple sites 

and reducing their carbon emissions with 

less visits to site. 

"You can never beat going down to site, 

but Oculo will play a big part in helping us 

reduce the need to travel onto site as 

much, everything is just there within a click 

of a button," states Tony. 

Most importantly, it is now enabling them 

to build stronger connections with their 

clients, as they can show the progress of 

their projects on a weekly basis as the asbuilt 

evolves. It is also demonstrating to 

potential new clients exactly how an 

apartment can be built in just 20 weeks, 

for example. 

THE FUTURE 

Lovell has proven the value of Oculo within 

their business so much that they are now 

looking at recruiting a quality manager to 

help them monitor all their projects with the 

tool going forwards. The partnership 

between Lovell, Symetri and Oculo is 

ongoing and enabling a transformative shift 

in construction operations as they 

continuously feedback their future needs. 

The team are now looking at developing a 

workflow for Part L, a UK building regulation 

that applies to all new construction projects 

and any changes in the use of a home or 

other building, which requires builders and 

developers to provide photographic 

evidence at every stage of construction. 

"I feel listened to. It's been a two-way 

street. We are making changes and 

developing the system together not only for 

the better of us, but for the whole industry," 

says Chris. 

Find out more about Oculo at: 

https://bit.ly/4bM7LS6 

July/August 2024 13

TECHNOLOGY focus 

Image generated with AI Visualizer 

Showstoppers 

Vectorworks demonstrated three powerful new tools at Digital Construction Week that featured AIdriven 

design, VR - and Excel, says David Chadwick 

As busy as DCW was, I thankfully 

found time to discuss some of 

Vectorworks' latest highlights with 

Director of Product Marketing Martyn 

Horne and Senior Architecture Industry 

Specialist Luka Stefanovic. These include 

Vectorworks AI Visualizer and 

Vectorworks Odyssey, both of which we 

have mentioned in recent editions of the 

magazine, but Excel Referencing was a 

new one for me. 

AI VISUALIZER 

Using AI to drive designs gives an 

architect's creative capabilities a huge 

boost from concept design to delivery, 

allowing them to explore different design 

solutions using simple prompts and 

streamlining workflows by instantly 

transforming those prompts into many 

different scenarios and artistic 

visualisations. 

AI-driven design is also a new feature in 

Vectorworks Architect, one that eliminates 

the need for additional hardware or 

expensive graphics cards. All of the 

complex processing of AI images is done 

on Vectorworks Cloud Services, ensuring 

that individual hardware limitations do not 

impact performance. This means that you 

can work on your project uninterrupted 

while the images are generated. 

Generating the initial image is quite 

straightforward as, like most AI solutions, 

you merely insert a prompt in plain 

language in the box provided in the 

model window suggesting what you 

would like AI Visualizer to create - "A 

watercolour of a coffee shop in a 

boatyard overlooking a lake", for instance 

- and the AI component will do the rest. 

There's also a Negative prompt box that 

lets you describe what you don't want it to 

include, plus a creativity slider - but more 

of that later. 

This will produce some stunning 

variations on your prompts, but it is just 

the start, as the AI tool will then help you 

develop your selections further or refine 

the textures and materials in a scene, 

render backgrounds, or create other 

images that could be used to populate a 

scene. Besides quickly generating 

images to explore design options, from 

massing models and big picture ideas, AI 

Visualizer enables architects to explore 

material selection or furniture placement. 

The real power of AI Visualizer, however, 

comes from using Vectorworks as a 

design source. The accompanying video 

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oca 

aZB2lnsE&t=35s) shows a couple of 

twisted crystal vases designed within 

Vectorworks that can be used as the 

design source for a new university 

campus in the mountains. Similarly, pencil 

sketches within Vectorworks can be 

transformed into beautifully styled modern 

villas, or simple gray shading interiors can 

be turned into amazing set designs. 

Additional controls enable you to refine 

the output further. Besides the negative 

prompt, the creativity slider allows users 

to adjust the level of inventiveness that 

you want it to employ. Set to zero, the AI 

will closely follow your prompts and any 

starter images you feed it, but setting it 

higher at 25% or even up to 100% allows 

it to start thinking outside the box. 

For instance, adjusting the creativity 

slider based on your specific need 

allows you to set it at a low level if you 

merely want it to explore different 

materials for a particular setting and at a 

higher level to allow it to generate 

variations on a theme. 

When you are presented with a scene 

that you particularly like, you can change 

your viewpoint and check the "Generate 

Similar" box to produce the same scene 

14 

July/August 2024

TECHNOLOGYfocus 

Vectorworks Odyssey - virtual walkthrough 

Vectorworks Odyssey - Excel referencing 

and save it to a file. It can also be copied 

to a clipboard to paste directly to where 

you want to use it, or imported as a 

bitmap object directly into Vectorworks 

and placed on a design layer. 

VECTORWORKS ODYSSEY 

Vectorworks Odyssey is a VR viewer app 

designed for Meta Quest 2 and beyond 

headsets. It allows architects, codesigners, 

and clients to explore 

schematic designs together, using the 

virtual reality application, which provides 

valuable feedback via its dollhouse and 

walkthrough viewing options. 

Again, it's simple to use. After loading 

your model into Odyssey from a VGX file 

created in Vectorworks and sharing it via 

Vectorworks Cloud Services, you can 

enter an appropriate code in Odyssey for 

your file to appear on the list using the 

Meta Quest controllers, which also give 

you access to the in-app settings. Your 

Vectorworks model is loaded and 

presented on a pedestal from an elevated 

perspective, ready to be explored. 

Navigation around the model is 

effortless, enabling you to 

comprehensively understand the design 

from a holistic vantage point, with 

tooltips to help you along the way. If you 

want to go into more detail, you can use 

the left-hand floating palette to toggle 

layers on and off. For a truly immersive 

experience, you can teleport yourself 

directly into the model in walkthrough 

mode by pointing your right controller to 

your desired destination. 

The first-person walkthrough mode is 

truly immersive, as it will respond to your 

natural head and eye movements. Whilst 

in this view you can visualise or check 

out design options by toggling layer 

visibility. The settings panel also allows 

you to fine-tune your height and 

movement speed, or to set the user 

height at a specific value, enabling you 

to experience the model from different 

heights based on user experience or to 

navigate the model comfortably from a 

seated position. 

If you are working on a larger model, 

the teleportation path does precisely 

what you would expect - jump from one 

part of the model to another whilst in a 

walkthrough mode. You can choose 

straight teleportation mode or the curve 

teleportation mode. Curve mode allows 

you to quickly jump from a lower level to 

an upper level, with the projected curve 

landing on the new surface. You can 

also rotate your view by pressing the 

right joystick on the controller to rotate 

by 45 degrees. 

Fully immersing yourself into a 

Vectorworks model with Vectorworks 

Odyssey helps you to personally 

experience your designs, allowing you 

and your collaborators to make 

decisions based on the environment 

you've created or to improve feedback 

from your clients. 

EXCEL REFERENCING 

I was fascinated by this, as the industry 

has been castigated for its longstanding 

and eternal devotion to a 

seemingly outdated technology - but 

Excel is still a vital and widely used 

application for handling particular types 

of information. For instance, furniture 

catalog lists - tables and chairs, etc. - 

are frequently updated with new details. 

Still, Vectorworks Excel Referencing 

enables architects to set up bidirectional 

links between Excel files and 

Vectorworks.This enables architects to 

reference Excel data directly into 

Vectorworks, making documentation and 

reporting workflows quicker, easier, and 

more error-proof. Selecting which 

individual Excel sheet to reference also 

maintains the Excel file's organisation while 

only needing to update one reference. 

Once a reference is established, it 

functions just like other file types 

referenced in Vectorworks. If the 

reference is outdated, it will be 

highlighted in red in the list of referenced 

files, with the flexibility to reference an 

absolute or relative path and set it to 

update automatically when the file is 

opened. Importing a worksheet also 

allows an architect to create a new 

reference within Vectorworks that is 

consistent with all file references, with an 

automatic update to the reference Excel 

when opening the Vectorworks file. 

Architects can also edit referenced 

worksheets in Vectorworks and push the 

changes back to Excel as the data 

connection works in both directions, 

streamlining your workflows and keeping 

the data synchronised. 

Any external project data, such as 

estimates analysis, materials 

specifications, or product catalogs, 

stored in Excel files, can be linked to 

Vectorworks BIM model data, such as 

item or material quantities. Architects can 

also take advantage of powerful lookup 

worksheet functions to bring referenced 

Excel spreadsheet data directly into 

Vectorworks schedules to keep them 

updated with the latest information. 

www.vectorworks.net 

July/August 2024 15


Real Estate 

Access COINS discuss why housebuilders need a construction-specific ERP, rather than a generic ERP 

Choosing the right ERP 

(Enterprise Resource Planning) 

system for a housebuilding 

business is a big decision. There are 

countless systems on the market with 

a wide range of features on offer. In 

this article, we'll explore the key 

differences between 'generic' ERP 

solutions such as Microsoft Dynamics 

for housebuilders and those developed 

specifically for the housebuilding 

market. 

