CC2405

Construction 

Computing 

WWW.CONSTRUCTION-COMPUTING.COM 

MAY/JUNE 2024 

VOL 20 NO 03 

Building Lifecycle Intelligence 

dRofus uses digital twins as a planning and 

data management tool 

Recycled Buildings? 

Material reuse and construction 

circularity at Trimble 

Getting to the Core of AI 

ALICE Technologies teams up with 

Oracle to launch Alice Core 

The Construction Twin 

Opening the door to a world of 

opportunity with Twinview 

@CCMagAndAwards

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CONTENTS 

MAY/JINE 2024 

CONTENTS 

THE CONSTRUCTION TWIN 10 

Twinview's Adam Ward explores how Digital 

Twins can also be employed as Construction 

Twins to tackle the current challenges in 

construction, opening the door to a world of 

opportunity 

THE CHANGE 14 

grabowski.spork architektur have developed 

an efficient BIM process with Vectorworks 

Architect to build a sustainable high-rise office 

in Eschborn, Germany and deliver The 

Change in personal lifestyles 

RECYCLED BUILDINGS? 20 

Steve Insley, Head of Design Sales at Trimble, 

considers how a digital approach can open the 

doors to material reuse and construction 

circularity 

GETTING TO THE CORE OF AI 28 

As AI continues to transform construction 

ALICE Technologies has teamed up with Oracle 

on the introduction of ALICE Core 

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

• INTRODUCING VIRTUAL WORLDS TO REAL LIFE • NEW £37.6M UK DIGITAL TWIN CENTRE FOR BELFAST 

SOFTWARE FOCUS...........................CREATIVE VISUALISATIONS...............................................................................12 

• ARCHICAD USERS CAN CALL ON AN IMPRESSIVE ARRAY OF VISUALISATION TOOLS TO ENHANCE THEIR CREATIVITY 

TECHNOLOGY FOCUS......................ERP: THE BUSINESS CASE...............................................................................16 

• WHY THE NEED TO EMBRACE THE POTENTIAL OF CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY IS UNDENIABLE 

CASE STUDY......................................MAINTAINING THE M25.....................................................................................18 

• MABEY HIRE MONITORING TECHNOLOGY HELPS KEEP THE M25/23 JUNCTION OPEN 

CASE STUDY......................................DESIGNING FOR THE FUTURE........................................................................19 

• EARTHWORLD TAKES ITS NAME TO HEART BY AIMIING AT BUILDING POSITIVE CHANGE THROUGH DESIGN 

CASE STUDY......................................GLASBLOKKENE TRINN 2.................................................................................22 

• USING DIGITAL TWINS WITH DROFUS FOR COMPLETE LIFECYCLE MANAGEMENT 

TECHNOLOGY FOUCS......................STEEL FABRICATION ENHANCEMENTS..........................................................24 

• IT'S ALL CHANGE FOR THE STEEL FABRICATION INDUSTRY AS IT EMBRACES THE LATEST TECHNOLOGIES 

CASE STUDY......................................TRANSPORTED BY MODEL BASED DESIGN....................................................26 

• VHB REVOLUTIONISE THEIR DIGITAL DESIGN DELIVERY WITH BENTLEY'S OPEN DIGITAL TWIN TECHNOLOGY 

CASE STUDY......................................MANAGING RAAC..............................................................................................30 

• AIREDALE GENERAL HOSPITAL MANAGES ITS RAAC RISK AN INNOVATIVE GEOSPATIAL SYSTEM FROM ESRI UK 

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

• YOUR GUIDE TO AUTODESK TRAINING 

INDUSTRY FOCUS.............................AI ON-SITE.........................................................................................................34 

• WHY AI IS SET TO BECOME ESSENTIAL WITHIN CONSTRUCTION 

May/June 2024 3

COMMENT 

Editor: 

David Chadwick 

(cad.user@btc.co.uk) 

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Comment 

Teaching old dogs new tricks 

by David Chadwick 

Skill shortages affect both ends of the 

construction industry. They apply to 

young people just entering the 

profession and 'experienced' managers who 

have spent most of their lives working in an 

industry which has always been a bit 

renowned for lagging behind other 

professions when it comes to using the 

latest technologies. 

The differences between traditional 

methods of managing construction projects 

not so many years ago, and the complexities 

of a modern building site, are profound. The 

emphasis is now on integration and 

collaboration, the sharing of information and 

the use of intelligent devices to monitor and 

optimise building processes. No longer do 

construction professionals work in siloed 

environments. They are all now part of a 

team, working from a single source of data, 

and as vital a cog in the success of a project 

as any other team member - from the 

architects, to the materials buyer, the 

builders and the eventual asset managers. 

Some of these major changes are 

highlighted in this issue, with an article from 

Access COINS on the many ways in which 

ERP has transformed the industry, the 

benefits that leveraging such a technology 

can bring and the steps that need to be 

taken to gain enhanced productivity from 

implementing ERP. 

Key steps in a successful implementation 

include identifying processes and tasks that 

can be improved using a connected ERP, 

the 'inefficiencies, pain points and 

bottlenecks', proposing solutions to address 

these to improve productivity, and ultimately 

making the case for a construction ERP. 

An alternative approach is the adoption of 

Digital Twin technology, outlined by 

Twinview, which advocates the creation of a 

Digital Twin to forestall the inevitable hurdles 

encountered in every building project. 

Besides providing real-time monitoring and 

control and enabling project managers to 

plan, visualise and improve safety and risk 

management, Digital Twins can log a 

construction project's progress, ensure 

compliance and improve decision making - 

another way of keeping projects on track 

and in budget. 

Twinview also raise another benefit of the 

Digital Twin - or in this case the 'Construction 

Twin' - namely that it can be a powerful tool 

for training and skill development. As 

Twinview describes it, the Construction Twin 

can help workers understand project 

workflows and navigate complex site 

conditions without the risks involved in onsite 

training. 

The latest digital technologies aren't only in 

evidence on the larger building sites and 

projects. The case study in this issue on 

Earthworld Architects, an Archicad use in 

South Africa, highlights the use of BIM 

technology, off-site fabrication and the use 

of iPads to facilitate construction on the 

building site, for an interesting project 

incorporating concrete, steel and timber for 

the new dining room of a university campus. 

And of course you can't get away from AI, 

which is apparently going to take over all our 

jobs, according to various experts around 

the world. Are the attempts to educate the 

industry outlined here just a waste of time, 

then? That notion is nicely rebutted by both 

the article from Access COINS and 

Twinview, who each stress the importance of 

the human factor, and Twinview's views on 

the values of using simulated scenarios. 

It is also discredited by EstimateOne's 

Simon Herod in their article this issue, in 

which Simon explains why AI is becoming 

an essential tool in the construction 

industry, but is not about to take over an 

industry that thrives on the skills and 

practical know-how of its workforce. As 

ALICE Technologies CEO René Morkos 

explains in this issue, when it comes to AI 

the answers aren't the most important thing 

- it's the questions that matter. 

4 May/June 2024

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INDUSTRY news 

£37.6M UK DIGITAL TWIN CENTRE FOR BELFAST 

Belfast Region City Deal and 

Innovate UK have 

announced a £37.6m investment 

in the UK Digital Twin 

Centre, a centre of excellence 

that will revolutionise how 

industries develop products, 

services and systems across 

the UK. Led by Digital Catapult, 

the Centre has been endorsed 

by UK industry, launching with 

co-investment from three major 

industry partners: Thales UK, 

Spirit AeroSystems and Artemis 

Technologies. 

Enabled by a core investment 

from Innovate UK into this new 

world-class Centre and the 

associated programmes, the 

partners will deliver an initial six 

use cases to demonstrate the 

potential of digital twins in transforming 

the maritime, aerospace 

and defence sectors. 

In a step-change from traditional 

research and innovation 

centres, the UK Digital Twin 

Centre aims to accelerate 

industry's adoption of digital 

twins through providing access 

to cutting edge technologies, 

reducing the costs of producing 

a digital twin and developing 

skills in the workforce - therefore 

removing key barriers businesses 

face. The Centre will 

also provide a collaborative 

space for industry, academia 

and the public sector to foster 

cross-sector innovation. 

The £15m of funding from the 

Belfast Region City Deal will 

help support core research and 

the building of skills and capability. 

This investment will support 

the region's ambition to 

build innovation and digital 

capability, increase productivity, 

support reaching net zero targets 

and create more and better 

jobs. The Centre has committed 

to contributing 230 new 

jobs in the manufacturing sector 

across the UK, and to generate 

£61m for the local economy 

in Northern Ireland by 2033. 

To enable digital twins to be 

more accessible, better understood, 

more easily developed, 

and more meaningfully applied, 

the UK Digital Twin Centre will 

run a series of programmes for 

all levels of industry - from 

SMEs to large enterprises - to 

drive innovation and realise new 

value. UK Digital Twin Centre 

Director at Digital Catapult, 

Deborah Colville, added: "The 

Centre will give businesses 

across the UK access to the 

expertise, technology and 

resources necessary to accelerate 

the adoption of Digital Twins 

to reduce design and manufacturing 

costs, help meet net zero 

targets and drive competitive 

advantage globally." 

www.digicatapult.org.uk 

THE NFB LAUNCHES ITS ELECTION MANIFESTO 

The National Federation of 

Builders (NFB) has released 

its 2024 Election Manifesto, 

titled: 'Supporting Construction 

to Power Growth'. Richard 

Beresford, Chief Executive of 

the NFB, said: "The reality is 

obvious; the construction 

industry is a key component for 

the UK to meeting its numerous 

challenges and therefore the 

incoming government must not 

only understand where the barriers 

to our industries' growth 

exist, but what that means for 

the UK's ambition. 

Trimble UK has just 

announced the winners of 

the 2024 UK Tekla Awards. 

Following on from the success 

of the awards in 2023, Trimble 

UK once again opened up 

entries for its Tekla Awards, 

with a number of impressive 

projects being submitted 

across the six categories. 

Designed to recognise those 

in the industry who are pushing 

the boundaries using Tekla 

software to produce projects of 

different sizes and complexities, 

The 2024 winners include 

TAZIKER / Thorpe Park Colossus, 

winners of the Small Projects 

award, and Commercial 

Projects winner BHC Ltd / 

Olympia, while Kilnbridge Construction 

Services Limited / 

Gatwick Airport Station 

Upgrade won the Infrastructure 

With more than fifty recommendations 

spread across five 

chapters, our Manifesto builds 

on NFB member experiences 

and involvement with policy 

makers to create a solid foundation 

for the reforms that 

would immediately deliver sustained 

economic and social 

growth in construction and 

across the UK." The manifesto 

presents recommendations that 

are deliverable within one parliamentary 

term, and more 

importantly sustain growth. 

https://shorturl.at/soloo 

UK TEKLA AWARDS WINNERS ANNOUNCED 

Projects category. William Hare 

Limited / 40 Leadenhall Street 

were the winners in the Public 

Vote category. 

Chris Wilson, Senior Sales 

Director (UK & Ireland), from 

Trimble UK said of the 2024 

entries: "We're pleased to have 

received such a wide variety of 

projects across our six categories, 

each bringing its own 

intricacies and details. It really 

goes to show the talent and 

brilliance on display across our 

industry! So, congratulations to 

all those who won, but also a 

big well done to all of those 

who submitted a project and 

made it such a challenging 

judging process." 

A full list of winners is available 

at the link below: 

www.tekla.com/uk/bimawards/projects 

6 

May/June 2024

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INDUSTRY news 

INTRODUCING VIRTUAL WORLDS TO REAL LIFE 

Dassault Systèmes recently 

ran a digital out-of-home 

media campaign inviting Londoners 

to see and understand 

how virtual worlds are impacting 

real life in areas such as 

health, cities and manufacturing. 

From April 28-May 5, Piccadilly 

Circus was illuminated 

by a massive, 780-squaremetre 

screen showcasing 

groundbreaking innovations 

created with Dassault Systèmes' 

virtual twin technology, 

highlighting how imagination 

and innovation contribute to a 

thriving, more sustainable world. 

