Future Build 2025
I've just returned from an enlightening visit to Futurebuild, where the conversations were as innovative as the technologies on display. One thing that stood out was the emphasis on the future of the built environment—an area where Surveyr has the potential to be a real game-changer. The show was bustling with pioneering companies, each contributing to an insightful dialogue on how we can shape a smarter, more sustainable future for real estate and construction.
During my visit, I had the opportunity to engage with some inspiring firms that are pushing the boundaries of what's possible in this industry. The exchange of ideas was dynamic and underscored the importance of collaboration in driving forward digital transformation. Particularly memorable were the talks I attended in the knowledge programme, which offered a wealth of information and forward-thinking perspectives. Here are summaries of the talks I attended:
Making the Circular Economy a Reality: How Far Can We Go? Tina Paillet from CircoTrade emphasised the urgency of addressing the built environment's impact on carbon emissions, which accounts for approximately 40% of the total. Recycling processes, whilst essential, are energy-intensive, and currently, only 1% of materials are reused. However, the demand for reused materials is growing. Tina introduced the materials hierarchy, ranging from prevention to disposal, advocating for a shift towards more sustainable practices.
Embracing Immersive Tech in the Retrofit Industry. The session on immersive tech in retrofit education highlighted the current challenges faced by the industry. With outdated, text-heavy course structures and a focus on regulations over real-world applications, there's a need for nuanced learning. Immersive technology offers experiential learning, multi-sensory engagement, and scenario-based decision-making, providing a risk-free environment for learners. This approach can revolutionise retrofit education by enhancing knowledge retention and engagement.
Design to Digital Mastery: Unlocking Creative Potential in the Digital Age. Proicere Digital, an AI-driven consultancy, showcased their use of SYNCHRO for digital transformation and project controls. The session underscored common project issues like scope creep and poor planning. Proicere Digital's modern tools, including 4D planning, 5D costing, and 6D facilities management, offer real-time insights, predictive forecasting, and enhanced collaboration. AI-driven analytics enable early risk detection and resource optimisation, driving digital transformation and project delivery. This talk left me hopeful that Surveyr could one day be recognised as a digital disrupter in our field.
Digital Construction 101. Dan Rossiter from BSI Group delivered an insightful talk on digital construction and its transformative potential for the industry. He discussed the various stages of digital construction, from digitising analogue processes to full digital transformation. Examples included virtual meetings, laser scanning, digital twins, and AI-driven machine learning. The benefits are clear: improved consistency, material efficiency, and predictive maintenance. However, the challenge remains in training and upskilling people to embrace these technologies.
AI, Smart Tech, What Next. The 'AI, Smart Tech, What Next' discussion provided a fascinating glimpse into the future, highlighting the pivotal role that smart technologies and AI will play in our industry. Future Build truly was an inspiring experience, and I left with renewed enthusiasm for the path ahead.