Digital Construction Skills

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‘The Golden Thread’ – making sense of the language of digital information management in construction

If we’re to get to grips with the vision set out by construction leaders and governments for the construction industry, we need to make sense of the language commonly used in information management – and urgently, as evidenced by the latest policy paper from the Infrastructure and Projects Authority, Transforming Infrastructure Performance: Roadmap to 2030.

So, where do we start?

In this podcast, I spoke with George Harold, CEO of Integrated Facilities Solutions (IFS), to get an overview of some of the basic concepts and language used in the process of information management. Listen in to find out:

  • What we mean by the Common Data Environment – and what it’s used for.
  • What the BIM standards do and how they help asset owners and operators better manage their facilities.
  • How digital twin technology will be used by asset owners and operators in the future – and what this means for the supply chain.
  • Why understanding terms like ‘interoperability’ and ‘Applied Programme Interface (API)’ is important.
  • The difference between ‘digitisation’ and ‘digitalisation’ – and why we should never use the terms interchangeably.
  • How we begin to get rid of the boxes of O&M manuals at the end of a job!
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Overcoming AutoCAD’s shortcomings from the site engineer’s perspective

As most people know, AutoCAD is one of the most used digital tools in UK construction. AutoCAD was primarily designed as a tool for architects and designers, though – not for site engineers. One of the biggest limitations of AutoCAD from a site engineering perspective is that it’s not Digital Terrain Modelling software. It can’t work with 3D surfaces so it’s not the best tool for site engineers. However, AutoCAD is often the only tool they have to work with.

This is why Gail McEwan from our sister company, Setting Out For Construction, created a two-day CITB-Assured ‘AutoCAD for Site Engineers’ course designed to help site engineers get the most out of this digital tool.

In this short interview, Gail talks about:

  • Why she created the course and why there’s a need for it.
  • Why you won’t find any of this information on the AutoCAD ‘how to’ videos on YouTube.
  • How the course takes you from the basics – such as drawing shapes and lines – right through to the more advanced functions – such as importing data from Total Stations, GNSS and laser scanning equipment.
  • How you’ll be able to import different file formats – including the one file format many engineers struggle with!
  • How the course teaches you to present professional-looking information and shows you how to give your AutoCAD drawings the wow factor, to make you stand apart!
  • How you can use AutoCAD to geo-reference setting out when you have no co-ordinate system information available on site.
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Three top reasons why organisations fail to learn – and how to avoid failure if you’re a construction industry SME introducing new digital tools

A famous study carried out in 2005 by organisational behaviour experts Philippe Baumard and William H Starbuck identified five common barriers that prevent organisations from learning:

  1. Learning is inconvenient because it’s seen as conflicting with other priorities, typically productivity.
  2. Learning is good but it’s time consuming and expensive in terms of cost and effort.
  3. Learning is risky and is an admission of being weak or inadequate.
  4. Learning is a threat against a person’s or leader’s own position.
  5. Learning goes against the values of the person or the organisation.

If barriers 4 and/or 5 above exist in an organisation, it’s unlikely their leaders will be reading this blog post! So, let’s focus on how you can resolve the first three issues and avoid being left behind in the push to adopt new technologies.

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What makes a successful digital transformation?

Success stories from pioneers of digital construction, from Causeway Scotland Ireland Business Exchange’s ‘Digitising the construction sector’ series, sponsored by Invest Northern Ireland

Here’s your chance to hear from construction leaders who’ve been through the digital transformation process and can testify to the huge benefits it’s brought to their businesses. In this recorded webinar, you’ll:

  • Discover the lessons these leaders have learned
  • Find out what’s happened as a result of them embracing digital technology
  • Gain insights into the digital transformation process to inspire and help you on your own digital journey
  • Find out how you can be part of the the growing Causeway Scotland Ireland Business network.

To quote John Hunt, from Enterprise Ireland and chair of the discussion, “Technology is not going to solve all our problems but there is every chance we will solve our problems with technology.”

  • Listen to Mark McKeown, Business Development Manager of FK Lowry, explain why adding digital capabilities to their business has helped them win more work.
  • Hear from Patrick Buckley, Managing Director of EPS Water, about their 10-year digital journey, how they’ve transformed their construction manufacturing and business processes, and what this has meant as they continue to grow their business across Ireland and the UK.
  • Listen to Sean Dennison, Head of Industry Engagement & Tech Standards at GS1 Ireland, give an overview of the information management process using barcodes, 2D codes, QR codes and RFID codes – and discover what this means for contractors and clients and for the future of construction.

How much time do you have?

You can watch a recording of the whole event in around 68 minutes. Short on time? Jump to the guest speakers you are most interested in using the timings below.

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Is your business ready for digital construction?

