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Construction<br />
Computing<br />
WWW.CONSTRUCTION-COMPUTING.COM<br />
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024<br />
VOL 20 NO 01<br />
The cost of going carbon free<br />
Access Construction highlights the real cost<br />
of meeting zero carbon targets<br />
Leveraging AssetWise<br />
Clarion Housing Group devise an Asset<br />
Management solution based on AssetWise ALIM<br />
Futurebuild<br />
Taking a stand for a better<br />
built environment<br />
Supply Chain Management<br />
Enhancing construction supply chain<br />
efficiency with RedSky<br />
@CCMagAndAwards
ARCHICAD<br />
COLLABORATE:<br />
‘SCARY FAST’<br />
DESIGN POWER<br />
www.graphisoft.com/uk<br />
Archicad cameos in<br />
the new MacBook Pro ad!
CONTENTS<br />
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024<br />
CONTENTS<br />
SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT 12<br />
How RedSky's software is empowering<br />
construction companies to achieve project<br />
success through enhanced supply chain<br />
management<br />
GOING CARBON FREE WITH ERP 16<br />
Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems<br />
can help housebuilders keep costs under<br />
control - including the hidden cost of<br />
sustainability<br />
SKIPPING AHEAD 18<br />
BIM software has been used on the temporary<br />
works for HS2's Colne Valley Viaduct, which has<br />
been designed to mimic the skipping of stones<br />
across a lake<br />
LOCH ON WOOD 22<br />
Dylan Baliski at the University of Dundee has<br />
won a 2023 Vectorworks Design Scholarship in<br />
the Architecture category for his striking design<br />
concept for an updated RSPB bird sanctuary<br />
NEWS.................................................INDUSTRY NEW.........................................................................................................6<br />
• AUTODESK SET TO ACQUIRE PAYAPPS • CALCULATING OUR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT<br />
EVENT PREVIEW................................FUTUREBUILD 2024.........................................................................................10<br />
• FUTUREBUILD 2024 AT EXCEL LONDON IN MARCH PROMISES TO BE THE MOST TRANSFORMATIVE EVENT YET<br />
CASE STUDY......................................LEVERAGING ASSETWISE...............................................................................20<br />
• CLARION HOUSING DEVISE THEIR OWN ASSET MANAGEMENT SOLUTION BASED ON BENTLEY ASSETWISE ALIM<br />
INDUSTRY COMMENT.......................WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BIM LEVEL 2?......................................................24<br />
• WHY HAS THERE BEEN SO LITTLE ADVANCEMENT IN IBIM LEVEL 2 ADOPTION?<br />
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS......................IDEA STATICA..................................................................................................26<br />
• HOW IDEA STATICA IS REVOLUTIONISING THE STRUCTURAL DESIGN OF STEEL CONNECTIONS<br />
CASE STUDY......................................MEETING THE BNG CHALLENGE....................................................................28<br />
• ATKINSRÉALIS CREATE A SOLUTION TO MEET NEW BIODIVERSITY NET GAIN LEGISLATION<br />
TECHNOLOGY FOCUS......................GATHERING THE EVIDENCE...........................................................................30<br />
• GLEESON HOMES PARTNER WITH ZUTEC TO DELIVER PART L PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE COMPLIANCE AND MORE<br />
TRAINING MAP...................................AUTODESK TRAINING.......................................................................................32<br />
• YOUR GUIDE TO AUTODESK TRAINING<br />
INDUSTRY FOCUS.............................CADVENTURE DIGITAL INTELLIGENCE CONFERENCE..................................34<br />
• CADVENTURE WILL LAUNCH ITS DIGITAL INTELLIGENCE CONFERENCE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BENTLEY SYSTEMS<br />
January/February 2024 3
COMMENT<br />
Editor:<br />
David Chadwick<br />
(cad.user@btc.co.uk)<br />
News Editor:<br />
Mark Lyward<br />
(mark.lyward@btc.co.uk)<br />
Advertising Sales:<br />
Josh Boulton<br />
(josh.boulton@btc.co.uk)<br />
Production Manager:<br />
Abby Penn<br />
(abby.penn@btc.co.uk)<br />
Design/Layout:<br />
Ian Collis<br />
ian.collis@btc.co.uk<br />
Circulation/Subscriptions:<br />
Christina Willis<br />
(christina.willis@btc.co.uk)<br />
Publisher:<br />
John Jageurs<br />
john.jageurs@btc.co.uk<br />
Published by Barrow &<br />
Thompkins Connexion Ltd.<br />
35 Station Square, Petts Wood,<br />
Kent BR5 1LZ<br />
Tel: +44 (0) 1689 616 000<br />
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Published 6 times a year.<br />
© 2024 Barrow & Thompkins<br />
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All rights reserved.<br />
No part of the magazine may be<br />
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in writing, from the publisher<br />
For more magazines from BTC, please visit:<br />
www.btc.co.uk<br />
Articles published reflect the opinions of<br />
the authors and are not necessarily those<br />
of the publisher or his employees. While<br />
every reasonable effort is made to ensure<br />
that the contents of editorial and advertising<br />
are accurate, no responsibility can be<br />
accepted by the publisher for errors, misrepresentations<br />
or any resulting effects<br />
Comment<br />
The costs of sustainability<br />
by David Chadwick<br />
Iam sure you already know about the<br />
ongoing consultation on improving<br />
energy efficiency and reducing carbon<br />
emissions of new homes and nondomestic<br />
buildings, and inevitable<br />
changes to Part L (Conservation of Fuel<br />
and Power) and Part 6 of the Building<br />
Regulations 2010 ("the Building<br />
Regulations") as the government sets out<br />
Future Homes and Buildings Standards.<br />
Various organisations within the industry<br />
are weighing in with their take on the subject,<br />
the most interesting of them about solar<br />
panels. The National Federation of Builders<br />
stated recently that if they are merely an addon,<br />
instead of being installed during<br />
construction, then they are an extremely<br />
expensive proposition compared to other<br />
sustainable measures such as building<br />
warmer and draught-free houses, and wider<br />
use of heat pumps. The UK Green Building<br />
Council also argues that it is unconscionable<br />
that the UK government is considering<br />
scrapping the need for new roofs to have<br />
solar panels, opting instead for 'the least<br />
ambitious option possible'.<br />
Thankfully, various schemes already<br />
underway are pioneering more sustainable<br />
building methods - one of them local to me,<br />
where the council is building a small<br />
development of council houses with solar<br />
panels as an integral part of the roof, installed<br />
with heat pumps and using more efficient<br />
Porotherm multi-cellular clay blocks instead of<br />
traditional bricks or concrete blocks, enabling<br />
builders to dispense with cavity walls.<br />
I spoke to the builders behind the project -<br />
which can't be named yet, the council being<br />
shy about unofficial publicity. They said that<br />
the solar panels required specialised installers<br />
while the rest of the roof used traditional<br />
roofing subcontractors, and the Porotherm<br />
blocks weren't up to their normal standard, so<br />
were supplemented with internal insulation -<br />
pointing to the use of building performance<br />
calculations to enable the project to comply<br />
with the government's required decrease in<br />
embedded carbon. They also told me that<br />
heat pumps are considerably more expensive<br />
to buy and install than gas-fired boilers and<br />
were rather impractical if the buildings aren't<br />
well enough insulated.<br />
And then we have Part L Photographic<br />
Evidence requirements, whereby project<br />
managers need to produce compliant and<br />
well organised photographic proof throughout<br />
a construction to assure that it also meets the<br />
required building standards, as detailed in the<br />
case study from Zutec in this issue.<br />
The inevitable result is that construction<br />
projects are become more complex, and<br />
therefore expensive. Should the need for<br />
substantially increased house building ever<br />
be met, the complexity and costs will<br />
increase. The demand for sustainable<br />
building materials will become critical -<br />
Porotherm is made in Germany and shipped<br />
to suppliers in this country, for instance - with<br />
scarcities and competition from ecoconscious<br />
builders throughout Europe. We<br />
will need more heat pumps and engineers<br />
who can install them, and to find and employ<br />
higher skilled workers from a shrinking pool,<br />
and as a sideline use improved building<br />
performance and related software to comply<br />
with the new standards.<br />
Construction management software<br />
therefore needs to be equally adept and<br />
flexible enough to react rapidly in finding and<br />
choosing alternative suppliers, calculating the<br />
cost of late deliveries and fluctuating prices,<br />
regulating the workforce and so much more.<br />
With such a dramatic increase in the<br />
complexity of even small housebuilding<br />
projects, you need to use an integrated<br />
single source of truth like the Access COINS<br />
ERP system, built specifically for the<br />
construction industry. And to maintain proper<br />
records of the photos you take during<br />
construction, you can use Zutec's Part L<br />
Photographic Evidence suite within their<br />
Quality Management solution.<br />
4 January/February 2023
FASTER WORKFLOWS<br />
FROM START TO FINISH<br />
Design software that carries your projects from start to finish<br />
with the speed and reliability you require. With the latest in<br />
Vectorworks, you’ll find faster workflows at every stage of<br />
design, minimizing interruptions and maximizing productivity.<br />
Start your free trial at VECTORWORKS.NET/2024<br />
OYAKI FARM BY IROHADO<br />
COURTESY OF TONO MIRAI ARCHITECTS
INDUSTRY news<br />
CALCULATING OUR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT<br />
The recently released 2023<br />
Digital Construction Report<br />
from NBS explores the industry's<br />
evolving relationship<br />
between digital technology and<br />
safety and sustainability. The<br />
report found that two-thirds of<br />
professionals using digital tools<br />
to calculate environmental-related<br />
metrics, a sign that sustainable<br />
design is now intrinsic to<br />
construction processes.<br />
Significantly, four in ten use<br />
digital methods to understand<br />
the embodied carbon attached<br />
to a project - that is, the<br />
amount of CO2 emitted during<br />
construction. A similar figure<br />
(38%) also uses it to quantify<br />
the energy demands of structures<br />
and the components that<br />
go into them. There's room for<br />
improvement, but the figures<br />
show a clear push towards<br />
lower carbon outcomes.<br />
NBS also analysed levels of<br />
off-site construction, an area<br />
often associated with greener<br />
building practices, due to<br />
greater control of materials and<br />
waste. The results found that<br />
MMC (Modern Methods of<br />
Construction) continues to<br />
gather pace. Over half of professionals<br />
(57%) had been part<br />
of a construction project that<br />
had used or required off-site<br />
construction within the last<br />
year. This is an increase of 7%<br />
since 2021. This news comes<br />
despite the closure of several<br />
high-profile MMC factories.<br />
Manufacturers are the group<br />
most likely to be involved with<br />
MMC - 7 in 10 had worked with<br />
an off-site element, followed by<br />
nearly two-thirds of contractors<br />
(63%) and over half of consultants<br />
(58%). This increase<br />
could reflect an industry drive<br />
towards net zero as well as<br />
recent government backing for<br />
further MMC standardisation.<br />
The report also found that<br />
cloud computing is becoming<br />
further embedded within building<br />
practices, with four out of<br />
five now using it. The stats<br />
highlight the positive way technology<br />
is supporting collaborative<br />
working, with three-quarters<br />
using it to share documents<br />
and information with<br />
clients (77%). A similar number<br />
(74%) use it to collaborate with<br />
team members and produce<br />
3D models, specifications, and<br />
other important documents.<br />
Commenting on the results,<br />
David Bain, NBS' Research<br />
Manager, said, "The uptick in<br />
professionals seeking environmental-related<br />
metrics shows<br />
an industry putting sustainability<br />
front and centre. The drive<br />
towards Net-Zero has no doubt<br />
been a catalyst alongside the<br />
evolving legislative landscape -<br />
there's never been a greater<br />
emphasis on the environmental<br />
impact of building practices."<br />
https://shorturl.at/kZ156<br />
AUTODESK SET TO ACQUIRE PAYAPPS<br />
Autodesk has signed a<br />
definitive agreement to<br />
acquire Payapps, a leading<br />
global provider of construction<br />
payment and compliance<br />
management solutions. The<br />
acquisition builds off the previous<br />
collaboration and strategic<br />
alignment between Payapps<br />
and Autodesk Construction<br />
Cloud announced in 2022.<br />
Known as Payapps in Australia,<br />
New Zealand, the UK<br />
and Ireland, and GCPay in<br />
North America, the company's<br />
cloud offerings accelerate visibility<br />
of payments between<br />
project stakeholders and have<br />
helped construction teams<br />
save nearly 350,000 project<br />
hours a year.<br />
Geoff Tarrant, executive chairman<br />
of Payapps, commented:<br />
"Payapps and Autodesk share<br />
a common mission of helping<br />
our customers increase profitability<br />
through cost efficiencies<br />
and reduce risks wherever<br />
possible. With Payapps<br />
becoming part of Autodesk,<br />
our customers will get to experience<br />
the technology benefits<br />
of both companies as we continue<br />
our journey to help construction<br />
companies improve<br />
their payment management<br />
processes."<br />
www.autodesk.com<br />
BIM INTEGRATION TOOLS FOR CODESIGN<br />
Codesign, the app that<br />
enables architects to<br />
explore, iterate, and design<br />
faster than ever before, has<br />
announced that BIM integrations<br />
