As such, onsite IoT technology is a key area of interest for the company.
Moreover, organisations need to create space for people with these skills, because this isn’t always the case at the moment.. It’s also important to acknowledge the work that is already being done in this area.Bryden Wood’s digital configurator apps are deliberately aimed at lowering the barrier to entry, while Professor Glass notes that at UCL there’s a part of the faculty entirely composed of data scientists looking at the built environment.
There’s work for everybody to do on this, we just need to make a home for people in the sector.On a somewhat similar note, the industry also needs to start making better use of its existing data.We can’t expect to get into digital twins and smart assets, if we aren’t making the most of the data we already have access to.. Further exploration into the future of construction.
Professor Glass explains that as we turn our efforts towards shaping the future of construction, one of the areas we need to prioritise is our action on net zero and climate change.With construction currently contributing 39% to global carbon emissions, we simply aren’t moving fast enough and the issue needs to be brought forward.
She also says that while her team has really begun to understand the business model innovation that’s possible, they don’t yet understand how to take it forward.
Action research is needed to be able to study and do at the same time.At Bryden Wood, we’ve started an initiative called the Framework for Robotics and Automated Construction (F.R.A.C.).
The purpose is to examine how we begin to design for automation, as well as to determine what level of automation is appropriate on-site.We’ve also been exploring automation in construction at component level.
This is done via our work with Landsec and Easi Space at our Construction Platforms Research Centre in Ropley.This would include approaches like laser cutting components, and the use of autonomous reach stackers to place components.. As we move forward with automation in construction, we won’t need as many people on site.