Welcome to the June edition of BIM Today. In this issue, we look at everything from boosting digital skills in the construction workforce to the potential of digital twins in achieving net zero carbon, the future of drone technology in the UK and the role of 4D visualisation in improving health and safety
In our cover story, Professor Duncan McFarlane of the Institute for Manufacturing discusses Digital Construction on a Shoestring, a collaborative programme between industry and academia to improve the digital capabilities of smaller firms.
We also hear from Ian Heptonstall of the Supply Chain School, who highlights a newly launched learning platform designed to accelerate digital transformation by upskilling construction managers, as well as a new skills framework from the Centre for Digital Built Britain’s Digital Twin Hub designed to help organisations prepare for the future.
Elsewhere, we look at the highlights from the DCW Connect fringe series of online events focused on innovation and technology in construction and the built environment, while Robert Garbett of the Drone Delivery Group discusses industry-led efforts to accelerate the adoption of scalable and environmentally sound drone services.
In addition, we have Dean Douglas of BIM Academy on the role of digital twins in achieving net zero carbon emissions, 3D Repo on 4D in health and safety and Alex Wrottesley of Landmark Information argues that digitalisation will be essential to realising the government’s planned reform of the planning system.
Here’s a selection of what’s in store:
While the benefits of digitalisation for construction are widely acknowledged, some businesses lack the resource to implement change. Professor Duncan McFarlane, Professor of Industrial Informational Engineering and head of the Distributed Information & Automation Laboratory at the Institute for Manufacturing, University of Cambridge, presents a different approach demonstrating how digital can work for everyone.
The newly launched Digital learning platform on the Supply Chain Sustainability School supports the modernisation of digital technology within the industry by upskilling managers working in the construction sector.
Last month Digital Construction Week hosted DCW Connect fringe series, a free virtual event for the construction industry that featured a five-week campaign of online activity focused on innovation and technology in the built environment.
Robert Garbett, founder of Drone Major Group and chairman of the Drone Delivery Group, discusses the development of the Phoenix Programme and industry-led efforts to accelerate commercially viable, scalable and environmentally sound drone services for the UK.
Almost a decade on from its creation, Women in BIM founder Rebecca De Cicco discusses the group’s global growth and its ongoing mission to provide support, networking and education for female professionals in the sector.
Dean Douglas of BIM Academy examines the development of digital twins and how they could evolve to create a cleaner, greener built environment.
The growth of cities will put ever-more pressure on the AEC sector to keep pace with the delivery of vital buildings and infrastructure. BIM and digital technologies will be crucial in meeting this challenge but will require skilled workers to realise their potential. Lukasz Adamik, UK vice-president of consulting at Microdesk, looks at how companies can get the right training partner for rapid urbanisation.
With many disputes that arise within the construction industry being due to poor or ambiguous communication, director at Sypro and NEC4 co-author, Dr Stuart Kings, examines why the cloud-based leap is central to better contract communication.
Following the announcement in the Queen’s Speech of a bill to overhaul planning in England, Alex Wrottesley of Landmark Information argues that digitisation and geospatial data will be essential to making the system more collaborative, inclusive and productive.
Despite the name, 3D Repo is championing the use of 4D in construction, whether for health and safety, planning, BIM or creating digital twins. The BIM and digital twin web platform specialist is involved with several industry collaborations that can ultimately help make projects safer, faster and reduce costs.