are now available that<br />
allow Codesign projects to be<br />
taken into your BIM system of<br />
choice, to continue developing<br />
and evolving your design.<br />
Codesign is a creative tool<br />
specifically for the conceptual<br />
design part of the architectural<br />
process. It allows users to<br />
sketch freely, envision concepts,<br />
and explore imaginative<br />
possibilities while incorporating<br />
valuable downstream data<br />
such as areas, massing, sun<br />
studies, carbon, context, and<br />
material implications.<br />
"We partnered with the software<br />
teams at Graphisoft,<br />
Autodesk, and Vectorworks to<br />
ensure seamless integration of<br />
the different BIM systems,"<br />
said Campbell Yule, Founder<br />
and Chief Executive Officer of<br />
Codesign. "After a tremendous<br />
amount of beta testing, Archicad,<br />
Forma, Revit, and Vectorworks<br />
are all compatible."<br />
Version one of the Codesign<br />
Connections are complete,<br />
and regular release updates<br />
will follow. All subscribers to<br />
the app can enjoy the BIM<br />
integration feature free for<br />
one year. Codesign is available<br />
to download from the<br />
Apple App Store now, with<br />
tiered subscription rates<br />
based on usage.<br />
www.getcodesign.co<br />
6<br />
January/February 2024
VISIBILITY<br />
CONTROL<br />
ACCURACY<br />
CONSTRUCTION ERP SOFTWARE<br />
From pre-construction to post construction<br />
Visibility is everything; trust<br />
our software to give you control<br />
and accuracy.<br />
Access construction management<br />
software enables you to accurately<br />
estimate contracts, manage your<br />
projects with clear visibility and<br />
control your costs.<br />
Access Construction ERP Software<br />
comprises award-winning Enterprise<br />
Resource Planning (ERP) EasyBuild and<br />
ConQuest Estimating can help you with:<br />
• ESTIMATING<br />
• SITE MANAGEMENT<br />
• ACCOUNTING<br />
• HR AND PAYROLL<br />
• TRAINING<br />
• COMPLIANCE<br />
• PROCUREMENT<br />
• HOSTING AND CYBER SECURITY<br />
WHY CHOOSE SOFTWARE<br />
FROM ACCESS CONSTRUCTION?<br />
• Two core products written for the<br />
construction industry – ConQuest<br />
Estimating and EasyBuild ERP<br />
Software<br />
CONTACT US AND<br />
BOOK A DEMO TODAY<br />
Search: Access Construction<br />
• Bought alone or as an integrated<br />
package, we create the right solution<br />
for your company which can scale<br />
as you grow<br />
• Seamless implementation, with<br />
product training and dedicated<br />
customer support
INDUSTRY news<br />
VECTORWORKS WINS GOOD DESIGN AWARD<br />
Vectorworks has been honoured<br />
as a GOOD<br />
DESIGN® winner for its<br />
"Design Without Limits" entry in<br />
the graphic design category.<br />
The GOOD DESIGN Awards<br />
Program, presented by The<br />
Chicago Athenaeum Museum<br />
of Architecture and Design and<br />
Metropolitan Arts, is the world's<br />
oldest and most prestigious<br />
program for innovative and cutting-edge<br />
industrial, product,<br />
and graphic designs produced<br />
around the world.<br />
For more than seven<br />
decades, the awards program<br />
has honoured the yearly<br />
achievements of the best<br />
industrial and graphic designers<br />
and world manufacturers<br />
for their pursuit of extraordinary<br />
design excellence. This year,<br />
the Museum received a record<br />
number of submissions from<br />
the world's leading manufacturers<br />
and industrial and graphic<br />
design firms, representing the<br />
most important and critical<br />
mass of influential corporations<br />
in the design industry from<br />
over 55 countries.<br />
The Vectorworks Creative<br />
team spearheaded the design<br />
and inspiration to capture the<br />
creativity of the software and<br />
implemented this concept on<br />
employee t-shirts, customer<br />
swag, and throughout the<br />
company's headquarters office,<br />
including an interactive mural.<br />
The team was challenged to<br />
develop unique elements and<br />
special design touches to<br />
ensure the office and its experience<br />
embody Vectorworks'<br />
unique brand.<br />
www.good-designawards.com<br />
SHOOTHILL AND ACCESS COIN PARTNERSHIP<br />
Shoothill and Access<br />
COINS have entered a 5-<br />
year bilateral partnership<br />
whereby Shoothill agrees to<br />
provide Access COINS with<br />
various web-based technologies<br />
and development services.<br />
As part of the deal,<br />
Shoothill will be making innovations<br />
it has developed available<br />
to Access COINS,<br />
derived from its successful<br />
Housebuilder Pro software<br />
system launched in 2018.<br />
Alex Boury, General Manager<br />
at Access COINS said: "We're<br />
delighted to be working with<br />
Shoothill and together this<br />
new strategic partnership<br />
means we will be in an excellent<br />
position to fully embrace<br />
new and emerging web capabilities<br />
in innovative and creative<br />
ways, further raising our<br />
game in the construction<br />
industry. This is an exciting<br />
time for both companies."<br />
www.theaccessgroup.com<br />
ASK NFB FOR CONSTRUCTIVE ADVICE<br />
Anew data visualisation tool<br />
designed to support civil<br />
infrastructure teams expediate<br />
access to data during the planning<br />
phase - enabling more<br />
informed decision making and<br />
significant reductions in time<br />
and resources - has been<br />
developed and launched.<br />
Bluesky International and<br />
Sensat have entered into a<br />
partnership to merge rapid<br />
data collection methods and<br />
advanced visualisation capabilities,<br />
unlocking data certainty<br />
for infrastructure teams. The<br />
benefits include the ability to<br />
access geospatial data earlyon<br />
in the planning stage, often<br />
negating the requirement to<br />
conduct costly and time-intensive<br />
traditional surveys. Teams<br />
are now able to seamlessly<br />
overlay plans onto real-world<br />
contexts, ensuring decisions<br />
can be guided with the knowledge<br />
and security that they are<br />
The National Federation of<br />
Builders (NFB) has<br />
announced the launch of Ask<br />
NFB, a dedicated advice service<br />
that provides construction<br />
businesses with expert support<br />
and guidance on a wide range<br />
of industry-related topics.<br />
The launch of Ask NFB is the<br />
first in a series of modernisations<br />
the organisation is going<br />
through, as it positions itself as<br />
the professional home of<br />
builders, contractors and<br />
house builders and focuses in<br />
on its offering of ‘standards,<br />
services and advocacy’.<br />
James M. Butcher, Director of<br />
Strategy and Operations at the<br />
NFB said: “We know that construction<br />
is the number one<br />
sector when it comes to insolvencies<br />
and news story after<br />
news story reports the challenges<br />
construction faces. It is<br />
at these times that professional<br />
associations must step up to<br />
offer the support needed to<br />
keep construction building.<br />
That’s why we have launched<br />
Ask NFB, a one-stop shop for<br />
expert advice and support. Our<br />
message to members is simple<br />
– if you need help, advice, guidance<br />
or support, just Ask NFB”<br />
Ask NFB offers NFB members<br />
a dedicated national support<br />
desk backed by its membership<br />
services team, internal<br />
policy advisors and suite of<br />
expert specialists. The service<br />
will soon also include a comprehensive<br />
library of resources,<br />
including templates, latest<br />
guidance, model policies and<br />
information on key industry<br />
developments.<br />
www.builders.org.uk/ask-nfb<br />
DATA VISUALISATION TOOL COLLABORATION<br />
based on accurate and current<br />
geospatial data.<br />
Ralph Coleman, Chief Commercial<br />
Officer at Bluesky, said:<br />
“By seamlessly integrating<br />
Bluesky’s geospatial data with<br />
Sensat’s visualisation platform,<br />
we empower civil infrastructure<br />
teams to break free from time<br />
and cost constraints of traditional<br />
survey methods. Together,<br />
we are providing a solution<br />
that accelerates data access,<br />
setting a new standard for efficiency<br />
and accuracy in the<br />
planning process.”<br />
www.bluesky-world.com<br />
8<br />
January/February 2024
05-07 March 2024 / ExCeL, London<br />
05 - 07 March 2024 ExCeL, London<br />
what will you<br />
take a stand for?<br />
Driving Collaboration and Innovation for a<br />
Sustainable Built Environment at the sectors<br />
most influential, large scale exhibition and<br />
conference.<br />
Join us at<br />
Futurebuild 2024<br />
Futurebuild is more than an event; it’s a call for action. It’s a platform to<br />
engage and collaborate, and a stage for debate. It’s three days of education<br />
and dissemination of knowledge, and a showcase of innovation.<br />
Take a stand for a better built environment.<br />
www.futurebuild.co.uk
EVENTpreview<br />
Futurebuild 2024: the build-up begins<br />
Futurebuild, the built<br />
environment's most influential<br />
event for innovation and<br />
collaboration is back for 2024,<br />
taking place March 5-7th 2024<br />
at London's ExCeL. Promising<br />
to be the most transformative<br />
yet, it will continue its mission<br />
of taking a stand for a better<br />
built environment with this<br />
year's key theme as 'take a<br />
stand for change'<br />
For the first time, Futurebuild is<br />
partnering with The Retrofit<br />
Academy to colocate its National<br />
Retrofit Conference alongside the<br />
Futurebuild conference.<br />
The Futurebuild conference, curated<br />
by The Edge and sponsored by<br />
Soprema and One Click LCA, is a<br />
highly respected gathering of<br />
influential innovators and collaborators<br />
tackling the industry's problems head<br />
on. The three daily themes are:<br />
Pathways to change, Levers for<br />
change and Sharing visons for change.<br />
Featuring a line-up of the who's who of<br />
the built and natural environment;<br />
guests for 2024 include: Smith Mordak,<br />
Chief Executive, UKGBC; Muyiwa Oki,<br />
President, RIBA and Sara Edmonds,<br />
Co-director, National Retrofit Hub to<br />
name just a few.<br />
The full programme can be found<br />
here with speaker details and<br />
biographies.<br />
SCALING UP HIGH-QUALITY<br />
RETROFIT<br />
Sponsored by Sustainable Building<br />
Services UK (Ltd), the National Retrofit<br />
Conference will bring together<br />
visionaries and industry leaders to focus<br />
on a crucial mission - decarbonising our<br />
existing housing stock.<br />
The three day conference will focus<br />
on Skills, Innovation and Policy and<br />
provide the practical solutions that<br />
attendees can take away to drive their<br />
retrofit programmes forward, with a<br />
line-up of speakers that includes<br />
thought leaders from inside and<br />
outside of the sector.<br />
MORE THAN JUST A<br />
CONFERENCE<br />
As well as the two conferences,<br />
Futurebuild features the industry's<br />
largest exhibition, with over 400<br />
innovative brands and six stages that<br />
will host 500+ industry-leading<br />
10<br />
January/February 2024
EVENTpreview<br />
speakers across sections. The six<br />
stages are FutureX, Buildings, Energy,<br />
Materials, Sustainable Infrastructure<br />
and Digital.<br />
The knowledge programme has been<br />
made possible with the help and<br />
support of our event sponsors and<br />
80 partners.<br />
The full list of sponsors can be<br />
found here.<br />
EMBRACING INNOVATION<br />
As the industry platform for innovation,<br />
Futurebuild has continued to partner<br />
with game-changing brands. Follow<br />
our Innovation Trail to meet our<br />
Innovation Partners: Advantage<br />
Austria, NexGen, MKc Training<br />
Services Ltd, Bauder, the Concrete<br />
Centre, Tepeo, Sugastune UK Ltd, SDS<br />
Limited, Qvantum, Mixergy Limited,<br />
LKAB Minerals Limited, Glen Dimplex<br />
Heating and Ventilation, Curv360<br />
Limited, Aico, 540 World and Kensa.<br />
The Future X section, sponsored by the<br />
Department for Energy Security and Net<br />
Zero, The Carbon Trust and Innovate<br />
UK, is an exciting zone that showcases<br />
start-ups and SME's innovative ideas<br />
and technologies that will make net zero<br />
possible.The Big Innovation Pitch also<br />
returns for 2024, and will highlight the<br />
newest and brightest solutions to built<br />
environment challenges in an exciting<br />
presentation battle, taking place in front<br />
of a live audience.<br />
Futurebuild 2024 invites industry<br />
leaders, visionaries, and enthusiasts<br />
alike to join us, and share ideas,<br />
embrace innovation and help create the<br />
blueprint for a better tomorrow.<br />
For more details and exhibitor enquires, visit<br />
www.futurebuild.co.uk<br />
Don't miss out on Futurebuild 2024. Visitor<br />
registration is now open<br />
January/February 2024 11
TECHNOLOGY focus<br />
Supply Chain Management<br />
Enhancing construction supply chain efficiency with RedSky<br />
The seamless management of<br />
suppliers and subcontractors is<br />
vital for successful project delivery,<br />
cost control, and quality assurance.<br />
RedSky's new construction supply chain<br />
software offers a tailored solution<br />
designed to optimise and streamline<br />
construction supply chains, providing an<br />
array of features and benefits specifically<br />
crafted for construction stakeholders in<br />
the UK and Ireland. This article delves<br />
into the innovative functionalities and<br />
advantages of RedSky's software, aimed<br />
at empowering construction companies<br />
to achieve project success through<br />
enhanced supply chain management.<br />
From centralised management to<br />
automated workflows and real-time data<br />
analytics, RedSky's software equips<br />
construction companies with a robust<br />
toolkit to transform their supply chain<br />
management processes. There is a<br />
comprehensive suite of features that will<br />
benefit your pre-qualification to<br />
onboarding, insurance and capabilities<br />
requests to performance and bid<br />
management. These include<br />
communication and collaboration tools,<br />
mobile access, vendor register,<br />
document store, customisable views and<br />
search, reports, and notifications. They<br />
are designed to elevate efficiency and<br />
effectiveness in supply chain<br />
management.<br />
This article explores the transformative<br />
impact of RedSky's software on the<br />
