Construction Magazine - December 2021

December 2021 | constructionglobal.com

Engineering: Mobile Apps Boost Field Management Efficiency

Measures for Decarbonising Construction

Digital training: Training in a Digital Age Technology: Robot ‘Worms’ Boost Project Accessibility

Artisan Design Group

EXTENDS

INTERIORS

REACH ACROSS

Artisan Design Group CIO Delano Gordon reflects on ‘urban flight’ in the United States and how physical and virtual solutions are providing a new competitive edge FEATURING:

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The Construction Team EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

DOMINIC ELLIS EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

SCOTT BIRCH

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GEORGIA ALLEN DANIELA KIANIČKOVÁ PRODUCTION MANAGERS

CREATIVE TEAM

OSCAR HATHAWAY SOPHIE-ANN PINNELL HECTOR PENROSE SAM HUBBARD MIMI GUNN JUSTIN SMITH REBEKAH BIRLESON DUKE WETHERILL JORDAN WOOD

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STACY NORMAN CEO

GLEN WHITE

FOREWORD

Delivering on lowcarbon construction PRODUCTS ARE COMING TO MARKET BUT THE CHALLENGES ARE SPEED AND SCALE

“As the net closes in on net zero targets, construction will need to find a way to come up with products, solutions and standards quickly, and at scale”

COP26 has focused world attention on the pressing need to stem carbon emissions and construction will continue to be under scrutiny long after the last delegate leaves Glasgow.

On the bright side, companies are starting to introduce low-carbon products and advocating environmental credentials. Links are being forged with other industries, such as energy and technology, in recognition of the need to work closer with partners.

But it’s only a start. The Systems Change Lab report shows that the built environment sector in the UK is ‘well off track’ meeting the target necessary to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2030.

As the net closes in on net zero targets, construction will need to find a way to come up with products, solutions and standards quickly, and at scale.

DOMINIC ELLIS CONSTRUCTION MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED BY

dominic.ellis@bizclikmedia.com

© 2021 | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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CONTENTS

Our Regular Upfront Section: 10 Big Picture 12 The Brief 14 Timeline:

Ferrovial 16 Trailblazer:

Matthew Higham 18 Five Minutes With:

John Frost

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Digital Training

Training in a Digital Age

24

42

Extends Interiors Reach Across USA

Shaping a Sustainable Skyline of the Future

Artisan Design Group

ProBuild

62

Engineering

Mobile Apps Boost Field Management Efficiency

70

LiUNA

Cloud Transition Drives LiUNA Affiliate and National Growth

84

Technology

Robot ‘Worms’ Boost Project Accessibility

106 Top 10

Measures for Decarbonising Construction

92

Sudlows

Growing with the Demand

118

BI Group

BI Group Rises to Medical Challenges in Central Asia

COMING SOON FO LLOW N OW

EDU C ATE • M OT IVAT E • E LE VAT E

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We recognise, celebrate and champion the achievements and contributions made by women in both business and society.

Our community offers practical and compelling career, financial and lifestyle resources to help women take their careers to the next level and achieve a work-life balance.

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FO LLOW N OW

BIG PICTURE The World’s Largest Top-Slewing Tower Crane Changde, China

The world's largest top-slewing tower crane, W12000-450, has rolled off the assembly line at the intelligent tower crane manufacturing base of Zoomlion Heavy Industry Science & Technology Co. in Changde, Hunan Province. Zoomlion especially designed and built the model for the world's largest road-rail cable-stayed bridge project, the Changzhou-Taizhou Yangtze River Bridge integrating an expressway, ordinary highway and intercity railway.

Image Credit: Zoomlion

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December 2021

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THE BRIEF “Structurally there are some serious challenges the industry faces in terms of the widespread adoption of technology” Marcus Bennett Head of Industry Analysis and Forecasting CITB READ MORE

“New data shows that there is still plenty of movement in the industry, and that will likely continue, with vacancies and redundancies both rising” Dominick Sandford, Managing Director IronmongeryDirect READ MORE

“Our inspired robots are a step towards creating soft, flexible robot systems capable of the infinite directions of movement” Professor Ravinder Dahiya,

University of Glasgow’s James Watt School of Engineering READ MORE

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December 2021

BY THE NUMBERS China’s high-rise building rules

632m China’s Shanghai

500m Currently there is a ban

Tower is the country’s tallest tower at 632 metres.

on buildings taller than 500 metres.

150m Cities with a population of less than three million people will be restricted from constructing buildings taller than 150 metres.

250m Cities over three million people will be banned from constructing buildings taller than 250 metres.

EDITOR'S CHOICE BUILDING INDUSTRY ‘WELL OFF TRACK’ WITH CARBON EFFICIENCY The Systems Change Lab report shows the UK built environment is ‘well off track’ with target to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2030.