THE UNIQUE DEMANDS OF 

HOUSEBUILDING 

Housebuilding is a specialised process 

with many elements that differ from 

other types of construction, such as 

selling to individuals incurring higher 

marketing costs, holding land with 

planning permissions and regular 

regulation changes. Housebuilders 

deal with high-volume, sometimes 

lower-value projects so cost control is 

essential. Many housebuilders develop 

hundreds of houses on a single 

development or handle high-rise 

developments with multiple occupancy 

which will require ongoing service 

management. 

Housebuilders require the technical 

expertise to assist them in efficient 

construction methods, land 

acquisition, planning regulations 

specific to housing developments, and 

potentially even interior design 

elements. 

AN OVERVIEW OF GENERIC ERP 

AND CONSTRUCTION ERP: 

STANDALONE OR GENERIC ERP 

At its core, generic ERP software is 

designed to streamline and integrate a 

variety of business processes across 

different industries. Key features typically 

include financial management, inventory 

control, human resources, customer 

relationship management (CRM), and 

supply chain management. 

In today's businesses, generic ERP 

systems are typically used by mid- to largersized 

businesses across various sectors in 

an effort to improve efficiency, enhance data 

accuracy, and provide comprehensive 

visibility into operations. Examples of 

standalone ERP systems include Microsoft 

Dynamics 365, Acumatica and IFS. 

As a rule, most ERP software is highly 

versatile, which has resulted in many 

offshoots of ERP being formed to serve 

specific industry or service needs. This, in 

turn, led to the development of construction 

ERP, a more specialised tool that is targeted 

towards a specific market. 

CONSTRUCTION ERP 

Construction ERP has been specifically 

developed for the construction industry over 

recent years, offering unique features that 

address the complexities of construction 

projects. These include project 

management tools, job costing, equipment 

management, contract management, and 

compliance tracking, to name but a few. 

Construction ERP systems are primarily 

used by mid- to larger-sized construction 

firms, contractors, project managers, and 

engineering companies, but have seen 

regular use throughout the entirety of the 

building sector. By integrating these 

specialised functionalities, construction ERP 

helps streamline project workflows, ensure 

accurate cost tracking, and improve overall 

project delivery and profitability. 

KEY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ERP & 

CONSTRUCTION ERP 

While both generic ERP and construction 

ERP systems share foundational 

functionalities, they diverge significantly in 

terms of specialised features tailored to 

meet the unique demands of the 

construction industry. Understanding these 

distinctions is crucial for housebuilders to 

choose a software solution that can 

effectively manage complex project 

workflows, regulatory compliance, and 

specific industry challenges. 

PROJECT MANAGEMENT FEATURES 

Construction ERP systems offer project 

management capabilities tailored to 

construction. These include tools such as 

resource scheduling, subcontractor 

16 

July/August 2024


management, and daily progress reports. 

There is also a focus on scheduling projects 

across labour, materials and equipment. 

These features are essential for 

construction companies to manage multiple 

projects simultaneously, track progress, 

allocate resources efficiently, and ensure 

projects are completed on time and within 

budget. 

JOB COSTING AND COST VALUE 

RECONCILIATION 

Unlike generic ERP systems, construction 

ERP includes robust job costing 

functionalities that allow detailed tracking of 

costs associated with each project phase. 

This can include labour costs, material 

expenses, equipment usage, and 

overheads specific to construction projects. 

Additionally, construction-specific tools 

such as Cost Value Reconciliation (CVR) 

provide real-time visibility into project 

profitability by comparing actual costs 

against estimated values throughout your 

project's lifecycle. 

COMPLIANCE AND REGULATORY 

REQUIREMENTS 

Construction ERP systems incorporate 

features tailored to manage industryspecific 

compliance and regulatory 

requirements, such as safety standards, 

building codes, and environmental 

regulations. These systems automate 

compliance tracking, manage 

documentation related to permits and 

certifications, and ensure adherence to 

legal requirements throughout project 

execution. This specialised functionality 

helps construction companies mitigate risks 

associated with non-compliance and 

maintain regulatory transparency. 

EQUIPMENT AND RESOURCE 

MANAGEMENT 

Construction-specific ERP systems include 

tools for comprehensive equipment and 

resource management, which are essential 

for optimising resource utilisation and 

minimising downtime. These features 

enable construction firms to track 

equipment usage, schedule maintenance 

tasks, monitor availability, and ensure that 

resources are allocated efficiently across 

various projects. 

PROJECT AND CHANGE ORDER 

MANAGEMENT 

Another key difference lies in contract and 

change order management capabilities. 

Construction ERP systems include 

functionalities to manage complex 

construction contracts, track change orders, 

manage variations in project scope, and 

handle billing and invoicing based on 

contractual terms. 

These features streamline contract 

administration processes, enhance 

communication with clients and 

subcontractors, and ensure that contractual 

obligations are met effectively. 

THE BENEFITS OF USING 

CONSTRUCTION ERP VS. GENERIC 

ERP: 

For construction companies seeking digital 

transformation, using a construction ERP 

system designed specifically for the industry 

offers several distinct advantages over 

traditional ERP systems: 

REDUCE COSTS 

Construction ERP systems streamline 

project costing and resource management, 

optimising budget allocation and reducing 

wastage. Unlike generic ERPs, they include 

features like real-time cost tracking and 

predictive analytics that enable proactive 

cost management, ultimately leading to 

lower project costs and improved 

profitability. 

TEAMS CAN COLLABORATE ON-THE- 

GO 

Construction ERPs facilitate seamless 

collaboration among dispersed teams 

through mobile access and cloud-based 

platforms. This capability enhances 

communication, accelerates decisionmaking, 

and ensures that stakeholders 

have real-time access to project data, 

fostering agility and efficiency in project 

execution. 

H3; AVOID MISTAKES, DELAYS, AND 

REWORK 

With integrated project management and 

scheduling tools, construction ERPs help 

mitigate risks of errors, delays, and rework. 

These systems enable accurate planning, 

scheduling, and resource allocation, 

ensuring projects stay on track and within 

schedule. 

Unlike generic ERPs, they incorporate 

industry-specific workflows and compliance 

checks that minimise project setbacks and 

improve overall project delivery. 

HELPS YOUR CONSTRUCTION 

COMPANY SCALE UP 

Construction ERPs support scalability by 

offering flexible modules that can adapt to 

the growing needs of construction firms. 

They automate repetitive tasks, standardise 

processes, and provide scalability in 

managing multiple projects simultaneously. 

This scalability is crucial for expanding 

operations efficiently and maintaining 

competitiveness in a dynamic market 

environment. 

GIVES MANAGERS THE POWER TO 

MAKE DATA-DRIVEN DECISIONS 

Construction ERPs provide comprehensive 

data analytics and reporting functionalities 

tailored to construction metrics and KPIs. 

This empowers managers with actionable 

insights into project performance, financial 

health, and resource utilisation. 

Unlike generic ERPs, which may lack 

industry-specific analytics, construction 

ERPs enable informed decision-making 

based on real-time data, improving strategic 

planning and operational efficiency. 

LEARN MORE ABOUT ACCESS 

COINS, OUR DEDICATED 

CONSTRUCTION ERP SOFTWARE 

Construction ERP offers specialised 

features like advanced project 

management, job costing, compliance 

tracking, and real-time analytics tailored 

specifically for the construction industry. 

These capabilities enable construction 

companies to streamline their operations, 

reduce costs, mitigate risks, and make 

informed, data-driven decisions. 

Choosing dedicated construction ERP 

software like Access COINS ensures that 

your business benefits from industryspecific 

functionalities designed to enhance 

efficiency and profitability. 

To discover how COINS can empower 

your construction projects, visit the Access 

COINS website or search 'Access COINS' to 

watch a 5 minute demo. 

July/August 2024 17

AWARDS 

Nominations open for The Hammers 2024 

The Construction Computing Awards, 

where we celebrate the best and the 

latest developments within the 

industry, will once again take place in 

November this year, and we are pleased to 

announce that nominations are now open 

to determine the 2024 finalists. It's a 

challenge to keep fresh and up-to-date 

within an environment which is fast evolving 

and keen to adopt the latest technologies, 

whilst, at the same time, learning how to 

adapt and comply with the UK 

Government's introduction of new building 

and planning regulations and the 

imperatives of its net zero carbon aims. 

The developments in software 

applications and hardware in the 

construction industry, including the 

increasing use of AI in many areas, means 

we can do more, and can become more 

efficient. It also means that we can 

generate a lot more information about every 

project. The challenge we face there is how 

we can best use these advances to our 

advantage. Reflecting this, our Awards 

categories this year include Asset 

Management Project of the Year - a new 

category for 2024 - and the 

Geospatial/Mapping Project of the Year. 

We also thought it important to dedicate a 

category to the supporting applications that 

handle the management of project 

resources - the people, the supply chain, 

site security and other elements that 

contribute to the success of a project. It's 

the focus of our new Site Safety and 

Security Award but is also relevant to many 

of our other categories too. 

