Digital twins in the building industry

Despite the continued improvement in the UK construction industry’s digital adoption, it still lags behind other sectors. Faced with the challenge of improving productivity, which has traditionally been held back by complex and evolving environments, fractured supply chains and large amounts of regulation, the use of digital twin technology could be a turning point, unlocking new possibilities within the sector, according to Ali Nicholl of Iotic-Labs.

So, what exactly is a digital twin? It is a virtual version of a process, product or service, which creates a two-way link between the physical and virtual world. The twins work by interrelating data and controls from across an entire eco-system, collected via sensors, platforms and databases and allowing it to interoperate. Pairing the physical and virtual versions enables analysis of data from its conception, to its use and monitoring. The data can then be passed from real-life situations to the virtual entity which interacts with multiple different sources and even contextual data such as the weather and environmental information. This means information can be gathered about the real-time status and working conditions of a site, project, building, material, piece of machinery and even a person.

In the construction business, linking a virtual version of a building to its real-world counterpart can show site workers how it is performing in real time. An example is connecting the behaviour of people wanting to use the lifts, showing demand at different times of the day, the weather and building occupancy to enable facilities management teams to improve efficiency and minimise downtime. This information can also be of use to architects, engineers and consultants in enhancing the designs of future buildings and enable managers to make investment decisions from actual actionable data, making them more efficient and able to understand the impact of changes to better manage assets over time.

Also, connecting twins of different buildings and their construction sites, along with the layers of infrastructure, will also give the industry the means to be able to create ‘smart cities’ as designers and town planners can interrelate event-driven data to gain insights into a ‘living’ city. Scenarios such as the impact of a new building on traffic flow or water and power supplies can be simulated to gauge how to go forward with town planning, for example and put in place the appropriate measures to help combat the effects of climate change, for instance.

Digital twins also have the potential to prevent serious accidents and reduce risks in an industry covered from top to bottom in health and safety regulations. This is by being able to monitor assets to avoid potential failures, automate tasks and maximise returns from resources, which can be done by automatic resource allocation and the tracking of waste, which allows for a leaner approach, saving money as well as time.

Being able to track people on hazardous sites using the technology can prevent inappropriate behaviour, the use of unsafe materials and unnecessary human activity in hazardous zones. It can also be used to develop early notification and alarm systems, alerting workers and other staff to any nearby dangers, even keep digital records of all the personnel and their locations on a site so this information could be used by rescue teams in a case of emergency and/or accident.

In addition, it would be possible to free staff up from tedious monitoring and management tasks where possible, meaning more of their time can be spent on work which directly impacts the project or business and increases overall productivity.

The bringing together of previously unrelated data can help people working in construction learn lessons and uncover opportunities within a virtual environment which can then translate into the real world and help transform business.

It is clear that technology can play a much more significant role in the day to day operation of construction firms as they strive for greater productivity. Incumbent suppliers risk being disrupted by consortia of smaller technology-enabled enterprises that can form flexible secure partnerships and ecosystems to deliver services more efficiently and more productively. Digital twins provide a secure iterative pathway for the adoption of disruptive technologies in a predominately traditional industry, leveraging existing systems, databases, and technology investments while capitalising on future digital advancements.

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Manchester Road project underway in Cheshire

The construction and property development company Seddon have officially commenced construction on the Manchester Road project in Cheshire East after being commissioned by the property developer Laurus Homes.

Specifically, the Manchester Road project will entail the construction of 94 homes with half of these falling under the status of affordable housing, basically meaning that 47 of the homes will be made available under affordable rent schemes.

Ultimately, this project was commissioned as a consequence of the increasing need for housing in Cheshire East, with the homes themselves being made available by the third quarter of 2021.

The Regional Director of Seddon, Duncan Williams stated: “This mixed-tenure development is creating much-needed new homes in line with Cheshire East’s affordable housing policy. Construction is underway, with the team working closely with Laurus Homes to ensure local residents can move into the properties as soon as possible.”

A representative of Laurus Homes, Sandra Cooke commented: “Congleton has proven a very popular with buyers and it is easy to see why. There is a great range of shops and restaurants, with plenty of green space. We are excited to be bringing stylish and spacious homes with a range of purchase options for buyers in Congleton.

“Giantswood Grove will be extremely well connected and within easy reach of the M6 and A34, providing great commuter links. As a profit-for-purpose developer, we are proud to be bringing an affordable element to Giantswood Grove and to see the profits from the scheme be reinvested into the local community.”

The Managing Director of BTP Architects, Vicky Saunders added: “It is great to see work begin on this development which will bring attractive new homes to the area. These are beautiful homes with huge floor spaces and we have considered every detail in their design. They will be a real asset to the area, providing more affordable housing options in Congleton.”

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Kier completes Croesyceiliog School development

The construction and property development company Kier have celebrated the completion of the first phase of building upon the £30M Croesyceiliog School in Cwmbran, South Wales, allowing students to begin moving into the new school and facilities this month.