READ MORE

OPEN ECX'S WEBCONTRACTOR PORTAL FUELS INDUSTRY GROWTH Open ECX's WebContractor portal helped contract over £2.6 billion worth of business this year and has been a major factor on the firm's growth.

READ MORE

MOST AMERICANS PRICED OUT OF NEW HOME MARKET New analysis from Knock, the digital home ownership platform, finds most American households are being priced out of the new home market.

READ MORE

 HOMESERVE HomeServe has bought CET Structures, a leading digital-first UK home emergency assistance business, for around £53 million. The acquisition sees the two companies serve almost five million UK customers and share resources, technology and expertise.

Construction needs clearer measurement in low-carbon future What’s the key message with measurement?

The construction sector must step up transparent measures and take responsibility of its own accord preparing for a low-carbon future.

Isn’t it doing that already?

Most of the focus is on new builds.

To reach net zero, both the industry and investors must focus on ‘whole life’ carbon construction.

What are the next steps?

Detailed stakeholder action plans will be sent to every subsector and professional organisation – it’s crucial to join the dots in such a fragmented industry.

How important will digital be in driving measurement standards?

Integral Digital technology not only provides the framework for progress to be made in terms of sustainability, but also safety and compliance.

 CAUSEWAY TECHNOLOGIES Construction technology provider Causeway Technologies has bought the building products information platform ‘SpecifiedBy’, for an undisclosed fee.

 NMCN BDO is under investigation by the UK accounting regulator over its audit of collapsed construction company NMCN, according to the Financial Times.

 KAPEX CONSTRUCTION Newcastle company Kapex Construction owes a total of £4.5m to creditors after entering administration, according to BusinessLive.

W A Y U P DEC 21

W A Y D O W N

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TIMELINE 1970

Ferrovial has been a major player in global construction over the last 60 years. It ended 2020 with a net cash position ex-projects of €1,991 million compared with €1,631 million the previous year.

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Towards the end of the 1970s, during the recession caused by the oil crisis, Ferrovial decided to explore opportunities in other countries, concentrating on Libya, Mexico, Brazil and Paraguay.

1950

1960

On December 18th 1952, Rafael del Pino y Moreno founded Ferrovial in an attic in central Madrid.

At the beginning of the decade, it had over 500 employees, focusing on constructing waterworks, roads and buildings, and also moved into the toll road concession business.

December 2021

1980

1990

2000

During the 1980s it acquired Cadagua, a company specialising in designing, building, and operating drinking water and sewage treatment plants.

In 1992, Rafael del Pino Calvo-Sotelo was appointed CEO. With the acquisition of Agroman, now Ferrovial Construction. It has since positioned itself as one of Spain's largest construction companies.

In the 2000s, it made important acquisitions including the Polish construction company Budimex, the services companies of Amey in the UK and Cespa in Spain, and the airport operator BAA, currently known as Heathrow Airport Holding.

2021

20152018

Ferrovial has embarked on a new course to transform it into a more agile, profitable and better positioned organisation to face global challenges, such as climate change and urban congestion, and a pioneer of smarter and sustainable mobility that can offer solutions to society.

Work continues to accelerate globally, from Virginia to Texas, and Chile to Australia. It also undertook the works of Thames Tideway Tunnel in London and the Bratislava beltway.

20102014 In the UK it acquired the airports of Aberdeen, Glasgow and Southampton, and took on the T2 projects of Heathrow, Crossrail, Northern Line and M8. In addition, it was awarded the Pacific Highway in Australia, ITER in France, the Turow plant in Poland, the Condor plant in Chile, the Al Ghubrah desalination plant in Oman, and rail connection with Barcelona’s airport.

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TRAILBLAZER

Higham leaves Microsoft to spearhead Costain’s digital drive Name: Matthew Higham Job Title: Chief Digital Officer

C

ostain, the smart infrastructure solutions company, has appointed Matthew Higham as Chief Digital Officer and a member of its Executive board.

He will start on December 1 and work closely with the leadership team to further embed the use of digital technologies as part of meeting clients’ changing infrastructure needs.

Higham joins from Microsoft, where he was Chief Digital Officer for the UK and led digital business transformation, advising Microsoft’s customers on adapting their

“ His experience will enable us to accelerate the integration of digital technology in every solution we deliver to our clients” ALEX VAUGHAN

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, COSTAIN

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December 2021

business models to maximise the benefit of digital technology across multiple industries, including infrastructure.

His career in technology spans engineering, architecture, disruption and innovation, and working across numerous industries including critical national infrastructure, financial services, government, airspace and Formula 1. Matthew is also passionate about inclusion and sustainability. He was the sustainability lead for Microsoft UK. Alex Vaughan, Chief Executive Officer at Costain, was delighted to welcome Higham to its team.

“He brings an impressive track record and his experience will enable us to accelerate the integration of digital technology in every solution we deliver to our clients, helping to maximise the productivity and efficiency of our nation’s infrastructure.”