construction industry, highlighting its<br />
pivotal role in driving efficiency,<br />
collaboration, and success.<br />
THE IMPORTANCE OF EFFICIENT<br />
SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT<br />
Construction projects rely on the efficient<br />
management of suppliers and<br />
subcontractors to ensure the delivery of<br />
projects on time, on budget and to the<br />
required quality standards. RedSky's<br />
construction supply chain software is<br />
specifically designed to optimise and<br />
streamline construction supply chains,<br />
offering a range of features and benefits<br />
that help construction companies<br />
maintain the best partner relationships<br />
and achieve project success.<br />
TAILORED SOLUTION FOR THE UK<br />
AND IRELAND CONSTRUCTION<br />
INDUSTRY<br />
RedSky's Supply Chain Management<br />
solution is tailored to meet the needs of<br />
construction stakeholders in the UK and<br />
Ireland. By leveraging this software,<br />
construction companies can efficiently<br />
store and access vendor profiles,<br />
contracts, compliance documentation,<br />
and performance metrics. The<br />
automated workflows save time and<br />
reduce administrative burden, while the<br />
real-time data analytics empower<br />
construction companies to track and<br />
analyse critical metrics and ensure<br />
compliance.<br />
12<br />
January/February 2024
TECHNOLOGYfocus<br />
VENDOR REGISTER: MANAGING<br />
APPROVED AND UNAPPROVED<br />
VENDORS<br />
RedSky's Supply Chain Management<br />
solution includes a Vendor Register<br />
feature that enables construction<br />
companies to maintain an updated list of<br />
approved and unapproved vendors. This<br />
feature stores essential supplier and<br />
subcontractor information, such as<br />
contact details, qualifications,<br />
capabilities, and insurance<br />
documentation. The Vendor Register<br />
provides a secure platform for managing<br />
vendor-related documents, ensuring<br />
easy retrieval and efficient collaboration.<br />
The views and search functionality also<br />
streamlines data access, improving user<br />
efficiency and productivity.<br />
With a centralised Vendor Register,<br />
construction companies can quickly find<br />
approved subcontractors for their<br />
projects and tenders, ensuring the right<br />
capabilities and capacities are available<br />
when needed.<br />
CENTRALISED MANAGEMENT AND<br />
STREAMLINED WORKFLOWS<br />
RedSky's software provides centralised<br />
management, allowing construction<br />
companies to store efficiently and<br />
access profiles, contracts, compliance<br />
documentation, and performance<br />
metrics. This centralised approach<br />
ensures quick and easy access to vital<br />
information, enabling construction<br />
companies to track compliance and<br />
monitor performance through a unified<br />
management system. Say goodbye to<br />
scattered spreadsheets and paperbased<br />
systems and welcome a<br />
streamlined approach to supply<br />
chain management.<br />
AUTOMATED WORKFLOWS<br />
FEATURE<br />
The automated workflow feature saves<br />
construction companies time and<br />
reduces administrative burdens. Prequalification<br />
via configurable<br />
questionnaires can be managed<br />
efficiently, significantly reducing<br />
administrative burdens on teams.<br />
Suppliers and subcontractors receive<br />
pre-qualification forms automatically via<br />
notifications, minimising the need for<br />
manual intervention or copy-pasting.<br />
When it comes to keeping insurance<br />
and other critical information up to date,<br />
the automated notifications can request<br />
updates directly from suppliers, notifying<br />
your staff when the details are completed<br />
so they can be verified and approved on<br />
their vendor record.<br />
REAL-TIME DATA ANALYTICS FOR<br />
INFORMED DECISION-MAKING<br />
Real-time data analytics are crucial for<br />
project success. RedSky's Supply Chain<br />
Management solution empowers<br />
construction companies with real-time<br />
data analytics capabilities. Metrics such<br />
as on-time delivery, quality performance,<br />
and compliance can be tracked and<br />
analysed in real time. By leveraging<br />
these insights, construction companies<br />
can identify potential issues before they<br />
escalate, take proactive steps to address<br />
them, and make informed decisions<br />
regarding future opportunities.<br />
EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION AND<br />
COLLABORATION TOOLS<br />
Effective communication and<br />
collaboration are essential for successful<br />
supply chain management. RedSky's<br />
software provides a centralised<br />
communication platform, enabling<br />
seamless communication between<br />
internal teams and the supply chain.<br />
Project requirements, timelines, and<br />
expectations can be easily<br />
communicated, improving project<br />
outcomes and enhancing performance.<br />
Collaborative project planning and<br />
execution become a breeze, further<br />
boosting overall efficiency.<br />
MOBILE ACCESS FOR ON-THE-GO<br />
EFFICIENCY<br />
In today's fast-paced construction<br />
industry, having mobile access to data is<br />
crucial. RedSky's Supply Chain<br />
Management solution offers mobile<br />
access, allowing field teams to access<br />
real-time data and communicate with<br />
subcontractors on the go. With mobile<br />
access, construction companies can<br />
January/February 2024 13
TECHNOLOGYfocus<br />
enhance efficiency, reduce administrative<br />
tasks, and stay connected with suppliers<br />
and subcontractors, even in the field.<br />
DOCUMENT STORE FEATURE<br />
Construction projects generate a vast<br />
amount of documentation. RedSky's<br />
software provides a Document Store<br />
feature, where construction companies<br />
can securely store and manage vendorrelated<br />
documents. This feature allows<br />
for easy document retrieval, ensuring<br />
that important files and compliance<br />
documentation are readily accessible to<br />
relevant stakeholders. With a centralised<br />
Document Store, construction<br />
companies can maintain compliance,<br />
track revisions, and facilitate efficient<br />
collaboration.<br />
VIEWS & SEARCH FUNCTIONALITY<br />
Navigating through large volumes of<br />
data can be time-consuming and<br />
challenging. RedSky's software offers<br />
Views & Search functionality, allowing<br />
construction companies to create<br />
customised views and perform<br />
advanced searches within the system.<br />
By defining specific filters and criteria,<br />
users can quickly find the information<br />
they need, whether related to<br />
capabilities, essential contact<br />
information or compliance records.<br />
Views & Search streamline data access,<br />
improving user efficiency and<br />
productivity.<br />
ROBUST REPORTING CAPABILITIES<br />
RedSky's Supply Chain Management<br />
solution offers robust reporting<br />
capabilities and easy-to-use dashboards<br />
for managing business KPIs.<br />
Construction companies can generate<br />
reports on subcontractor performance,<br />
compliance status, order values, and<br />
other key metrics. These reports provide<br />
valuable insights for decision-making<br />
and help identify areas for improvement.<br />
Additionally, the software provides<br />
notifications and alerts, ensuring that the<br />
supply chain stays informed about<br />
upcoming expirations or the need to<br />
resubmit forms. Reports and notifications<br />
enable proactive management and<br />
timely actions.<br />
BID TRACKING FEATURE<br />
The Bid Tracking feature simplifies the<br />
procurement process for construction<br />
companies. With it, construction<br />
companies can maintain a<br />
comprehensive record of bid requests,<br />
evaluations, and selections, ensuring a<br />
transparent and efficient bid lifecycle.<br />
The feature allows construction<br />
companies to track and manage the<br />
entire bid lifecycle, from the initial<br />
requests for bids to the evaluation and<br />
selection of pre-approved supply chain<br />
partners. This streamlining of the bid<br />
process provides construction<br />
companies with a valuable tool for<br />
managing and tracking bids effectively.<br />
ADAPTING TO THE DYNAMIC<br />
CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY<br />
In a dynamic and constantly evolving<br />
industry, RedSky's Supply Chain<br />
Management solution is designed to meet<br />
the changing needs of construction<br />
companies in the UK and Ireland. By<br />
providing a centralised platform for supply<br />
chain management, RedSky's software<br />
offers a comprehensive set of features that<br />
enhance efficiency, collaboration, and<br />
decision-making.<br />
REDSKY'S SOLUTION FOR<br />
CONSTRUCTION SUPPLY CHAIN<br />
MANAGEMENT<br />
In conclusion, RedSky's construction<br />
supply chain software is a valuable asset<br />
for construction companies in the UK and<br />
Ireland. Its innovative features and tailored<br />
approach cater to the unique requirements<br />
of the construction industry, providing an<br />
efficient and effective solution for<br />
managing suppliers and subcontractors.<br />
Whether streamlining workflows, tracking<br />
performance metrics, or enhancing<br />
communication, RedSky's Supply Chain<br />
Management solution offers a<br />
comprehensive suite of tools to drive<br />
project success and efficiency.<br />
To learn more about RedSky's Supply<br />
Chain Management solution, get in touch<br />
via contact us form, or request a<br />
personalised demo today.<br />
www.redskyit.com<br />
14<br />
January/February 2024
INNOVATION<br />
IN THE BUILT<br />
ENVIRONMENT<br />
Apply to<br />
speak at DCW<br />
Share your knowledge on stage at<br />
the UK’s leading event for innovation<br />
in the built environment.<br />
SHOWCASE<br />
YOUR WORK<br />
Put your innovative projects<br />
in the spotlight<br />
GROW YOUR<br />
NETWORK<br />
Get in front of a forwardthinking<br />
AECO audience<br />
IMPROVE THE<br />
INDUSTRY<br />
Share your learnings with<br />
others to drive progress<br />
@DigiConWeek<br />
Digital Construction Week<br />
@DigiConWeek<br />
Organised by<br />
DEADLINE:<br />
23 February 2024<br />
www.digitalconstructionweek.com<br />
HEADLINE PARTNERS<br />
GOLD SPONSORS
TECHNOLOGYfocus<br />
The cost of going carbon free<br />
How ERP systems can help<br />
housebuilders keep costs under<br />
control, including the hidden<br />
cost of sustainability<br />
For housebuilders, cost control is a<br />
constant balancing act. Juggling<br />
material prices, labour expenses,<br />
and tight timelines leaves little room for<br />
error. The Building Cost Information<br />
Service has flagged dramatic increases in<br />
the cost of building houses over the past<br />
three years, with most of the blame lying<br />
within increases in material and shipping<br />
costs triggered by economic uncertainty<br />
and rising interest rates.<br />
Housebuilders are also facing additional<br />
pressures with the new 'Part L' building<br />
regulations, which demand new homes<br />
must produce 31% lower emissions than<br />
the older standard. This will lead to more<br />
than just the increased costs in materials<br />
and labour, with a demand for newer and<br />
more sustainable building materials, a<br />
scarcity of builders trained in their use,<br />
alternative supply chains, and closer<br />
cooperation with architects having to<br />
design buildings with lower embedded<br />
carbon emissions.<br />
ADAPTING ERP FOR A SINGLE<br />
SOURCE OF TRUTH<br />
In this pressure cooker environment,<br />
adopting an Enterprise Resource Planning<br />
(ERP) system can be a game-changer,<br />
helping to both slash costs and boost<br />
profitability. An ERP system is a<br />
centralised platform that integrates all<br />
critical business functions, from<br />
procurement and inventory management<br />
to project planning and financial reporting.<br />
This connects the back office to the<br />
building site, helping everyone from<br />
project managers to procurement<br />
specialists work from the same data set<br />
and collaborate seamlessly on house<br />
building projects.<br />
Traditional methods of managing<br />
construction projects, using<br />
siloed data and manual processes, are<br />
prone to inefficiencies and costly<br />
mistakes, whereas working from a single<br />
source of truth helps construction<br />
companies navigate project blockers with<br />
ease. The single source of truth also<br />
provides a stable platform for integrating<br />
newer technology and demands, such as<br />
the implementation of carbon friendly<br />
materials and practices in housebuilding,<br />
as required by the UK Government.<br />
There are, therefore, many reasons for<br />
adopting an ERP system to help house<br />
builders protect their profit margins.<br />
CUTTING PROCUREMENT COSTS<br />
While ERP can't change the prices of<br />
materials, it can help cut costs elsewhere<br />
by streamlining the procurement process,<br />
from identifying the best suppliers to<br />
negotiating price discounts. With new<br />
materials, new suppliers and an<br />
increasing demand for sustainable<br />
resources, the market is going to be much<br />
tougher than it is today.<br />
ERP systems built for construction<br />
feature built-in tools that track material<br />
usage, analyse both past projects and<br />
help you evaluate future trends, and<br />
recommend cost-effective alternatives.<br />
This empowers housebuilders to negotiate<br />
bulk discounts, plan deliveries and reduce<br />
waste and overstocking through real-time<br />
inventory tracking and using forecasting to<br />
anticipate future needs. Integrated<br />
supplier portals can improve<br />
communication and collaboration with<br />
suppliers, fostering stronger relationships<br />
with key vendors.<br />
PLAN HOUSEBUILDING PROJECTS<br />
WITH PRECISION<br />
ERP systems transform project planning<br />
from an intuitive art to a data-driven<br />
science. By centralising project data,<br />
16<br />
January/February 2024
TECHNOLOGYfocus<br />
these systems can enable housebuilders<br />
to create accurate budgets, optimally<br />
allocate resources and track project<br />
progress in real-time.<br />
ERP financials provide detailed<br />
breakdowns of material and labour costs<br />
ensure realistic budget predictions, which<br />
prevents costly overruns and project<br />
delays. Instant access to project data<br />
also allows for proactive course<br />