The 40-second immersive 

video projected viewers into an 

experience featuring 3D animations 

that transition from the 

world's first fully functional 

model of a human heart, to 

humans and robots working 

together to make products 

from upcycled parts, to futuristic 

aircraft in cities, to a pod for 

growing plants in any environment 

- including on the moon. 

The video offers a glimpse at 

the preventative patient care, 

sustainable production and 

cleaner transport that can only 

be achieved by leveraging the 

virtual world to model possibilities, 

make better choices and 

collaborate before springing 

into action. The general public 

were also invited to delve 

deeper into the experience 

through an augmented reality 

app on their smartphones, to 

discover how Piccadilly Circus 

could look in a more sustainable 

future and read more 

about virtual worlds. 

https://youtu.be/6IThvR1PHxQ? 

feature=shared 

BUILDDATA GROUP'S BRANDS BECOME ZUTEC 

BuildData Group has 

brought together its individual 

brands, including: Createmaster, 

Createmaster 

Information Management 

(formerly Bond Bryan Digital), 

and Resi-Sense to collectively 

operate and trade under 

Zutec. Operating as one 

brand, Zutec will provide customers 

with a joined-up 

approach to managing building 

data as a single touch 

point and digital ecosystem 

across its solutions. 

Zutec's four solution families 

- Document Management, 

Quality Management, Handover 

Management and 

Asset Management - have 

already been adopted by 

over 500+ customers such 

as Kier Group, Taylor Wimpey, 

Cairn Homes, Peabody, 

and Greystar. 

www.zutec.com 

NEMETSCHEK CREATES AI INNOVATION HUB 

The Nemetschek Group has 

announced the introduction 

of an AI Innovation Hub. The 

hub aims to bundle the existing 

AI activities in the Group and 

accelerate the adoption of AI in 

the AEC/O (Architecture, Engineering, 

Construction and 

Operations), and media annd 

entertainment industries. 

The hub will be led by Charles 

Sheridan, Chief AI and Data 

Officer, and Julian Geiger, Vice 

President AI Product and Transformation, 

who are joining the 

Group from Google this month: 

Internal processes as well as 

customers and partners will 

benefit from increased productivity 

and efficiency. 

The main focus of the AI Innovation 

Hub is driving AI initiatives 

across the brand portfolio 

with partners, alliances, and 

customers. The Nemetschek 

Group aims to accelerate product 

development as well as the 

testing and exploring of deploying 

AI tools such as AI Visualizer 

(a new feature in Archicad, 

Allplan and Vectorworks), 3D 

Drawings (part of Bluebeam 

Cloud) and the dTwin platform 

to help users increase productivity 

and sustainability in their 

processes. The goal is to 

launch ethical and trustworthy 

AI as a service (AIaaS) for customers 

and partners. 

www.nemetschek.com 

NEW ESRI GIS PLATFORM FOR GATWICK 

London Gatwick has created 

a new geospatial platform 

using Esri UK's ArcGIS to support 

multiple operational areas 

at the airport, including engineering 

and environmental 

services. The system is 

already making engineering 

and construction works safer 

by reducing accidental strikes 

on buried utilities and enabling 

better management of the airport's 

biodiversity. 

The geospatial platform contains 

critical infrastructure 

information spanning the 70- 

year history of the airport, 

including BIM, CAD, utilities, 

environmental, aerial photography 

and legacy data. By integrating 

all spatial data into a 

single view, combined with 

advanced spatial analysis 

tools, mobile apps and dashboards, 

the Esri platform provides 

new insights to support 

better collaboration and decision-making 

across the airport. 

The single view of buried 

assets including gas, electricity, 

telecoms, water and fuel, is 

proving critical in reducing accidental 

damage to utilities 

across the 1,600-acre site. Field 

engineers, third party contractors 

and major consulting firms 

all use the same single view of 

data, accessible on any device, 

when planning excavations. 

www.esriuk.com 

8 

May/June 2024

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TECHNOLOGYfocus 

The Construction Twin 

Adam Ward, Chief Technology Officer at Twinview, explores how Digital Twins, traditionally considered 

operational tools, can also be employed during construction as Construction Twins to tackle existing 

challenges and open the door to a world of opportunity 

Precision, foresight, and efficiency are 

paramount in construction. However, 

the industry has long grappled with 

challenges, ranging from cost overruns 

and delays to coordination complexities. 

A groundbreaking innovation has now 

emerged in the quest for solutions: the 

Construction Twin. This unique digital 

replica is not just a static blueprint or a 3D 

model but a dynamic counterpart that 

evolves alongside the project, integrating 

real-time data and insights. It is poised to 

revolutionise how we conceive, plan, and 

execute construction projects. 

THE CONSTRUCTION TWIN 

Imagine a dynamic digital counterpart to 

every physical construction project - a 

Construction Twin that mirrors every detail, 

from the structural framework to the 

intricate wiring. Unlike static blueprints or 

3D models, the Construction Twin evolves 

alongside the project, integrating real-time 

data and insights. 

At its core, the Construction Twin 

empowers stakeholders with cutting-edge 

technologies like Building Information 

Modelling (BIM), Internet 

of Things 

(IoT) 

sensors, advanced analytics, project 

management tools, Common Data 

Environment (CDE) and Golden Thread 

monitoring capabilities. 

Amalgamating these tools creates a 

cohesive virtual ecosystem where 

stakeholders can collaborate, simulate 

scenarios, and optimise processes, 

putting them in the driver's seat of 

construction innovation. 

ADDRESSING CONSTRUCTION 

CHALLENGES HEAD-ON 

Construction projects are notorious for 

encountering hurdles along the way. 

Delays, budget overruns, and rework are 

all too common. The Construction Twin, 

however, serves as a proactive antidote to 

these challenges: 

Enhanced Planning and Visualisation: 

Traditional planning often fails to anticipate 

spatial conflicts or logistical bottlenecks. 

With the Construction Twin, stakeholders 

can visualise the entire project in a 

comprehensive digital environment, 

identifying potential clashes and 

optimising workflows before breaking 

ground. This foresight enables a smoother 

transition from planning to execution, 

minimising costly surprises. 

Real-Time Monitoring and Control: Due 

to unforeseen circumstances or 

miscommunication, construction progress 

can deviate from schedules. The 

Construction Twin offers real-time 

data on progress, material 

inventory, and equipment 

utilisation through IoT 

sensors embedded 

within the 

construction site. 

This transparency 

enables proactive 

decision-making and 

minimises disruptions. 

Project managers can track developments 

minute-by-minute, ensuring adherence to 

timelines and budgets. 

Reduce Costly Downtime: Minimising 

expensive downtime in construction 

projects is crucial for meeting tight 

deadlines and maximising narrow profit 

margins. Integrating a Construction Twin 

with predictive maintenance systems can 

identify potential equipment failures before 

they occur, reducing downtime and 

improving overall project efficiency. This 

predictive capability ensures that 

machinery and equipment are always in 

optimal condition, preventing unexpected 

breakdowns. 

Safety Hazards and Risk Mitigation: 

Safety hazards present significant risks to 

personnel and project timelines. Project 

managers can proactively address 

potential hazards and implement 

preventive measures by using the 

Construction Twin to simulate safety 

protocols and conduct virtual risk 

assessments. This creates a safer working 

environment, protecting workers and 

reducing accident-related delays. 

BEYOND CHALLENGES: 

UNLOCKING ADDITIONAL BENEFITS 

While addressing existing challenges is 

pivotal, the Construction Twin offers a 

plethora of additional benefits that 

transcend conventional project 

management paradigms: 

Lifecycle Optimisation: The Construction 

Twin's utility extends beyond project 

completion. It seamlessly transitions into a 

Digital Twin post-construction, serving as a 

digital repository for maintenance records, 

performance data, and facility 

management. This continuity ensures 

optimal operational efficiency throughout 

the building's lifecycle while providing a 

digital record of all maintenance 

10 

May/June 2024


completed during the Statutory 

Liability Period. Building 

managers can access historical 

data effortlessly, aiding in longterm 

planning and upkeep. 

Sustainability Integration: 

Sustainable construction 

practices are gaining 

momentum globally. The 

Construction Twin facilitates the 

integration of sustainability 

measures from the project's 

inception, allowing stakeholders 

to assess environmental impact, optimise 

energy efficiency, and explore eco-friendly 

materials seamlessly. 

This proactive approach complies with 

regulatory standards and promotes 

corporate social responsibility and 

environmental stewardship. 

Client Engagement and Satisfaction: 

Clear communication and client 

satisfaction are cornerstones of 

successful construction projects. The 

Construction Twin empowers clients to 

immerse themselves in the project's 

evolution, providing real-time updates, 

interactive walkthroughs, and 

customisation options. 

This heightened engagement fosters 

trust and transparency, resulting in 

enhanced client satisfaction. Clients can 

visualise their projects and make informed 

decisions, ensuring the outcome aligns 

with their expectations. 

Compliance and Golden Thread 

Monitoring: The Construction Twin is a 

real-time log that tracks the construction 

project's progress, guaranteeing accurate 

compliance documentation and 

processes. Additionally, it establishes a 

Golden Thread of Information for a 

seamless digital handover. 

Data-Driven Decision-Making: In an era 

of abundant data, leveraging insights is 

crucial for staying ahead. The 

Construction Twin is a centralised hub for 

project data, allowing stakeholders to 

derive actionable insights, identify trends, 

and refine strategies iteratively. By 

harnessing the power of analytics, 

decision-making becomes informed and 

predictive, enabling teams to anticipate 

issues and adjust strategies promptly. 

Embracing Artificial Intelligence: As 

technological advancements continue, 

integrating a Construction Twin with AI 

capabilities such as ChatGPT allows you 

to instantly integrate large construction 

data sets to find issues, gaps and 

mistakes. 

Training and Skill Development: The 

Construction Twin is a powerful tool for 

training and skill development. Providing a 

virtual environment that mirrors real-world 

conditions allows new employees and 

contractors to immerse themselves 

virtually on the construction site. 

This hands-on approach to training can 

help workers become more adept at 

understanding project workflows and 

navigating complex site conditions, all 

without the risks associated with on-site 

training. It ensures the workforce is wellprepared, 

reducing the learning curve and 

improving overall productivity. 

Remote Project Management: With the 

globalisation of construction projects and 

the increasing need for remote 

collaboration, the Construction Twin offers 

an unprecedented advantage. 

Stakeholders worldwide can access the 

same real-time data and make 

collaborative decisions without being 

physically present on-site. 

This capability is particularly valuable in 

the current era, where travel restrictions 

and remote work have become 

commonplace. It ensures continuity and 

efficiency regardless of physical 

distances, making international projects 

more feasible and manageable. 

THE ROAD AHEAD 

Implementing a Construction Twin 

requires a strategic blend of advanced 

technologies and collaborative practices. 

Including key stakeholders like 

project managers, architects, 

engineers, and IT specialists in 

the planning stage is important to 

help define the project scope, 

objectives, and Digital Twin 

requirements to align everyone 

on goals and benefits. 

Gathering necessary data, 

including 3D models from BIM 

and IoT sensor data for real-time 

progress updates, ensures 

accuracy and 

comprehensiveness for a reliable Digital 

Twin. Selecting the right software that 

supports Digital Twin creation and 

management with integration capabilities 

for BIM, IoT devices, and construction 

tools enables real-time data visualisation, 

simulation, and analysis. 

Installing IoT sensors to feed real-time 

data into the Digital Twin allows for 

monitoring parameters like structural 

integrity and environmental conditions. 

IS IT TIME TO EMBRACE THE 

FUTURE OF CONSTRUCTION? 

As the construction industry continues to 

evolve, the emergence of the Construction 

Twin signifies a new era of innovation and 

efficiency. By seamlessly integrating 

digital technologies with traditional 

practices, it overcomes the limitations of 

conventional project management and 

provides a comprehensive approach to 

construction project lifecycle 

management. 

Adopting the Construction Twin is not just 

an option; it represents a paradigm shift 

that aims to redefine how we conceive, 

design, and construct the buildings of the 

future. As stakeholders come together to 

harness its transformative potential, the 

realisation of a smarter, more sustainable 

construction industry will become closer. 