Higham said harnessing the power of technology to drive the shift needed in business operations for sustainable economic growth, while empowering people to tackle some of the challenges ahead of us, is the key to future success.

“I’m looking forward to ensuring that digital is at the forefront of Costain’s service offering to our customers.”

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FIVE MINUTES WITH...

JOHN FROST PROPELLER AERO AIMS TO PROVIDE ACCURATE INSIGHTS FROM SURVEY DATA TO HELP CONSTRUCTION PROFESSIONALS MAKE BETTER DECISIONS

We caught up with John Frost, Vice President of Business Development at Propeller, to chat about how the company is modernising surveying with drone visualisation across multiple industries.

Q. FIRSTLY, CAN YOU TELL US A BIT MORE ABOUT PROPELLER AERO AND WHAT THE COMPANY DOES?

» Propeller Aero was founded in

2014 to help bring innovation to an industry hungry for advancement.

Propeller pairs the best in drone data collection software and hardware to create a reliable, fully integrated solution for surveying a worksite without the hassle and risk of traditional workflows.

Q. HOW MANY CUSTOMERS IS PROPELLER WORKING WITH AND ARE THEY MAINLY BASED IN THE US OR OVERSEAS?

» Propeller works with more

than 3,700 companies in heavy civil construction and resource operations across more than 20,000 worksites. In addition to our US customer base, we work with clients from over 100 countries.

Q. WHAT ARE THE KEY ISSUES AND AREAS WHERE CLIENTS WANT DRONE OPERATIONS?

» Clients look to Propeller’s drone

mapping software for frequent and accurate survey-grade visualisation of worksites, more in-depth modelling and progress tracking of projects from bid to completion, and more efficient resource allocation. We work 18

December 2021

“ OPERATORS NO LONGER HAVE TO SEND MULTIPLE EMPLOYEES OUT IN THE FIELD” across aggregates, civil/heavy construction, mining, and waste management – industries in which it is critical to regularly measure material and resource movements.

Q. WHAT DIFFERENTIATES PROPELLER FROM OTHER SURVEYING METHODS OR EVEN OTHER DRONE VISUALISATION COMPANIES?

» Unlike traditional surveying methods,

which can be expensive and time consuming, Propeller offers a turnkey, 3D drone mapping and data analytics solution that provides frequent, high-accuracy site surveys to keep jobs on track and on budget. Propeller’s end-to-end software platform uses drones to simplify collection, photogrammetry to streamline cloud-based

data processing, and 3D maps to manage progress across project lifecycles. Operators no longer have to send multiple employees out in the field to physically collect surveys.

Instead, they can quickly take a drone flight and upload the drone survey and positional data to the Propeller Platform for processing and verification by a team of GIS experts.

Within hours, they’ll get a topographical map of their site with tens of thousands more data points than with traditional methods.

They can then quickly turn these realworld measurements into digital twins and layer surveys of their job sites. Propeller distinguishes itself by providing the easiest end-to-end post processing kinematic (PPK) workflow available, shortening the path from data collection to a complete data set. In constructionglobal.com

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FIVE MINUTES WITH...

addition, our platform allows for unlimited users to access site surveys from anywhere, without the need to download software.

Our global, best-in-class customer support ensures clients have access to expertise and training that guides them along their path to self-reliance. Propeller also helps increase profitability with advanced progress tracking, remote collaboration, data centralisation, and add-ons that make it easy to share worksite progress across the entire organisation.

Q. IS THERE ANY DATA ON COST SAVINGS OF DRONE OPERATIONS VERSUS A NORMAL WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT?

» While total cost savings vary depending on the worksite, drone surveying operations can save site managers money and resources by eliminating the need for time-consuming and less detailed human-conducted topographical surveys. Instead of walking a worksite to collect data, and only being able to do so every 3-6 months, operators can now conduct frequent flyovers with a drone, generating consistent survey data that is accurate to 1/10 of a foot (3cm).

These surveys also allow operators to more precisely determine cut/fill volumes and stockpile quantities, saving money by providing more accurate accounts of materials and resources. Propeller also boasts a team of geodetic experts that provide vetted datasets within 24 hours.

This enhanced verification not only gives operators the most accurate overview of their worksite’s current state but saves them time and money by taking the burden of quality assurance off their hands.

Q. IS DRONE SURVEYING TECHNOLOGY COMING DOWN IN COST? AT WHAT POINT DO YOU THINK IT WILL BE WIDELY ADOPTED BY CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES?

» We are at a tipping point in the

construction industry, consequently shortages mean more operators are looking to integrate tech tools to bridge the talent gap and stay within budget. As a result, many owners and operators are using tech tools like Propeller to streamline processes onsite, attract and retain skilled workers, and boost precision across remote teams.