correction. With real-time insights into<br />
budget adherence, material deliveries,<br />
and labour productivity, housebuilders<br />
can identify and address issues before<br />
they snowball into major roadblocks.<br />
UNLOCKING SMOOTH<br />
COLLABORATION<br />
Delays and miscommunications due to<br />
missed phone calls and lost emails can<br />
be left in the past. ERP systems act as<br />
central hubs for all project<br />
communications, ensuring seamless<br />
collaboration between teams and<br />
stakeholders. This translates to reduced<br />
rework and errors, improved<br />
subcontractor performance and<br />
increased customer satisfaction.<br />
Integrated document management<br />
ensures everyone involved in a house<br />
building project has access to the latest<br />
information, minimising<br />
misunderstandings and costly rework<br />
due to outdated plans or specifications.<br />
Real-time project updates and progress<br />
reports help keep subcontractors<br />
accountable and facilitate timely<br />
completion of tasks.<br />
Finally, construction-specific ERPs offer<br />
online portals for buyers to track their<br />
home's progress, which fosters<br />
transparency and builds trust, leading to<br />
a happier customer experience and a<br />
stellar reputation.<br />
FINANCIAL FORECASTING HELPS<br />
CONTROL COSTS<br />
An ERP system acts as a financial 'crystal<br />
ball', offering valuable insights into both<br />
past performance and future profitability,<br />
especially valuable as the industry<br />
evolves. Housebuilders can both identify<br />
cost drivers and improve their cashflow<br />
management and keep abreast of price<br />
and cost fluctuations as they occur.<br />
Granular expense tracking helps<br />
pinpoints areas where savings can be<br />
maximised. Builders can also analyse the<br />
cost-effectiveness of different materials,<br />
subcontractors, and construction<br />
methods, and make informed decisions<br />
to optimise future projects.<br />
Accurate project timelines and budget<br />
monitoring also leads to better cashflow<br />
forecasting. This allows builders to<br />
negotiate payment terms with suppliers<br />
and subcontractors, further maximising<br />
efficiency and profitability.<br />
BEYOND COST SAVINGS<br />
While cost-cutting is a major benefit, the<br />
advantages of ERP go beyond the<br />
bottom line. Improved project visibility<br />
leads to faster timelines, better quality<br />
control, and ultimately, happier<br />
customers. By streamlining processes<br />
and empowering employees with datadriven<br />
insights, ERP systems can unlock<br />
a competitive edge for housebuilders in a<br />
challenging and rapidly evolving market.<br />
AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE<br />
Embracing an ERP system comes with its<br />
own set of challenges. Choosing the right<br />
software, integrating it with existing<br />
systems, and training employees require<br />
careful planning and investment.<br />
However, the long-term benefits of<br />
improved efficiency, cost savings, and<br />
increased profitability far outweigh the<br />
initial hurdles.<br />
For housebuilders facing a pricesensitive<br />
market and tight margins, an<br />
ERP system is not just a nice-to-have, it's<br />
a strategic weapon. By optimising<br />
processes, slashing costs, and boosting<br />
efficiency, ERP empowers builders to<br />
navigate the competitive landscape and<br />
build not just houses, but a foundation for<br />
sustainable success.<br />
ACCESS COINS IS CHOSEN BY THE<br />
UK'S LEADING HOUSEBUILDERS<br />
Access COINS is a powerful ERP system<br />
built for construction with supply chain<br />
management, project management and<br />
workforce management capabilities. It<br />
has helped the UK's leading<br />
housebuilders identify inefficiencies and<br />
keep control of their margins in a<br />
challenging landscape.<br />
Discover Access COINS.<br />
January/February 2024 17
CASEstudy<br />
Skipping ahead<br />
BIM software has been used on the temporary works for HS2's Colne Valley Viaduct, which has been<br />
designed to mimic the skipping of stones across a lake<br />
With a tight programme schedule,<br />
the use of Tekla custom<br />
components proved essential<br />
on the construction of HS2's Colne Valley<br />
Viaduct temporary works, enabling<br />
Taziker to navigate design changes and<br />
modifications timely and efficiently.<br />
Stretching for over two miles (3.4km)<br />
between Hillingdon and the M25, the<br />
Colne Valley Viaduct forms a critical part<br />
of the HS2 network. Carrying the railway<br />
around 10 metres high above a series of<br />
lakes, the River Colne and Grand Union<br />
Canal, the viaduct will be the longest<br />
railway bridge of its kind in the UK once<br />
completed. The design of the structure<br />
was inspired by the flight of a stone<br />
skipping across water, with a series of<br />
elegant spans making up its<br />
construction. The project is being led by<br />
HS2's main works contractor Align JV - a<br />
team made up of Bouygues Travaux<br />
Publics, Sir Robert McAlpine and<br />
VolkerFitzpatrick.<br />
The construction of the momentous<br />
structure has understandably come up<br />
against various logistical and engineering<br />
challenges, not least the location and<br />
tricky terrain. One of those challenges<br />
was to construct 292 bored piles,<br />
required to support the piers and<br />
abutments of the bridge. In order to<br />
enable these works and provide safe<br />
access for plant equipment and materials<br />
operating over the lakes, a series of<br />
temporary steel jetties were required.<br />
Spanning over four lakes in the South<br />
Harefield region, this temporary<br />
causeway was detailed, fabricated and<br />
installed by Taziker.<br />
Measuring at over 3,000 km in length,<br />
the temporary jetties were constructed<br />
from circa 3600 tonnes of steelwork. At<br />
each pier location, the jetty was further<br />
widened to include the whole working<br />
area, with modular decking sections<br />
removed as required for permanent piling<br />
and to construct cofferdams.<br />
18<br />
January/February 2024
CASEstudy<br />
Speaking about the project, Jarrod<br />
Hulme, MD Structural Solutions at Taziker<br />
said: "We were working with an already<br />
tight programme schedule, making it<br />
challenging to decide how to start the<br />
model knowing there would definitely be<br />
upcoming design changes. With time<br />
pressing on, and with such a large<br />
volume of steel needing to be secured by<br />
our procurement department, the team<br />
decided to opt for using a largely<br />
complex custom component with over<br />
860 parameters.<br />
This was also necessary as the viaduct<br />
follows a very gradual curve over a 3.4km<br />
distance, meaning it was near impossible<br />
to detail correctly using a 'copy to another<br />
plane' or 'copy to another object' approach.<br />
"Through our use of custom<br />
components, once the crossbeams had<br />
been put into the model across the top of<br />
all the pile caps, all that was required was<br />
selecting one crossbeam, then another<br />
and the custom component created in<br />
Tekla Structures would automatically fill<br />
the gap with the top deck and all the<br />
latticed steelwork. This method allowed<br />
for modifications to be made to every<br />
deck - simultaneously and efficiently -<br />
whenever we were provided with a new<br />
design change, as all parameters were<br />
interconnected.<br />
"Once steel started to arrive on site, it<br />
was reported that our 12-metre decks<br />
were landing on pile caps to within a<br />
2mm tolerance at every single location -<br />
a fantastic result and our team were<br />
incredibly proud that the method was<br />
so successful."<br />
As well as using Trimble's Tekla<br />
constructible modelling software at the<br />
detailing stage, Taziker also utilised the<br />
cloud-based Trimble Connect platform<br />
once the steel had reached fabrication,<br />
enabling greater communication and<br />
traceability throughout.<br />
Jarrod explained: "By using Trimble<br />
Connect, the 3D model was easily<br />
accessible to the fabrication team in the<br />
workshop. With access to this level of<br />
detail and data, they were able to easily<br />
keep track of the steelwork coming into<br />
the shop, a task that would have been<br />
incredibly challenging without the software<br />
due to the sheer volume of steel."<br />
In total, Taziker produced over 240<br />
general arrangement drawings, over<br />
1200 assembly drawings and over 1700<br />
fittings drawings for the fabrication and<br />
construction of the Colne Valley Viaduct<br />
temporary jetties.<br />
www.tekla.com<br />
January/February 2024 19
CASEstudy<br />
Leveraging AssetWise<br />
Clarion Housing have devised their own Asset Management solution, based on Bentley's AssetWise<br />
ALIM, to comply with the government's Building Safety Act<br />
It was a natural outcome following<br />
the horrors of Grenfell in 2017 that<br />
the UK government should introduce<br />
new legislation covering safety issues<br />
in high-rise buildings. The Building<br />
Safety Act 2022 is a huge change in<br />
the government's regulatory framework.<br />
It's aim is not only to change the way<br />
the construction industry handles<br />
safety issues within the design,<br />
construction and operation of high-rise<br />
buildings, but also to give occupants a<br />
greater say in how their building is kept<br />
safe, and to raise safety concerns<br />
directly with owners and managers of<br />
such buildings.<br />
It gives leaseholders substantially<br />
more clout when it comes to sorting<br />
out building safety defects, and the<br />
tools that will enable allow those<br />
responsible for tragedies and financial<br />
burdens arising from other building<br />
safety defects to be held to account.<br />
The new regulations are designed to<br />
overhaul the existing ones, and to<br />
make clear how residential buildings<br />
should be constructed, maintained and<br />
made safe. To implement the Building<br />
Safety Act, three new oversight bodies<br />
have been set up: the Building Safety<br />
Regulator, the National Regulator of<br />
Construction Products and the New<br />
Homes Ombudsman.<br />
Responsible for the<br />
implementation of the Building<br />
Safety Act are the designer,<br />
the contractor or the owner,<br />
who will be<br />
required to manage building safety<br />
risks during the design, construction<br />
and occupation of all buildings and can<br />
demonstrate that they have<br />
proportionate measures in place to<br />
manage building safety risks.<br />
If they don't meet their obligations<br />
they may face criminal charges, and at<br />
the very least, they will need to<br />
contribute to the costs of fixing their<br />
own buildings.<br />
CLARION HOUSING GROUP<br />
Conforming to the new requirements is<br />
another matter entirely, requiring<br />
developers and owners of such<br />
properties to compile details of which<br />
parts of a building are considered to be<br />
a fire or structural risk, and which are<br />
covered by the new regulations, and to<br />
maintain records of their performance,<br />
regular inspections and any other<br />
information about the steps taken to<br />
mitigate those risks.<br />
Hence Clarion<br />
Housing initiating a project to digitise<br />
information for all components of<br />
higher-risk buildings that impact fire<br />
and structural safety and enable it to<br />
comply with the Building Safety Act.<br />
The initiative, they say, will increase<br />
the safety of all of Clarion's higher-risk<br />
buildings through enhanced asset<br />
management, and improve and<br />
demonstrate the safety of Clarion's<br />
stock.<br />
Clarion Housing have a portfolio of<br />
higher-risk buildings in London and<br />
across England, all residential<br />
buildings of seven storeys and above.<br />
The project presented significant<br />
information challenges when gathering<br />
and coordinating data that was at<br />
times siloed, unstructured, missing,<br />
and inaccurate.<br />
Catering for a portfolio of buildings<br />
constructed over some years and<br />
including modern and future buildings<br />
designed to BIM specifications, the<br />
complexity of information gathering can<br />
often outweighs it value. Clarion,<br />
however, wanted to develop a fully<br />
operational<br />
Point cloud scan of a high-rise building<br />
20<br />
January/February 2024
CASEstudy<br />
digital estate of their portfolio of<br />
properties and needed flexible<br />
technology to create a smart, dynamic<br />
asset platform. They decided to develop<br />
their own digital twin, to create their own<br />
'Golden Thread' between the building<br />
and the information about the building<br />
components that needed to be covered.<br />
Three years ago they set up a small<br />
team under the guidance of Jack<br />
White, their Technical Manager, to<br />
digitise each of their buildings to create<br />
their own 3D model to which they could<br />
attach the relevant data.<br />
It was a meticulous process, using<br />
laser technology to create point clouds<br />
describing the elevations and the<br />
internal layouts of each building, so<br />
that they could create the detailed<br />
floorplans required to meet the new<br />
building safety regulations. The point<br />
clouds were converted into iModels,<br />
Bentley's model sharing format, which<br />
allows information from different<br />
applications to be shared and used in<br />
different applications.<br />
Bentley's iModelHub, part of Bentley's<br />
iTwin Services, was used to align and<br />
improve accessibility to iModel data<br />
and is regarded as a sort of control<br />
centre for iModels, coordinating<br />
concurrent access as well as<br />
maintaining a timeline of changes to<br />
the information.<br />
Information about every component<br />
within a building was physically<br />
acquired and entered into the digital<br />
twin. Fire doors were checked and the<br />
specifications confirmed by the original<br />
suppliers where possible. Other<br />
structural elements that were regarded<br />
as part of a fire risk were also added -<br />
bearing in mind the principal causes of<br />
the fire at Grenfell.<br />
Elements such as gas-fired<br />
equipment, boilers, suppression<br />
systems, fire detection, and cladding<br />
were also added to the 3D model,<br />