The journey has begun, and the 

Construction Twin serves as a symbol of 

progress, guiding the way toward a 

brighter future for construction. Its 

adoption will enhance efficiency, reduce 

costs, and promote innovation and 

sustainability. 

For more information and to organise a 

personalised demo of Twinview's Digital 

Twin platform, visit www.twinview.com 

May/June 2024 11

SOFTWAREfocus 

Creative visualisations 

David Chadwick looks at the impressive array of visualisation tools that Archicad users can now call on 

to enhance their creativity 

entering the metaverse to interact with a 3D 

model in real-time, enable clients and other 

team members to experience the design 

around them. Virtual or Immersive Reality 

are essential parts of some projects, 

enabling audiences to perceive spaces in 

the simplest, most intuitive way, 

communicating designs and collaborating 

with other stakeholders. Connecting to 

NVIDIA's Omniverse platform, for instance, 

allows users to perform real-time analytical 

workflows based on Archicad models, 

such as CFD (computational fluid 

dynamics) or energy analysis. 

While researching this article, I came 

across a comment in the 

Graphisoft Community blog from 

2005 that said that the best way to create 

visualisations in Archicad was to use an 

application outside of Archicad. That 

certainly isn't the case now. Graphisoft's 

recent Building Together Visualize webinar 

highlighted how Archicad can now be used 

to absolutely nail design presentations. 

The webinar, hosted by lllés Papp of 

Graphisoft, covered visualisation tools and 

third-party applications integrated within 

Archicad, the techniques they used, and 

the range of features and effects that they 

provide. These were illustrated by short 

demonstrations from Enscape, Twinmotion 

and LUMION using Unreal Engine - all 

powerful real-time rendering solutions with 

live connections, synched and responding 

immediately to changes in designs and 

allowing rapid iterations through different 

design options or scenarios. 

Archicad gives architects various options, 

from rapid rendering of 3D models using 

ready-made presets to fully customising 

settings to produce stunning results using 

advanced applications like Maxon's 

Redshift renderer. Alternatively, users can 

experiment with visualisation styles, like 

White Model effect, which delivers clean 

representations without the distraction of 

textures and colours, or combinations of 

display modes such as hidden and 

wireframe rendering techniques, or 

combine White Models with sketch renders, 

overlaying them on top of each other within 

Archicad. Varying techniques helps 

architects draw out and emphasise 

different aspects of a design, enabling 

them to highlight its form and structure. 

Visualisations don't have to be static, 

either. Immersive scenarios, using VR 

headsets to step into Archicad models, and 

AI VISUALIZER AND DESIGN 

OPTIONS 

So far, so good, as architects can now take 

clients through all design stages, 

interacting with spaces like never before. 

As visualisations and renders can now be 

performed in real-time, it raises the 

possibility of creating multiple images 

rapidly to explore design alternatives. 

Hence the introduction by Graphisoft of 

Archicad AI Visualizer. Users can set up a 

simple conceptual 3D model of a design, 

provide a few descriptive prompts to set 

the context, and then watch at the AI 

produces a variety of creative design 

options based on their input. 

Design Options is a similar tool that allows 

architects to explore different designs by 

organising models into several different 

categories within one single project. It's 

another way of exploring design 

alternatives - but in this case, Archicad's 

different visualisation techniques are used 

to highlight different aspects of each, using 

12 

May/June 2024

SOFTWAREfocus 

wireframe models, 3D cutaways, shadows, 

and sketches, allowing users to switch 

rapidly between each of them to find the 

best design option. 

RETRO AND RENOVATION 

PROJECTS 

Repurposing buildings is becoming more 

prevalent, either to preserve listed or iconic 

structures or to satisfy sustainability 

concerns, but they need detailed and 

accurate modelling as a starting point. 

Point clouds and photographic images 

provide accurate surveys of renovation 

projects that can be subsequently 

converted into 3D models, allowing 

architects to add to the building and then 

experiment with textures, styles, and 

colours that complement the older style. 

GRAPHIC OVERRIDES 

With several architects working on the 

same project, it's inevitable that some of the 

designs will clash. Visual or Graphic 

Overrides are a popular Archicad feature 

that allows designers to highlight structural 

details within a federated model to check if 

there are any conflicting designs or 

inconsistencies or to see how elements 

interact with each other in critical locations. 

Using 3D sections and 3D cutaways to 

define cut planes or turning external 

elements into wireframe models makes it 

easy to check internal or core elements of a 

project without turning them off, allowing the 

internal elements in relation to each other. 

The wide range of stylised views that 

architects can achieve with a mixture of 

techniques allows clients to understand 

projects better, or allows architects and 

engineers to assess the efficiency of their 

designs and whether they comply with 

building standards or client requirements. 

They are not just screen-based tools, either, 

as the same features can be used for 

documentation. 

Last year, Archicad added more realistic 

3D representation across all platforms with 

shadow casting, accurate sun positioning 

and a dynamic Skybox, real-time moving 

shadows and lifelike sky visuals, all 

designed to enhance project presentations 

and create a more immersive experience. 

Even simple stylised diagrams in 2D or 

floor plans can be used to explain the 

concept behind the project. Sections and 

elevations can be created with textures, 

shadows, and even sketches to stylise 

them. 2D drawings don't need to be dull 

and boring. Infusing individual styles in all 

forms of output enables architects to add a 

unique touch to their marketing. 

SHARING MODELS WITH BIMX 

Architects and design engineers can create 

walkthroughs, animations, videos, and 

immersive presentations on any platform 

from mobile devices to mixed reality, taking 

clients on imaginative journeys, conducting 

sun studies, or simply using shadow 

simulation for visual analyses of buildings in 

their urban context. 

Graphisoft's BIMx has become a hugely 

popular platform for driving and 

communicating the design narrative with 

clients no matter where they are or what 

platform they use. And it's very simple to 

use - just one simple click away from 

publishing or printing documents on the 

go. It has transformed the way architects 

visualise and communicate designs and 

allows users to mix hybrid models with 

hyperlinks connected to the complete 

project, it's documentation - site and 

floor plans, elevations, sections - and 

much more. 

One of the latest updates BIMx has 

introduced an in-context 3D Model Switch 

function to visualise models effortlessly 

from the same perspective, view different 

layer combinations and renovation status - 

switching between old and replacement 

elements during a renovation project - and 

even features like Partial Structure displays 

for structural engineers, while keeping 

effects like sun settings, cut planes, and 

shading for enhanced model comparison. 

The 3D Model Switch function can also be 

used to switch between Design Options, 

Graphic Overrides, and Structural models. 

These features help to enhance 

collaboration and decision-making across 

all disciplines, enabling structural engineers 

to visualise load-bearing elements within a 

transparent environment and check the 

structural analytical model directly within 

the model. Mechanical engineers can also 

check the building systems in relation to the 

structural elements. 

Anti-aliasing has been added to elevate 

the visual quality of 3D models, ensuring 

smoother edges and reducing moire 

effects. Graphisoft has also taken note of 

user requests and will introduce an 

adjustable cut colour feature that will allow 

them to freely tailor the cut clean 

representation to suit their design 

aesthetics. Other features to come at a later 

date will include the ability to hide individual 

elements of the 3D model, or by group 

selection, to ability to switch between 

gallery items with animated shadow 

movement and to improve layer visibility, 

and manage the visualisation of 3D 

elements based on the layer system of an 

Archicad project. 

BIMx is also available on Apple's Vision 

Pro mixed reality headset. Apple Vision Pro 

has a full immersion mode, including 

accurate sun positioning, smart 

measurements in all layouts, and full 

access to BIM data. 

www.graphisoft.com 

May/June 2024 13

CASEstudy 

The Change 

grabowski.spork architektur have developed an efficient BIM process with Vectorworks Architect to 

build a sustainable high-rise office in Eschborn, Germany and deliver The Change in personal lifestyles 

Change needs space. The office of 

tomorrow will no longer be 

measured in square metres. The 

new benchmark is an attitude that 

combines economic aspects with scope 

for new job opportunities, agile working, 

and cooperation, together with a 

fundamental statement on sustainability. 

How it changes is a process, and that 

process needs flexibility because 

between the new tenets of the working 

environment - the scrum, activity-based 

working, social hubs and desk sharing - 

there must be enough room for individual 

adaptation and movement. 

Change for sustainability aims for 

maximum performance by combining 

intelligent building planning with the best 

energy suppliers in the universe: the Earth 

and Sun, providing renewable energy 

sources - Heat from the Earth using 

geothermal energy and photovoltaics 

providing electricity from the Sun. 

The delevopment of The Change, the first 

timber-hybrid high-rise office building in 

Eschborn, Germany, follows these 

principles in all 

their facets. If this 

is to be a great 

transformation, what do companies need 

to do to implement it - to ensure it is good 

for the balance sheets, for nature, 

individuals, and the public? What tangible 

results do you need to see to enable 

people to think and work together in 

harmony and with nature? The Change will 

deliver those. 

grabowski.spork architektur is 

spearheading the development of The 

Change in collaboration with Bauwens & 

Ampure. This groundbreaking 15-story 

office tower will offer approximately 13,500 

square metres of customisable rental 

space specifically designed to enhance 

the overall quality of an individual's 

working environment. 

INNOVATION IN 

SUSTAINABLE 

DESIGN 

The architectural 

firm has 

promoted the 

innovative use of 

sustainable 

materials, which 

provide a diverse 

range of options, 

allowing them to seamlessly integrate 

wood and concrete to create a hybrid 

superstructure. Concrete is predominantly 

used for the building foundation and 

access core, while wood replaces 

concrete for its structural qualities and to 

reduce the building's carbon footprint. This 

combination not only meets sustainable 

goals, but also enhances the interior, 

creating a welcoming and comfortable 

working environment. 

With The Change the team aims to 

achieve the prestigious DGNB platinum 

certification, based on incorporating 

sustainable technologies, including a 

significant portion of the building's energy 

requirements being sourced from a 

geothermal solar photovoltaic 

system. The building will also 

have charging stations for 

electric vehicles. 

Smart water management 

systems, including a cistern for 

rainwater harvesting, will 

provide an innovative solution 

to reduce overall water 

consumption. The existing 

trees will be preserved and 

complemented by diverse 

planting, while greenery will 

14 

May/June 2024

CASEstudy 

adorn the roof areas, enhancing the 

microclimate and biodiversity. 

AMENITIES OF THE CHANGE 

Alongside the inviting workspaces boasting 

ultimate comfort and serene retreat areas, 

which provide a seamless connection to 

nature, the building amenities include a 

chic restaurant and café that cater to 

employees, whilst amenities like a yoga 

studio, fitness room, and changing areas 

promote wellbeing. 

Abundant natural light floods the office 

spaces through its expansive windows, and 

four rooftop terraces offer scenic views with 

spaces to socialise, relax, and work. One of 

the roof terraces, the Sundowner, features a 

rooftop bar and provides a picturesque 

view of the Rhine-Main region. 

PLANNING AN EFFICIENT BIM 

PROCESS 

The intricate planning and thorough 

technical coordination for The Change were 

carried out using Vectorworks Architect. 

Leveraging the benefits of BIM workflows - 

such as precision, consistency, 

transparency, and material waste reduction 

- was crucial. The close collaboration 

among all team members resulted in a 

highly efficient BIM process. Initially, a BIM 

Execution Plan (BEP) and Project 

Information Requirements (PIR) were 

developed through workshops involving all 

stakeholders. The BEP outlined the project's 

specific organisational structures as defined 

by the PIR, while the PIR established project 

goals, objectives, and responsibilities. 

Working closely with the client's BIM 

coordination team allowed grabowski.spork 

architektur to align the project's BIM goals 

with the entire design team. 

INSIDE THE BIM PROCESS 

As established during the planning and 

BEP, the entire design team and the client's 

BIM management team met on a bi-weekly 

basis to coordinate BIM models. Under the 

guidance of grabowski.spork architektur, in 

partnership with Build Effects GmbH, each 

discipline's models were seamlessly 

integrated into a federated model to 

perform a clash detection report prior to 

each meeting. Clashes were then reviewed 

and assessed at each meeting, and BCF 

issues were created and assigned to the 

corresponding discipline by the BIM 

manager using BIM collab as the issue 

management platform. 