As drone surveying technology becomes 20

December 2021

more widely adopted in the construction industry, it is becoming more accessible to small and mid-sized companies looking to integrate advanced tools into their workflows.

We already work with many small, familyrun construction firms, and are speaking with more people every day who are looking to use technology to advance their capabilities.

While a drone surveying solution is still an investment, the amount of time and money it saves means it quickly pays for itself, and solutions like Propeller are making highly accurate drone surveys affordable. Demand for civil engineering and construction projects will only increase, and as those projects become even more complex, construction companies will embrace technology like Propeller to continue to meet high standards of quality and efficiency. Because of its versatility and ease of integration, I believe drone surveying technology will become quite commonplace over the next few years.

Q. WHAT DO YOU THINK THE FUTURE OF DRONE SURVEYING WILL LOOK LIKE, AND HOW IS PROPELLER MAKING IT A REALITY?

» Not only will the turnaround time

and accuracy of drone surveys continue to improve, but the insights they are able to provide will also expand to help operators make better predictions and more informed decisions about their projects. Right now, Propeller can turn aerial images of a worksite into a 3D model with actionable insights through photogrammetry. This process gives operators the ability to pinpoint safety hazards, compare completed work against design documents, and measure stockpile quantities. Going forward, Propeller will be able to provide even more in-depth insights, and help operators more seamlessly communicate this information across their teams. constructionglobal.com

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EXTENDS INTERIORS REACH ACROSS USA WRITTEN BY: DOMINIC ELLIS PRODUCED BY: BEN WIGGER

24

December 2021

ARTISAN DESIGN GROUP

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ARTISAN DESIGN GROUP

Artisan Design Group CIO Delano Gordon reflects on ‘urban flight’ in the United States and how physical and virtual solutions are providing a new competitive edge

A

rtisan Design Group (ADG) prides itself on providing homeowners with a superlative finished product – but its story has been one of ongoing change and development.

From a flooring solutions provider serving the single-family and multi-family sector in 10 locations five years ago, it has grown into a national technology-enabled company with diverse geographic and sector coverage across 145 locations and 25 states.

The interior finishing company, which employs 3,100 staff, provides flooring, counter tops and cabinets, serves predominantly new construction singlefamily homes, multi-family apartment complexes and replacement segments. It deals with commercial spaces too, fitting out spaces for airports, hospitals, gymnasiums, and the hospitality sector, which is a smaller but growing part of the business.

Chief Information Officer Delano Gordon designs and executes the strategic direction for the $1 billion company – which involves dealing with 22 companies, or ‘entrepreneurs’ as he calls them, within the nationwide ADG portfolio.

“Well over two-thirds of our business is single family,” he says. “We are starting to see a new trend in single-family homes for rent. I think it’s the beginning of a permanent trend as home ownership in some areas is a challenge.”

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December 2021

“We’re seeing significant ‘urban flight’ with younger millennials moving out to the suburbs, and a lot of demand for single household homes” DELANO GORDON

CIO, ARTISAN DESIGN GROUP constructionglobal.com

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ARTISAN DESIGN GROUP

Artisan Design Group extends interiors reach across USA

A critical link in the – we simply support “From a project homebuilding process, them in their endeavors management ADG differentiates itself to grow their businesses. perspective, COVID has at critical phases of the Our light-touch process, from interior approach centralises shifted everything. We design selection and key functions like HR have a backlog of work procurement/fulfillment and IT and introduces that can’t be addressed to interior installation and new technologies – Quality Control. as quickly as we’d like to” typically those things “Our diversity is one of are challenges for small our strengths,” he said. companies to manage.”

DELANO GORDON “The 22 organisations He describes the CIO, ARTISAN DESIGN GROUP have been pillars in their market as ‘very hot’, local communities for fueled not only by several decades, they’re led by seasoned COVID-related dynamics but industry buzz professionals and industry veterans. surrounding the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill.

“Our entire go-to-market strategy, unlike “We’re seeing significant ‘urban flight’ many competitors, is to allow them to remain with younger millennials moving out to as they are – they maintain their own branding the suburbs, and a lot of demand for single 28

December 2021

ARTISAN DESIGN GROUP

DELANO GORDON TITLE: CIO INDUSTRY: CONSTRUCTION LOCATION: TEXAS, UNITED STATES Delano has spent over 30 years managing, developing, and mentoring IT organisations to efficiency leveraging known industry best practices.

Prior to joining ADG, he was a lead executive consultant to national drywall distributor L&W Supply in Chicago and Wisconsin based roofing distributor ABC Supply on digitally transformative initiatives. He previously served as CIO of Roofing Supply Group and XL Parts with prior stints at former global mobile phone distributor CellStar, telecommunications giant GTE (Verizon), and professional services firm PwC. He holds an MBA, Masters degree in Network Security/Information Assurance, a Bachelors of Science in Information Systems and various certifications from IBM , Microsoft, ITIL, and Six Sigma.