being considered as significant in<br />
understanding risk.<br />
The information was compiled from<br />
many different sources and placed in a<br />
spreadsheet, enabling it to be<br />
integrated within Bentley's AssetWise<br />
ALIM. This established an intelligent<br />
system of components and building parts<br />
across all higher-risk sites with all relevant<br />
assets linked to a physical model.<br />
The Bentley-based solution provides<br />
a register of all assets within a building<br />
together with related data and<br />
provides a record of the results of<br />
inspections and completed works. It<br />
can also be used to analyse the<br />
outcomes and schedule regular and<br />
preventive maintenance tasks,<br />
providing cost-effective asset<br />
management, better prioritisation of<br />
risk, and safer buildings.<br />
REPORTS AND SCHEDULES<br />
The aim of the project was to set up<br />
and maintain a real-time overview of<br />
the status of each building and its<br />
ability to comply with the Building<br />
Safety Act, and to make it available to<br />
the building safety manager within<br />
each of the buildings. AssetWise ALIM<br />
Web facilitates this, as it includes a<br />
cloud based platform that allows users<br />
access to all the information they need.<br />
Jack informed me that they worked<br />
closely with Bentley Systems on this<br />
project as AssetWise, when they<br />
started using it, was not exactly geared<br />
up to produce specifically what they<br />
needed - but over the last three years<br />
they have now reached the stage<br />
where the integration with their digital<br />
twin is fully operational. The Golden<br />
Thread is now working successfully,<br />
and the team is confident that can now<br />
take it further.<br />
FULL COMPLIANCE<br />
The Clarion Housing Group has<br />
provided a hugely successful response<br />
to the challenges of the Building Safety<br />
Act and now has the means to<br />
measure, plan for and react to current<br />
and future safety risks. Armed with this<br />
information, they can also satisfy the<br />
requirements outlined above - namely<br />
"to give our teams the best chance to<br />
not only keep our residents safe but<br />
help them feel safe in their homes."<br />
www.bentley.com<br />
January/February 2024 21
CASEstudy<br />
Loch on wood<br />
Dylan Baliski at the University of Dundee has won a 2023 Vectorworks Design Scholarship in the<br />
Architecture category for his striking design concept for an updated RSPB bird sanctuary<br />
How can our architecture be not just<br />
a response to humanity but also<br />
the environment it is situated in?<br />
Loch on Wood, Dylan Baliski's winning<br />
project entry for the 2023 Vectorworks<br />
Design Scholarship, explores this<br />
question through the eyes of both<br />
humans and birds in a gorgeous RSPB<br />
site situated 500m south-east of<br />
Lochwinnoch, Scotland. The site is on the<br />
periphery of a beautiful loch, circulated by<br />
a trail system, with birdwatching posts<br />
protruding out intermittently.<br />
The RSPB's current visitor centre on the<br />
site is now very outdated and provides<br />
minimal learning experiences within the<br />
interior spaces. Despite the incredibly hardworking<br />
volunteers running the facilities and<br />
programmes, the existing building had<br />
failed to entice new customers, who fund<br />
facilities and site maintenance. Now<br />
however they using Dylan’s design concept<br />
to attract funding for developing the site.<br />
THE ARCHITECTURE<br />
The solution to the problem goes beyond<br />
the RSPB's need for an updated visitors<br />
centre; it also has to connect to the<br />
landscape and allow the wildlife to roam<br />
free. The central driving concept behind the<br />
design was therefore about the journey a<br />
bird takes in its seasonal disposition.This<br />
migration pattern is imperative to almost<br />
every bird on earth, thus proving its<br />
importance. The architecture of the design<br />
reflects this journey, with the existing trail<br />
system extending over the roof of the<br />
updated visitors centre. The trail system will<br />
flow above the glazed gateway, visually<br />
connecting the loch to the external spaces<br />
south of the building.<br />
This glimpse into what is withheld in the<br />
site will draw pedestrians and drivers in<br />
from the freeway running perpendicular to<br />
the site. The boardwalk connecting to the<br />
foyer acts as a material and visual bridge<br />
into the exhibition space, easing the<br />
transition between nature and architecture.<br />
Once inside, the view to the loch will only<br />
expand in the timber interiors. The journey<br />
visitors take to the roof observation area is<br />
also mirrored in the interior, with the<br />
exhibition spaces pushed through the<br />
journey upwards to the observation deck.<br />
The sloping steam-bent plywood light<br />
chimney will immediately draw visitors,<br />
allowing a smoother connection between<br />
all three floors and the immense void<br />
spaces to be flooded by light.<br />
The triple-height void space in<br />
the heart of the circulation<br />
offers a flowing contrast to<br />
the more geometric<br />
exterior, creating an<br />
atmospheric entrance to the learning<br />
space. Along the way, patrons can learn<br />
about the species of birds present within<br />
Lochwinnoch, their migration patterns, and<br />
the measures being taken to protect them.<br />
The gift shop, which currently provides<br />
almost all of the revenue for the RSPB, will<br />
lie on the apex of the L-shaped plan,<br />
constantly being in view of the journey.<br />
Along with a café, the exhibition spaces<br />
will provide not just a reason to circulate<br />
through the space but also to stay. As<br />
visitors move through the exhibition, they<br />
will arrive at the parametric stairway, which<br />
acts as a beacon to ’fly’ them upwards<br />
through more exhibition spaces and finally<br />
to the interpretation space, which looks<br />
down the light chimney to the beginning of<br />
the journey.<br />
The third level interpretation space<br />
provides ample viewing and a buffer<br />
space, preventing birds from colliding with<br />
the windows. Bird-proof fritted glass will be<br />
implemented on the exposed glazing (the<br />
corten steel façade will cover much of it).<br />
This will allow a seamless view of the loch<br />
while protecting the birds that call it home.<br />
Within the main panels, there is the option<br />
to open the eye-level windows, enabling<br />
photographers to snap pictures of the<br />
wildlife. With these public functions<br />
covering the horizontal aspect of the site,<br />
the private functions will accommodate the<br />
vertical part of the plan, allowing staff and<br />
volunteers to have their own space away<br />
Visitors to the propsed centre will<br />
have extensive views of the loch<br />
22<br />
January/February 2024
CASEstudy<br />
The triple height void space in the heart of the circulation<br />
The vertical circulation will allow<br />
staff and volunteers to have their<br />
own private spaces<br />
Raised structure to mitigate any<br />
flooding and create a smaller<br />
footprint on the landscape<br />
The dining space acts as the foyer,<br />
allowing a clear view of the cafe at<br />
all times<br />
from the bustling exhibition and viewing<br />
spaces to work and rest. The light chimney<br />
defines the foyer and exhibition space from<br />
the learning journey while maintaining a<br />
direct connection.<br />
The simple glulam post-beam structure<br />
will hold up and define these interior<br />
spaces, with an additional timber frame for<br />
the interpretation space. The parametric<br />
slats revolving in and around the visitor<br />
centre are inspired by the anatomical<br />
geometry of bird wings and bird nests,<br />
adding to the dynamic space.<br />
A geometric corten steel façade will wrap<br />
around the spaces above the first floor,<br />
creating seclusion for the private interior<br />
spaces and birds and adding an aesthetic<br />
flare. The way it wraps around the building<br />
guides your eyes to the journey along the<br />
roof pathway, from the beginning to the end<br />
and back down again.<br />
ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS<br />
The previous builders had raised the RSPB<br />
visitor centre to mitigate any flooding.<br />
Utilising this strategy again was concluded<br />
to be the best option to combat the damp<br />
soil quality on-site. The raised structure also<br />
creates a smaller footprint on the<br />
landscape. A new system of boardwalks<br />
will float above, connecting the building to<br />
the landscape materially similar to the<br />
architecture, creating a sense of cohesion<br />
throughout the entire site.<br />
Along with the L-shaped plan of the<br />
visitor's centre, these boardwalks were<br />
carefully designed to surround the dense<br />
flora on the site, with no trees needing to be<br />
felled in the construction process. They are<br />
further expanded to the existing trail<br />
system, creating a looped path with better<br />
circulation than the current 'there-and-back'<br />
situation. Beneath the boardwalk, a<br />
compact trench heat pump will provide the<br />
building's electricity. Underfloor heating will<br />
provide the primary heat source using the<br />
ground source heat pump, an<br />
extraordinarily sustainable and effective<br />
combination with a good reputation in the<br />
industry - and which is also easy to install.<br />
Rainwater capture was a vital<br />
consideration of the proposal right from the<br />
start. Instead of being implemented as the<br />
'icing on the cake', it influenced Loch on<br />
Wood's development. A blue/green roof<br />
hybrid system was the obvious choice as it<br />
could help retain and distribute grey water<br />
to the building and materially blend into the<br />
surroundings. The 525 square metre<br />
surface area of the blue/green roof can<br />
accumulate up to 673,050 litres of water<br />
annually (which a runoff strategy can easily<br />
reduce). The green layer of the roofing<br />
system merges the architecture into the<br />
landscape and also acts as a filter for greywater<br />
precipitation, with its soil absorbing<br />
up to 75% of the incoming precipitation.<br />
The residual rainfall used for the toilets<br />
and showers could amount to more than<br />
150,000 litres - not accounting for the water<br />
lost due to evaporation, people, etc. These<br />
systems will contribute, along with the<br />
timber materiality, to the building's overall<br />
carbon-positive running of the building and<br />
low carbon footprint.<br />
CONCLUSION<br />
With this new design of the RSPB visitor<br />
centre an immediate increase in visitors is<br />
expected locally and abroad. Loch on<br />
Wood doesn't just provide a viewpoint for<br />
Scotland's wildlife but also provides a<br />
sanctuary for it to thrive in as well.<br />
www.vectorworks.net/scholarship/winners<br />
January/February 2024 23
INDUSTRY focus<br />
Whatever happened to BIM Level 2?<br />
From the mid 1990's onwards, many research projects have concluded that the major problem<br />
impacting the delivery of construction projects is the failure in production of quality information. The<br />
lack of quality information and spatial coordination created an added cost to construction projects,<br />
estimated between 10-20%, and extended the time to delivery. Mervyn Richards and Paul Oakley,<br />
CEO of Oakley CAD Services Ltd, explore the issues<br />
The use of 3D modelling in the early<br />
2000's was seen as a possible<br />
method of elminating waste and<br />
helping to deliver projects on time by<br />
reducing rework. Supplemented with<br />
standards, methods, and procedures, a<br />
possible method of working was published<br />
by the Construction Project Information<br />
Committee (CPIC), as Production<br />
Information: A code of procedure for the<br />
construction industry. First edition 2003.<br />
Prior to this publication, the procedures<br />
had been developed and tested within<br />
industry, initially on the BAA Heathrow<br />
Express, and subsequently the BAA<br />
Terminal 5 (T5) project. The standards<br />
were also implemented on a variety of<br />
projects, ranging from shopping centre<br />
development to standard office buildings.<br />
In all cases, the standards were shown to<br />
have a beneficial effect on the delivery of<br />
those projects.<br />
The benefits were accepted and further<br />
government funding, through AVANTI,<br />
demonstrated that if implemented properly,<br />
everybody in the supply chain - from client<br />
to designer, constructor, and operator -<br />
could reduce costs and improve profits.<br />
With final testing on the Crossrail project,<br />
the methods were developed and<br />
published as best practice by the British<br />
Standards Institute as BS1192-2007 and<br />
guidance was provided by BSI/CPI<br />
BIP2207. The major developments from<br />
these projects are known as the Common<br />
Data Environment and the File Naming<br />
Convention. A process for sharing<br />
information in a collaborative environment<br />
to eliminate the problems of spatial<br />
coordination and coordination of the data<br />
developed throughout the design and<br />
delivery process.<br />
The secondary requirement of the CDE<br />
was to enable the collection, management,<br />
and dissemination of shared information,<br />
or common data, and to provide an audit<br />
trail of the development activity. The latter<br />
was a requirement of the Health and Safety<br />
Executive (HSE) resulting from the<br />
Heathrow Express collapse. It is a<br />
requirement that has never been fully<br />
implemented but is currently being<br />
reinforced following the Grenfell Tower<br />
disaster, and the Dame Judith Hackitt fire<br />
safety report into legislation to provide a<br />
'golden thread' of audited data.<br />
In 2008, with the financial crash and the<br />
change in UK Government from Labour to<br />
Conservative, it was recognised that, to<br />
continue government delivery of centrally<br />
funded projects, new ways of delivery were<br />
needed, to allow for greater value and<br />
reduced cost.<br />
The concept of BIM Level 2 was<br />
conceived by Dr Mark Bew MBE and Prof.<br />
Mervyn Richards OBE. It was accepted by<br />
UKHMG as a game-changer. BS 1192<br />
became the foundation for a set of<br />