Now is the time to make your nominations 

on the awards website, below, for the 

applications and companies that you 

believe are really driving the industry 

forward, and to submit your projects. We 

are all now working harder and smarter 

than we used to and covering more ground 

in both senses of the phrase, so please do 

get involved in 'The Hammers' in any way 

you can, and join us in November for 

another stimulating and enjoyable Awards 

event. You can find more details on this 

year's Awards at the link below. 

www.constructioncomputingawards.co.uk 

The Construction Computing Awards 2024 Timeline: 

Categories Announced / Nominations Open: 3rd July 

Nominations Close: 6th September 

Finalists announced/Voting Opens: 18th September 

Voting Closes: 29th October 

Winners Announced: 7th November 

@CCMagAndAwards 

Sponsored by: 

18 

July/August 2024

AWARDS 

The Construction Computing Awards 2024 Categories 

INNOVATION OF THE YEAR 2024 

ONE TO WATCH COMPANY 2024 

CONSTRUCTION PROJECT OF THE YEAR 2024 

BIM PROJECT OF THE YEAR 2024 

COLLABORATION PROJECT OF THE YEAR 2024 

ASSET MANAGEMENT PROJECT OF THE YEAR 2024 

CLOUD BASED TECHNOLOGY OF THE YEAR 2024 

GEOSPATIAL/MAPPING PROJECT OF THE YEAR 2024 

SUSTAINABILITY PROJECT OF THE YEAR 2024 

TEAM OF THE YEAR 2024 

CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE OF THE YEAR 2024 

SITE SAFETY AND SECURITY PROJECT OF 2024 

BIM SOFTWARE OF THE YEAR 2024 

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN SOFTWARE OF THE YEAR 2024 

COLLABORATION PRODUCT OF THE YEAR 2024 

DOCUMENT AND CONTENT PRODUCT OF THE YEAR 2024 

ERP SOFTWARE OF THE YEAR 2024 

PROJECT MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE OF THE YEAR 2024 

CONSTRUCTION ACCOUNTING SOFTWARE OF THE YEAR 2024 

ESTIMATION AND VALUATION PRODUCT OF THE YEAR 2024 

STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING APPLICATION OF THE YEAR 2024 

MOBILE TECHNOLOGY OF THE YEAR 2024 

CHANNEL PARTNER OF THE YEAR 2024 

CONSTRUCTION SOFTWARE PRODUCT OF THE YEAR 2024 

EDITOR'S CHOICE OF 2024 

PRODUCT OF THE YEAR 2024 

COMPANY OF THE YEAR 2024 

July/August 2024 19


Finance for Smart Buildings 

Toby Horne, Smart Infrastructure Financing Partner, Siemens 

Financial Services UK, explains how retrofitting non-residential 

buildings is a critical step in the reduction of carbon emissions in 

old buildings - and points out the financial benefits of doing so 

Decarbonising non-residential 

buildings stock worldwide will 

play an important part in 

meeting 2030 and 2050 climate 

targets. Existing stock covers offices, 

hospitals, factories, warehouses, 

educational establishments, and more 

commercial buildings. 

According to the International Energy 

Agency (IEA), the operations of 

buildings account for 30% of global final 

energy consumption and 26% of global 

energy-related emissions. The agency 

stresses that, "…the sector needs more 

rapid changes to get on track with the 

Net Zero Emissions by 2050 (NZE) 

Scenario. This decade is crucial for 

implementing the measures required to 

achieve the targets of all new buildings 

and 20% of the existing building stock 

being zero-carbon-ready by 2030." 

To achieve this goal, an annual deep 

renovation rate of over 2% is needed 

from now to 2030 (and indeed beyond). 

Yet although comprehensive retrofits of 

commercial buildings can reduce their 

energy use by up to 40%, this is 

currently not happening anywhere near 

the scale needed to meet climate goals, 

according to a separate report released 

by the American Council for an Energy- 

Efficient Economy (ACEEE). 

MANDATORY STANDARDS GROW 

GLOBALLY 

There has been some progress in driving 

transition to smarter, more energy 

efficient buildings. The global buildings 

sector investment in energy efficiency 

increased by around 16% from 2020 to a 

total of approximately USD 237 billion. 

Nevertheless, even greater official 

pressure is widely seen as the key to 

accelerating progress. Mandatory 

standards for energy-efficiency in 

buildings already exist in Europe, the 

UK, and China, with strong 

enforcement regimes and noncompliance 

penalties. For instance, 

minimum building energy performance 

standards in the UK mean that it is now 

unlawful to let (lease) properties in 

England and Wales that do not meet an 

'E' level of energy performance. 

Additionally, in April 2024 the European 

Commission formally adopted a directive 

mandating members to cut building 

emissions and energy use. For nonresidential 

buildings, member states 

must renovate 16% of their worstperforming 

buildings by 2030 and the 

26% worst-performing buildings by 2033. 

Apart from such legal obligation, 

initiatives to reduce carbon emissions 

through lower energy consumption are 

commercially compelling on two fronts. 

ETHICAL AND COMMERCIAL 

BENEFITS OF DECARBONISATION 

Firstly, companies are increasingly 

issuing green bonds to raise capital, 

making it necessary to implement carbon 

footprint reduction initiatives. Alongside 

this, businesses and consumers are 

increasingly looking to buy from more 

environmentally-friendly companies, 

making green credentials a key 

competitive advantage in global markets. 

Secondly, in a world that has recently 

experienced a major fuel crisis, 

reductions in energy usage save money. 

Reducing energy consumption, through 

the enabling digital technology, has 

therefore become a major driver of 

investment in 'smart' commercial 

buildings, smart hospitals, smart 

campuses and smart public buildings. 

Many elements of the smart building are 

also the foundation for reduced energy 

consumption. The main contributors to 

energy use reduction and 

decarbonisation focus on energy-efficient 

insulation and door controls, smart HVAC 

(heating, ventilation and air-conditioning 

controls), and sensor-driven LED lighting. 

Smart buildings offer controls that 

activate usage only when needed also 

clearly play a crucial part. 

FLEXIBLE FINANCE AS AN 

ENABLER 

Decarbonising the non-residential 

buildings sector does require 

considerable investment. For instance, 

the retrofitting of buildings is a significant 

challenge since at least 40% of buildings 

floor area in developed economies was 

built before 1980, when the first thermal 

regulations came into force. 

A lack of free capital or risk concerns 

about energy investments can mean a 

substantial number of building owners 

missing out on the deliverable 

operational cost reductions, carbon 

emission reductions and supply security 

that can be gained. However, flexible 

financing arrangements can secure 

these operational cost reductions 

without putting pressure on capital 

resources, can avoid putting capital at 

risk, and ensure expected savings are 

realised. Such financing tends to come 

from specialist financiers, such as 

20 

July/August 2024


Siemens Financial Services (SFS), who 

have a deep understanding of the 

technology and its practical 

applications. 

SPECIALIST FINANCING 

ARRANGEMENTS 

Public sector initiatives need to be 

matched by private sector support, in 

particular private sector finance. 

Financing for smart buildings can take 

a variety of forms, depending on the 

business processes that need to be 

enabled. At the technology component 

level, financing tools are available to 

help vendors and distributors add 

value with cash flow capabilities for 

their buyers. For larger installations or 

systems, specialist financing 

arrangements can be flexed and 

tailored to align costs with the rate of 

benefit gained from the energy-efficient 

technology. 

At the most complex level, as-aservice 

financing arrangements provide 

the solution, with future expected 

savings from energy efficiency being 

harnessed and used to pay for the 

capital investment and more. Often, 

these arrangements can be made 

budget-neutral for the building owner, 

avoiding the need for any capital 

spending at all. Arrangements known 

as energy-efficiency-as-a-service 

(EaaS) have already enabled the 

energy-efficiency transition for many 

organisations, even in challenging 

economic conditions. 

MEASURING THE OPPORTUNITY 

For CFOs looking at managing their 

property portfolio, it is helpful to 

assess just how much decarbonisation 

of existing buildings is susceptible to 

EaaS techniques. The graph above 

shows highly conservative estimates of 

the baseline annual emissions 

reduction that energy-efficiency-as-aservice 

arrangements could enable 

between now and the end of the 

decade - the first phase target date for 

most climate planning around the 

world. The model is based on official 

emissions data and calculates just 

50% of the available emissions 

reduction potential. 

A HIGH PRIORITY FOR 

DECARBONISATION 

40% of global greenhouse gas 

emissions come from buildings and, if 

left unchecked, they are set to double 

by 2050. This means that energy 

efficiency in the built environment is 

critical to achieving 2030 and 2050 

climate targets. 

Commercial and public buildings are 

more energy intensive per m2 than 

residential property, making energyefficiency 

initiatives for non-residential 

buildings a high priority for meeting 

decarbonisation targets. In challenging 

economic times, flexible, specialist 

financing techniques (such as EaaS) 

are important enablers to help the 

investment in energy-efficiency 

maintain its required momentum. 

Siemens highlighted the issue at 

Siemens Transform on 17th-18th July at 

Manchester Central. Transform 2024, is 

a free two-day conference and 

exhibition that focused on the 

challenges organisations are facing in 

the UK & Ireland and how they could 

accelerate digital and sustainable 

transformation. Find out more here: 

www.siemens.com/ 

uk/en/company/transform.html 

Siemens is uniquely able to offer 

building owners and businesses an 

integrated value proposition: 

technology financing solutions, 

including energy-efficiency-as-aservice, 

as well as technology expertise 

and the technology itself. If you would 

like more information about 

accelerating your investment in energy 

efficiency without the need to find large 

amounts of capital, please visit: 

www.siemens.com/infrastructurefinance 

CONSTRUCTION LOAN FOR A DATA CENTRE CAMPUS IN THE U.S. 