EXECUTIVE BIO

household homes,” he said. “The flight from urban to suburbs will continue to rural areas, as broadband availability improves, and people continue to work remotely. That will spur more homes and provide an opportunity to see an uptick in our business.”

He acknowledges the pandemic has put a strain on its supply chain, however.

“The market is settling back down but it’s impacted price, availability, and affordability.

From a project management perspective, COVID has shifted everything. We have a backlog of work that can’t be addressed as quickly as we’d like to.”

He highlights TPx, which operates a wide portfolio of infrastructure services as a key partner for the last three years.

“We’re using them specifically for Infrastructure-as-a-Service and looking to expand our WAN and private cloud architecture. The 22 ERPs we have in place are difficult to manage and don’t allow for a scaling ecosystem. We have initiatives underway to collapse that into a single ERP platform for the entire organisation. We’re still going through that process work.”

Originally, TPx formed a relationship with one of ADG’s companies in Houston, and it has expanded the relationship to encompass the whole portfolio. “It’s that ability to scale effectively which has helped us transition to TPx – they have capable resources able to respond as business dynamics require.”

He added it is replacing an existing provider, after experiencing service disruptions and poor user experiences, and looking to modernise the organisation by transitioning away from some legacy equipment into a new state-of-the-art environment, which will be hosted by TPx. ADG does not mandate but encourages a hybrid work environment where it makes sense. It is taking a similar physical-and-virtual approach to business.

ARTISAN DESIGN GROUP

• Installed Interior Products Leader • Customer-Centric Sales Model • Centralized Platform • Attractive growth trajectory • Massive M&A opportunity • Exceptional leadership team

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December 2021

ARTISAN DESIGN GROUP

“The 22 ERPs we have in place are difficult to manage and don’t allow for a scaling ecosystem. We have initiatives underway to collapse that into a single ERP platform for the entire organisation” DELANO GORDON

CIO, ARTISAN DESIGN GROUP

While it has physical design centres in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Austin, it is embracing an online presence too.

Its Design Central virtual design centre portal enables customers to visualise interior finishes at home ahead of an in-person appointment; allowing customers to browse product offerings and compare costs on their own time.

The valuable insight provided by the portal allows designers to efficiently serve more customers per day and customise product offerings more effectively, creating combined time savings, increasing throughput and highermargin mix, driving growth and profitability.

“We’re trying to alleviate some of the pressure, so customers can gain a perspective of all the details – the flooring, cabinets, colors, so they can visualise what their space will look like and place favorite combinations in their carts, so when they meet our design consultant, it shortens the appointment. By then, you’re just concentrating on preferred products and consultants can coach through those selections.”

Another innovation allows homeowners to put on VR Goggles in the centres, immersing them in that space where they can apply or constructionglobal.com

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ARTISAN DESIGN GROUP

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December 2021

ARTISAN DESIGN GROUP

“I expect the trend will continue. I liken it to purchasing a car online for the first time - and we’ll see it more with homes and greater adoption following the pandemic with more people working remotely” DELANO GORDON

CIO, ARTISAN DESIGN GROUP

change details. Depending how the market responds, we’ll see how to branch out to other locations.

“We’re seeing males are keen to put them on more, not so many women. Millennials and younger consumers are also more apt to try such things,” he said.

“I expect the trend will continue. I liken it to purchasing a car online for the first time – and we’ll see it more with homes gaining greater adoption following the pandemic with more people working remotely.”

With environmental sustainability rising in importance, Gordon said it will explore more ways it can boost efficiencies.

“While we don’t maintain a large fleet of vehicles, we have considered, aside from reducing the need to travel to design centres, looking at regionalising distribution and warehousing between locations so we can better leverage shared spaces” he said.

“We have a lot of wide-open space in Texas. By improving road and rail there will be greater mobility and accessibility. There is now a working group looking at the feasibility of high-speed rail in the state.”

constructionglobal.com

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TRAINING IN

A DIGITAL AGE

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December 2021

DIGITAL TRAINING

As the construction industry becomes ever more technology focused, how are firms preparing for the demands of the new digitally oriented era?

WRITTEN BY: DOMINIC ELLIS

I

t’s not the easiest time to be working in industry. Across the board, training manuals are being rewritten as new technologies continue their inexorable march.

New tech needs money and time, both in short supply in today’s supplystrained period. The conundrum is that while demand for new tech grows, so do widespread skills shortages.

Moreover, construction remains blighted by the regrettable tag-line of being ‘one of world’s least digitised industries’. But there is a tangible sense that digital construction is now imperative if firms are to address systemic inefficiencies and build productively, and sustainably, in future.

Research four years ago from the McKinsey Global Institute found digital transformation can result in productivity gains of 14-15% and cost reductions of 4-6%. COVID, combined with the focus on sustainability, has since turbo-charged digital’s growth.