standards under the 1192 series. These<br />
were based on the roadmap developed as<br />
part of the BIM Level 2 Maturity Diagram.<br />
The roadmap was agreed and published<br />
by the BSI B555 Committee to be<br />
delivered, prior to the UK BIM Mandate to<br />
be published in 2016.<br />
The strategy was published as part of the<br />
BIS BIM Strategy and the HMG<br />
Construction Strategy 2011, giving the<br />
industry 5 years to prepare. Guidance,<br />
education, training, and certification were<br />
made available to the industry through the<br />
BSI, the Building Research Establishment<br />
(BRE), and Lloyds Register (supported by<br />
Excitech Ltd). In addition, several<br />
Information Management courses and<br />
MSc degrees were also made available at<br />
UK universities, including Reading and<br />
London Middlesex.<br />
To ascertain the effects of the BIM Level 2<br />
strategy, several government projects were<br />
used to measure the results. The results<br />
proved that the strategy and the guidance<br />
was successful, to such a degree that the<br />
international community wanted the<br />
standards to be converted to a series of<br />
ISO standards on information<br />
management.<br />
This requirement was granted and<br />
promoted by UKHMG and the BSI. This<br />
proved to be a major problem. The<br />
international members of the ISO<br />
committee did not want a UK standard,<br />
particularly when it came to conventions<br />
and codification and, during the<br />
development of ISO 19650-2, all 'UK-isms',<br />
such as the UK Government's strategy,<br />
BIM Level 2 and UK-specific references,<br />
etc., had to be removed with UK-specific<br />
definitions, instead, held in a National<br />
Annex. Source:<br />
www.thenbs.com/knowledge/from-bs-<br />
1192-to-iso-19650-and-everything-inbetween<br />
However, requirements not relevant to<br />
information management were lost. This<br />
was somewhat ironic, as many of these<br />
requirements were fundamental in<br />
improving the quality of information - which<br />
was why the international community<br />
wanted to adopt the UK standards.<br />
In the original PAS1192-2 document,<br />
guidance and descriptions were given as<br />
notes, allowable under the British Standard<br />
PAS form of standards development. The<br />
ISO standard format does not allow for this,<br />
and so explanatory information is missing<br />
from the ISO 19650 documentation.<br />
BSI could have just included the updated<br />
and unpublished 2018 PAS1192-2 as the<br />
24<br />
January/February 2024
INDUSTRYfocus<br />
UK National Annex to 19650, but instead<br />
of taking this simple step, a whole new set<br />
of guidance documents on information<br />
management were produced by<br />
volunteers - an interpretation of the ISO<br />
19650 requirements with quarterly<br />
updates over a period of years to get to<br />
the current release.<br />
The British Standards Institute, Centre for<br />
Digital Built Britain (CDBB) and UK BIM<br />
Alliance produced the documentation with<br />
multiple named authors for each section,<br />
published on the UK BIM Alliance website<br />
and adopted by the UK BIM Framework.<br />
This was seen as part of the delivery of BIM<br />
Level 2 and, as such, 'business as usual' -<br />
but nothing has really happened since.<br />
The original 1192 standards and the<br />
CDE processes were developed to<br />
ensure a clash-free set of information and<br />
fully coordinated data. However, it<br />
appears that the standards are not being<br />
implemented in the correct manner and<br />
the use of clash detection software, as an<br />
additional service, is being used as a<br />
matter of course.<br />
ISO 19650 does not support the BIM<br />
Mandate 2011-2016 and has removed all<br />
references to BIM maturity, as well as all<br />
'UK-isms', such as the UK Government's<br />
strategy, BIM Level 2 and UK-specific<br />
references. New guidance documents<br />
were designed to address this problem,<br />
but fail to deal with some of the basic<br />
blockers to BIM adoption, such as<br />
Professional Indemnity, which impact on<br />
project delivery and information<br />
management. This was previously covered<br />
under the CIC Best Practice Guide for<br />
Professional Indemnity Insurance, when<br />
using BIM Level 2, but no new equivalent<br />
has been produced for ISO 19650.<br />
What was the rationale for the further<br />
development under the UK BIM<br />
Framework banner? Was it to satisfy the<br />
new IPA BIM Mandate, that the UK BIM<br />
Framework guidance versions were<br />
conceived? The continual updating and<br />
massaging of the requirements has<br />
created a major problem for the certifiers<br />
and educators, such as universities, in<br />
providing updates in this confusing<br />
environment.<br />
Dr Marzia Bolpagni, in her recent report<br />
Adoption of Bim-related International<br />
Standards Across Europe (2023),<br />
suggests that the standards are not being<br />
used as published, but are further<br />
interpretations by companies and<br />
individuals around the world. The UK may<br />
be the most prolific user of the standards,<br />
but even here there are numerous<br />
company and individual versions.<br />
It would seem from countless articles on<br />
BIM+, and specifically from John Ford<br />
research, that very few people and<br />
particularly clients understand their<br />
responsibilities in providing real<br />
requirements, and it is now almost<br />
impossible for a true BIM Execution Plan<br />
to be written from a tendering team.<br />
BIM Level 2 and the original requirements<br />
- to enable centrally funded government<br />
projects to be delivered on time or to cost -<br />
has not been achieved; in fact the<br />
opposite seems to have occurred.<br />
The promise of BIM Level 2 as business<br />
as usual, and the suggestion that ISO<br />
would enable a global standard to be<br />
delivered that would allow the UK to take<br />
advantage of winning more international<br />
projects, is now also a pipe dream. The<br />
removal of key requirements means<br />
international consensus cannot be<br />
achieved, authors fail to understand key<br />
concepts, and numerous National<br />
Annexes have been created.<br />
As a country the UK is in a new financial<br />
crisis, and we once more need to provide<br />
centrally funded projects more<br />
economically. Perhaps we need to look<br />
again at the simple requirements of the<br />
original standards and guidance for the<br />
UK to reduce cost and waste, identifying<br />
the needs of carbon reduction and once<br />
again boost productivity in the<br />
construction industry.<br />
Mervyn Richards OBE and Paul Oakley<br />
BA(Hons) Dip Arch RIBA © 2023<br />
Mervyn Richards<br />
January/February 2024 25
TECHNOLOGY focus<br />
IDEA StatiCa<br />
Winners of the Innovation of the Year category at the 2023 Construction Computing Awards, IDEA<br />
StatiCa revolutionises the structural design of steel connections<br />
In the world of structural engineering,<br />
the design and analysis of steel<br />
connections play a pivotal role in<br />
ensuring the safety and integrity of<br />
buildings and infrastructure. Over the<br />
years, advancements in software<br />
technology have significantly<br />
contributed to streamlining and<br />
enhancing the design process.<br />
Among these innovations, IDEA<br />
StatiCa, a leading provider of structural<br />
engineering software tools, has<br />
developed a comprehensive set of<br />
features specifically designed for the<br />
design, optimisation, and analysis of<br />
steel connections - a groundbreaking<br />
solution that revolutionises the<br />
structural design of steel connections.<br />
The software combines the power of<br />
finite element analysis (FEA) with a<br />
user-friendly interface, enabling<br />
engineers to efficiently design and<br />
assess complex connections.<br />
IDEA StatiCa incorporates the<br />
innovative Component-based Finite<br />
Element Method (CBFEM), combining<br />
the accuracy of finite element analysis<br />
with the efficiency of component-based<br />
modelling. The CBFEM method breaks<br />
down the complex steel connections<br />
into individual components, such as<br />
plates, bolts, and welds. Each<br />
component is modelled using finite<br />
elements, capturing its specific<br />
behaviour and interaction with other<br />
components, providing a detailed<br />
analysis of the connection's<br />
performance and ensuring accurate<br />
predictions of structural response.<br />
By using the CBFEM method, IDEA<br />
StatiCa overcomes the limitations of<br />
traditional design approaches that rely<br />
on simplified hand calculations or<br />
empirical formulas. The software<br />
considers the geometric complexity,<br />
material nonlinearity, and load<br />
distribution in a connection, resulting<br />
in more precise and reliable design<br />
results.<br />
Furthermore, IDEA StatiCa's CBFEM<br />
method accounts for various factors<br />
that influence connection behaviour,<br />
such as joint stiffness, stress<br />
concentrations, and load redistribution.<br />
It accurately predicts stress<br />
distribution, deformation, and failure<br />
modes within the connection, enabling<br />
engineers to optimise the design for<br />
maximum strength and efficiency.<br />
By integrating CBFEM into IDEA<br />
StatiCa, engineers can benefit from a<br />
more holistic and accurate design<br />
approach. They can analyse<br />
connections under different load<br />
scenarios, assess the influence of<br />
various design parameters, and<br />
optimise connections for costeffectiveness<br />
and structural<br />
performance. This method empowers<br />
engineers to design connections that<br />
not only meet safety requirements but<br />
also provide optimal solutions in terms<br />
of material usage and construction<br />
feasibility.<br />
UNLIMITED STEEL CONNECTIONS<br />
One of the key strengths of IDEA<br />
StatiCa is its ability to handle a wide<br />
range of connection types, including<br />
welded, bolted, and composite<br />
connections. The software provides<br />
extensive libraries of standardised<br />
connections, allowing engineers to<br />
choose from a vast selection of predefined<br />
templates. Furthermore, IDEA<br />
StatiCa offers customisation options,<br />
enabling engineers to tailor<br />
connections to specific project<br />
requirements, without any limitations in<br />
the geometry.<br />
By automating the design process,<br />
IDEA StatiCa significantly reduces the<br />
time required for connection design.<br />
Engineers can quickly generate<br />
optimised designs based on<br />
predefined templates or customise<br />
26<br />
January/February 2024
TECHNOLOGYfocus<br />
connections as per project<br />
requirements. The software also<br />
enables automatic generation of<br />
detailed design reports, reducing<br />
manual documentation efforts.<br />
Consequently, project timelines are<br />
shortened, and overall costs are<br />
reduced.<br />
ENHANCED COLLABORATION<br />
The software also facilitates seamless<br />
collaboration between design teams,<br />
fabricators, and contractors. This<br />
enables the easy sharing of connection<br />
models and ensures clear<br />
communication and coordination<br />
throughout the project. Design changes<br />
can be efficiently incorporated and<br />
communicated, reducing the chances<br />
of errors and delays.<br />
COMPLIANCE WITH<br />
INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS<br />
IDEA StatiCa incorporates various<br />
international design codes and<br />
standards, ensuring compliance with<br />
regulatory requirements, supporting<br />
codes such as Eurocode, AISC, and<br />
CISC, among others, and enabling<br />
engineers to design connections that<br />
adhere to industry norms.<br />
This feature eliminates the need for<br />
manual code checks and promotes<br />
standardised design practices.<br />
IDEA StatiCa has proven to be<br />
invaluable in a wide range of iconic<br />
projects across the world. It has been<br />
extensively utilised in the design of<br />
bridges, high-rise buildings, industrial<br />
structures, and other complex<br />
projects. The software's versatility<br />
allows engineers to tackle diverse<br />
design challenges, providing<br />
innovative solutions for steel<br />
connections.<br />
For example, in the construction of<br />
large-scale bridges, where the<br />
behaviour of connections is critical,<br />
IDEA StatiCa enables engineers to<br />
optimise connection designs for<br />
maximum strength and load-carrying<br />
capacity. The software's precise<br />
calculations ensure that the<br />
connections can withstand dynamic<br />
forces and environmental conditions,<br />
ensuring the long-term durability and<br />
safety of the structures<br />
In high-rise buildings, where steel<br />
connections bear the weight and loads<br />
imposed by gravity and lateral forces,<br />
IDEA StatiCa offers sophisticated<br />
design capabilities. The software<br />
enables engineers to analyse the<br />
performance of connections under<br />
different load scenarios and optimise<br />
them for optimal structural<br />
performance. This ensures the stability<br />
and resilience of the building,<br />
safeguarding occupants and property.<br />
CONCLUSION<br />
IDEA StatiCa is a game-changer in the<br />
field of structural engineering,<br />
particularly in the design of steel<br />
connections. Its accurate calculations,<br />
time and cost efficiency, enhanced<br />
collaboration features, and<br />
compliance with international<br />
standards make it an indispensable<br />
tool for engineers. By leveraging IDEA<br />
StatiCa, structural engineers can<br />
create optimised connection designs<br />
that are safe, reliable, and compliant<br />
with industry regulations.<br />
The incorporation of the CBFEM<br />
method in IDEA StatiCa sets it apart as<br />
a powerful and advanced software for<br />
the structural design of steel<br />
connections. By leveraging this<br />
method, engineers can overcome the<br />
limitations of traditional approaches,<br />
achieve more accurate and reliable<br />
results, and ultimately enhance the<br />
safety and efficiency of steel<br />
structures.<br />
IDEA StatiCa is an important<br />
innovation in structural design for steel<br />
connections, reshaping the way steel<br />
connections are designed and<br />
revolutionising the construction<br />
industry.<br />
www.ideastatica.com<br />
January/February 2024 27