The new Croesyceiliog School facilities were commissioned in order to replace the outdated buildings that were previously in operation and had been so since the 1950s, whereas the new buildings will be three-storeys tall and will cover a total teaching area of 10,800sq m that will accommodate 1,200 pupils.

New facilities featured within the school development include: a double-height assembly hall, a dining area, a drama studio, a learning resource centre, a double-storey sports centre, outdoor pitches, a gym, and an activity studio.

The Kier Operations Director for Wales, Jason Taylor stated: “We have been working on the Croesyceiliog School project for the last 91 weeks and it is a great achievement to have handed this over three weeks early.

“Thank you and well done to all the team involved in this state-of-the-art school, it is been a fantastic project to work on and the client is absolutely delighted with the end result.

“I am really proud of how closely we have worked with the school and local community to leave a lasting legacy, including providing apprenticeships, hosting work experience opportunities and inviting school ambassadors on to site to see the school progressing first hand.”

The Group Leader for Property Construction at Torfaen County Borough Council, John Lewis added: “The Kier team, from inception of the project, has worked in a fully collaborative manner with Torfaen’s in-house consultant team in order to produce a first-class facility for the pupils, staff and community of Torfaen.

“There were many challenges throughout the first phase of the project, including constructing the new facility within a live school environment, and these were overcome by proactive, integrated, collaborative project management. All who worked on the project should be proud of their achievements.”

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FMB responds to the Conservative Manifesto

With the December General Election just over one week away, the Federation of Master Builder (FMB) have responded to the recent publication of the Conservative Manifesto which has pledged to invest millions of pounds more, each week, into schools and infrastructure.

The response to the Conservative Manifesto, when compared with that of Labour, the main concerns of the FMB have been in relation to the Conservative Party’s policies that relate to immigration, with the manifesto stating that an Australian-style points system will be imposed once Brexit is finalised.

The Chief Executive of the FMB, Brian Berry stated: “The construction industry must not face a ‘cliff edge’ when it comes to skilled migrant labour, if we are to meet our house building and infrastructure targets.

“The Conservative Party must therefore ensure that their Australian-style points-based system incorporates priority occupations and reflects the needs of businesses.

“The industry still relies on skilled labour from the EU and will continue to do so until we encourage more young people into construction and train more of our domestic workforce.

“The Conservatives’ pledge to invest £3Bn in the National Skills Fund, and also in Further Education, is welcomed in order to reverse the decline in entry level apprenticeships in the sector.

“It is not just a question of greater investment but also reforming the policy landscape, and we look forward to working with the next government to reform the Apprenticeship Levy to ensure it addresses skills shortages in construction.”

This differs greatly from the response to the Labour Manifesto, in which the FMB stated that the attitude towards social housing and the housing crisis showed great promise but likewise expressed concern that the Labour Party placed too much emphasis upon the public sector in providing said housing.

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The Crescent development in Edinburgh wins awards

CALA Homes have recently won numerous titles, including ‘Best Luxury Development’ and ‘Best Apartment Scheme’, at the WhatHouse Awards 2019 as a result of one of their newest developments, The Crescent at Donaldson’s in Edinburgh.

The Crescent scheme claimed awards over other luxury developments in London at the awards ceremony, which took place in London itself, to become CALA Homes’ most awarded project after receiving an astounding 12 awards over the course of the past 12 months.

The development itself consists of 84 luxury homes, ranging from duplexes to penthouses, all of which possess glass frontages and overlook the picturesque grounds of Edinburgh’s grand Donaldson’s estate, within the city’s celebrated UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Adding to this, the housing development boasts having the largest communal garden in Edinburgh and also comes included with extensive electric vehicle charging infrastructure as part of initiatives to increase the number of charge points outside of London and Manchester.

These awards come shortly after the completion of the final homes in the West Wing of the development, while the ceremony itself was hosted by comedian Dara O’Briain and astronaut Tim Peake.

The Sales and Marketing Director with CALA Homes East, Philip Hogg stated: “From day one we have sought to do justice to what is a rare and important type of development.

“It therefore brings sheer joy to see our various teams’ and partners’ immense efforts rewarded and recognised at such a prestigious event, celebrating the pinnacle of UK property.

“The comments we received from the judges were excellent, especially in the Best Luxury Development category where we fought off stiff competition from some exceptional luxury developments in London.

“For The Crescent to receive two golds, to cap off a year that has seen it gain acknowledgement throughout the land, is something that we will be celebrating for a good while.”

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The advantages of using smart technology in commercial buildings

As the UK Government pledges to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, the urge for sustainable buildings is stronger than ever. According to the UK Green Building Council, an estimated 40% of the UK’s carbon footprint is attributed to the built environment, half of which comes from energy used in building. Heating alone created 10% of the country’s carbon footprint.

Yet sustainability is still out of reach for many property owners and managers. Old buildings, small budgets, tenants’ varying needs – there are many factors that make it hard for a property manager to truly measure the sustainability of a building and to act upon any findings.