Reinventing construction through a productivity revolution | McKinsey CITB offers skills and training funds for small and medium-sized businesses and a wide range of e-courses and qualifications, constructionglobal.com

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DIGITAL TRAINING

“ Structurally there are some serious challenges the industry faces in terms of the widespread adoption of technology” MARCUS BENNETT

HEAD OF INDUSTRY ANALYSIS AND FORECASTING, CITB

including dedicated digital construction support. Tim Balcon, a former apprentice with a strong track record in skills, training and organisational development, came on board as CEO in September, replacing Sarah Beale.

Unsurprisingly, CITB has seen significant increases in demand for e-learning courses during the last 18 months. “The COVID19 course is free to access, so naturally It’s been the most popular in terms of course completions,” said an CITB spokesperson,

adding that since it launched in October 2020, over 23,000 candidates have completed it.

“The HSA eCourse is also popular as this course is used as an alternative to attending the equivalent classroom version of the course. The course achievement (or equivalent) is required to support applications for the CSCS labourers’ card (Green Card). This course launched in June 2020 and has saved the industry substantial amounts of time and money through offering the course digitally versus traditional face-to-face training.”

It is testament to the breadth of training challenges facing the industry that I feel my one-hour call with Marcus Bennett, Head of Industry Analysis and Forecasting at CITB, barely scratches the surface. constructionglobal.com

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We skate across attitudinal and cultural issues, industry modernisation, leadership and sustainability – and not forgetting the key issue of what technologies firms should focus on in an unendingly transformative, post-COVID world.

Digital breaks down barriers but in the construction industry, with its widespread fragmentation, it may have met its match; 40% of workers are selfemployed and 95% employ 10 people or less, illustrating the challenges of ensuring digital standards across the construction 38

December 2021

supply chain. Barely 1% employ more than 250 staff.

“Structurally there are some serious challenges the industry faces in terms of the widespread adoption of technology,” said Bennett. “Every day there are millions of transactions, often in sequence, and all those interactions have a potential to create inefficiency.”

He believes the growth in mobile communication, and integration of processes, can lead to efficiency gains.

“That’s where there is huge potential but

DIGITAL TRAINING

“ Digital Twins are a phenomenal prospect but these things tend to be at the high end” MARCUS BENNETT

HEAD OF INDUSTRY ANALYSIS AND FORECASTING, CITB

very big civil engineers and architects. For most of the construction, it’s a series of interrelated activities.”

Construction can learn from some of the process improvements in advanced manufacturing, he adds. “If you can save wasted time and materials, they all have the potential to deliver significant savings.”

CITB is putting in place training as proof of concept, such as with the Gloucestershire Construction Training Group, a nonprofit membership organisation funded by the CITB. CITB is also forging partnerships with bodies such as The Centre for Digital Built Britain (CDBB) and Construction Leadership Council (CLC) and part funds the Supply Chain Sustainability School. it’s slow to adopt as you need everyone to be using the same systems.

“There's a lot of anticipation of things changing – but in reality, they’re changing slowly. There will be activities that can be automated. If we can fly autonomous planes it’s not inconceivable that tower crane operatives can be operated remotely.

“Digital Twins are a phenomenal prospect but these things tend to be at the high end – a replacement for an expensive tool, for example, or the preserve of the

CITB e-learning courses CITB offers three e-learning courses: • COVID-19 setting up and operating a safe construction site • Site management environmental training scheme (SMETS) • Health and safety awareness (HSA) constructionglobal.com

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DIGITAL TRAINING

Focus on operations then digital E&C companies can increase the likelihood that digital technologies will make a positive difference by first identifying operational changes that will improve performance, then defining digital use cases that will enable those operational changes, it adds.

“E&C companies with internal design functions should equip themselves with new technical skills – for example, by hiring developers to build standard libraries of design elements and automate certain parts of the design process,” the report continues.

“They should also start to adopt digital ways of working, shifting from a traditional, linear design process to a more agile approach that consists of faster iteration in short test-and-refine loops. Such a change requires that designers adopt a new mindset, using their experience to validate model results and to look for opportunities for

News in brief • NIIT has acquired a majority stake in RPS Consulting Private, which provides learning solutions on emerging digital technologies for experienced technology professionals working in over 260 global companies.

• Causeway Ireland Scotland Business Exchange recently hosted a series of workshops to support businesses in the construction sector on their digital journeys.

Digitising the Construction Sector: Collaborating in Digital Construction (causewayexchange.net)

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standardisation and repetition.” Bennett said firms’ willingness to invest in digitalisation have “very often” been dented by bad experiences. “They’ve not always seen the value – and this is where it comes down to leadership and making the right procurement decisions.”

The good news is that advanced technologies are unlocking a host of approaches that can accelerate, support and improve the effectiveness of capabilitybuilding efforts “and much of this training can be delivered in short, sharp bursts,” states McKinsey.