Following these meetings, each discipline 

was able to make appropriate changes to 

the model and resolve the BCF issues in 

BIM collab, keeping the entire team up to 

date throughout the design process. 

In addition to the official BIM coordination 

meetings with the project's BIM manager, 

the design team held a weekly BIM 

coordination meeting, which allowed them 

to evaluate their progress, and maintain the 

excellence of the overall design. 

PRAISING BIM WITH VECTORWORKS 

"For us, The Change was the first project 

set up for a full BIM collaboration process 

across all design disciplines. We learned a 

lot during the process and were able to 

gain valuable insights for our future projects 

as well," the architects said. "After a 

successful preliminary construction request 

in August 2023, we can also say that the 

additional effort was worth it in every 

respect. The quick adaptation of an 

unfamiliar process and the intensive, 

interdisciplinary teamwork on the digital 

twin were ideal for allowing us to develop 

routines for the complex workflow, but also 

for working together." 

Besides Vectorworks Architect, which 

was used for the design and authorising 

stages of the project, and BIMcollab, 

which coordinated the work of individual 

disciplines, Solibri was used for modelchecking. 

Thinkproject managed the 

entire project. 

ESCHBORN 

Having delivered a unique statement in the 

heart of Germany, grabowski.spork 

architektur waxes lyrical about the region's 

welcome. They say the city of Eschborn 

offers ideal conditions for a new balance of 

working, living, and relaxing. First and 

foremost, of course, is the location - the 

bustling skyline of Frankfurt surrounded by 

the green forests and hills of the Taunus. 

On the one hand there is the proximity to 

the culture of a cosmopolitan city and on 

the other the forests, the banks of the Main, 

and the exquisite wine culture of the 

Rheingau. Eschborn is right in the middle of 

it all - an enticing entrepreneurial location 

that hosts a very personal perspective. 

This article was originally published by 

ComputerWorks at 

www.computerworks.de/ 

vectorworks/referenzen/architektur/changeholz-hybrid-hochhaus. 

May/June 2024 15


ERP: The Business Case 

It is no secret that the construction industry has a reputation for being hesitant towards new 

technology. This reluctance is particularly concerning at a time when construction productivity 

remains flat and business failures are at a record high. The need to embrace the potential of 

construction technology is undeniable. 

It's a difficult future ahead for 

construction. The data paints a clear 

picture. Construction productivity has 

barely budged in the last half-century. In 

fact, a 2023 RICS report revealed that 

45% of construction companies haven't 

seen any improvement in productivity. 

The report also highlighted that 

increased investment in data and 

digitalisation is the second most 

important strategy for boosting 

productivity. 

While other sectors are leveraging 

digital advancements to streamline 

processes and increase efficiency, 

construction has been slow to capitalise 

on the opportunities presented by 

"Industry 4.0." The message is clear: 

companies that fail to adapt to new 

technologies risk falling behind, a fate 

witnessed in other industries. To ensure 

survival and growth, the construction 

sector must embrace innovation and 

become a force for disruption. 

WHY ERP WILL TRANSFORM THE 

FUTURE OF CONSTRUCTION 

Construction's rapidly changing 

landscape has led to businesses looking 

for a single platform for construction 

management. Importantly, one that 

replaces the complexity and cost of 

owning and managing unique software 

for every separate operational need. 

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) 

software has emerged as the pivotal 

choice for businesses striving towards 

digital transformation, unifying disparate 

data and systems into one 

comprehensive system. 

For those already using it, ERP has 

become a cornerstone for business 

operations, allowing them to unify 

financials and workforce management, 

improve operational oversights and 

strengthen their decision-making 

processes. 

THE BENEFITS OF USING ERP IN 

CONSTRUCTION 

Significantly Boosted Productivity 

ERP will streamline processes, 

automate tasks, and improve 

communication across the construction 

project lifecycle. This can lead to 

significant time and cost savings, 

alongside increased productivity. Time 

is saved on repetitive or manual tasks, 

and entire teams working on 

construction schemes can view the 

same data and updates in real-time, 

leading to faster-moving projects. 

Increased Safety 

ERP can help to improve safety on 

construction sites by providing real-time 

data on hazards, risks, and 

compliance. This can help to prevent 

accidents and injuries, a continuing 

issue within the industry. This will help 

on-site workers feel safer and happier 

to work, boosting wellbeing and 

improving what can be a sometimes 

challenging work culture. 

Better Build Quality 

ERP can to help improve the quality of 

construction projects themselves by 

providing more accurate information 

and data. This can lead to fewer defects 

and rework - a significant contributor to 

productivity loss - and result in 

improved relationships and repeat 

projects from clients. 

Simple Collaboration 

There are endless benefits to improving 

collaboration in construction projects, 

and digital technologies can help to 

improve collaboration between different 

stakeholders in the construction project 

lifecycle, such as architects, engineers, 

contractors, and owners. This leads to 

more confident decision-making and 

16 

May/June 2024


more efficient execution of projects. 

THE BUSINESS CASE FOR 

CONSTRUCTION ERP 

Moving to a modern construction ERP is 

not just a technological change for your 

organisation; rather a strategic move that 

promises a multitude of benefits for your 

construction company. 

Ask yourself questions that can help 

analyse current weak points in the 

organisation which may be best improved 

with software. Often the biggest obstacle 

when considering a digital transformation 

is getting the wider team, c-suite and 

investors on board. When making the 

case for ERP adoption with your 

stakeholders and teams, consider the 

following points to help secure buy-in: 

User-Centric Approach 

Understand the pulse of your organisation 

by delving into the needs of each 

department and user. Identify processes 

and tasks that can be enhanced through 

software, ensuring a tailored and userfriendly 

solution. 

Organisational Buy-In 

Prioritise achieving organisational buy-in 

by involving end-users in software 

evaluations. Their insights, gathered 

through demos and questions, offer 

valuable perspectives that may not have 

been considered by leadership, fostering 

a sense of inclusivity. 

Communication 

Effectively communicate the purpose of 

adopting ERP software, emphasising how 

specific features will simplify tasks and 

boost productivity. 

Connected Solutions for Efficiency 

Highlight the importance of widespread 

adoption. Connected software solutions 

only realise their full potential when utilised 

across the organisation. Emphasise the 

retirement of manual processes and 

outdated systems to avoid persistent 

issues like duplicate data entry, data 

translation, and delays. 

Time Savings and Productivity 

Appeal to the universal desire for 

efficiency by showcasing how a unified 

software system can save time for 

everyone in the organisation. The statistics 

speak for themselves, with workers 

spending 30% of their workday searching 

for information. A centralised data source 

eliminates this inefficiency, garnering 

widespread support. 

MAKING THE CASE FOR 

CONSTRUCTION ERP 

Here's a step-by-step guide to building a 

compelling business case for 

implementing an ERP system in your 

construction company: 

Analyse Current Pain Points 

Start by thoroughly assessing your current 

processes. Look for inefficiencies, 

bottlenecks, and areas with manual work 

prone to errors. Common pain points in 

construction include siloed systems, 

inaccurate data, difficulty tracking costs, 

poor communication and limited visibility 

of projects. 

Don't just list problems; quantify their 

impact. For example, estimate the cost of 

rework due to inaccurate material estimates 

or delays caused by poor communication. 

Define Benefits and Objectives 

Ensure the new ERP aligns with your 

company's overall strategy. Is your goal to 

improve efficiency, increase profitability, or 

expand into new markets? 

Set clear, measurable goals for the ERP 

implementation. These could include 

reducing project costs by X%, improving 

on-time project completion by Y%, or 

streamlining financial reporting by Z%. 

Research and Evaluate ERP Options 

Construction projects are complex. Look 

for ERP solutions specifically designed for 

the industry, with features like project 

management, field service, and 

equipment tracking. Consider not just 

software licenses, but also implementation 

costs, ongoing maintenance, and training. 

Get quotes from several vendors. 

Calculate Return on Investment (ROI) 

Estimate the quantifiable financial benefits 

of the ERP. This could include cost savings 

from reduced rework, improved resource 

allocation, or streamlined processes. 

Factor in potential revenue gains from 

faster project completion or increased 

bidding competitiveness. 

While ROI focuses on financials, consider 

the qualitative benefits as well. Improved 

employee productivity, better decisionmaking, 

and enhanced customer 

satisfaction can translate to long-term 

financial gains. 

Develop Implementation Plan and Risk 

Assessment 

Consider a phased implementation plan 

to minimise disruption and ensure user 

adoption. Identify potential risks 

associated with the implementation, such 

as data migration challenges or employee 

resistance to change. Develop a plan to 

mitigate these risks. 

Craft a Compelling Presentation 

Briefly highlight the key pain points, 

proposed solution, and expected benefits. 

Back up your case with clear data and 

financial analysis. Use charts and graphs 

to present complex information effectively. 

Emphasise how the ERP will create value 

for the company, not just add cost. 

By following these steps and building a 

well-supported business case, you can 

increase your chances of securing 

approval for an ERP system that will 

transform your construction business. 

AN ALL-IN-ONE ERP FOR 

CONSTRUCTION 

Access COINS is a comprehensive, all-inone 

ERP system that allows construction 

professionals to manage risk, capture and 

manage data and streamline day-to-day 

management of their business. 

Designed specifically for the challenges 

of the construction industry, Access 

COINS' integrated modules are built to 

manage the entire lifecycle of a 

construction project. 

With real-time data insights at its core, 

Access COINS gives construction 

businesses total visibility over their 

projects. Confidently make data-driven 

decisions that can help boost margins, 

assess profitability and manage risk. 

Learn more by searching 'Access COINS' 

or visiting our website. 

May/June 2024 17

CASEstudy 

Maintaining the M25 

Mabey Hire monitoring technology helps keep the M25/23 junction open 

We have recently been treated (if 

that's the right word) to the rare 

sight of the M25 being fully 

closed over critical weekends between 

Junctions 9 and 10, as a major junction 

improvement scheme takes place. 

Having been built in the 1980s, the 

motorway is starting to show its age 

and, like us all, the earlier we can detect 

any signs of degradation, the easier and 

cheaper it becomes to remediate. 

As one of the world's largest and 

busiest orbital motorways, carrying 15% 

of the UK's motorway traffic, any 

maintenance closures of the M25 must 

be carefully planned to avoid major 

disruption. As a result, having real-time, 

easily accessible and accurate data on 

the structural condition of all bridges 

and key infrastructure on the motorway 

is essential. That's why Mabey Hire's 

structural monitoring technology was 

recently deployed. 

The Merstham Viaduct is on one of the 

motorway's busiest interchanges, 

forming a vital part of the south-east 

strategic road network between the 

M25 and M23. When routine 

inspections of the viaduct's bearing 

pads took place in early 2022, 

questions were raised regarding the 

degree of movement the bearings were 

permitting and whether in fact they 

might have fused solid. As a result, 

Mabey Hire was contracted by Octavius 

Infrastructure to supply a range of its 

structural monitoring equipment. 

Working closely with Octavius 

Infrastructure, Allan Martin, Mabey 

Hire's Senior Monitoring Engineer, 

devised a bespoke package of sensors 

which he personally supervised the 

installation of. The sensors duly 

remained in place for an eight-week 

period, during which time the client was 

fed continuous live readings. 

Allan Martin explained: "The M25-M23 

viaduct dates from the mid-1980s and 

has a series of bearing plates at 

different levels. These separate the 

main deck from the abutments and 

piers, allowing them to move in relation 

to one another. The five sets of 

separate monitoring systems were fitted 

to special steel plates anchored to the 

bearing shelf and the deck soffit. This 

allowed us to monitor the movement of 

the bearings against temperature, to 

see whether they had seized or were 

operating sufficiently; with all the data 

being transmitted wirelessly to a central 

gateway on site featuring an internal 

modem. This then wirelessly uploaded 

to our Insite portal. 