Financing was needed for a 184 MW data centre campus in Virginia to be leased to subsidiaries of one of the largest 

hyperscale cloud providers. The newly constructed data centres were to include multiple energy efficiency attributes such as 

low power-usage efficiency (PUE) levels, 100% LED lights for house power and campus site lighting, energy-saving cooling, 

and airflow management systems. 

One of the project's primary objectives was to incorporate energy efficiency into its design considerations, a benefit for both 

itself and its customers. SFS teamed up with the customer to participate in a Construction Term Loan with a $70 million 

commitment to help finance the construction of the data centre campus. 

July/August 2024 21

CASEstudy 

An Olympian effort 

Tekla's precise coordination was music to the ears on the Olympia West Music Hall project 

An exciting two-storey music 

venue constructed as part of the 

larger Olympia project, the 

Olympia West Music Hall is being built 

over the existing West Exhibition Hall. 

With precise coordination between the 

new and existing structure a critical 

concern, BIM and Trimble hardware 

provided BHC with the accuracy and 

level of detail required. 

The Olympia West Music Hall is part 

of an ongoing £1.3 billion 

redevelopment project. With 4,400 

seats, once completed it will be the 

largest entertainment venue of its kind 

in west London. As part of the project, 

delivered by Laing O'Rourke, the main 

exhibition centre's roof was replaced 

with a new floor in order to support the 

new two-storey music venue above. 

The Level Two floor was made up of 

long span trusses, due to the 

requirement for minimal columns within 

the exhibition space below. 

BHC Ltd, the structural steelwork 

contractor, was responsible for 

delivering the structural steelwork 

(including supply and assembly) and 

connection design, as well as the edge 

protection and precast planks and 

slabs for the floor decking. 

Understandably, a key challenge on the 

project was how to correctly coordinate 

the new structure with the existing 

building and exhibition centre. 

Speaking about the project, Colin 

Stewart, Senior Technical Manager at 

BHC said: "We were presented with an 

obvious challenge, mainly how to work 

within the constraints of an existing site 

footprint. Of course, this automatically 

restricts you in terms of what you can 

and cannot do. Our use of the Trimble 

22 

July/August 2024

CASEstudy 

SX10, the scanning total station, was 

essential here. Through the use of point 

cloud surveys, we were able to ensure 

all the new structural columns were 

positioned correctly, aligning perfectly 

with the existing columns below in 

order to safely transfer the loads. 

Strengthening works also had to be 

carried out at the base of the retained 

columns, due to the increased loads 

that they would be carrying. 

"The exhibition hall and our point 

cloud data dictated everything we did 

on site - we had to design around the 

existing structure even if it wasn't the 

usual typical way of doing something. 

For example, there were three main box 

columns that added a different layer of 

complexity to the project. These three 

columns had to be stretched all the 

way up to the roof and yet were not 

parallel with the grid of the new music 

hall, instead having to follow the grid of 

the structure below. In a 3D model and 

using the digital tools we had available, 

we were able to get away with this level 

of complexity. 

"One big benefit of Tekla Structures 

when it comes to carrying out these 

surveys is the ability to determine and 

set the global coordinates. This means 

that when you pull in the survey data 

from the Trimble SX10, everything 

aligns automatically - you don't have to 

spend a lot of time manually 

coordinating and matching it up. It's the 

same when you output it, making it a 

lot easier for the survey team out on 

site. Overall, it all helps to smooth and 

streamline the process." 

Another challenge on the Olympia West 

Music Hall project was addressing the 

vibration concerns, given the building's 

function as an entertainment and live 

music venue. As a result, heavy trusses 

with significant welds and tensioncontrolled 

bolts (TCB's) were required to 

mitigate these effects. 

Colin continued: "While the consulting 

engineers were responsible for the 

vibration analysis on the project, it was 

also a key consideration for us as steel 

detailers, having to detail the TCBs 

within the model. Fortunately, we were 

able to use design tools to bring the 

TCB bolts and shear wrenches into the 

Tekla software, enabling us to model 

them to the level of detail required, carry 

out the necessary checks and ensure 

everything would fit on site. These 

checks varied from reviewing the 

geometry, to ensuring the site team 

would actually be able to physically fit 

into the space with the apparatus and 

tools required to fit the bolts themselves. 

"The project remains ongoing and we 

are currently in the process of installing 

the steelwork for the tiered seating - a 

challenging process given the fact that 

we are essentially retrofitting them to a 

completed, roofed structure. This 

means we can no longer rely on crane 

access to lift and install the steelwork, 

instead having to manually transport 

the fabricated steel inside. As a result, 

being able to automatically generate 

detailed information on each 

component, including the weight of 

assemblies, directly from the Tekla 

model is invaluable." 

The Olympia West Music Hall is on 

track to be completed in 2024. BHC's 

work on the development saw the team 

win 'Sports & Recreation Project' in the 

UK Tekla Awards 2023, with the judges 

praising BHC for their flawless 

fabrication and coordination on a 

complex geometry project. 

"Here at BHC, we are delighted to be 

involved and have received an award 

for the UK Tekla Awards 2023. It is 

great to get recognition for the hard 

work of our team which make 

everything we do possible especially 

from Tekla that plays such an important 

role through many of our processes." 

For more information visit: 

www.tekla.com/uk 

www.bhc.ltd.uk 

July/August 2024 23

EXHIBITION focus 

A wealth of knowledge 

Digital Construction Week 2024 has been dubbed "the best event there is in the construction industry" 

The UK's leading annual event for 

innovation in the built environment 

received rave reviews and saw a 7% 

increase in attendee numbers. Held at 

ExCeL London from 5-6 June, Digital 

Construction Week (DCW) showcased 

cutting-edge technologies, ground-breaking 

innovations, and a thought-provoking 

education programme. 

With a 7% increase in attendee numbers, 

the packed-out event provided a platform 

for exchanging knowledge, fostering 

valuable connections, and delving into the 

latest emerging trends. 

Mathew Lorento, Kane Technology 

Director at Kane Selection comments on 

his visit: "The event was absolutely 

packed with innovation, education and an 

overall sense of excitement as the 

construction industry moves into and 

embraces digital technology." 

Rubens Lage Lopes, Digital Project 

Manager (BIM) at Ethos Engineering likened 

DCW to "uncovering a treasure map for the 

future of construction." 

Dinesh Raj, Business Development at 

SrinSoft Technologies echoed this, saying: "I 

had the pleasure of spending two 

outstanding days at Digital Construction 

Week, undoubtedly the premier event in the 

construction industry. It was fantastic to 

witness all the innovation and 

enthusiasm for digital 

advancements." 

"TAKING AWAY A WEALTH OF 

KNOWLEDGE" 

The successful show brought the built 

environment community from all parts of 

the world together, fostering collaboration 

and unlocking new opportunities for 

growth. "I attended Digital Construction 

Week for the first time, and what a 

fantastic learning experience it turned out 

to be. I delved deeper into industryrelevant 

topics, participated in 

enlightening sessions, and forged new 

connections," begins Priyanka Lengure, 

Information Manager at Buro Happold. 

"The standout moments were the engaging 

panel discussions, where industry experts 

shared valuable insights. I'm taking away a 

wealth of knowledge from this event." 

Also in agreement is Emma Hooper, 

Head of Information Management 

Strategy at RLB Digital, Vice Chair of nima 

and buildingSMART UK&I, commenting, 

"Compared to other events I have 

attended this year, it was by far the best. If 

we could bottle up the passion, innovation 

and magic in the room and spread it to 

the rest of the industry we could actually 

change for the better." 

Santhosh Mahadevaiah, Graduate 

Engineering Trainee, Shapoorji Pallonji 

Group had an "incredible" time at the expo, 

saying, "It was fantastic to meet 

professionals from different tech 

departments and learn about new digital 

technologies, BIM, digital engineering, and 

asset management. The interactive 

networking was invaluable. This opportunity 

helped me learn more about construction, 

project management, and project control 

through new technologies." 

"A SIGN OF A HEALTHY MARKET!" 

The bustling show floor featured over 165 

leading companies, start-ups, industry 

bodies and organisations at the forefront of 

digitising the built environment. 

The leading equipment manufacturers, 

software companies and service providers 

that exhibited included Autodesk, Bentley 

Systems, Bluebeam, Causeway 

Technologies, Glider, IFS UK, Mission Room, 

MSite, Paperless Construction, Procore, Sir 

Robert McAlpine, Symetri, Strata, Trimble, 

Twinit, Xinaps, YardLink, and many more. 

The disruptive technologies and solutions 

that were on display included digital twins, 

augmented reality, information 

management, automation and AI, drones, 

robotics and much more. Visitors 

discovered how these solutions can help 

them be more efficient, collaborative, 

connected, sustainable and profitable. 

"It was great to see so many smaller 

businesses this year. Some really great 

offerings were on show, a sign of a healthy 

market!" says Luke Fowler, Technical Director 

at ScanTech Digital. 

"BY FAR THE BEST EVENT THERE IS 

IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY" 

The immersive exhibition unveiled the next 

generation of solutions for the built 

environment, 

24 

July/August 2024

EXHIBITION focus 

providing a glimpse into how these 

advancements are reshaping the AECO 

industry and revolutionising data-driven 

decision-making. 

