BIM TECHNOLOGY
Few digital twins in construction industry Research from the McKinsey Global Institute has identified construction as one of the least digitised industries in the world. Andrew Skudder, CEO of RIB CCS, believes that the conservatism of the industry and its use of technology predominantly only at a project level are reasons for this slow uptake. By Kirsten Kelly
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isk associated with the practice of designing and constructing structures is so high that owners, engineers and contractors become extremely cautious when implementing anything new. As a result of that conservatism, there is some scepticism around the ability of technology to create value and deal with real business problems,”
Skudder explains. “Furthermore, the construction industry frequently uses technology on a project-by-project basis, instead of at an enterprise level. As a consequence, a construction company will use different tools on different projects, creating data silos and a lack of collaboration. So, while there is an improvement in productivity and efficiency at a project level, it is not at a sustained enterprise level,” he continues.
Specialised software for construction and engineering Despite the slow pace of digital transformation in the industry, Skudder remains passionate about the value digital transformation can bring. “It increases collaboration, productivity and efficiency, which results in greater profitability and sustainability for construction companies and greater certainty of project outcome for project owners. By assisting construction companies to build more with fewer resources, we benefit society. Those saved resources can be directed to other projects. An effective built environment (and the associated infrastructure) is key for people’s quality of life and prosperity.” RIB CCS is a specialised software solutions company with a mission to digitally transform the construction industry. As a highrisk industry with low margins, Skudder urges construction companies to Andrew Skudder, CEO of RIB CCS
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IMIESA September 2021
Introducing new technologies should not necessitate the employment of new people but should encourage the upskilling of existing employees.” embrace the correct technology that drives productivity. “Generic software does not cater for the construction and engineering industries. Construction is project-based, with ver y specific business processes across the project life cycle. These projects are complex and dynamic in nature. Therefore, software must be flexible, with specialist functionality that can work with a large volume of changes (like change order management, scope, budget, schedule) and continually show the impact of these changes on projects.” One product offered by RIB CCS is MTWO – an integrated 5D BIM enterprise construction cloud software platform for contractors, developers, and owners to speed up their project- and enterprise-level digitalisation journey.
MTWO MTWO can be used for the entire life cycle of a structure. • BIM model management – impor t architectural BIM models, structure models and MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing) models from mainstream modelling software for cross-platform