"Insite supplies extremely precise 

measurements of the bridge deck's 

thermal movement in real time and 

crucially showed that while the bearing 

plates will shortly require replacement, 

their present performance remains 

satisfactory. This meant that planned 

works rather than emergency work 

could be scheduled - both saving 

money and helping to reduce 

disruption for road users. As a 

specialist in temporary works and 

monitoring, Mabey Hire is also in a 

strong position to be able to provide 

both the necessary jacking and 

monitoring of the bridge structure 

during future repairs." 

Octavius Infrastructure's senior 

engineer on the project, Said Enany, 

commented: "We are a preferred 

framework contractor for Connect Plus, 

which takes care of the whole M25 

network. In this instance, we are the 

principal contractor responsible for the 

work being carried out to the 

Merstham Viaduct. 

"While we have worked with Mabey 

Hire in the past, this is the first time we 

have made use of the company's 

monitoring equipment. We were very 

happy with the service we received 

from the technical department and the 

data supplied by the sensors via Insite 

confirmed that we did not need to take 

urgent action regarding replacement of 

the bearings." 

In addition to specialist monitoring 

services, Mabey Hire is an 

acknowledged leader in the supply of 

temporary works solutions, including 

temporary access bridges, 

groundworks support, propping and 

jacking. 

www.mabeyhire.co.uk 

18 

May/June 2024

CASEstudy 

Designing for the Future 

Earthworld takes its name to heart by aiming at building positive change through design 

Established by André 

Eksteen and Braam de 

Villiers in 2000, 

Earthworld Architects & 

Interiors focuses on pushing 

the boundaries of creativity 

while also maintaining a 

strong focus on sustainability. 

Designing for commercial, 

institutional and residential 

projects, a core philosophy of 

the practice is to seek 

opportunities to use the 

process of design and 

construction as a catalyst for 

positive change in South Africa. 

Headquartered in Pretoria and an 

Archicad user since 2010, Earthworld 

uses Archicad throughout its architecture 

and interior design practice, from early 

design ideas, initial presentations and 

walkthroughs, through to Building 

Information Modelling. 

TRANS-DISCIPLINARY RESEARCH 

A recent brief called for the design of a 

new campus that would facilitate and 

enhance trans-disciplinary research within 

the African context. As part of the brief, 

the dining hall for the new Future Africa 

Innovation Campus at the University of 

Pretoria was designed as an inspirational 

timber building that aims to foster 

discussion and collaboration, reflecting 

the campus' focus on collective research 

and science leadership development. 

To achieve their aim Earthworld 

designed an organic timber building 

that is made up of visible cells and 

small components that fit together to 

create a space that is sculptural, 

contextually relevant and sustainable, 

creating an inspirational center for 

trans-disciplinary research 

DIGITAL TOOLS ENABLE 

PRECISION MANUFACTURING 

One of the first mass timber buildings 

constructed in South Africa, Earthworld 

designed the Future Africa Innovation 

Campus dining hall to be manufactured 

offsite and to allow different stages of 

manufacture and assembly to take place 

in parallel. Digital integration was crucial 

to this precision approach and Archicad 

enabled the team to work with zero 

tolerance in manufacturing. 

Resting on a concrete slab, the steel 

and timber components for the entire 

campus were prefabricated on CNC 

bending, cutting and milling machines. A 

large proportion of the building was 

constructed using 30mm birch plywood 

which was cut to size in the factory and 

assembled onsite like a jigsaw. 

AN UPLIFTING SPACE BUILT BY HAND 

Earthworld designed the entire building to 

be assembled by hand, with components 

transported to the site on a pick-up truck 

or car and trailer. The practice's 

philosophy of 'democratic 

industrialisation' enables small builders 

and unskilled workers to be involved in 

large construction projects. The building 

was built by a team of just eight workers, 

some of whom were previously unskilled. 

The power of Archicad and BIMx 

opened communication between the 

architects and the builders. By bringing 

the 3D designs to site on an iPad, 

everyone could immediately visualise 

what they were building and could 

understand where their work 

fitted into the project. 

DIGITAL INTEGRATION 

AND COLLABORATION 

The digital integration 

between design, manufacture 

and assembly was critical to 

the success of the project. 

Archicad was invaluable in 

translating digital drawings 

into the information required 

for manufacturing quickly and 

easily. Every component of 

the building was designed, 

drawn, modelled, presented and 

communicated within the building 

information model. In addition, the team 

exported moment models directly from 

Archicad for the structural engineers. 

This gave the structural engineers the 

precise details for all the joints and 

connections; a crucial element when 

working with mass timber. 

A PIONEERING APPROACH 

Founder and co-director of Earthworld, 

André Ekseen, outlined the philosophy, 

inspiration and practicalities of designing 

and constructing this uplifting and 

collaborative space. "The tool that 

Archicad puts in your hand is control", he 

said, "that is, control over every element 

and every aspect of the design.You can 

start manufacturing the entire building 

and all the components from day zero if 

you do your groundwork correctly. That's 

where Archicad is very valuable - you can 

work to the finest minute detail in a model 

space - and then translate that into a 

manufacturing language." 

The underlying principles of Earthworld 

are centred around the belief that 

Archicad is an extremely valuable tool 

where the architect can become the 

master builder again - in essence, the 

holder and integrator of information and 

the creator of the system. 

www.graphisoft.com 

May/June 2024 19


Recycled Buildings? 

Steve Insley, Head of Design Sales at Trimble, considers how a digital approach can open the doors to 

material reuse and construction circularity 

In Europe, and specifically the 

Netherlands and Germany, they are 

putting systems in place to support 

circularity in the construction sector. 

Sustainability is no longer a nice-to-have 

on construction projects. Instead, it 

provides a driving focus. It's happening in 

the UK too, as investors and building 

users are beginning to view low carbon 

buildings as premium and high value 

spaces. 'Value' that goes beyond just 

financial to include considerations such 

as sustainability. 

Landmark building projects are being 

cancelled or refused planning permission, 

such as London's Tulip skyscraper and 

the M&S Building on Oxford Street, in part 

due to the high level of carbon emissions 

their construction and operation would 

generate. Knocking down and rebuilding 

is no longer the way forward. Instead, 

retrofit and repurpose and the reuse of 

sustainable building materials are being 

considered more frequently. 

Further motivation is on the way. The UK 

Net Zero Carbon Building Standard, 

currently in development, is expected to 

set out metrics by which net zero carbon 

performance will be evaluated, as well as 

performance targets (or limits) that need 

to be met. 

With sustainability, and the use of 

circular products and processes front and 

centre, positive environmental and 

commercial outcomes can be achieved 

for the whole supply chain, as well as 

helping to meet net zero deadlines. 

How can technology support full 

circularity in construction and beyond? 

Circularity is about repurposing assets 

that are already in use. And when it 

comes to repurposing existing structures 

and extending their lifespan to meet 

current requirements, technology can 

play an important part. 

REPURPOSING DONOR BUILDINGS 

For existing buildings due for demolition, 

now often referred to as donor buildings 

for disassembly, materials can be 

identified and harvested for potential 

repurposing or reuse as a raw material for 

new building projects. 

In the UK, it's estimated that around 

200,000 tonnes of steel sections come 

out of buildings every year; buildings that 

are either being repurposed, refurbished 

or demolished. Of course, not all that 

steelwork can be reused elsewhere but a 

large portion of it can. If all the steel 

sections coming out of buildings are 

reused, it could save the equivalent 

carbon as required to heat 150,000 UK 

homes for a whole year. So, where does 

technology slot in? 

SMARTER SITE SURVEYING 

Firstly, there's surveying hardware 

carrying out 3D laser scans or cloud point 

surveys. This provides data of the existing 

building that can be imported directly into 

the 3D modelling environment, where it 

can be further shared and analysed - 

providing critical understanding of the 

building's structural design and its 

potential to design new buildings around 

the existing structure. 

Digital tools can then be used to aid 

steel reuse by applying material 

passports and tagging elements in BIM 

models. Inventory-based design can be 

used to limit the steel sections to those 

coming from a donor building or from the 

market. 

Elliott Wood Partnership, an innovative 

structural and civil engineering practice, is 

a great example of this approach in 

action. On a recent refurbishment project, 

the team looked at how the steel being 

removed from the existing building could 

be reused and reintroduced in extension 

works. This included taking the 15-metre 

steel beams from the current roof level 

and cutting them down to re-use for 12- 

metre spans at the new roof level above. 

CARBON OPTIONEERING (AND 

FAST) 

At the concept design stage, parametric 

design tools like Grasshopper can be 

invaluable for optioneering - where you 

compare different materials, foundation 

types and column layouts and their 

carbon emissions - enabling a rough 

optimisation on carbon and cost, quickly. 

20 

May/June 2024


This concept forms the basis for a 

structurally engineered design model, 

where further optimisation can be done. 

FACTORING CARBON INTO THE 

DESIGN AND DECISION-MAKING 

PROCESS 

Earlier methods of calculating carbon 

have been updated, enabling engineers 

to better understand the impact of their 

design decisions. Carbon calculations 

can now be automatically generated and 

updated as a project or model 

progresses. 

Calculations and visualisations mean 

carbon can be communicated so much 

more effectively, and sharing project 

insights with other professionals is 

quicker. Reporting is also easier, enabling 

more accurate data collection and target 

setting, and can be saved to reduce 

emissions for future projects. 

OPTIMISATION VS 

RATIONALISATION - IDENTIFYING 

CARBON 'HOTSPOTS' 

Taking this further, engineers can use 

software features to find any 'hotspots', 

highlighting members with high carbon 

and low utilisation, where structural 

components aren't 'worked hard' enough 

for risk management reasons. 

The industry's rational approach to 

design, where components with similar 

geometries and load actions are grouped 

together to save time and simplify the 

construction process, can often result in 

using additional material to cover design 

uncertainties. That makes sense with 

repetitions or risks to mitigate, but with the 

technology available now you can 

challenge such assumptions made in the 

design stage in favour of optimisation. 

DESIGNING FOR DISASSEMBLY 

By aiming for end-of-life disassembly and 

the material value of reuse when detailing 

and fabricating structural steel 

components, circularity simply becomes 

part of the design process. With the rising 

popularity of structural timber and 

lightweight concrete, there are also new 

tools and features that facilitate a 

bidirectional and integrated workflow in a 

multi-material sense, whereby timberspecific 

design data or calculations can 

be sent back to the 3D model. With 

manufacturers incorporating traceable 

technologies into their products, futureproofing 

the golden thread of the data in 

the model is both practical and crucial. 

USING BIM FOR FUTURE 

CIRCULARITY 

For new buildings, the BIM model needs 

to stand the test of time so that, at the 

time of disassembly, a highly accurate 

model is still available. Likewise, for 

complex and large-scale construction and 

civil engineering projects (such as Hinkley 

Point C in Somerset) that take years to 

deliver, trusted and immutable data must 

remain accessible to any party that is 

starting work on the latter stages of such 

mega projects. Software interoperability is 

therefore vital. 

Bootstrapped IFC (Industry Foundation 

Class) files become incredibly important, 

remaining usable and accessible even if 

the modelling software used is redundant. 

Trimble takes an open approach to BIM, 

meaning that IFC files of our BIM models 

remain functional and accessible. 

Always test the exchange process to 

ensure the data required does move 

across successfully - for example, if 

wishing to share custom components 

from Tekla Structures. You can always 

add additional fields to the IFC schema to 

resolve potential issues, so long as 

exchange parties agree on these 

definitions. 

CLOSING THE CIRCULAR LOOP 

With obvious facilities management 

benefits in the 'use' phase of a building's 

life cycle, by accessing modelling data 

from the past and utilising the latest 

technological advances, site teams can 

view hidden structure within existing assets 

by using augmented reality solutions, such 

as Trimble SiteVision, or mixed reality 

technology, like Trimble XR10. 

On redevelopment projects, having the 

Golden Thread of high-quality and easily 

accessible data can save considerable 

time. Besides providing a more 

productive and sustainable outcome, 

engineering teams don't have carry out 

extensive surveys or scans to bring the 

existing asset into current digital 

environments. 

