BIM+

In the second and final part of a series about project handover, Lucas Cusack of Glider Technology turns his attention to the contractor’s role. Here, he looks at the role contractors play in delivering accurate, structured information that’s ready for effective use in building operations. A successful handover is the result of careful planning, consistent communication and proactive management throughout the design and construction process.

In the first instalment of a two-part series, Lucas Cusack from Glider Technology explains what asset owners must prioritise and the common pitfalls to avoid to ensure the transition from construction to operation is as smooth and beneficial as possible. A successful project handover is not just about receiving a set of documents at practical completion. It’s about ensuring that the information handed over is structured, accurate and usable for operating the building effectively.

It’s time for organisations to consider what they need when implementing AI to support delivery of the golden thread, according to Murillo Piazzi and Dakshina Liyanapathirana from Okana. The requirement for a golden thread establishes the digital traceability of information throughout a building’s entire lifecycle. It guarantees that all essential data related to a building or asset is accurately recorded and readily accessible to relevant stakeholders.

Maber faced a challenge designing a training facility for the East Midlands Reserve Forces and Cadets Association. Designed by Maber, the Beckingham Cadet Training Camp near Lincoln will provide the East Midlands Reserve Forces and Cadets Association with a sustainable new training facility. Helping to provide opportunities for children and young people to develop valuable life skills, the dedicated space will be available to cadets from around the country while supporting local recruitment.

The Near Field Communication (NFC) Forum says it has created a universal, interoperable, digital product passport framework. The framework will enable NFC Forum tags already in use for other applications to also store sustainability data. The NFC Forum candidate specification also allows for static and dynamic data to be hosted and accessed offline using non-volatile memory stored on the product itself.

Digital solutions need to be at the heart of upskilling or the sector will lose out, says Rob Norton of PlanRadar. The chancellor’s recent announcement of £600m to train 60,000 new construction workers has been a long time coming. Nevertheless, it’s a hugely welcome step forward for an industry long left behind in the struggle for fresh talent. After years of skills shortages and growing regulatory complexity, this investment signals a critical turning point.

A Monte Carlo-type random sampling, modelling approach has been used to improve London’s flood defences. Southampton University and the Environment Agency (EA) have developed a tool that can more accurately predict when the Thames Estuary flood defences, including the Thames Barrier, will need to be closed. The flood defence system protects more than 1.4 million people and £321bn worth of homes. Due to climate change the barrier is being closed more frequently.

Robots can make construction sites more efficient and safer, and help with labour shortages. That was the claim from Okibo COO and co-founder Nadav Shuruk at the launch of its EG7 painting and drywall finishing robot onto the US market. The Israeli company said its AI-guided robots have covered more than one million square feet across Europe and are now being used on major US construction sites.

British fusion investment fund Starmaker One has received a £20 million boost from the UK government to kickstart growth. The government hopes the cash injection will help firms in the fusion energy sector train their workforce in physics, engineering and chemistry, boost private investment, and ultimately help startups scale commercially.

Xwatch Safety Solutions, part of Hexagon, has launched the XwatchMole system designed to detect and protect animal habitats on construction sites. Xwatch has collaborated with Plant & Vehicle Services and leading wildlife conservation organisations to develop the technology that integrates telematics and thermal detection to survey the ground in real-time, identifying live dens and nests of protected species such as badgers, foxes, rabbits and birds.