Daniel T, volunteer and computer scientist 

explains witnessing "such an exciting 

promise for modern construction and 

property development - virtual reality 

modelling, incredible ways to visualise and 

survey sites with robotics, drones and other 

consumer tools, and exciting specialist ways 

to manage teams and mitigate issues." 

"It was great to see the impact of 3D 

visualisation and virtual reality across 

various industries, and inspiring to meet 

numerous start-ups leveraging creative 

technology to propel the construction 

industry forward," comments Luke 

Anderton, Founder of Virtus Studios. 

Nicoleta Bocaneala, Senior Team Leader - 

Digital Estates (BIM) at ONE Creative 

environments (ONE) describes her two days 

exhibiting at DCW as "amazing", saying: 

[Digital Construction Week is] by far the best 

event there is in the construction industry, 

great to see all the innovation and passion 

for digital." 

"ANOTHER IMMENSELY 

SUCCESSFUL DCW" 

The show didn't just result in happy 

attendees, but exhibitors too. Many were 

thrilled with the result of the show and 

praised the quality of visitors and strong 

leads over the two days. "Another 

immensely successful DCW 2024 comes to 

a close. For me hands down the best 

industry event of the year and it's always a 

treat to see familiar faces and demonstrate 

the true power of Revizto to people," shares 

James Lawrence, VDC Construction 

Implementation Manager at Revizto. 

First time exhibitors SIMLAB had this to say: 

"Thanks to our presence at DCW, we 

anticipate the application of our platform in 

many new projects and locations, both in the 

UK and internationally. DCW brings together 

key players who are setting trends in the 

digitalisation of the construction world. We 

are proud to have stood alongside these 

major brands and to have showcased our 

best innovations." 

Launching their new BuildM8 software at 

the show, Riccardo D'Elia, Director of 

Operations at BuildM8, explains: "The event 

was a great platform to showcase our 

solutions and build authority. The feedback 

and connections we gained were invaluable, 

boosting our visibility in the market." 

SrinSoft Engineering dubbed the event "a 

super successful experience meeting with 

clients, brands, and a multitude of visitors. 

We are thrilled by the connections made and 

the exciting opportunities ahead." 

"INSIGHTFUL PRESENTATIONS 

ACROSS MULTIPLE STAGES" 

The event also featured a CPD-accredited 

programme packed with over 200 talks, 

panels and workshops delivered by 300+ 

expert speakers from across the built 

environment. Visitors were spoilt for choice 

with eleven theatres focused on some of the 

key areas shaping AECO. These included 

information management, asset 

management, geospatial, Net Zero, digital 

transformation and more. 

Speakers from HS2, Microsoft, 

AtkinsRealis, Heathrow Airport, Arup, 

Causeway Technologies, Bluebeam, BDP 

and Elliott Wood were just a few examples of 

big names who were part of the line-up. 

Exhibitors Pointscene (an ARKANCE 

company) say "the event was packed with 

insightful presentations across multiple 

stages, covering many interesting topics." 

"Insightful and thought-provoking seminars 

on the Main Stage about AI and mental 

health from industry experts highlighted how 

this will shape the evolving landscape of 

construction," agrees Miguel Espinosa 

Cancino, Graduate Digital Construction 

Manager at Morgan Sindall Construction & 

Infrastructure. 

Lokman Z, MSc BIM and Digital 

Transformation at the University of Liverpool 

describes his experience as "full of thoughtprovoking 

talks, cutting-edge inventions, and 

motivating interactions. I had the chance to 

learn about the newest developments in 

digital construction and network with some 

of the most innovative people in the field. 

The seminars I attended were insightful with 

particular emphasis on; digital twins, digital 

transformation, GIS-BIM integration, 

geospatial, and decarbonisation." 

On the other side of the coin, Victoria 

Jones, Lead Digital Engineer at Laing 

O'Rourke was a first-time speaker at this 

year's event. "The DCW team helped me at 

every stage, from being creative with my 

presentation, promoting my session and 

encouraging me as I was about to speak," 

she says. 

REGISTER NOW FOR DIGITAL 

CONSTRUCTION WEEK 2025 

The resounding success of Digital 

Construction Week 2024 has set the stage 

for an even more extraordinary event next 

year, taking place at ExCeL London from 

4-5 June 2025. Plus, it's the tenth 

anniversary edition! 

Celebrate a decade of DCW, get ahead, 

and register your interest by visiting: 

www.digitalconstructionweek.com/registeryour-interest 

July/August 2024 25


Joined-up data 

Sasha Crotty, leader of Autodesk's AEC Design Data team, explains how the acquisition of Datum360 

democratises data access for its AECO customers 

Autodesk has acquired Datum360 to 

address the growing demand for 

connectivity between model data 

and other types of project data and to meet 

compliance reporting and classification 

requirements. In combination with 

Autodesk's AEC Data Model API, now 

generally available, it makes granular data 

accessible to all Autodesk Docs users, 

connecting people and data across the 

project lifecycle, and enabling AECO firms 

to create better designs and deliver higher 

quality projects faster, with less waste and 

lower costs. 

"The amount of data and number of tools 

continues to explode in the architecture, 

engineering, construction, and operations 

(AECO) industry," explains Autodesk's 

Sasha Crotty. "This means the need for 

data infrastructure that facilitates flexibility 

and interoperability across users, tools, and 

project lifecycles has become paramount." 

The recent announcement marks two 

milestones in Autodesk's mission to 

connect people and data across the 

project lifecycle: Datum360 has joined 

Autodesk to address the immediate need 

for better, more connected data, and 

Autodesk's AEC Data Model API has now 

become more generally available, making 

granular data accessible to Autodesk 

Docs users. 

Together, the acquisition of Datum360 

and the API release represent a major 

step in advancing Autodesk's 

commitment to AECO customersempowering 

them to realise better AECO 

outcomes through more useful, 

connected, and accessible data. 

THE AECO DATA PROBLEM 

The AECO industry's most valuable data is 

often trapped in file formats and not easily 

accessed, analysed, or reused by users. In 

fact, over 95% of all data created goes 

unused in design and construction, and 

'bad data' - data that is inaccurate, 

incomplete, inaccessible, or inconsistent - 

is estimated to have contributed to $1.8 

trillion in losses worldwide for the 

construction industry in 2020 alone. 

Josha van Reij, product manager 

Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC), data 

& AI for Arcadis, experiences this struggle 

first-hand: "We, like many AEC firms, are 

challenged by fragmented data that's 

trapped in project files, which leads to lowquality 

data and a time-intensive process to 

manually extract analytics and insights." 

Jeff Hojlo, research VP, Future of Industry 

Ecosystems, Innovation Strategies, & 

Energy Insights with International Data 

Corporation (IDC), shared similar 

findings: "IDC's research finds that unified 

project data is the top challenge and goal 

in the AEC industry, with design firms, 

contractors, engineering, procurement, 

and construction (EPC services) firms, 

estimators, and owners all requiring a 

real-time view of status, issues, and 

needs so that time, cost, quality, and 

safety goals can be adequately met. 

26 

July/August 2024


Unifying project data for construction 

ecosystem partners is anticipated to 

improve the quality and timeliness of 

mission critical data and insights." 

Better data can help Autodesk's 

customers like Arcadis understand the 

health and performance of their business, 

such as where to invest resources, gain 

efficiencies, reduce cost, and streamline 

operations. With real-time insights on 

projects, firms can course correct early and 

often, avoid rework, and plan for future 

projects based on trusted data. 

DATUM360 JOINS AUTODESK 

The Datum360 acquisition enables 

Autodesk to better support the near-term 

data management needs of its AECO 

customers and bridges a gap in current 

offerings, expanding support for non-model 

data and compliance reporting. 

"Datum360 and Autodesk are united by 

a shared mission to help our customers 

make their data a competitive 

advantage," said Steve Wilson, 

Datum360 CEO. "By integrating our 

technologies, we're not building a single 

source of truth, but a single source to go 

to and search for the truth." 

Serving as a powerful and trusted data 

backbone, Datum360 connects data 

currently stored across disparate silos 

and empowers AECO stakeholders to 

make better decisions by increasing the 

accessibility of model data outside the 

design authoring environments. Its cloudbased 

platform helps users across the 

asset lifecycle navigate today's complex 

data landscape with confidence, 

enabling teams to connect, manage, and 

search across information in one, 

centralised location. 

Datum360 is configurable to a wide range 

of industry and company classification 

standards, reliably secure, and built for 

performance. The tool offers broad benefits 

that align with customer needs, including a 

class library to specify and define precise 

data requirements, powerful capabilities for 

intelligent data scraping, searching, 

reporting, and collaboration and controlled 

access features to manage changes with a 

full lifecycle audit trail. Overall, it provides a 

seamless integration of all data from 

multiple distinct sources. 

A NEW PARADIGM FOR AEC DATA 

With the release of the AEC Data Model 

API, Autodesk is also introducing a new 

paradigm in which data can be accessed 

either via files or at a granular level (the 

underlying data that makes up a model or 

a file at the most elemental level is often 

referred to as granular data). The AEC Data 

Model API is the first deliverable of a 

broader granular data ecosystem that 

Autodesk is building - called the AEC data 

model - that seeks to improve data quality 

and eliminate the bulky file-based 

exchange of data. 