Using technology to boost productivity in 

this way is exactly what construction 

needs. According to tech company HP's 

first 'State of Construction Productivity' 

survey, 60% of respondents agreed that 

techniques and processes have changed 

little in the last 20-30 years, and that the 

construction industry is no more 

productive now than when they began 

their career. 

When you have a Golden Thread of data, 

the productivity and efficiency gains can 

be considerable. Shifting attitudes from 

isolated disciplines to project partners, 

and to combining the physical and digital 

worlds, will result in a greener built 

environment. Make 2024 the year to drive 

construction forward digitally to capitalise 

on the 'value' of a circular approach for all, 

and especially for our planet. 

www.tekla.com/uk 

May/June 2024 21

CASEstudy 

Glasblokkene Trinn 2 

Using digital twins and the dRofus planning and data management tool for complete lifecycle management 

Using a digital twin was a game 

changer for the hospital 

construction project Glasblokkene 

Trinn 2 in Bergen, Norway. The new 

50,000sqm hospital for children and 

teenagers was finalised in 2023 and 

includes outpatient clinics, operating 

rooms, X-ray departments, intensive care 

units and much more. 

By capitalising on an open cloud-based 

planning and data management solution 

from the Nemetschek Group, the teams 

were able to implement a completely 

digital working method to maximise 

collaboration and efficiency. This provided 

significant cost savings, better project 

control, and substantially better outcomes 

for all project stakeholders. 

The client, Helse Bergen HF, required one 

master asset database that would connect 

all data from early planning, through 

design, engineering and construction, and 

finally into operation of the Glasblokkene 

Trinn 2 project. In essence, a golden 

thread of information that connects all 

project phases and stakeholders. 

"In terms of our workflow in the project 

and dRofus facilitated centralisation of 

data, in which all the different actors can 

access at once, we only need to look at 

one place for the data at any given time. 

And we know that the data is always being 

updated," said said Nick Karrebæk 

Gabriel, BIM Manager, KHR Architecture. 

"Working with dRofus has affected our 

workflow in terms of better collaboration 

with the client and the entrepreneurs," he 

continued. 

As the largest construction project in the 

region for nearly 40 years, the 

Glasblokkene Trinn 2 project needed a 

solution that would centralise the 

enormous amount of data for the building 

in a central location. The client also wanted 

an open system so that other software 

could access and add to the data within 

this database. They opted to use dRofus, a 

Nemetschek Group solution, which would 

provide all the functionality required to 

connect different systems and provide a 

data-first digital twin solution. 

A GOLDEN THREAD OF DATA 

The entire hospital project is created 

based on a master asset database for all 

disciplines and models - always up to date 

with all the documentation required for any 

element quickly to be accessed just by 

clicking on the item in the model. For this 

reason, the dRofus property panel was 

embedded into other 

applications, which allowed 

on-site updates of data directly into the 

master asset database, and then synced 

to the design and engineering models and 

IFC files for a consistent and current set of 

information. The centralised information 

management the database offered 

provided a golden thread of data 

throughout the project. "Using a cloudbased 

federated repository, the golden 

thread of data, from the start, combining it 

with real time data in the future will create 

additional huge benefits for the operate 

and manage phase. This is building 

lifecycle intelligence at its best," says the 

Nemetschek Group's César Flores 

Rodríguez, Chief Division Officer Operate 

& Manage and Digital Twin. 

PRESERVING THE VALUE OF 

INFORMATION 

By using a digital twin, the documentation 

was delivered and controlled before the 

work started on site, unlike a traditional 

approach where the documentation is 

delivered after the building is finished. Not 

only was the quality of the information 

enhanced, also complete and correct 

information was available throughout the 

project. The database was not only used 

for the design and 

construction but is 

also 

22 

May/June 2024

CASEstudy 

planned to be used throughout the entire 

building lifecycle, including operation, 

linked to building control systems via APIs. 

"Information from every stage of a 

building's lifecycle will have implications or 

value in other stages, so preserving and 

leveraging this data across the building's 

lifespan makes total sense," says Rolf 

Jerving, CEO of dRofus. "We call this 

Building Lifecycle Intelligence. Solutions 

like dRofus bridge the gap between BIM 

and Building Lifecycle Intelligence, creating 

a digital twin and providing a single source 

of truth that prevents data silos and 

ensures a data-driven approach that 

provides value across a built asset's 

complete lifecycle." 

A NEW WAY OF WORKING 

The project was exclusively digital, with no 

printed drawings used at any stage. For 

some of the project partners, this was a 

totally new way of working. "Using a digital 

twin enabled all parties to work in the same 

environment, collaboration and crossdiscipline 

coordination was improved. 

Responsibilities for 

different element data was able to be 

assigned in the consultants' models, and 

these updates were shared with the entire 

project team", says Main Project leader, 

Kristian Brandseth from Healthcare Bergen. 

Having the contractors be able to create 

data within the consultants' models was 

another unique feature of this approach, 

which further supported collaboration 

between teams. Contractors could update 

product data, generate unique equipment 

IDs automatically, and update the status of 

objects. Another valuable addition was that 

everyone could see the current progress 

on site thanks to the live cross-disciplinary 

dashboards built on top of dRofus. This 

enabled subcontractors to plan their work 

more efficiently, as they knew when 

another trade was finished. 

AN INVALUABLE TOOL 

For the team on the Glasblokkene Trinn 2 

project, the central database that 

connected all the project 

information held in different 

systems was crucial - many would not want 

to deliver such a large project without this 

tool. "The data-first digital twin solution has 

helped avoid data silos and resulted in 

better project outcomes. The value that the 

created data provided throughout the 

project has generated significant savings 

as well as better project control - and will 

continue to do so throughout the building's 

operation", explains Main Project Leader, 

Kristian Brandseth. 

ABOUT DROFUS 

dRofus the software development 

company was established in 2011 in 

Norway. The first version of dRofus 

software was developed by Nosyko AS, 

the leading hospital and equipment 

planning consultancy company in Norway 

founded in 1970, and the software is 

currently used to plan and manage data 

through all project stages for all building 

types, including some of the world's 

largest, most complex, and iconic 

buildings. It was fully acquired by 

Nemetschek Group in 2017. 

With operations in 39 countries - chiefly 

Asia-Pacific, America and Europe, the 

company, and its software development 

team, are based in their European 

Headquarters in Oslo, Norway. As a BIM 

data tool for all stakeholders, dRofus 

always strives to help the AECO industry 

work smarter. 

www.drofus.com 

www.nemetschek.com 

May/June 2024 23


Steel fabrication enhancements 

DBM Vircon says it's all change for the steel fabrication industry as it embraces the latest technologies - 

as evidenced by the West Hollywood Sunset Spectacular project, writes David Chadwick 

As we develop solutions to bring 

the construction industry into the 

21st century, along with the 

engineers who have spent their lives 

working with 2D drawings, elevations 

and other outmoded design practices, I 

little thought that I would be highlighting 

a billboard as an exemplary case study. 

In an era marked by rapid 

technological evolution, the steel 

fabrication industry, amongst others, 

stands on the brink of transformative 

change. As new tools and processes 

challenge traditional norms, 

professionals are grappling with the 

implications for age-old practices such 

as shop drawings. 

In this fascinating case - and only in 

Hollywood, I suspect - would such 

an example of fabrication 

advancements be found in the 

form of the monumental 

Sunset Spectacular. The 

state-of-the-art 

undertaking showcases 

how DBM Vircon is 

pioneering model-tofabrication 

technology 

advancements, as it poses 

the pivotal question: are we 

heading towards an era 

where traditional shop 

drawings might no longer be 

necessary? 

SPECTACULAR RESULT 

WITHOUT SHOP DRAWINGS 

The West Hollywood Sunset 

Spectacular is a multimedia 

billboard for the 21st century. It is 

comprised of four giant parts: 

three outer panels arranged in a 

triangular pattern, with a 'tesseract' 

nested inside. At 67 feet high, the 

huge billboard is made from 100 

tons of stainless steel, with the east 

and west-facing outer petals 

featuring embedded high-resolution 

LED technology. 

The three towering petals surround a 

pedestrian-accessible central void. 

Suspended overhead is a sculptural 

entity that holds and stabilies the three 

sides of the billboard. With an 

accelerated construction schedule due 

to commercial 

considerations, the shop drawing phase 

was completely eradicated from this 

project. To achieve this streamlined 

delivery methodology, DBM Vircon 

tailored the modeling and electronic 

approval process for the components 

required for the billboard. 

Rather than producing assembly 

drawings, part drawings and erection 

sheets, DBM Vircon utilised the Tekla 

model to generate STEP files 

for approval by the architect 

and engineer. This effectively 

removed the need to produce 

assembly drawings, part 

drawings and erection sheets. 

The STEP files were then used 

by the fabricator to nest, laser 

cut and weld the stainless 

steel plates required to 

fabricate the super component 

assemblies. 

TECHNOLOGY SHIFTS 

Over the last two decades, 

steel fabrication advancements 

have not had a transformational 

impact on traditional shop 

drawing presentation 

requirements. The proliferation of 

technology like CNC beam lines 

and part processing machinery 

has not changed the essential 

intricacies inherent in shop 

drawings. After all, it is these 

intricate details that enable 

fabricators to complete the critical 

quality assurance process before steel 

is transported to site. 

However, technology advancements 

have subtly reshaped the deliverables 

for steel detailers. There has been a 

clear shift towards detailers needing to 

invest more of their efforts to completing 

a precise and data rich 3D model 

environment to support fabrication 

management software, CNC machinery, 

24 

May/June 2024


robotics, and advanced survey and 

laser layout equipment. This shift has, 

perhaps unintentionally, led to varied 

quality in shop drawing outputs across 

the industry, and therefore an evolving 

and critical need for accurate, datacentric 

steel fabrication models. 

KEY DRIVERS IN PHASING OUT 

TRADITIONAL SHOP DRAWINGS 

With the latest round of steel fabrication 

advancements, this slip in quality has 

the potential to completely remove the 

need to deliver shop drawings. The 

latest technological advancements, 

emphasised by projects like the Sunset 

Spectacular, hint at a future where shop 

drawings may not be necessary. Key 

factors include: 

Part Layout Technology: Innovations 

such as shop floor augmented reality 

headsets, laser overlays on steel, and 

fully automated assembly fitting and 

welding robots are redefining detailer's 

deliverables. These tools, which 

leverage and interpret data-such as 

dimensions, welds and hole criteriadirectly 

from detailed 3D models, might 

soon obviate the need for traditional 

shop drawings for certain tasks. 

Quality Assurance Technology: 

Modern quality assurance processes 

incorporate technologies like 

augmented reality headsets and laser 

scanning equipment for automated 

inspections. The ability to juxtapose the 

3D model assembly with the physical 

fabricated assembly on the shop floor 

could further diminish the reliance on 

traditional shop drawings. 

THE CONTINUED RELEVANCE OF 

TRADITIONAL PRACTICES 

However, it might be premature to 

suggest that traditional shop drawings 

have become entirely redundant. 

Certain factors still underscore their 

importance. 

An example of this is Machinery 

Limitations. Robotic equipment, while 

advanced, has its constraints in 

handling the vast range of shapes and 

sizes unique to structural steel 

construction. Certain dimensions and 

profile size limitations, particularly those 

of complex structures like trusses, will 

continue to necessitate traditional shop 

drawings. 

Variability in Robotics is another factor. 

Not all robotic machines are designed 

equally. Depending on the specific 

machinery, there might be constraints 

related to weld type or size. 

Nuanced or non-typical notations have 

yet to be solved through technology, 

such as no-paint zones, specific faying 

surface preparation criteria (contacting 

surfaces or faces of two similar or 

dissimilar materials placed in tight 

contact to form a joint), and protected 

zones. These elements will continue to 

warrant communication via traditional 

shop drawing methods. 

GOVERNMENT AGENCIES 

Another significant factor is the 

continued requirement from government 

agencies (i.e., DOTs) for traditional shop 

drawing approval submissions and 

archiving hard copies of project asbuilts. 

For example, in the US, although 

states are starting to move towards a 

more digital process, traditional shop 

drawings must still be submitted for 

both approval review and record 

keeping on all government projects. 

