Welcome to the March 2024 edition of BIM Today. In this edition, our expert authors explore the latest trends in digital construction, from AI and digital twins to better information management, IoT and drones
In our cover story, Dr Kwadwo Oti-Sarpong of the University of Cambridge looks at the importance of placing ethical considerations at the heart of public sector digital initiatives to create connected places.
Dan Rossiter FCIAT, built environment sector lead at the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists, examines the new BS ISO/IEC 30173 standard, which seeks to define the key elements that make up a digital twin.
Elsewhere, Ramona Marfievici, principal IoT engineer at Digital Catapult, looks at the opportunities and challenges presented by the Internet of Things in construction, while Paul Wilkinson of nima, formerly the UK BIM Alliance, considers the evolution of better information management as a catalyst for achieving better whole-life outcomes.
Stephanie Baxter, head of policy at the Institution of Engineering & Technology, discusses the results of the IET’s latest Green Skills Survey and how the UK can boost its climate resilience through digital skillsets.
As the Women in BIM Mentor Scheme enters its fifth year, global chair Rebecca De Cicco looks at how unlocking the collective power of a community can bring new skills, knowledge and confidence to the industry.
Better use of retrofit data
With the World Economic Forum predicting that international businesses could save as much as $2 trillion a year by focusing on energy efficiency, Graeme Fox of BESA argues that better use of retrofit data will be crucial in turning these potential savings into real ones.
Retrofit is one area where there is no one-size-fits-all approach – and increasingly knocking down and starting again is not an option. Diarmuid Murphy of Murphy Geospatial argues that BIM is now proving its value in repurposing existing buildings through the use of geospatial data.
As the construction industry gears up for the challenges and opportunities of 2024, Yves Padrines of Nemetschek Group considers the role of digital construction tools in building a better future.
Meanwhile, Eduardo Garcia of Capterra delves into the vital role of cybersecurity in fortifying smart cities against ever-evolving threats, and Andrew Mitchell of Mace makes the case for digital materials passports as a way of ditching construction’s throwaway culture in favour of a more circular economy.
There is more besides, including previews of Futurebuild, which comes to London’s ExCeL from 5-7 March and June’s Digital Construction Week.
Here’s a selection of what’s in store:
AI offers significant potential value to the public sector but also brings with it significant concerns over its responsible use. A new project led by the University of Cambridge aims to put ethical considerations at the heart of decisions to use AI within digitalisation initiatives to create public value in connected places.
The new BS ISO/IEC 30173 standard aims to formalise the key elements of a digital twin. Dan Rossiter FCIAT, built environment sector lead at the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists, examines the standard’s definitions.
IoT technology in construction will be a gamechanger for the industry, but challenges must be overcome first, says Ramona Marfievici, principal IoT engineer at Digital Catapult.
Too often misconceived as being just about project delivery, BIM – better information management – is a catalyst for achieving better whole-life outcomes, says Paul Wilkinson, vice-chair of nima – formerly the UK BIM Alliance.
Stephanie Baxter, head of policy at the Institution of Engineering & Technology, explores how the UK can boost its climate resiliency through digital skills.
Women in BIM is unlocking the collective power of its community to bring new knowledge, new skills and new confidence to into the industry with its Mentor Scheme.
International businesses could save a collective $2 trillion a year by focusing on energy efficiency, according to the World Economic Forum. BESA’s Graeme Fox says better use of retrofit data will be crucial in turning potential savings into real one.
Construction technology in the Middle East is being embraced by more companies, according to a new region-wide survey. Kaarin Kalavus-Collins of Turner & Townsend takes a look at the results.
Capterra’s Eduardo Garcia delves into the vital role of cybersecurity for smart cities, providing strategies for fortifying urban environments against evolving threats.
The built environment’s most influential event for innovation and collaboration, Futurebuild, returns March 5-7 2024 at London’s ExCeL. With “take a stand for change” as this year’s key theme, Futurebuild 2024 promises to be the most transformative yet, furthering its mission of driving systemic change and taking a stand for a better built environment.
