David Johnson, pre-construction director at Volumetric Building Companies, looks at some of the different applications for digitising construction and why there is such a good fit with offsite and MMC
The construction sector historically has been so reticent to embrace new technology. Back in 2016, the government had to issue a mandate to force the industry to adopt BIM Level 2. Now, working for a global modular construction business, I have another perspective on the take up of digitisation globally.
VBC is very much a design-led provider of manufactured buildings and technology is central to that. There is a culture of innovation, and we have a number of board and non-executive directors who are from technology backgrounds.
Digital communications and AI are all around us and, particularly post-Covid, are now vital to integrating teams working in different locations. From video conferencing and document sharing to workflows and automation in manufacturing, digital technology removes administrative burdens and allows project management across different time zones.
Why is data so important to digitising construction?
Construction needs better planning – too many projects in the UK are still delivered late and over-budget. Better quality information across the board will improve decision making and the management of risk.
Data is critical to a technology-led business like VBC and informs our decision making in every area – design, pre-construction, costing, scheduling, compliance, health and safety in the factory and on site, quality control, environmental performance, and many other facets of building delivery.
AI helps us to analyse that data, simulating human intelligence – learning, reasoning and self-correcting. It is all around us and is extremely well suited to construction and particularly to offsite manufacturing. Some examples:
- AI can be tasked with automatically generating tender documents that combine cost, technical and qualitative data – removing the need for bid writers to continually recycle the same information.
- You can input data and software can produce a design solution using our standardised modular building components. Run multiple design models and you can assess different options to increase building efficiency, optimise use of space and advise on cost implications.
- Use data to analyse high-traffic areas in a building and adjust the product specification in the building design for those areas.
- For offsite construction to thrive, you need standardisation and volume. But with data intelligence, you can also incorporate customisation into offsite solutions.
- AI can be used to observe health and safety and avoid common issues with near miss reporting. Accurate automated data is collected in real time and fed back into the process.
- Post occupancy, AI can ‘manage’ maintenance and troubleshoot issues which can be fixed when building occupancy is lower – which technology can pinpoint and send in the engineer.
The opportunities are limitless.
Applying digital technology to offsite construction
In manufacturing, production lines can be fully automated. An example is VBC’s timber-framed modular factory in California, which is robotised and integrated with design. Our wall assembly line is a zero-labour process. We also use AI to manage workflows more efficiently.
One of the biggest challenges of investing in and running a modular factory is continuity of pipeline. AI could potentially be used to recognise gaps in predicted manufacturing capacity, and then to generate sales leads for a client with a project that will ensure continuity of production.
VBC has ambitions to move towards truly industrialised manufacturing and the most critical factor to achieving this is design. And with the huge shortfall in affordable housing, reducing programme at each stage of construction has an enormously positive impact on local communities with long housing waiting lists.
Automating time-intensive processes in construction
Automated analysis of site constraints can develop the optimum building scale, mass and tenure mix of a development. We already use parametric design, but AI will take this to the next level. It can simulate building use over time, highlighting inefficiencies and pinch points. It can be tasked with watching how people interact in completed buildings and use this data to inform future design.
This can all be done in real time, rather than having protracted design engagement processes.
Time-intensive tasks can now be automated, such as checking for compliance issues. What this will do is free up design teams to focus on creativity and design excellence, with less time spent on resolving technical issues.
A change of thinking in modular building procurement
Intellectual property is an issue for modular and MMC – everyone wants to protect their IP. This means there is too much fragmentation across the sector.
However, with a platform approach, information can be shared between manufacturers and then issues such as fire protection and compliance are much easier to achieve – and there is less risk for the client.
Procurement has created a problem – competitive tendering means that modular manufacturers are much less likely to share data, which is a barrier to improving processes. An alternative is for clients to validate capabilities and encourage greater collaboration.
The sharing of information could improve the productivity of the whole modular industry – and by adopting a platform solution, manufacturing capacity could be aggregated.
The positive impact of digitisation on construction skills gaps
The construction industry is facing a significant challenge with serious skills shortages that have far-reaching consequences. As we continue to witness a growing demand for infrastructure and housing, the shortage of skilled labour in traditional construction roles, such as carpenters, electricians and plumbers, has become increasingly apparent.
However, this crisis has paved the way for the integration of technology, which presents a unique opportunity for construction to have greater appeal to the younger generation.
Engineers, computer scientists and data analysts will be integral to the construction process to optimise project design, offsite manufacturing, construction management and even maintenance.
Don’t dehumanise construction!
Construction will continue to be a relationship-based industry and it is important not to dehumanise it – people do business with people.
While the integration and adoption of AI is inevitable and hugely powerful, it is only as good as the data that supports the decision making.
If we embrace the new technologies – as we have done with TV streaming, music playlists, planning our journeys and online shopping – we have the potential to improve the efficiency of design, building safety, building performance and even the lifespan of the built asset.
MMC with its automated manufacturing processes is very well placed to lead the digital revolution.
David Johnson
Pre-construction director
Volumetric Building Companies