While governments may adopt digital 

twin submission for particular projects in 

the future, this is likely many years away 

- if at all. 

It's a similar situation for QA/QC 

Reviews. Even though the use of 

Robotic Total Station and Laser 

Scanning is slowly becoming more 

common for validation, the use of 

physical drawings and manual 

measurements is still widely used 

throughout the fabrication industry for 

quality reviews and certification. 

The real intrigue lies in the future: How 

will these advancements open doors for 

value engineering collaborations 

between fabricators, detailers, design 

teams, owners, general contractors and 

construction managers? 

It is evident that the role of, and 

deliverables produced by, steel detailers 

is undergoing another transformation. 

For detailers poised at this juncture, 

embracing the rigour and precision in 

3D modeling is not just recommended 

but essential in order to remain at the 

forefront of this evolving industry. 

www.dbmvircon.com 

May/June 2024 25

CASEstudy 

Transported by model based design 

VHB advances civil engineering and digital design delivery with a model-based design coaches 

programme using Bentley's Open digital twin technology 

Oana Crisan is a product marketing 

manager at Bentley Systems, 

focusing on civil design 

engineering solutions and applications. 

Here, she outlines how Bentley Systems 

helped VHB, a Watertown, Massachusetts 

civil engineering company revolutionise 

their digital design delivery using digital 

twin technology. Although the 

transportation industry uses 3D models for 

road design they still largely rely on these, 

rather than MBD - model based design - to 

control engineering intent. Oana explains 

the difference between each approach and 

how VHB's 100-hour coaches programme 

helped empower their delivery. 

KEEPING UP WITH TECHNOLOGY 

Since the introduction of the personal 

computer, technology continues to 

advance and reshape how daily tasks are 

performed in all aspects of life. 

Engineering is no exception to this 

evolution. The personal computer 

revolutionised the rate engineering drawing 

production, networks have fundamentally 

changed the way that people and 

organisations store and share information, 

and the amount of information that 

engineers generate to bid for a project has 

steadily increased. 

Keeping pace in this age of information 

and digitisation is forcing engineering 

design firms and infrastructure 

organisations to rethink their processes. 

They are moving to full 3D model-based 

delivery, eliminating the use of traditional 

2D engineering plans. However, engineers 

are struggling to keep up with the 

technology and using it to its fullest 

potential, as well as facing lagging digital 

standardisation processes. 

The transportation design industry is a 

perfect example. In recent years, state 

transportation departments have been 

adopting Bentley's cloud-based connected 

digital platform and are starting to prepare 

digital delivery policies. However, civil 

engineering design firms still need to catch 

their people up and provide them with the 

support to be able to forgo "drafted" 

engineering plans and embrace a modelbased 

design (MBD) approach. 

"The workforce of engineers, designers, 

and project managers that deliver work in 

these markets have not progressed 

meaningfully with design technology," said 

Kyle Rosenmeyer, model-based design 

leader at VHB. To better align its workforce 

with the core values of building sustainable 

infrastructure in a digital age, VHB initiated 

a training programme to recalibrate 

engineering practices through digital 

model-based workflows. 

ACCELERATING THE LEARNING 

CURVE 

Transportation engineers have increasingly 

relied on 3D models to accelerate plan 

production; however, they still have largely 

maintained a traditional control of 

engineering intent. MBD is the transition to 

controlling engineering intent through 3D 

models, which is different than just using a 

model to accelerate production plans. 

As the future of digital delivery is 

imminent, using an MBD approach will 

flourish in a fully digital environment. "An 

accelerated learning curve is required to 

catch up with other infrastructure markets 

around the continent, and around the 

world," said Rosenmeyer. 

Traditional training methods have lagged 

to help civil engineers transition from 2D 

paper plans to 3D design intent. To close 

that gap, VHB realised that civil engineers 

require additional skills to successfully 

26 

May/June 2024

CASEstudy 

Oana Crisan 

navigate in a connected dynamic digital 

project environment that is driven by 

engineering intent and programmed 

automation. "The current training out on the 

market is somewhat fragmented in this 

regard (requiring users to receive the full 

picture from multiple sources), and often 

miss many important principles of MBD, 

leaving teams unprepared for the realities 

of competing in a world without 2D 

drawings," said Rosenmeyer. 

Recognising that the future of civil 

engineering is model-based and that the 

answer lies with educating the people, the 

users, and the engineers, VHB developed 

their model-based coaches programme. 

The programme targets a sufficient 

percentage of CAD users to become 

innovators and early adopters of 3D digital 

design delivery, advocating for changing 

the way that engineering is practiced in the 

digital age. VHB required integrated, userfriendly 

design technology to effectively 

launch the industry's first MBD advanced 

training programme. 

LEVERAGING A CONNECTED 

DIGITAL ENVIRONMENT AND 

DIGITAL TWINS 

VHB selected ProjectWise, iTwin, and 

Bentley Open applications to establish a 

connected digital environment for 

educating engineers in MBD and digital 

twins using active roadway projects. Their 

12-week MBD coaches programme 

included intense technical training and 

practice sessions, including topics on 

teaching, communication, and community 

building. "Our MBD coaches programme 

is initially targeting 10% of our CAD user 

base to receive 100 hours of focused 

training in design software, such as 

OpenRoads Designer; technology 

platforms, such as ProjectWise; and 

communication applications, such as 

LumenRT," said Rosenmeyer. 

Working in an integrated digital platform 

with a completely connected set of project 

data, the trainees can experience an 

interactive, immersive project environment 

where every aspect of the roadway project 

is performed using the 3D model. The 

training model automates and facilitates 

design changes, clash detection, safety 

reviews, and quality reviews. 

The 3D model also serves as a digital 

twin of the project, enabling the trainees to 

communicate complex design challenges 

in a 3D visual format for better 

understanding. The digital twin allows for 

quick comprehension and timely 

feedback, allowing the community and 

stakeholders to see the impact of a project 

on their neighborhoods and businesses. 

"Engaging with digital twins during the 

model-based coaches programme was 

paramount," said Rosenmeyer. VHB is 

teaching a generation of engineers to 

transition design intent from 2D to 3D, as 

well as to review projects through digital 

twins from the ground up. 

SETTING A NEW CORPORATE 

STANDARD FOR PROJECT DELIVERY 

As an organisation, VHB is embracing MBD 

and recognises that, for large-scale change 

to happen, education is critical to success. 

Attendees of the first training rollout 

reported that digital workflows were easier 

to execute, simplifying troubleshooting and 

saving design time. Before the first cohort 

of the programme even concluded, clients 

began viewing VHB's capabilities differently, 

offering new opportunities to partner on 

their path to digital delivery. "In just 100 

hours, we invigorated careers, inspired 

hope for the future, implanted powerful 

knowledge of MBD, and, most of all, 

reminded people why they became 

engineers in the first place," said 

Rosenmeyer. Compared to traditional 2Dbased 

design teams, it is expected that by 

leveraging fully connected project data, 

design teams will improve the quality of 

their time by more than 50% and reduce 

late-stage design changes by 90%. 

VHB's training programme empowers 

and enables their engineers to better meet 

the increasing pace of the design process 

and address client needs, advancing MBD 

as the company's standard for project 

delivery and integrating technology 

concepts across all projects. 

As the industry continues to pick up the 

pace of the design process, clients also 

want a more detailed analysis earlier in the 

process. Recognising that the future of the 

industry is digital delivery, VHB remains 

committed to this collaborative design 

experience and is invested in firmwide 

model-based training for CAD users as 

well as next level training for advanced 

MBD users and future trainers. 

"VHB has used (Bentley applications) to 

build a world-class training programme for 

civil engineers to master amazing new 

abilities, increase value provided to our 

clients, and elevate our industry for going 

digital," said Rosenmeyer. 

www.bentley.com 

May/June 2024 27


Getting to the Core of AI 

As AI continues to transform construction ALICE Technologies has teamed up with Oracle on the 

introduction of ALICE Core, writes David Chadwick 

It's not the answers you should be 

looking for - it's the questions. This 

was explained to me by ALICE 

Technologies CEO, René Morkos, when 

I spoke to him recently. Construction 

schedules are incredibly complex, 

involving many variables, different 

technologies, alternative materials, 

fluctuating costs and fluid resources. 

Charting the most efficient and costeffective 

route for a construction project 

is a skilled job, supported by wellestablished 

scheduling software such 

as Oracle's Primavera. 

It's an ideal task for artificial 

intelligence, which can analyse 

thousands of possible permutations, 

balancing the requirements of each 

element of the construction project to 

arrive at an optimum solution based on 

different criteria - cost, resource 

availability, construction sequencing, 

delivery constraints, holidays and 

weather limitations - in fact, any 

variable that you can throw at it that 

would affect the schedule. It's a 

straightforward task for AI - as long as 

you can tell it what you want it to do. 

René described what you need to do 

before you can use AI to optimise a 

construction schedule. "First of all," he 

said, "You have the planning phase, 

where you have to take the drawing or 

3D model, identify the scope, and 

figure out what you are building - and 

then work out how you are going to 

build it by converting the scope into a 

list of tasks." AI won't figure out what it 

is you are trying to build, he explained, 

or whether you would use precast 

instead of cast-in-place concrete, or 

what production rate you can achieve. 

Scheduling assigns start times and 

resources to each of those tasks so 

that you don't violate constraints. 

Because of this, planning and creating 

a single schedule for one construction 

project is quite a major task - one that's 

ideally suited for AI, though, which can 

compare tasks and schedules, 

simulating the construction to arrive at 

an optimisation that satisfies the 

constraints that you have established. 

ALICE TECHNOLOGIES CORE 

ALICE Technologies has been working 

on integrating AI technology into 

construction projects since 2015, when 

they introduced ALICE Pro, which 

enabled users to connect 3D models 

with their schedule and estimates to 

visualise all aspects of a project in 4D. 

Recently, they made significant 

changes to their software, introducing 

ALICE Core, which takes AI 

mainstream, enabling it to directly 

import P6 and Microsoft Project 

schedules into the tool. "It's now fast 

and easy to bring information from 

Oracle's and Microsoft's scheduling 

products directly into ALICE and back 

again." René said. 

ALICE uses AI to analyse a project's 

complex building requirements, 

28 

May/June 2024


generate highly efficient building 

schedules, and adjust those schedules 

as needed during construction, 

simulating thousands of options in 

seconds, and testing different 

scenarios to find the optimum solution. 

It leads to huge time and cost savings 

and reduces risk on projects. 

And there's the crunch. Allocating 

tasks, resources and start times won't 

differ much whether you use AI or not. 

Changing any one of these elements 

manually, however, would involve 

reading, redrawing and recreating the 

links between each variable - for 6,000 

tasks or so for a straightforward multistorey 

project. With ALICE, all of that 

would be done automatically, and René 

quoted a typical afternoon's work where 

600 million different schedules can be 

run for half a dozen to be selected for 

implementation. 

The real benefits start to occur in realtime, 

when any one of many scenarios 

can occur - such as building materials 

not being delivered, manpower 

shortages, whether you can reduce 

costs by shortening the schedule, and 

other trade-offs, each of which can be 

explored instantly. 

ALICE PRO VERSUS ALICE CORE 

I asked René what the difference was 

between ALICE Pro and Core, and how 

easy it was to get up and running with 

AI software. He explained that ALICE 

Pro had required a week or so of 

training, learning to use it like a new 

language. ALICE Core, however, is far 

more intuitive. René said that within half 

an hour of downloading ALICE Core, 

and with a minimum of setup or 

training, new users can bring in a P6 or 

Microsoft Project schedule and start to 

use it. 

PARTNERSHIP WITH ORACLE 

With the launch of ALICE Core, ALICE 

Technologies has also joined Oracle 

Partner Network (OPN). This allows 

construction professionals using 

Oracle's Primavera Cloud, Primavera P6 

Professional, and Primavera P6 EPPM 

scheduling products to optioneer their 

schedules using ALICE. 

As a result, customers can bring 

enterprise workloads to the cloud 

quickly and efficiently while addressing 

the strictest regulatory compliance 

requirements. 