Competing dynamics: rising vacancies and unemployment Dominick Sandford, Managing Director, at Ironmongery Direct, said it is continuing

to see the number of available UK jobs rising as the sector and economy as a whole recovers from the pandemic. The latest data shows that there were 43,000 construction job vacancies between July and September, by far the highest it’s ever been, and the first time it’s ever risen to over 40,000.

“This is a huge increase of 7,000 vacancies from June to August, which, at the time, was another record for the industry, showing a definite trend.

“These large increases in vacancies suggest that the industry is confident about the sector’s future and is investing in manpower to tackle upcoming projects.

However, with the number of jobs available continuing to increase, it appears that some companies are struggling to find staff to hire.

“Unfortunately, the sector also saw unemployment numbers rise by 9,000 to 62,000, the highest figure since December to February (70,000) earlier this year.”

This corresponds with a large increase in redundancies over the same timeframe, rising from 5,000 between May-July, to 9,000. This is the first time that redundancies have risen since FebruaryApril this year.

“This new data shows that there is still plenty of movement in the industry, and that will likely continue, with vacancies and redundancies both rising.

While unemployment remains high in construction, the sizable increase in new jobs provides hope for the future that this figure will fall once again, as long as companies are able to attract new staff. constructionglobal.com

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Probuild

SHAPING A SUSTAINABLE SKYLINE OF THE FUTURE WRITTEN BY: JANET BRICE

PRODUCED BY: BEN WIGGER

constructionglobal.com

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Probuild

Reflections of the past and present can be seen in the glass-clad constructions of Probuild as they create a legacy across the Melbourne skyline

Y

ou could say stepping on his first nail on site at the age of four while accompanying his father, a commercial builder, shaped the future of Alexei Simm who is now a Project Director of Probuild Constructions in Melbourne.

It is with a sense of pride Simm talks to Construction Magazine about how he is helping to redefine the skyline of the southern Australian city he grew up in, and how this is being done with a focus on creating a sustainable future for his children.

Speaking from his home office, which he naturally built, Simm outlines his visionary role with Probuild, one of Australia’s largest construction companies with a national pipeline of projects worth AUD$5 billion and an annual turnover of more than AUD$2.0 billion.

As a Tier-one contractor Probuild has worked on landmark buildings which include Aurora Melbourne Central, The Towers and Ritz Carlton at Elizabeth Quay in Perth, MLC Centre in Sydney and The Greenland Centre in Sydney.

Founded in 1987 by entrepreneurs who’ve never let go of their family roots, they were determined to be recognised as the go-to ‘professional builders’ in the country.

Today, they employ 850 people and have delivered projects across residential, BuildTo-Rent, commercial office, education, retail, pharmaceutical and health and built more than 1 million square metres of retail construction across the country.

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Alexei Simm, Project Director

Example of an image caption constructionglobal.com

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BUILDING A BETTER FUTURE TOGETHER

Partnering with the professional construction industry At Hilti we take pride in building open, trusted and successful relationships with our customers to bring innovative solutions to the market. Our products, software and engineering services are designed to offer end-to-end solutions – from design to installation to building management.

One recent example of how we achieve this, is the construction of the Aurora Melbourne Central project with Probuild, where our engineering services, software and hardware solutions were utilised to build the façade of this iconic building.

Finding a cost effective and safe solution for a unique façade Aurora Melbourne Central’s unique façade featuring large panels, openings and different shapes increased the difficulty of the engineering required to ensure a safe solution was implemented to connect the curtain wall to the building.

During the early stages of the project design, we worked in conjunction with Probuild and BG&E’s teams to design an anchoring solution that would allow the façade to be attached to the structure of the building safely allowing the unique architectural shapes and design. The result was a cost effective, deemto-satisfy solution compliant with the NCC using a wide range of cast-in channels used in different areas of the building.

Special solutions for a special project While standard cast-in anchor channels were used in the typical areas of the building, the unique shape of the building created numerous non-standard areas which required custom hardware to ensure the safety of the application, while avoiding modifications of the slab or the reinforcement needed.

The solution developed was a one of a kind fastening solution called HAC-edge, which allowed unmatched load-bearing capacities while significantly reducing the stress on the

slabs, thus having a true value-engineered solution for the project. This solution was also thought in a way to be easily implemented onsite and being compatible with the other standard products used onsite.

Bridging the gap from design to construction While significant productivity gains were possible thanks to upfront design and optimisation of the engineering, time and budget overruns during construction were also critical. This was especially the case for a constrution project as large as Aurora Melbourne Central.

One way that we achieved this was through the universal compatibility of the fasteners used to connect the panels to the cast-in channels. By doing so, the coordination needed from the installation teams onsite were significantly simplified and eliminated the possibility of errors by using incompatible fasteners.