CASEstudy<br />
Meeting the BNG challenge<br />
AtkinsRéalis create a solution to meet new biodiversity net gain legislation<br />
AtkinsRéalis has used the new solution in<br />
the last 12 months include both rail and<br />
road, as well as utilities and masterplanning.<br />
The analytical BNG process sits within the<br />
AtkinsRéalis SpatialCDE, a common data<br />
environment designed and built specifically<br />
to manage the unique challenges of<br />
geospatial data over large projects or<br />
programmes. Benefits of the SpatialCDE<br />
approach across certain projects include:<br />
More efficient data collation and<br />
management within the SpatialCDE<br />
saves £300,000 per year on each<br />
development<br />
Quickly developed custom tools<br />
deliver £160,000 cost savings per<br />
year, per project<br />
1,000% increase in BNG is projected on<br />
a single project.<br />
Global design, engineering and<br />
project management organisation<br />
AtkinsRéalis was already<br />
committed to sustainable development<br />
but needed a way of meeting the<br />
Environment Act 2021. This demands that<br />
all new major construction projects from<br />
January 2024 deliver a biodiversity net<br />
gain (BNG) of at least 110%.<br />
Biodiversity is the incredible variety of life<br />
on earth, including ecosystems, habitats<br />
and species. The new law makes sure a<br />
development leaves the natural<br />
environment in a measurably better state<br />
than it was beforehand.<br />
Determining BNG has become more<br />
complex with the new legislation, which<br />
now needs to be run every time a design<br />
scheme is altered. This can mean costs<br />
escalate very quickly. Any process for<br />
handling BNG calculations need to be<br />
repeatable, accurate and quick.<br />
AtkinsRéalis has created a new solution to<br />
streamline the processes involved and<br />
dramatically reduce the time and cost it<br />
takes to plan, monitor and report on the<br />
amount of biodiversity for each rail, road,<br />
energy or other project. The geospatial<br />
approach has created new digital<br />
workflows, usable by everyone on a project.<br />
This involves repeatable processes,<br />
interactive map dashboards or web maps<br />
for better data sharing and mobile apps for<br />
faster data collection in the field.<br />
The result is an incredibly accurate,<br />
efficient and cost-effective method of<br />
managing a project's impact on the<br />
landscape, ensuring environmental<br />
sustainability and meeting the new<br />
legislation. Client projects where<br />
THE CHALLENGE<br />
Across the industry, organisations are<br />
grappling with how best to meet the<br />
Environment Act 2021. The new legislation<br />
has made determining BNG on client<br />
projects more complex and the process<br />
has to be run every time a design scheme<br />
changes. Organisations also need to be<br />
able to prove that the data being used is<br />
the most current version available. Any<br />
significant change in BNG has to be<br />
highlighted along with the reasons why, by<br />
setting out the differences in the data used.<br />
On any large highway, rail, energy or<br />
other infrastructure project, there can be<br />
over 12 different disciplines, all working to<br />
limit the negative impact on the<br />
environment and understand the central<br />
design, which moves quickly. Disciplines<br />
include design, engineering, construction,<br />
geotechnical, flooding, archaeology,<br />
ecology, environmental services, heritage<br />
and social value.<br />
Working on similar BNG questions<br />
nuanced to their field, these disciplines also<br />
need to be able to understand each other's<br />
domain. With multiple inputs and outputs<br />
28<br />
January/February 2024
CASEstudy<br />
created across these stakeholders, a highly<br />
complex working environment is soon<br />
established.<br />
Maintaining this interconnected process<br />
can get very expensive without any central<br />
spatial system or automation. Manual<br />
disconnected approaches carry a data<br />
management overhead for each team's<br />
individual data silo, while timescales are<br />
lengthened as it takes time for data to pass<br />
between silos. The risk of problems from<br />
out-of-sync versioning could be potentially<br />
disastrous for a project, including delays in<br />
construction and costly reworks.<br />
THE SOLUTION<br />
To ensure all parties remain aligned, a<br />
single source of truth devoid of any human<br />
error is critical. Having this as a repeatable,<br />
iterative, accurate process, enshrined in a<br />
concrete GIS element is absolutely vital,<br />
and this is what AtkinsRéalis has created.<br />
At the heart of the BNG solution lies the<br />
AtkinsRéalis Spatial Common Data<br />
Environment (SpatialCDE), which means<br />
solid data management is already in place<br />
and accelerates any analysis performed<br />
upon it. The SpatialCDE is a fully custom<br />
tech-stack, combining open source with<br />
FME, Esri ArcGIS, and Microsoft Azure to<br />
create a resilient data management and<br />
visualisation toolbox. A project may have<br />
several thousand individual data layers; the<br />
SpatialCDE ensures they are identifiable,<br />
auditable, accessible, and understandable.<br />
Using Esri ArcGIS Python libraries,<br />
AtkinsRéalis SpatialCDE can build custom<br />
analytical applications quickly, so users<br />
can view or analyse data in 2D or 3D to<br />
answer their specific queries in a selfservice<br />
way. They don't need desktop<br />
software and they don't all need to be fully<br />
skilled in GIS, but can focus on their<br />
domain specialisms such as ecology,<br />
without encountering technological or<br />
personnel bottlenecks.<br />
Using custom apps connected to the<br />
SpatialCDE means accurate and timely<br />
data is easily shared across multiple teams<br />
and third-party organisations, enhancing<br />
the BNG decision-making process. No<br />
specialist training is required - its intuitive<br />
user interface makes it easy for new users<br />
to become familiar with interrogating data.<br />
Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs)<br />
are conducted using ArcGIS Field Maps on<br />
mobile devices. Ecologists use map-driven<br />
mobile forms to capture different assets<br />
and observations to complete their work<br />
efficiently and accurately. Data is then<br />
automatically uploaded to the SpatialCDE.<br />
The whole platform is aligned with ISO<br />
19650, the international standard which<br />
sets data management guidance and is<br />
BIM Level 2 compliant.<br />
Now, when BNG is being examined, the<br />
SpatialCDE looks at the type and volume of<br />
habitats which are due to be impacted. As<br />
it's a systems based approach, the same<br />
analysis can take place every time the<br />
design is changed in order to reveal exactly<br />
how much habitat is impacted.<br />
Replacements or mitigation are then<br />
calculated. The workflow takes seconds<br />
instead of days or weeks, compared to a<br />
traditional manual paper-based method.<br />
BENEFITS AND EVIDENCE OF<br />
SUCCESS<br />
1. More efficient data collection and<br />
management saves each AtkinsRéalis<br />
SpatialCDE project £300,000 per year. Time<br />
saved comes from:<br />
Less time spent looking for and collating<br />
necessary data<br />
Ecologists spend less time collecting<br />
data in the field<br />
Fewer physical meetings to discuss the<br />
latest version of the design<br />
No inputting of data into maps and pdfs<br />
No inputting of disparate data<br />
No additional processing of the data<br />
No paper drawings or maps.<br />
2. Custom applications involved project<br />
calculations within the AtkinsRéalis<br />
SpatialCDE are deployed more quickly, each<br />
one saving on average £160,000 per year:<br />
This cost saving comes from custom<br />
applications to answer specific<br />
questions taking hours to create<br />
instead of days<br />
For example, if a user wants to examine<br />
carbon sequestration for a project, they<br />
create an application, draw a shape,<br />
switch the land use to 'woodland' and it<br />
will show how much carbon<br />
sequestration they will gain<br />
Another example is understanding<br />
constraints in proximity. A simple app<br />
can 'buffer' the design feature, to tell you<br />
what is going to be within 500m of that<br />
point, which is invaluable in establishing<br />
stakeholder impact<br />
To understand its visual impact, a zone<br />
of theoretical visibility is easily created,<br />
showing the user everything that can<br />
'see' the new structure, based on<br />
topography and other structures.<br />
3. In one project example, a 1,000%<br />
potential increase in BNG is projected,<br />
thanks to a comprehensive identification of<br />
opportunity by the new methodology:<br />
Following a systematic search of the<br />
study area soft estate, four areas of<br />
opportunity were selected for feasibility<br />
study stage, with proposed habitat<br />
interventions to create mixed scrub<br />
habitat and neutral grassland<br />
enhancement<br />
Following the habitat interventions<br />
proposed, the selected areas combined<br />
would potentially achieve 1,000%<br />
increase in biodiversity<br />
This study identified these<br />
opportunities, but it also created a<br />
long list of similar opportunities along<br />
roads across the region. This means<br />
that once interventions have been<br />
trialled, those that are most successful<br />
can be replicated on similar sites<br />
across the region.<br />
CONCLUSION<br />
AtkinsRéalis believes it has created one of<br />
the most advanced geospatial systems in<br />
the industry with SpatialCDE, in terms of<br />
spatial data management and how it is<br />
already delivering against project vectors<br />
such as BNG requirements and its projected<br />
benefits. An exemplar of how innovation in<br />
BNG techniques can guarantee the<br />
provision of essential infrastructure but not at<br />
the expense of biodiversity, the system also<br />
demonstrates best practice in how to meet<br />
the new Environment Act 2021.<br />
AtkinsRéalis with Esri ArcGIS were winners<br />
of the Sustainability Project of the Year<br />
category at the recent Construction<br />
Computing Awards.<br />
www.esriuk.com/aec<br />
January/February 2024 29
TECHNOLOGY focus<br />
Gathering the evidence<br />
Gleeson Homes partner with<br />
Zutec to deliver Building<br />
Regulation England Part L<br />
Photographic Evidence<br />
Compliance and beyond<br />
In 2024 increasingly strict building<br />
legislation and standards are set to<br />
follow with digital information<br />
requirements, particularly the Future<br />
Homes and Building Standard, where<br />
information will be needed to support<br />
building design, construction, and<br />
management. With the evolution of the<br />
construction and property industry,<br />
there is no time like the present to get<br />
information, processes, and the<br />
technology in order to deliver better<br />
information and, therefore, building<br />
outcomes.<br />
This emphasis on digital data and<br />
information to better manage buildings<br />
throughout their lifecycle, from<br />
planning all the way through to<br />
operations and maintenance, is not<br />
necessarily a new concept. However, it<br />
is only recently that the focus has<br />
shifted across the construction and<br />
building management sectors to<br />
prioritise its importance, driven by<br />
regulatory compliance.<br />
It's something that housing developer<br />
Gleeson Homes takes very seriously.<br />
So, in line with the evolving<br />
sustainability regulations, late last year<br />
they announced a partnership with<br />
Zutec to digitise Gleeson's quality<br />
control processes. This included<br />
multiple forms and checklists for<br />
Quality<br />
30<br />
January/February 2024
TECHNOLOGYfocus<br />
Assurance inspections, as well as Part<br />
L Photographic Evidence.<br />
This will help Gleeson maintain<br />
standards in quality and meet<br />
regulatory compliance, while bringing<br />
structure to process and providing<br />
complete data visibility plot to plot, and<br />
project to project, helping deliver more<br />
on-site efficiencies.<br />
Since June 2023, all housebuilders in<br />
the UK with new developments now<br />
have to provide mandatory<br />
photographic evidence to the SAP<br />
Assessor to prove that work and<br />
materials used in new homes comply<br />
with updated energy efficiency<br />
requirements that reduce carbon<br />
emissions - outlined in Part L, or<br />
Approved Document L, Appendix B.<br />
Implementing Zutec's Part L<br />
Photographic Evidence solution across<br />
82 sites earlier in the year was the first<br />
step in digitising Gleeson's Quality<br />
Control Plot Book, providing the ability<br />
for teams to update and submit asbuilt<br />
Buildings Regulations England<br />
Part L (BREL) reports to assessors for<br />
approval and faster plot completion.<br />
As part of its Quality Management<br />
Solution Suite, Zutec's Part L<br />
Photographic Evidence solution allows<br />
users to capture, store, share and<br />
manage geolocated photographic<br />
evidence and supporting documents<br />
required for the as-built BREL report.<br />
Spec'd to meet requirements of the<br />
Part L Building Regulations framework,<br />
the solution ensures users on site can<br />
capture the right quality photos with<br />
the right information.<br />
Using Zutec's field app photos can be<br />
captured and submitted to an assessor<br />
for sign off, speeding up the process<br />
and bringing building information<br />
together in one place to remove the<br />
complexity of gathering evidence and<br />
submitting for approval.<br />
Aligning its internal process and<br />
working with Zutec, Gleeson has now<br />
configured, digitised, and sequenced<br />
multiple forms and checklists,<br />
including its build stage and customer<br />
care forms, as part of its Quality<br />
Control Plot Book. Bringing everything<br />
together in one place ensures that all<br />
on and off-site teams are working to<br />
the same process and have structure<br />
to inspections by following<br />
consistent practice and<br />
workflows. By standardising<br />
its quality process,<br />
Gleeson can track<br />
progress, analyse<br />
reports, and have an<br />
audit trail of work<br />
done and inspections<br />
completed by who,<br />