Built on Autodesk's Design and Make 

Platform, and underpinning the AECO 

industry cloud Autodesk Forma, the AEC 

data model is an open and extensible 

solution that empowers Autodesk 

customers to realise better outcomes for 

the built environment. By connecting 

people and data across the asset lifecycle, 

customers can create better designs and 

deliver higher quality construction faster, 

with less waste and lower costs. 

Customers are already seeing the 

benefits. Arcadis uses the AEC Data 

Model API to drive powerful 

standardisation across their project data. 

"The Autodesk Data Model API made it 

possible for us to extract data from our 

Revit models and centralise it on the cloud 

so it's accessible within our organisation," 

said van Reij. "We've been able to reach 

60% more structured project data using 

the API compared to our previous way of 

working. This means we can glean crossproject 

insights from more quality data 

and offer automated client delivery in a 

standardised way. 

Moreover, the API is not only used for new 

projects. We also delve into historical 

project data, applying AI to identify trends 

and insights that our teams leverage to 

generate new business opportunities and 

innovative ways to deliver value to both 

existing and new clients." 

The AEC Data Model API establishes a 

common language across the AECO 

lifecycle, from design authoring all the way 

through to construction-ready models and 

operations. Key features include direct 

cloud access to the granular design data 

in the AEC data model via a set of 

GraphQL Application Programming 

Interfaces (APIs) and the ability to access 

property information for individual Revit 

Elements such as dimensions, materials, 

or room and area data. 

By doing so, it provides open access to 

property data created in Revit without the 

need to write application plugins or 

perform additional processing to retrieve 

data; and includes a search function that 

can access the contents of multiple 

models at the same time. 

In the future, the API will expand to provide 

access to additional types of data, as well 

as data from other Autodesk products to 

power experiences and applications for 

stakeholders, in near real time, so better 

decisions can be made. 

AUTODESK DOCS ON THE PATH TO 

BE A COMMON DATA ENVIRONMENT 

By making the AEC Data Model API 

available to any customers with Autodesk 

Docs access, Autodesk is expanding Docs 

as an open common data environment. 

Docs is evolving from a cloud-based file 

management system to serve as 

Autodesk's AECO common data 

environment for all of its products in the 

future, so that it will enable access both to 

files and the granular data within them. 

Collaborators will benefit from accessing 

the data points they need rather than 

interacting with the entire model. This 

makes data accessible across a more 

diverse audience of stakeholders, meaning 

that it can fuel insightful dashboards that 

lead to better decisions. 

Sasha Crotty explains the benefits for 

Autodesk customers: "While the API is just 

the first capability of the AEC data model, it 

represents a key step forward in 

democratising access to granular data that 

has historically been accessible by just a 

handful of technical experts. By connecting 

people and data across the project 

lifecycle," she adds, "I'm excited to see what 

our customers can accomplish". 

There is a small caveat as the integration 

of Datum360 is still ongoing, with Autodesk 

stating that "The foregoing descriptions of 

the contemplated effects of Autodesk's 

acquisition of Datum360 are subject to 

Autodesk's ability to successfully integrate 

Datum360 in all respects." 

www.autodesk.com 

July/August 2024 27

CASEstudy 

Revu - the 'go-to' tool 

R&P uses Bluebeam to improve measurement and document management 

Ridge and Partners (R&P) is a 

multidisciplinary built environment 

consultancy. With over 1,000 staff, 

based across 11 offices, finding ways to 

deliver services efficiently has a massive 

impact on the overall profitability of the 

business. The initial challenge was to find a 

solution that would enable the firm to 

measure PDF drawings and help prepare 

cost estimates, backed by an audit trail. 

Using Bluebeam Revu, Ridge and 

Partners is able to bring together its various 

sector and service specialists to collaborate 

and develop projects together, whether 

remotely or in-person. It has increased the 

team's ability to mark-up and measure 

drawings faster and reduced errors in the 

preparation of initial cost estimates as there 

is no longer a reliance on the manual 

measurement of printed drawings. 

R&P found that Revu speeds up the 

process for the QS team, provides a 

robust audit trail and, by replacing paper 

with a digital workflow, makes projects 

easier to manage and track. It was also 

easy to adopt, with users able to use the 

software effectively within an hour, which 

they can personalise with custom toolsets 

and templates. 

Ridge and Partners started using 

Bluebeam Revu around five years ago to 

support the QS team with accurate 

measurement when costing jobs. From this 

initial introduction, the use case has been 

expanded within the business to include 

document management, take-offs and 

estimations and design reviews. 

Nick Barringer is a partner at the firm. He 

said that Bluebeam Revu has transformed 

the way that the business worked: "Our 

team was introduced to Bluebeam as a tool 

to make commenting and marking up of 

drawings more efficient," he explained. "At 

the time we didn't see the way that we were 

doing things as a problem, but immediately 

saw the benefits once we had been 

introduced to the software. 

"It was initially used as an internal 

communication tool for marking up and 

commenting on drawings and reports. As 

our understanding of the software's 

capability has increased, we are now able 

to use Bluebeam to produce high quality 

sketches to communicate early design 

stage concepts, alongside detailed markups 

to assist the on-site construction 

teams. It has helped our team increase 

our efficiency and improve the quality of 

our information." 

COLLATING PROJECT INFORMATION 

One of the areas that Bluebeam has made 

a difference in is information management. 

Nick added: "One of the biggest benefits is 

that we can easily collate and edit multiple 

PDF documents in one place. Our "old way" 

of working would involve printing, 

annotating and scanning a large quantity of 

paper hand mark-ups. 

"Doing this digitally has saved us 

thousands in paper and printing costs and 

has made the whole workflow much more 

efficient in terms of time. It has also 

facilitated our transition to a truly paper free 

office, reducing our environmental impact 

as a business." 

Rhys Griffiths is an associate at Ridge and 

Partners and works in the cost 

28 

July/August 2024

CASEstudy 

management team. He explained that this 

has particularly helped with tender 

documentation. 

He said: "It's the go-to tool for us. We use it 

every day, and it helps us to work efficiently 

and securely. We produce a lot of tender 

documents and contract documents that all 

need to be collated and marked up. This 

can number anywhere from 10 to 100 

documents, so we need to able to work 

accurately in these files. Bluebeam helps us 

to send them out in a consistent format that 

looks professional." 

According to Rhys, one of the primary 

reasons for investing in the software was to 

improve the accuracy of measurements. He 

added: "With Bluebeam it's very quick if you 

want to mark up a drawing or measure up 

an area. A range of in-built functions help 

with this, including the scaling tools, markups 

and editing settings, and digital 

measurement tools including linear, area, 

polygon and dynamic fill. This saves time 

and gives us accurate results." 

REPLACING "THE OLD WAY OF 

DOING THINGS" 

When companies introduce new software it 

can sometimes take time for it to become 

embedded within the business. Chris Mills 

is a senior associate at Ridge and Partners 

and specialises in civils and infrastructure 

projects. He argues that the efficiency 

gains with Bluebeam meant this was not 

the case. 

"When you shift to a new tool, it's always 

an interesting process as you adapt," he 

explained. "A lot of what Bluebeam does 

aligns with tasks that we already did 

manually. But the crucial thing is that it's 

now about four or five times faster. 

"I used to enjoy working by hand, and I 

took pride in doing good quality sketches. 

When I think about how long I used to 

spend doing that, as well as scanning 

documents and redoing things when 

needed, it's not comparable. Now I can 

work in real time and it's so fast. I wouldn't 

go back." 

He added that this is also useful when 

working with others to explain concepts and 

ideas. "The speed at which we can now 

produce sketches and drawings means we 

can even use it on the fly, which helps if you 

need to quickly explain a concept to 

someone," said Chris. "When doing this on 

paper, if you make a mistake, you're either 

restarting or having to use Tipp-Ex. That 

feels so last century now." 

CHECKING FOR ACCURACY 

Chris also explained how Revu can help 

to maintain accuracy and consistency 

throughout the project. "We'll take a snip 

of the architect section and then draw on 

top of it and annotate it, before sending 

the information out to the relevant 

people," he said. 

"If we're reviewing two drawings and we 

need to see what's changed, you can 

overlay the drawings on top of each other 

and see where the colours clash. On one 

recent project it was invaluable. We had to 

check hundreds of drawings and see where 

any changes had occurred, and that 

function was a game changer. 

"Ordinarily, it would take days to go 

through that many drawings. It saved us a 

huge amount of time." 

STARTING WITH REVU 

Alex Hall works in the building services 

team. He said that Revu is used from the 

moment he gets involved in a project: "If I 

get given an architectural floor plan and I've 

got to do a survey, I'll use Revu to mark it 

up. That'll include colour coding rooms and 

overlaying where the electrical and heating 

services are. That gives us a reference point 

to check against as part of our QA 

processes, comparing what we've captured 

against the final drawings." 

He added that he can use it to create 

quick designs himself, rather than relying on 

the technical team to draw something in 

AutoCAD or Revit, which saves around two 

or three days each time. 