"The introduction of ALICE Core 

provides additional value to 

construction professionals who rely on 

Oracle's established scheduling 

solutions," said Frank Malangone, 

Executive Director, Industry Strategy 

and Innovation, Oracle Construction 

and Engineering. "We're pleased to be 

collaborating with ALICE to help our 

customers leverage an AI-based tool to 

optimise their construction schedules, 

and we welcome ALICE to Oracle 

Partner Network." 

ALICE Core will also be made 

available with other scheduling 

applications over time. Prospective 

schedules don't involve very 

complicated file formats - they're 

basically Excel spreadsheets with lists 

of tasks, start times, durations and 

relationships, and, as such, could be 

imported to ALICE as CSV files. 

HOW WILL AI DEVELOP? 

AI is constantly evolving. According to 

René, who has been working with it for 

the last 20 years or so, it is a convenient 

term to describe the latest set of 

algorithms that have been powering 

advanced calculations for many years - 

the term was originally coined in 1954 

at Stanford University. It has been 

attached to constraint programming, 

discrete event simulation, machine 

learning, and now, neural networks, but 

they all describe combinations of 

algorithms to solve different problems - 

considerably smarter than they used to 

be, but still algorithms. 

According to Moore's Law, which René 

quoted, the power of computers will 

double every 18 months, which means 

that the 2K computers I was working on 

in 1970 will be billions of times more 

powerful now. As they and associated 

technologies become more efficient, 

faster and powerful, we shall see neural 

networks and their like overlaying old 

school algorithms to perform even more 

complex tasks. 

The problem is, as René says, "they 

haven't got a bloody clue what they're 

doing unless they've been told to do it 

by the humans who provided the 

algorithms." So how do you get artificial 

inteliigence to start making the 

decisions? I read something recently 

which confirmed René's position: 'The 

answers in this book are subjective and 

therefore unimportant - go seek the 

questions, instead'. 

www.alicetechnologies.com 

May/June 2024 29

CASE study 

Managing RAAC 

Airedale General Hospital manages its RAAC risk with an innovative geospatial system from Esri UK 

Airedale NHS Foundation Trust 

provides services from its main 

hospital site, Airedale General 

Hospital near Keighley, as well as other 

locations across the community: Skipton 

General Hospital, Castleberg Hospital 

near Settle and Ilkley Coronation Hospital, 

providing acute care, district general 

hospital services for adults and children, 

and community care services into 

people's homes. 

Part of their remit is ensuring that the 

structural fabric of the current hospital is 

secure and to further the plans to build a 

new hospital for Airedale at the end of its 

projected life. 

The original plans are now in jeopardy, as 

a large amount of the hospital is built with 

Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete 

(RAAC), a lightweight, bubbly form of 

concrete that was used to build schools, 

colleges and hospitals in the 1960s to 

1980s. RAAC, as we now know, poses a 

structural risk as it has been found to have a 

lifespan of 30 years, and Airedale Hospital is 

now more than 50 years old. 

Structural engineers have, therefore, 

advised that the building needs to be 

replaced, so in 2021 the Trust bid for 

government funding to rebuild the hospital 

through the New Hospital Programme. 

To mitigate the problem, Airedale General 

Hospital has gone live with a new 

geospatial system to help manage its RAAC 

monitoring and repairs programme. Using 

GIS software from Esri UK, the system 

replaces paper-based processes with 

digital workflows to improve the accuracy 

and efficiency of RAAC inspections. 

The software reveals where the highest 

risk areas are in real-time, which informs 

the mitigation works, including temporary 

propping, steel reinforcements and fixing 

roof leaks, to maintain the safe operation of 

the hospital. Developed by Esri UK partner 

BIS Consult, using Esri's ArcGIS system, 

the solution has introduced 50% efficiency 

savings in the RAAC surveying process, 

which involves a team of eight inspecting 

20,000 RAAC planks across 52 

departments. 

Airedale General Hospital has one of the 

highest quantities of RAAC panels in the 

NHS, with 83% of the hospital's floors, walls 

and ceilings made of the material. Built in 

the late 1960s, the hospital near Keighley, 

West Yorkshire first discovered its RAAC 

problem five years ago and is due to be 

rebuilt by 2030 as part of the government's 

New Hospital Programme. 

Previously, the RAAC inspection process 

relied on hand-written surveys to record 

defects, including cracks, movement or 

moisture, which were then transferred into 

Excel. Photos were uploaded manually and 

separate paper floor plans updated to show 

the changes to risk across each ward. In 

2023, the hospital identified the need for a 

more sophisticated method to help perform 

30 

May/June 2024

CASEstudy 

complex calculations for tracking defects 

and monitoring how different sections of 

planks were deteriorating at different rates. 

Richard Burgin, Estates Project Manager, 

Airedale General Hospital explained: "The 

existing manual survey process was not 

capable of dealing with the sheer volume of 

work. It became obvious the hospital 

needed a single, joined-up view of RAAC 

risk to generate the inspection frequencies 

and the ongoing programme of 

remediation works. 

"The Esri GIS has given us a more robust 

and resilient process, with a reduced risk of 

human error that instantly shows different 

levels of risk so we know where to focus. 

RAAC has a major operational impact, 

sometimes disturbing clinical and 

operational functions so surveys and 

mitigation work needs to be accurate and 

fast and the system underpins that." 

Inspection data is now collected on iPads 

using custom forms, which helps dictate the 

risk rating of each plank. Planks are 

surveyed either monthly, 3-monthly, 6- 

monthly or yearly, depending on their rating, 

in line with current guidance. Dramatically 

reducing the time needed to record, analyse 

and report on defect data, the surveying 

process has become 50% more efficient. 

The output helps instruct the survey team 

which wards they need to survey and which 

planks are due for inspection. 

A POWERFUL TOOL 

Improved insights are now generated faster 

than before, as the GIS can run different 

spatial analysis and scenarios, including 

tracking monthly changes in residual risk 

and providing detailed information relating 

to each specific concrete plank. Patterns of 

deterioration can be clearly seen and 

investigated on an estate map, overlaid with 

drone imagery, which helps all stakeholders 

understand the problem more easily. 

Factors which impact on RAAC, such as 

the location of utilities and services, the 

orientation of a building and prevailing 

weather can all be better assessed using 

this method. 

The digital workflow also provides Airedale 

with a solid audit trail which helps with 

compliance and reporting, which is directly 

linked to the government funding it receives 

to manage RAAC. 

Richard Burgin continued: "The GIS is a 

powerful tool which helps manage the 

sheer volume of work, provides a single 

source of truth on RAAC risk and helps 

prioritise where repairs and interventions 

should focus to keep the hospital running 

safely. The digital approach increases the 

accuracy of the data and makes it more 

shareable, improving the ability to 

communicate the scale and complexity of 

the problem, with both internal and 

external stakeholders." 

Mike Atherton, Managing Director of AGH 

Solutions Ltd, commented: "The new 

geospatial system plays a significant role in 

helping us to take every step possible to 

maintain a safe environment to provide high 

quality health services for our community. 

By helping to pinpoint priority locations it not 

only helps focus resources to deal with the 

immediate issue but also assists in planning 

the ongoing operation of the hospital and 

minimising disruption." 

FUTURE PLANS 

Future plans at Airedale General Hospital 

include the creation of dashboards to 

further enhance how RAAC data is reported 

and consumed, allowing hospital staff to 

self-serve and generate their own statistics 

using different parameters. KPIs will be 

available on the dashboards to further aid 

the management of the problem from an 

operational and financial perspective. 

Paul Clarke, Head of Government, Esri UK 

said: "BIS Consult has worked with Airedale 

hospital to create what we believe is the first 

ever geospatial system to help manage the 

risk from RAAC. Defining the risk is a 

significant challenge across the public 

sector, including hospitals, schools and 

other public buildings. Interest in the 

geospatial approach has been high as 

mapping the indoors helps organisations to 

understand the problem in a cost-effective, 

accurate and efficient way and then 

prioritise mitigation works. It helps keep 

buildings safe, open and delivering services 

to the public." 

"People have been using maps in the 

outdoor world for centuries but indoor 

mapping is relatively new. Moving indoors 

with mapping opens up many new 

benefits to help manage assets, from 

RAAC to asbestos." 

www.esriuk.com 

May/June 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: 

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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

INDUSTRYfocus 

AI on-site 

Why AI is set to become essential within construction 

Simon Herod, spokesperson for digital 

tendering platform EstimateOne, 

works daily with estimators and knows 

all too well the pain points which AI and 

machine learning can remedy and how 

these systems can complement human 

interaction. In an industry that grows in 

complexity and faces increasing pressures 

at all levels, he outlines the benefits of 

incorporating AI on-site. 

Amidst the recent glimmers of hope in the 

UK construction sector, courtesy of data 

from S&P Global Market Intelligence, there 

remains a sobering reality check. Political 

uncertainties, tight profit margins, and 

financial pressures continue to cast a 

shadow over the industry. In such a dynamic 

environment, staying ahead of the curve is 

not just wise but essential. 

Looking ahead, everyone's buzzing about 

AI and how it's going to shake things up in 

construction. However, it's going to demand 

some serious adjustments from all involved. 

When it comes to actually using AI, 

especially for the construction landscape, 

where do we even start? 

ADVANTAGES OF AI IN 

CONSTRUCTION 

So, what's the deal with using AI to aid 

construction? AI and the emergence of 

digital platforms couldn't have come at a 

better time. Building designs have reached 

unprecedented levels of complexity, and 

areas like estimations are no longer a 

straightforward task. 

With numerous variables to account for, the 

process demands deep knowledge and 

expertise, as well as time. Factor in project 

durations, potential delays, and the 

escalating costs of materials and labour, 

and it's enough to overwhelm anyone. 

However, teams that incorporate AI into their 

workflows are reaping significant benefits in 

terms of time efficiency, speed, accuracy, 

and enhanced project management. 

THE ADDITIONAL BENEFITS 

AI isn't just about crunching numbers. It's 

like having a crystal ball for predicting 

market trends. By analysing past data, AI 

helps you stay ahead of the game, so you 

can adapt to changes faster than your 

competitors. And when it comes to 

delivering cost breakdowns, AI-powered 

firms are like a flash-quick, precise, and 

always one step ahead. 

FACILITATING COLLABORATION 

Now, let's talk about collaboration and 

communication. Digital platforms are the 

glue that keeps everyone in the 

construction game connected. 

They're like your own personal 

assistant, keeping you updated in 

real-time and making communication 

a breeze. With AI analytics thrown into the 

mix, decision-making becomes even 

smoother, and collaboration 

reaches new, desirable 

heights. 

ACCESSIBILITY AND 

IMPLEMENTATION 

You might be thinking, is implementing 

AI necessary? With AI software being 

designed with simplicity in mind I would 

say it's a much bigger risk not to 

implement it in your day-to-day activity. 

User-friendly interfaces and 

straightforward setups mean you'll be 

up and running in no time. Whether 

you're a tech guru or a newbie, AI is 

here to simplify processes and 

enhance project workflows. 

GETTING THE FACTS STRAIGHT 

There's a misconception floating around 

that AI is set to snatch away our jobs, 

but in the construction realm, that's far 

from reality. This field thrives on the skills 

and practical know-how of its workforce. 

It's about the personal connections built 

on-site, not just crunching numbers on a 

computer at home. 

At E1, we understand first-hand that 

construction projects thrive on teamwork 

and transparent communication, 

something AI can't replicate. Instead of 

posing a threat to jobs, technology like 

AI platforms aims to ease the burden, 

assisting subcontractors in handling the 

growing pressures they encounter. 

AI is on track to become as common in 

construction as blueprints are on a job 

site. But those who plan to embrace it 

early will stand to reap the significant 

rewards over the horizon. 

www.estimate1.co.uk 

34 

May/June 2024

NOMINATIONS OPEN 

3RD JULY 2024 

AWARDS CEREMONY 

7TH NOVEMBER 2024 

CENTRAL LONDON 

www.constructioncomputingawards.co.uk 

@CCMagAndAwards

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