Welcome to BIM Today September 2023. In this issue, we look at the first year of nima’s evolution from the UK BIM Alliance; the case for digitising construction product manufacturing; how to harness the power of metadata to power up BIM and digital twins, and much more!
In our cover story of BIM Today September 2023, Paul Wilkinson of nima discusses the organisation’s journey since transitioning from the UK BIM Alliance in October 2022 and its efforts to embed more data-driven ways of delivering our built environment.
Rick Hartwig of the Institution of Engineering & Technology makes the case for structured product data to achieve building safety, while David Johnson of Volumetric Building Companies looks at unleashing the potential of AI in construction.
Dan Rossiter of the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists explores the often-overlooked area of metadata, while Nathan Marsh of Turner & Townsend says people are just as important as technology to the success of any digital construction strategy.
Elsewhere, Nigel Cole of Mace Construct looks at the increasing use of robotic animals to improve efficiency and reduce risk on construction sites, while Rob Ramsay of Causeway Technologies examines how over-customisation is holding back digital transformation and Claudia Tschunko of Arup explores the climate emergency.
Here’s a selection of what’s in store:
nima – formerly the UK BIM Alliance – is leading efforts to embed more data-driven ways of working to deliver tomorrow’s built environment, says Paul Wilkinson.
As the new regulatory regime emerges under the Building Safety Act, Rick Hartwig, built environment lead at the Institution of Engineering & Technology (IET), makes the case for structured product data, without which building safety will not be possible.
David Johnson, pre-construction director at Volumetric Building Companies, looks at the use of artificial intelligence in construction, and why the sector should embrace this new technology.
Metadata is often overlooked, but every organisation involved in the built environment is producing it every day. Dan Rossiter FCIAT, vice-president technical at the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists, looks at how to harness it to support BIM, information management and digital twins.
Digital construction success relies as much on people as on technology, says Nathan Marsh, chief digital officer at Turner & Townsend.
Timely, accurate and personalised data is vital to help solve damp and mould in social housing, says Civica’s Justin Fisher.
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How can information management be leveraged to drive better societal outcomes for the public sector?
John Millar of BIM Academy explores practical examples of how information management can be leveraged to drive better societal outcomes for the public sector.
At the cutting-edge of technology, robotics are increasingly being used to improve efficiency and reduce risk for workforces across a wide variety of industries. For those in the built environment sector, the safety of every person who sets foot on a project site is the top priority.
Technology in construction holds many benefits, and health and safety technology is no different. However, human interaction, judgement and, crucially, leadership will be critical to success, says Phil Jones of William Martin.
In the midst of the hottest global summer on record, the need to address climate change has never been more in focus. However, understanding a need is not the same as acting on – and delivering – change. Every industry is having to rethink how they operate from the ground up, and ours is no different, says Claudia Tschunko of Arup.