The ability to edit was mentioned as a 

further benefit. "It's simple to remove things 

from drawings that aren't relevant, adding 

clarity to plans and making it easier for us to 

work with," Alex explained. "Even something 

as simple as the colour processing tool is 

so helpful. If an architect has sent us a 

colour drawing I can convert to grayscale 

and then use colour to overlay the areas 

that I'm focused on." 

DEMONSTRATING 

PROFESSIONALISM 

One of the final benefits the team 

mentioned was the ability to make 

documents consistent and presentable for 

clients. Nick concluded: "Bluebeam Revu 

helps us to make professional customer 

documents that are locked down and 

secure. Using Bluebeam as a presentation 

tool means the team can quickly sketch up 

and demonstrate things in meetings for 

internal meetings and with clients. 

"A lot of people would never have thought 

that it was done in Bluebeam - they'd 

assume that it had been done in AutoCAD 

or Revit. It allows us to get information out 

the door much quicker without having to be 

proficient in CAD software." 

www.bluebeam.com 

July/August 2024 29


A walk in the park 

Looq AI's new handheld device and cloud platform integrates cameras, GPS, and AI for rapid data 

collection from sites and automated analysis for the infrastructure industry 

Maintaining hundreds of miles of 

electricity pylons requires 

continuous effort and vigilance, 

especially when dealing with challenges 

such as power supply failure during violent 

storms and the need to quickly restore it to 

remote locations. Swift action is essential 

in these situations, but before mobilising 

your team, it's crucial to determine the 

exact nature of the damage, what 

resources are needed for repairs, and how 

to effectively brief your waiting crew. 

You could dive into your records and dig 

out the surveyed details and local site 

plans, from which you may be able to 

deduce a likely cause - or you could 

despatch a surveyor, equipped with the 

qCam, Looq AI's handheld camera, and 

rapidly create a detailed 3D model of the 

whole area, with pylons, cables, local 

trees, and nearby buildings clearly defined. 

Transmitted immediately to the electricity 

supplier's local office and integrated with 

appropriate software, apparent problems 

can be assessed, and resources prepared 

to address them. 

Looq AI has developed an infrastructure 

site survey system, comprising GPS, a 

camera, and AI software for creating 3D 

digital twins, enabling segmentation, 

capture, and categorisation of individual 

elements within a model. Developed in 

America by Looq AI's CEO Dominique 

Meyer and his team, it provides immediate 

survey-grade data, in contrast to the 

expensive and time-consuming acquisition 

of information on infrastructure and civil 

engineering assets provided by traditional 

solutions. Survey Grade, an American 

term, is generally known as 10th of a foot 

accuracy - or 2 to 3 centimetres latitude 

and longitude. The internal accuracy of the 

model is finer, with distance measurements 

down to sub-centimetre accuracy. 

THE LOOQ PLATFORM 

The qCam is a handheld 3D digital 

camera using a hybrid SLAMphotogrammetry 

solution that captures 

images as the operator moves round, 

and then reconstructs the geometry, 

using automatic georeferencing to 

accurately locate each component. The 

qAI is a suite of advanced, cloud-based 

algorithms that process the qCam data, 

and qApp is a web-based portal for 

visualisation, analysis and collaboration. 

It's basically a smart data capture 

platform that enables surveyors to create 

accurate models of a local scene, to 

respond instantly to site issues, and in a 

wider context, maintain, analyse and 

manage their company's assets. 

Artificial Intelligence is a core component 

of the Looq platform, enabling it to 

recognise and convert the captured 

images into identifiable components, 

having 'learnt' to distinguish different 

features. It looks at, for instance, power 

lines, trees, buildings, vehicles and even 

people and reconstructs them as 

geometric primitives, aggregating them 

within a 3D model. The AI of the Looq 

platform automatically segments, labels, 

and classifies features, enabling surveyors 

to use the equipment straight away, 

without having to train, set up or input any 

data. The process is fully automatic. 

30 

July/August 2024


Looq AI has also included tools within its 

online portal, qApp, to enable users to 

define their own classes of features that 

may be unique to their needs. To give an 

example, a surveyor wanting to find a 

specific type of connector on a piece of 

equipment can indicate what features the 

application should look for, enabling it to 

locate and label similar connectors in a 

scene. Once set up, they can be retained 

as proprietary components for the 

surveyor's company or added to the core 

database. When the segmented 3D 

geometries have been created, they can 

be imported into standard geospatial tools, 

such as Autodesk's civil and various 

Bentley applications for further design, 

validation or planning. 

THE DEVELOPMENT OF QCAM 

Looq AI is a startup founded in 2021 by a 

team of researchers at the University of 

California in San Diego, who worked out 

that it was possible to accurately and more 

affordably create complete 3D geometries 

using cameras than using traditional 

LIDAR, which is dependent on complex 

and expensive equipment and process 

intensive. Cameras, they decided, could 

do the same job faster and with much 

greater data and thereby yield costeffective, 

high resolution, high-accuracy 3D 

digital twins. 

They also believed that they would 

provide a unique opportunity to improve 

the workflow of data capture and analysis 

within the infrastructure and civil 

engineering industries. Surveyors spend a 

significant amount of time on the road, 

visiting remote sites, setting up complex 

equipment, and working within teams to 

collect vast amounts of point cloud data 

from which information has to be manually 

extracted and decisions made about what 

a group of points represents - a conductor 

or a power pole for example - all of which 

is very time-consuming. 

If anything is missed from the survey, or 

something needs to be re-checked, the 

team must revisit the site and retake the 

survey. The Looq platform, on the other 

hand, automates the process and assists 

the surveyor with the point-picking and 

feature extraction within the captured scene 

which includes images, point clouds, 

segmented objects, and other AI features. 

In addition to the cameras, a survey 

grade GPS receiver built into a small dome 

on the top of the unit enables it to acquire 

GPS data, and reference the images that 

the camera has captured. Constrained 

algorithms combine the images with the 

GPS geometries to ensure that the model 

is geometrically accurate, consistent to 

itself, and globally positioned. Having done 

that, another set of algorithms postprocesses 

the data to improve it further. 

The qCam is housed in a portable case 

for easy transport and rapid setup and is 

hand operated - open the box, pick up the 

camera, plug in the battery, hit the start 

button and walk! Online training, or using 

the accompanying manual, takes about 

five minutes, and operators don't need to 

know about coordinate systems, because 

that's already built in. 

OPERATION IN PRACTICE 

Besides using the Looq platform as a 

dedicated rapid survey unit, the company 

says that it could be used to support 

survey work on a large construction site 

too, where a local coordinate system may 

have been established using Total 

Stations. The Looq platform can update 

the 3D model and geometries on a daily or 

weekly basis, with the unit referencing the 

local coordinate system. As a construction 

management tool, it can be used, for 

instance, to verify the correct placement of 

gas or water utility trenches, and within 

hours have the geometries checked with 

the model to confirm that they are correct - 

before they are filled in again. 

Looq not only enables instant surveys to 

be made but bridges the gap between the 

physical assets being built and the digital 

verification workflow. 

www.looq.ai 

July/August 2024 31

YOUR GUIDE TO 

5 

7 

3 

1 

2 

21 

22 

23 

24 20 25 26 

27 

29 

SCOTLAND 

FIFE 1 

GlenCo Development 

Solutions 

Contact: Jack Meldrum 

Tel: 01592 223330 

Fax: 01592 223301 

jackm@glenco.org 

www.glenco.org 

ACMK 

ABERDEENSHIRE* 2 

Symetri Ltd. 

Tel: 0345 370 1500 

info@symetri.co.uk 

www.symetri.co.uk 

ABCDEGHIJKLMNOPQSTX 

Larbert 3 

30 28 

19 

15 11/16 

6 

13 

17 

9/10 

18 

12/14 

*Location guide 

not 100% accurate 

TMS CADCentre 

7 Central Park Avenue 

Central Park 

Larbert 

FK5 4RX 

Tel: 01324 550 760 

info@tms-scotland.com 

www.tms-scotland.com/autodesk 

ACELHNO 

IRELAND 

DUBLIN 5 

Paradigm Technology Ltd 

Contact: Des McGrane 

Tel: +353-1-2960155 

Fax: +353-1-2960080 

dmcgrane@paradigm.ie 

www.paradign.it 

ACMGKL 

SOUTHWEST 

NEWBURY 6 

RWTC Ltd 

Contact: Richard Willis 

Tel: 01488 689005 

Fax: 01635 32718 

richard@rwtc.co.uk 

www.rwtc.co.uk 

A M 

N.I 

BELFAST 7 

Pentagon Solutions Ltd 

Contact: Tony Dalton - Training 

Services Manager 

Tel: +44 (0) 2890 455 355 

Fax: +44 (0) 2890 456 355 

tony@pentagonsolutions.com 

www.pentagonsolutions.com 

ACDEGKL 

TRAINING COURSES OFFERED KEY: 

AUTOCAD AND LT: 

AUTOCAD P&ID TRAINING: 

AEC/BUILDING SOLUTIONS: 

3D MODELLING $ ANIMATION 

AUTOCAD ARCHITECTURE: 

FM DESKTOP: 

GIS/MAPPING: 

REVIT: 

VAULT FUNDAMENTALS 

AUTODESK VAULT FOR INVENTOR USERS 

A 

B 

C 

D 

E 

F 

G 

H 

I 

J 

VISUALISATION: 

AUTIDESK CIVIL: 