A recording of a webinar from the Construction Scotland Innovation Centre and Digital Construction Skills

Maybe you’ve already started using digital tools in your construction business. Or perhaps you’re simply looking to find out more about them. In either case, watch this webinar recording to start the process of getting the maximum benefit from the tools you choose.

As guest speaker Gary Kelly from Leica says during the event, “We are not trying to teach you anything new; we are trying to help you do what you already know better.”

  • Pick up top tips from Simon Butler, from George Leslie, about the lessons they’ve learned on their digital journey over the past 12 months.
  • Find out about the support available to you on your own digital journey, including free-to-use digital assessment tools from the Supply Chain Sustainability School.
  • Discover how to assess whether your IT systems and IT department are ready to adopt digital tools.
  • Hear from Doug Hamilton of Concentris about why you need to take behavioural change into consideration when embedding digital change in an organisation.

How much time do you have?

You can watch the recording of the full event in 60 minutes. Short on time? Jump to the guest speakers you’re most interested in hearing, using the timings below.

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The benefits of job management software

An interview with Alex Mooney and Paul Kerr from simPRO

Job management (aka field services management) software is a digital solution that can help connect everything across a business from office to site.

In this podcast, Alexandra Mooney, Partnerships Manager, and Paul Kerr, Business Development Manager (Scotland), from simPRO help us demystify some of the common terminologies used and clearly describe:

  • Exactly what a job management solution can do for a business
  • How easy it is set up, and
  • The support available from simPRO to help you with the on boarding process.

simPRO is one of the leading providers of this service in the UK for the construction and trades sector and Alex and Paul work with many SME businesses on a daily basis. simPRO are what we would describe as a model of excellence in this field. Listen in as we cut through the white noise and get under the bonnet of this topic and show you what a top class job management software provider should look like.

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Why ‘getting better at firefighting’ isn’t the only way forward for construction SMEs

Lessons for the SME construction sector

In this podcast, we hear from John Lohan, founding partner of Integrated Project Delivery. IPD was formed in 2016 to offer client-sided consultancy for major infrastructure and construction projects. The IPD team have been involved with some of the most significant UK and international projects in recent times including Waterloo International Terminal, Heathrow Terminal 5, the Channel Tunnel Rail Link into St Pancras Station, the 2012 London Olympics, AP-LNG Queensland, Australia, and the MTRC Rail Project in Hong Kong. John argues, though, that any sized construction SME can adopt the IPD way of working and avoid just ‘getting better at firefighting.’

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Digital tool successes in the construction industry

Success stories from DTL project partners helping construction SME businesses adopt digital tools

In this podcast, three partners from the CITB-funded Digital Transformation through Leaders project describe how they are helping construction SME businesses successfully adopt digital tools.

Plus, find out how to get started with digital construction using a free CITB-funded eLearning module.

Taking part in the podcast…

  • Dr Scott McGibbon, a stonemason, leading consultant and researcher, describes a major renovation project of stone tenement buildings which involved using laser scanning equipment. Scott explains why collaboration between contractors, subject matter and tech experts was key to the project success.
  • Alan Penrose, Technical Support and Training at Sunbelt Rentals, explains how he worked with Tough Construction to implement machine control for their ground works activities and how this transformed one of their core activities on site.
  • Steve Claybrook from Leica Geosystems tells us an inspirational story about a dozer operator in his 60s, from Knights Construction Group, who quickly got to grips with machine control.
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An introduction to surveying mapping and modelling software

In this podcast, we discuss survey mapping and modelling software, also known as Digital Terrain Modelling or DTM software.

Find out…

  • Why, where and when we use this software on projects 
  • The key benefits to using this type of software for both the business and site engineering teams
  • Its relationship to Building Information Modelling (BIM) 
  • Why DTM software should not be confused with CAD
  • Why CAD is not the universal panacea for solving construction problems
  • Where you’ll get the best training and support 
  • Why the leading contractors and clients invest in this software and who’s involved in the decision-making process 
  • What the barriers are to a more widespread adoption of these software solutions within the wider construction industry 
  • The first thing you should do if you wish to invest in surveying mapping and modelling software!
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Reduce utility strikes by 35% per annum

In this podcast…

  • Hear how Barhale Construction brought digital tools such as the CAT usage monitoring app and data analytics into the core site activities of their business and why this has contributed to a staggering 35% reduction in utility strikes between 2019 and 2020.
  • Find out how the implementation of new ways of working was received by Barhale’s end users and what has become possible in terms of coaching and leadership on site.
  • Hear from Pete Ashcroft, recognised as one of the foremost authorities in the UK construction industry on underground service detection equipment and its use and capabilities. Pete tells us why the use of digital tools is having a transformative effect on how we coach, train and assess the competency of Genny and CAT operators.
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