and when.<br />
Matt Ball, Solutions<br />
Architect at Gleeson,<br />
commented: "We want to<br />
raise the bar in quality<br />
housebuilding, and believe<br />
innovation in this area is key.<br />
We partnered with Zutec for<br />
their Part L innovation to<br />
help us meet regulatory<br />
requirements, but quickly<br />
realised that we could work<br />
together to digitise our quality<br />
control process and plot book to<br />
give us more control and<br />
consistency on what was happening<br />
site by site and project to project.<br />
"Zutec's Quality Management<br />
solutions form the foundation of our<br />
digitised Quality Control Plot Book,<br />
which is used for inspections on site. It<br />
gives us complete data visibility of<br />
project progress and contractor<br />
performance via a dashboard view,<br />
where we can analyse information to<br />
help us make more informed decisions<br />
and implement best practice."<br />
Using Zutec's field app, Gleeson<br />
users will now be able to complete<br />
checklists, take photos during site<br />
inspections and add comments,<br />
meaning that issues found can be<br />
easily identified and resolved quickly.<br />
On site teams can also add status<br />
codes to inspections to track<br />
inspection progress, which can be<br />
marked up as draft, for review,<br />
complete or rejected.<br />
Additionally, an action register means<br />
items can also be assigned to users<br />
through notifications for faster<br />
resolution, and with full audibility there<br />
is a trail of information that can show if<br />
an action has been completed or not.<br />
With interactive reporting and<br />
dashboards, specific reports can be<br />
set up and easily exported for review<br />
and analysis meaning continual<br />
improvement of working practices.<br />
"By configuring and rolling out our<br />
quality management solutions at<br />
Gleeson, we have been able to support<br />
them in digitising their Quality Control<br />
Plot Book, which sets new standards in<br />
quality across their business. As part of<br />
our solution onboarding, we are<br />
providing super user training that<br />
means our tools can be easily selfadministered<br />
across sites. It is great to<br />
see user adoption and to partner with<br />
Gleeson on this project and be part of<br />
their transformation journey, as we both<br />
learn more about what the very best<br />
quality practice looks like," said James<br />
Cannon, Commercial Director at Zutec.<br />
To find out more about Zutec and<br />
how it can help achieve compliance<br />
with the Part L Photographic Evidence<br />
Requirement, click here:<br />
https://www.zutec.com/product/qualitymanagement/part-l-compliance/<br />
January/February 2024 31
YOUR GUIDE TO<br />
5<br />
7<br />
3<br />
1<br />
2<br />
21<br />
22<br />
23<br />
24 20 25 26<br />
27<br />
29<br />
SCOTLAND<br />
FIFE 1<br />
GlenCo Development<br />
Solutions<br />
Contact: Jack Meldrum<br />
Tel: 01592 223330<br />
Fax: 01592 223301<br />
jackm@glenco.org<br />
www.glenco.org<br />
ACMK<br />
ABERDEENSHIRE* 2<br />
Symetri Ltd.<br />
Tel: 0345 370 1500<br />
info@symetri.co.uk<br />
www.symetri.co.uk<br />
ABCDEGHIJKLMNOPQSTX<br />
Larbert 3<br />
30 28<br />
19<br />
15 11/16<br />
6<br />
13<br />
17<br />
9/10<br />
18<br />
12/14<br />
*Location guide<br />
not 100% accurate<br />
TMS CADCentre<br />
7 Central Park Avenue<br />
Central Park<br />
Larbert<br />
FK5 4RX<br />
Tel: 01324 550 760<br />
info@tms-scotland.com<br />
www.tms-scotland.com/autodesk<br />
ACELHNO<br />
IRELAND<br />
DUBLIN 5<br />
Paradigm Technology Ltd<br />
Contact: Des McGrane<br />
Tel: +353-1-2960155<br />
Fax: +353-1-2960080<br />
dmcgrane@paradigm.ie<br />
www.paradign.it<br />
ACMGKL<br />
SOUTHWEST<br />
NEWBURY 6<br />
RWTC Ltd<br />
Contact: Richard Willis<br />
Tel: 01488 689005<br />
Fax: 01635 32718<br />
richard@rwtc.co.uk<br />
www.rwtc.co.uk<br />
A M<br />
N.I<br />
BELFAST 7<br />
Pentagon Solutions Ltd<br />
Contact: Tony Dalton - Training<br />
Services Manager<br />
Tel: +44 (0) 2890 455 355<br />
Fax: +44 (0) 2890 456 355<br />
tony@pentagonsolutions.com<br />
www.pentagonsolutions.com<br />
ACDEGKL<br />
TRAINING COURSES OFFERED KEY:<br />
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VAULT FUNDAMENTALS<br />
AUTODESK VAULT FOR INVENTOR USERS<br />
A<br />
B<br />
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K<br />
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P<br />
Q<br />
R<br />
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T<br />
X<br />
For further information about authorised CAD training or to advertise on these pages please contact:<br />
Josh Boulton on 01689 616 000 or email: josh.boulton@btc.co.uk
SOUTH/EAST<br />
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Business Systems Ltd<br />
Contact: Gillian Haynes<br />
Tel: 01707 258 338<br />
Fax: 01707 258 339<br />
training@cabs-cad.com<br />
A C D E K H<br />
BUCKINGHAMSHIRE 10<br />
Causeway<br />
Technologies Ltd<br />
Contact: Sue Farnfield<br />
Tel: +44 (0)1628 552134<br />
Sue.Farnfield@causeway.com<br />
www.causeway.com<br />
A C D E K<br />
BERKSHIRE 11<br />
Cadpoint<br />
Contact: Clare Keston<br />
Tel: 01344 751300<br />
Fax: 01344 779700<br />
sales@cadpoint.co.uk<br />
www.cadpoint.co.uk<br />
A C D E K<br />
ENFIELD* 12<br />
TRAINING<br />
BERKSHIRE 16<br />
Mass Systems Ltd<br />
Contact: Luke Bolt<br />
Tel: 01344 304 000<br />
Fax: 01344 304 010<br />
info@mass-plc.com<br />
www.mass-plc.com<br />
A E F<br />
HAMPSHIRE 17<br />
Universal CAD Ltd<br />
Contact: Nick Lambden<br />
Tel: [44] 01256 352700<br />
Fax: [44] 01256 352927<br />
sales@universalcad.co.uk<br />
www.universalcad.co.uk<br />
A C M E K H<br />
MILTON KEYNES 18<br />
Graitec - Milton Keynes<br />
Contact: David Huke<br />
Tel: 01908 410026<br />
david.huke@graitec.co.uk<br />
www.graitec.co.uk<br />
ABCDEGHIJKLMNOPQSTX<br />
CAMBRIDGE 19<br />
THE NORTH<br />
MANCHESTER* 20<br />
Symetri Ltd.<br />
Tel: 0345 370 1500<br />
info@symetri.co.uk<br />
www.symetri.co.uk<br />
ABCDEGHIJKLMNOPQSTX<br />
NEWCASTLE* 21<br />
Symetri Ltd.<br />
Tel: 0345 370 1500<br />
info@symetri.co.uk<br />
www.symetri.co.uk<br />
ABCDEGHIJKLMNOPQSTX<br />
YORKSHIRE 22<br />
Graitec Bradford<br />
Contact: Isobel Gillon<br />
Tel: 01274 532919<br />
training@graitec.co.uk<br />
www.graitec.co.uk<br />
ABCDEGHIJKLMNOPQSTX<br />
NORTH EAST 23<br />
Graitec - Durham<br />
Contact: Isobel Gillon<br />
Tel: 0191 374 2020<br />
training@graitec.co.uk<br />
www.graitec.co.uk<br />
ABCDEGHIJKLMNOPQSTX<br />
LANCASHIRE 24<br />
QUADRA SOLUTIONS<br />
Contact: Simon Dobson<br />
Tel: 01254 301 888<br />
Fax: 01254 301 323<br />
training@quadrasol.co.uk<br />
www.quadrasol.co.uk<br />
A C M K<br />
YORKSHIRE* 25<br />
Symetri Ltd.<br />
Tel: 0345 370 1500<br />
info@symetri.co.uk<br />
www.symetri.co.uk<br />
ABCDEGHIJKLMNOPQSTX<br />
SOUTH YORKSHIRE 26<br />
THE JUICE GROUP LTD<br />
Contact: Sarah Thorpe<br />
Tel: 0800 018 1501<br />
Fax: 0114 275 5888<br />
training@thejuice.co.uk<br />
www.thejuicetraining.com<br />
A C D E K R<br />
Symetri Ltd.<br />
Tel: 0345 370 1500<br />
info@symetri.co.uk<br />
www.symetri.co.uk<br />
ABCDEGHIJKLMNOPQSTX<br />
Symetri Ltd.<br />
Tel: 0345 370 1500<br />
info@symetri.co.uk<br />
www.symetri.co.uk<br />
ABCDEGHIJKLMNOPQSTX<br />
SOUTHHAMPTON 13<br />
Riverside House, Brunel Road<br />
Southampton, Hants. SO40 3WX<br />
Contact: Isobel Gillon<br />
Tel: 02380 868 947<br />
training@graitec.co.uk<br />
www.graitec.co.uk<br />
ABCDEGHIJKLMNOPQSTX<br />
CONTRAL LONDON* 14<br />
Symetri Ltd.<br />
Tel: 0345 370 1500<br />
info@symetri.co.uk<br />
www.symetri.co.uk<br />
ABCDEGHIJKLMNOPQSTX<br />
OXFORDSHIRE 15<br />
MIDLANDS<br />
NOTTINGHAM 27<br />
MicroCAD - Nottingham<br />
Contact: Isobel Gillon<br />
Tel: 0115 969 1114<br />
training@graitec.co.uk<br />
www.graitec.co.uk<br />
ABCDEGHIJKLMNOPQSTX<br />
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE 28<br />
AIT Spatial Ltd<br />
Contact: Philip Madeley<br />
Tel: 01933 303034<br />
Fax: 01933 303001<br />
training@aitspatial.co.uk<br />
www.aitspatial.co.uk<br />
A C D E F G K L<br />
BIRMINGHAM 29<br />
CHESHIRE 30<br />
Excelat CAD Ltd<br />
Contact: Vaughn Markey<br />
Tel: 0161 926 3609<br />
Fax: 0870 051 1537<br />
Vaughn.markey@ExcelatCAD.com<br />
www.ExcelatCAD.com<br />
B N<br />
Man and Machine<br />
Contact: Robert Kenny<br />
Tel: 01844 263700<br />
Fax: 01844 216761<br />
training@manandmachine.co.uk<br />
www.manandmachine.co.uk<br />
A D I J M N O P Q X<br />
Armada Autodesk<br />
Training Centre<br />
Contact: Steven Smith<br />
Tel: 01527 834783<br />
Fax: 01527 834785<br />
training@armadaonline.co.uk<br />
www.armadaonline.co.uk<br />
A D E M K H
EVENT preview<br />
Cadventure launches its Digital Intelligence Conference<br />
Cadventure is launching its first Digital Intelligence Conference, in partnership with Bentley Systems,<br />
which will take place on Wednesday 28 February at one of the City of London's most sustainable<br />
towers, 8 Bishopsgate<br />
Collaboration is the core theme to the<br />
Cadventure Digital Intelligence<br />
conference, which will connect and<br />
equip the minds of decision makers with<br />
the best digital tools and resources<br />
available to help elevate the digital<br />
intelligence of the built environment.<br />
Together with their conference partner,<br />
Bentley Systems, Cadventure will share<br />
critical knowledge and expertise vital for<br />
project and process success, plus discuss<br />
the challenges, experiences and solutions<br />
that are impacting on the digital future of<br />
construction industry.<br />
The Chairperson steering the content and<br />
conversations for the day will be Ian<br />
Gordon, Data and Advanced Analytics<br />
Lead at Arup and former Head of Data for<br />
Houses of Parliament Restoration &<br />
Renewal. In his own words: "I get excited<br />
about realising meaningful change using<br />
data and digital technologies such as<br />
cloud, ontologies, digital twins, data<br />
models interoperability, open data<br />
standards and automation. I even<br />
sometimes remember that people are<br />
involved!". Ian will open the conference with<br />
his insights on what the future holds for<br />
data in the next 12 months, setting the<br />
scene for the rest of the day on the<br />
transformative power of data.<br />
Following Ian will be Cadventure<br />
Managing Director, Elaine Lewis who will<br />
introduce the conference's Collaboration<br />
theme. "We have curated the content to<br />
inspire and improve collaboration as an<br />
enabler for growth. Our keynote<br />
presentations, case studies and panel<br />
discussions will each take aspects of this<br />
theme to illustrate how people, process<br />
and technology work together," said Elaine.<br />
Some of these presentations and panels<br />
will look at high profile projects such as<br />
National Highways and HS2, with talks from<br />
Bentley Systems, Balfour Beaty, AECOM,<br />
Siemens, Arup and Atkins.<br />
Elaine continued: "In 2024 Cadventure<br />
celebrates its 35th anniversary, and a key<br />
partner that has been instrumental in our<br />
longevity is Bentley Systems - for which<br />
2024 is also a landmark year as it<br />
celebrates its 40th anniversary. The<br />
Cadventure Digital Intelligence Conference<br />
is an opportunity for us to thank everyone<br />
who has supported Cadventure for the past<br />
35 years and reward them with new<br />
knowledge and new thinking.<br />
"We also wish to share this knowledge<br />
and thinking with the wider industry and<br />
generate a new type of collaboration, one<br />
which powers project success and<br />
stimulate new ideas, particularly through<br />
the use of Bentley Systems' technology and<br />
ingenuity. Over the past 12 months many<br />
people have told us that they miss being<br />
together for the sharing of best practice,<br />
therefore networking will be a big part of the<br />
conference experience."<br />
This live, one-day conference will share a<br />
series of presentations and panel<br />
discussions focusing on full lifecycle<br />
information management, digital twin<br />
development, how to turn data into<br />
knowledge, sustainable smart cities and<br />
the next generation of digital construction<br />
professionals. As well as featured case<br />
studies on major national and international<br />
infrastructure projects.<br />
The UK is one of the largest markets for<br />
Bentley technology but what has been<br />
missing is an active forum for users to<br />
meet, learn and share. Two of the best<br />
examples of this worldwide are in Denmark<br />
and Sweden. Cadventure has invited the<br />
Chairs of these well-established User<br />
Forums to discuss what works for their<br />
users and how this success can be<br />
replicated in the UK.<br />
This conference will connect Bentley users<br />
and technology game-changers to gain<br />
never before seen or heard insight and<br />
guidance, designed to increase<br />
performance and productivity.<br />
The venue has been carefully chosen for<br />
two reasons, 8 Bishopsgate is the new<br />
London home for Bentley Systems, which<br />
has taken residence on the 43rd floor, and<br />
during the conference guests will have the<br />
opportunity to witness some of the Bentley<br />
ProjectWise, SYNCHRO and iTwin Capture<br />
technologies in action. This 50-storey tower<br />
on the corner of Bishopsgate and<br />
Leadenhall Street is the first tower to<br />
achieve BREEAM Outstanding and EPC A<br />
rating in London. During construction, zero<br />
waste went to landfill, with 5,000 tonnes of<br />
C02 being saved. Now complete, 100% of<br />
the building's electricity comes from<br />
renewable sources.<br />
Elaine added: "8 Bishopsgate has, what<br />
some would argue, are the best views in<br />
the capital. The Lookout is 8 Bishopsgate's<br />
50th floor viewing gallery with uninterrupted<br />
views of London's iconic landmarks,<br />
impressive skyscrapers and historic<br />
architecture. For the Digital Intelligence<br />
Conference, we have secured private<br />
viewing access to The Lookout during our<br />
networking drinks reception."<br />
To find out more and to register for the<br />
Cadventure Digital Intelligence conference<br />
www.cadventure.co.uk/cadventure-digitalintelligence-conference-2024/<br />
34<br />
January/February 2024
SAVE THE DATE<br />
AWARDS CEREMONY<br />
7TH NOVEMBER 2024<br />
CENTRAL LONDON<br />
www.constructioncomputingawards.co.uk<br />
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