INVENTOR SERIES/MECHANICAL: 

NAVISWORKS TRAINING: 

PRODUCT UPDATE COURSES: 

INVENTOR PUBLISHER: 

GOOGLE SKETCHUP: 

CHARACTER ANIMATION: 

AUTODESK SIMULATION: 

FACTORY DESIGN SUITE: 

AUTOCAD ELECTRICAL: 

K 

L 

M 

N 

O 

P 

Q 

R 

S 

T 

X 

For further information about authorised CAD training or to advertise on these pages please contact: 

Josh Boulton on 01689 616 000 or email: josh.boulton@btc.co.uk

SOUTH/EAST 

HERTFORDSHIRE 9 

Computer Aided 

Business Systems Ltd 

Contact: Gillian Haynes 

Tel: 01707 258 338 

Fax: 01707 258 339 

training@cabs-cad.com 

A C D E K H 

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE 10 

Causeway 

Technologies Ltd 

Contact: Sue Farnfield 

Tel: +44 (0)1628 552134 

Sue.Farnfield@causeway.com 

www.causeway.com 

A C D E K 

BERKSHIRE 11 

Cadpoint 

Contact: Clare Keston 

Tel: 01344 751300 

Fax: 01344 779700 

sales@cadpoint.co.uk 

www.cadpoint.co.uk 

A C D E K 

ENFIELD* 12 

TRAINING 

BERKSHIRE 16 

Mass Systems Ltd 

Contact: Luke Bolt 

Tel: 01344 304 000 

Fax: 01344 304 010 

info@mass-plc.com 

www.mass-plc.com 

A E F 

HAMPSHIRE 17 

Universal CAD Ltd 

Contact: Nick Lambden 

Tel: [44] 01256 352700 

Fax: [44] 01256 352927 

sales@universalcad.co.uk 

www.universalcad.co.uk 

A C M E K H 

MILTON KEYNES 18 

Graitec - Milton Keynes 

Contact: David Huke 

Tel: 01908 410026 

david.huke@graitec.co.uk 

www.graitec.co.uk 


CAMBRIDGE 19 

THE NORTH 

MANCHESTER* 20 

Symetri Ltd. 

Tel: 0345 370 1500 




NEWCASTLE* 21 

Symetri Ltd. 

Tel: 0345 370 1500 




YORKSHIRE 22 

Graitec Bradford 

Contact: Isobel Gillon 

Tel: 01274 532919 

training@graitec.co.uk 



NORTH EAST 23 

Graitec - Durham 


Tel: 0191 374 2020 




LANCASHIRE 24 

QUADRA SOLUTIONS 

Contact: Simon Dobson 

Tel: 01254 301 888 

Fax: 01254 301 323 

training@quadrasol.co.uk 

www.quadrasol.co.uk 

A C M K 

YORKSHIRE* 25 

Symetri Ltd. 

Tel: 0345 370 1500 




SOUTH YORKSHIRE 26 

THE JUICE GROUP LTD 

Contact: Sarah Thorpe 

Tel: 0800 018 1501 

Fax: 0114 275 5888 

training@thejuice.co.uk 

www.thejuicetraining.com 

A C D E K R 

Symetri Ltd. 

Tel: 0345 370 1500 




Symetri Ltd. 

Tel: 0345 370 1500 




SOUTHHAMPTON 13 

Riverside House, Brunel Road 

Southampton, Hants. SO40 3WX 


Tel: 02380 868 947 




CONTRAL LONDON* 14 

Symetri Ltd. 

Tel: 0345 370 1500 




OXFORDSHIRE 15 

MIDLANDS 

NOTTINGHAM 27 

MicroCAD - Nottingham 


Tel: 0115 969 1114 




NORTHAMPTONSHIRE 28 

AIT Spatial Ltd 

Contact: Philip Madeley 

Tel: 01933 303034 

Fax: 01933 303001 

training@aitspatial.co.uk 

www.aitspatial.co.uk 

A C D E F G K L 

BIRMINGHAM 29 

CHESHIRE 30 

Excelat CAD Ltd 

Contact: Vaughn Markey 

Tel: 0161 926 3609 

Fax: 0870 051 1537 

Vaughn.markey@ExcelatCAD.com 

www.ExcelatCAD.com 

B N 

Man and Machine 

Contact: Robert Kenny 

Tel: 01844 263700 

Fax: 01844 216761 

training@manandmachine.co.uk 

www.manandmachine.co.uk 

A D I J M N O P Q X 

Armada Autodesk 

Training Centre 

Contact: Steven Smith 

Tel: 01527 834783 

Fax: 01527 834785 

training@armadaonline.co.uk 

www.armadaonline.co.uk 

A D E M K H

CASEstudy 

Digital twins in the building stock 

Real Estate Manager BENO relies on Nemetschek's dTwin to set up and manage its diverse 

building portfolio 

The industrial real estate manager and 

developer, BENO Holding AG, has 

opted for Nemetschek Group's dTwin, 

the innovative platform for connected and 

visual intelligence and visual analytics for 

buildings. The solution bridges the gap 

between planning, construction, and 

operation and enables building managers to 

make better, data-driven decisions. The aim 

of BENO is to create digital twins of all 

existing buildings in a portfolio and thus to 

take their management to a new level. 

BENO Holding AG, based in Munich, 

owns, manages and rents out light industrial 

real estate throughout Germany. These are 

warehouse and logistics properties that 

contain additional space for production or 

offices. Beno aims to maintain existing 

buildings and transform them to meet the 

needs of their tenants. Most of the buildings 

in BENO's portfolio were built before the 

year 2000, so the data situation is 

correspondingly very analogue. 

"Due to the age of our buildings, it is often 

difficult to determine certain parameters. 

However, these are absolutely essential for 

conversions or new lettings," says Michael 

Bussmann, CEO of BENO Holding AG. 

The use of dTwin enables BENO Holding to 

create complete digital twins. In addition to 

the digitalisation of all building information, 

this brings a wide range of economic and 

ecological benefits such as virtual tours, 

more efficient planning and execution of 

conversions, improved data analysis, for 

example in fire protection, optimised 

resource management and simpler 

maintenance and servicing. 

"We see ourselves as a pioneer in the 

digitalisation of operational 

real estate 

and are constantly working to improve 

collaborative processes. This saves us 

time and, in particular, reduces CO2 

emissions. This is where dTwin fits perfectly 

into our corporate philosophy. We are 

convinced that the software will help us to 

further drive forward the transformation of 

our buildings and take building 

management to a new level. This will 

benefit everyone involved, especially our 

tenants," says Michael Bussmann. 

In dTwin, all existing models of a building 

can be collected and visualised on a single 

platform, integrating point clouds, 

panoramas, BIM, CAD, IWMS, IoT and more 

data sources. Users can then ingest, query, 

and visualise streams from different 

sensors, and the information is intelligently 

structured and properly linked across 

systems, throughout the complete lifecycle 

of a building. 

The digital twin can be used for various use 

cases such as virtual inspections or the 

optimisation of energy management, using 

walkthrough models in which the condition 

of a building can be called up at any time 

using real-time data from IoT sensors, 

efficiently tracking, filtering and querying the 

right information instantly. Real-time 

dashboards reveal operational insights and 

complete reports can be created to deliver 

project information and analyses to different 

stakeholders - from AEC service providers 

to operators and owners. 

The walkthroughs, which are simple to 

create, enable facilities managers to 

compare and review assets and issues in 

location, navigating through the buildings 

via multiple data sources. 

Points of interest can be 

quickly identified allowing 

users to navigate directly to 

them, or 

to particular zones, and their corresponding 

data sources, can be filtered for closer 

review and analysis, using dTwin's extensive 

search criteria based on types, properties, 

and distances, providing real-time 

notifications and insights. 

"We are delighted that BENO has decided 

to use dTwin. Michael Bussmann and his 

team have a clear idea of what they expect 

from a digital twin and have worked with us 

to create the best possible setup. Since 

every building is different and every operator 

has different needs, it was important for us 

to define dTwin optimally for the 

requirements of the BENO Group and to set 

it up in such a way that it can be easily 

adapted to different scenarios," says César 

Flores Rodríguez, Chief Division Officer 

Planning & Design and Digital Twin at the 

Nemetschek Group. "The cooperation with 

BENO shows that we have succeeded in 

this. We are also gaining valuable insights 

into the further development of dTwin in 

order to increase its benefits even further. 

We are convinced that everyone involved will 

benefit from this close cooperation." 

ABOUT THE NEMETSCHEK GROUP 

The Nemetschek Group is a globally leading 

provider of software for digital transformation 

in the AEC/O and media industries. Its 

intelligent software solutions cover the entire 

life cycle of construction and infrastructure 

projects and allow creatives to optimise their 

workflows. Customers can plan, construct, 

and manage buildings and infrastructure 

more efficiently and sustainably, and 

develop digital content such as 

visualisations, films, and computer games in 

a creative way. 

www.nemetschek.com 

34 

July/August 2024

NOMINATIONS 

NOW OPEN! 

www.constructioncomputingawards.co.uk 

AWARDS CEREMONY 

7TH NOVEMBER 2024 

CENTRAL LONDON 

Nominations Close 6th September 2024 

@CCMagAndAwards

CCLATEST

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