BIM
HOW DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES ARE HELPING TO DELIVER A BETTER BUILT ENVIRONMENT As the uptake of digital technology within the construction sector gathers pace, built environment professionals are becoming aware of the benefits digital strategies can bring. David Bain, Research Manager at NBS, looks at how digital technologies improve building standards and which areas are moving the needle in terms of safety and sustainability, using NBS’s recent Digital Construction Survey.
T
here’s no doubt that we’ve seen a dramatic transformation from the construction industry regarding its perception of digital adoption. Outside influences, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, have pushed the sector out of its comfort zone, forcing it to adopt to new working practices. Further pressures are leading to further change, such as new Building Safety Regulations requiring improved levels of accuracy, reporting and compliance. The recent COP26 event has also moved sustainability in construction even further up the priority list. These are all areas in need of urgent focus, and a robust digital strategy can offer practical support in addressing priorities such as building standards and reducing carbon emissions.
Going for gold Whilst there are many forms and functions when we refer to digital technology, be it BIM, specification platforms or project management tools, each represents a wider step in achieving the ‘golden thread of information’. This term became part of the industry’s parlance following Dame Judith Hackitt‘s ‘Building a Safer Future’ report – an Independent Review
30
of Building Regulations and Fire Safety. In this seismic document, the message was hammered home; if building standards are to improve, then a traceable and trackable digital record of the entire decision-making process will need to be implemented. Only then can it achieve the transparency the sector so greatly needs. What’s promising to see is that, since the concept first gained widespread attention back in 2018, the message is being heard loud and clear. Of the 900 respondents who took part in NBS’ Digital Construction Survey (previously known as the NBS BIM Survey), 78% agreed that they ‘need to be working digitally to play their part in realising the golden thread of information’. Yet, there still appears to be a sticking point as only half were clear on how they will make this happen.
Digital technology: raising the bar Digital technologies and ways of working are helping to create better buildings and places, with 80% agreeing with this sentiment, and three quarters felt ‘it was having a positive impact on environmental sustainability’, and 74% ‘helping to create a safer built environment’.
One practical improvement is the use of detailed construction product data and BIM/digital objects. For architects involved in designing the buildings of the future, having the right information at their fingertips is crucial to making the most informed decisions possible. Eight out of 10 architects wanted manufacturers to provide them with BIM/digital objects, and, pleasingly, around 80% of manufacturers are doing this for some products. By doing so, architects and specifiers can feel confident that the products they are using are the safest and most sustainable – and it all starts with data. By
providing architects with the right digital information, it brings us one step closer to achieving the golden thread, that is, creating a digital record of the entire decision-making process from beginning to end.
Cloud computing and BIM The move to hybrid working has also impacted attitudes to the future of work, and is also shaping the direction of digital technologies. A significant proportion of the sector (58%) reported that they expect to split their time between home, and office, factory or site over the next five years. The