Considering this, Frankie Bryon, Sustainability Surveyor at LSH discusses why smart technology can help buildings improve on sustainability as well introduce other benefits that include promoting health and wellbeing and enable agile working.

Smart is sustainable

Firms’ sustainability strategies have been a major driver of the rollout of smart technology. By providing more efficient controls over energy usage, it can deliver significant reductions in energy consumption.

It is no coincidence that some of the smartest office buildings in the world are also rated by BREEAM as among the greenest. Smart systems allow lighting, heating, air conditioning and ventilation to be monitored and adjusted according to a building’s usage and occupation. Energy wastage can be minimised by turning off heating and lighting when an office is unoccupied. Intelligent building facades may also be used to control the heat and light entering the building in response to changing weather conditions.

The next generation of energy efficient smart buildings have their own sources of power generation and some are even able to generate more energy than they consume, with surplus energy going back to the grid.

Workplace wellbeing

Smart technology is increasingly recognised as having an important role to play in promoting health and wellbeing. It can help to create environments that support alert, energised workforce.

Sensors can monitor air and water quality, light, temperature and noise levels. Issues known to affect workers’ concentration levels such as poor air quality or a lack of natural light can thus be detected and fixed.

More advanced smart office technology can also make use of data from wearable biometric devices monitoring the health and comfort of workers. In fact, research by Instant Offices shows 45% of the UK workforce would feel comfortable with sharing information via wearable devices for the purpose of protecting their health and wellbeing.

Ambient conditions can be adjusted when workers show signs of discomfort, or an individual’s immediate working environment can be changed according to their personal preferences.

Work smarter

Sensors, smartphones or wearable devices may collect data monitoring environmental factors such as temperature, light, air quality and noise, as well as data on employees’ usage of the building.

The data collected can deliver building managers with actionable insights on how to improve a building’s performance, or it may feed through to automated systems controlling the office environment. With smart technology continually evolving, it is being used to support an increasingly wide range of applications, providing multiple benefits to building owners, investors, occupiers and employees.

Enabling agile working

Smart technology is providing occupiers with a better understanding of who uses the office at any given time, how they work and with whom they collaborate. These insights can enable increasingly agile, flexible working.

Some of the newest generation of smart buildings have fewer desks than workers. Instead, employees may reserve a workspace using an app, with a choice of spaces depending on whether they would prefer a collaborative workspace, private meeting area or a quiet space.

Smart systems may thus facilitate a move away from the convention of employees ‘owning’ a desk, which then goes unused for periods when they are out of the office. Flexible workspaces can be used more efficiently and may be continually adapted to changing employee demand and new work styles.

Improving workplace experiences

As well as enabling desk and room bookings, workplace apps can also be used to order food and drink, book gym sessions or reserve parking spaces. They may allow employees to control ambient settings, as well as providing new ways of connecting and collaborating with colleagues.

Workplace apps are thus developing as important interfaces between employees and office buildings, giving individuals greater control over their office experience. This will help to align the modern office with the expectations of a younger workforce for whom smart technology already plays an integral part of their lifestyles outside of work.

The benefits of being smart

Overall the advantages that smart offices offer are in terms of the following:

• Sustainability
• Employee wellbeing
• Agile working
• Workplace experience

Smart offices also aid talent attraction and retention, by creating spaces in which people want to work, while appealing to workers’ environmental values. Modern, sustainable offices can help to reinforce a company’s brand values and define a progressive, forward-thinking corporate culture.

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Shuttleworth and Stag House projects underway in Wandsworth

The construction and property company Wates has recently begun the construction of two residential developments on Shuttleworth Road in Wandsworth after being commissioned by the local council.

The Shuttleworth House and Stag House projects will entail the provision of 92 affordable homes, 71 of which will be included as part of Shuttleworth House site while the remaining 21 will be situated at Stag House, therefore increasing the number of affordable homes that are available to local people in the Central London Borough.

Wates Residential was appointed to the Shuttleworth project in July 2019, with the project itself forming part of the wider Winstanley and York Road Estates regeneration programme, and with the contractor themselves ensuring that the new homes meet the highest of energy and safety standards.

Adding to this, Wates Residential made efforts to engage with the local community by having ten local children from the Fledglings Kindergarten on Battersea High Street design the perimeter hoarding of the development with their own pictures of diggers and equipment from the site.

The Managing Director for Wates Residential, Paul Nicholls stated: “After seeing how excited the children were about work on the Shuttleworth Road site, we invited them to get involved.

“Wates Residential believes that everyone deserves a great place to live and is committed to delivering more than just homes in Wandsworth. Hopefully our work with Fledglings Kindergarten will help to inspire the next generation to consider a career in construction.”

The Manager from Fledglings Kindergarten, Sandra Prendergast added: “The children were so excited to draw pictures of the site and have them displayed on the hoarding, especially as some of their parents work within the construction industry. After the unveiling they spoke about it all day and were so delighted with the hard hats and vests that you [Wates Residential] donated too.”

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