This case-study illustrates some of the ways Hilti partners with construction professionals to build more safely, efficiently and efficiently.

If you would like to know more about the detailed solutions used in Aurora Melbourne Central project or other solutions where Hilti could help you, visit our website:

Click here

›

Probuild

Shaping a sustainable skyline of the future

“I am a big believer that building for the long-term is a professional endeavour, not just anyone can do it” commented Simm.

New gold rush of buildings for Melbourne Simm is keen to focus on the developments re-shaping the Melbourne skyline which comes on the back of a new government planning policy that limits many more skyscrapers being built in the former gold rush city for a while at least.

“This means Probuild will have built a number of the tallest buildings in the CBD,” said Simm who, as all Melburnians, has endured six lockdowns and more than 267 days under restrictions during the pandemic but has still managed to keep building with his dedicated team.

However, this focus on living and working from home is forcing the five million Melburnians to view real estate with new eyes as they plan a sustainable future of hybrid working - but unlike other cities many are keen to stay in the city.

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“There is not such an emphasis to move into the suburbs, but development activity is changing as we capitalise on opportunities to turn Melbourne into a 20-minute city to live in, work in and shop, with easy access to public transit, universities and more” said Simm who points out the shimmering UNO Melbourne residential tower is the new landmark on the city skyline.

Probuild restored the existing heritage façade of UNO Melbourne which will provide 630 homes in the sky along with a twolevel basement back to ground level to the building. The development will create community focused amenities including a café, community childcare centre and mixed-use retail spaces on levels 1 and 2.

Current projects Probuild is working on include: Victoria University City Tower Probuild’s first vertical campus - and Australia’s tallest vertical education campus

Probuild

ALEXEI SIMM TITLE: PROJECT DIRECTOR INDUSTRY: CONSTRUCTION LOCATION: MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA Alexei Simm, Project Director of Probuild Constructions grew up in a building-family. He has 25 years experience and is passionate about leading teams on building projects to think through challenges, build as planned and execute in a professional way.

“I still get excited unpacking a construction-sequence, explaining a plan, or solving a building challenge especially when there's a whiteboard in play,” said Simm.

“The buildings I help create are a symbol of my work, but I hope for my legacy to be the relationships I build in the industry, and the impact that I have on those I work with.”

Simm has a Masters Degree in Building from the University of Melbourne.

LG MULTI V Water IV Water source cooling system for high efficiency, economical operation. The compact, lightweight outdoor unit allows for flexible install in high rise buildings, residential apartments, large scale offices and commercial buildings using a closed loop water system.

LG Electronics: Proven HVAC contractor in Australia LG Electronics partners with Probuild to provide sophisticated air-conditioning systems and technology solutions which are ahead of the curve

Central in which LG Electronics were ahead of the curve with their leading-edge technology and were able to deliver one storey every seven days during the two year project.

LG Electronics is one of the leaders in technology curve and has a solution for everything from heating, cooling to hot water - or a combination of all three,” according to Andrew Barron, Director of Air Conditioning Solutions in Australia.

“When we worked on Aurora we had WiFi embedded on all the indoor units in the building.

At that time no other manufacturer was offering that as a standard solution. Four years later and some manufacturers still don’t manage that technology - which shows we are providing leading-edge technology,” said Barron.

Barron says consumers are savvier today when it comes to air-conditioning and highlights how LG Electronics has worked with proven Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) contractors on seven Probuild Constructions on projects in Sydney and Melbourne.

“We have proved by working successfully on Probuild projects that there are more than two well-known brands of air-conditioning in Australia today and that developers, consultants, and contractors should be considering LG Electronics as a highly regarded alternative,” said Barron.

One of the most iconic buildings LG partnered with Probuild was on the 92-storey Aurora Melbourne

LG Electronics has 74,000+ global employees and US$56bn turnover and 128 subsidiaries around the world. “The air-con division is part of home appliances, which is responsible for about US$26bn of which the air solutions part of that is US$6bn making LG one of the largest manufacturers of air conditioning in the world,” said Barron.

“LG Electronics is a quality, global brand. We adapt quickly, use leading-edge technology and innovate to stay ahead of the curve,” he said.

Learn more

Enquire to buy

Probuild

at 29 levels - demonstrates how a new building can seamlessly integrate with pre-existing heritage. This project will provide Victoria University with a means of expanding their CBD presence to deliver industry best learning spaces.

Elizabeth North Stages 1 and 2, with CSL headquarters Innovative, mixed-use project for Melbourne’s education and biomedical precincts. Stage 1 is an eight-storey commercial building (plus two basement levels) featuring a combination of heritagelisted and contemporary architecture. This stage will become an innovative vertical campus for Trinity College and will also be the home of Toyota’s new flagship Melbourne City dealership.

Stage 2 was initially conceived as a conventional high-end commercial office development, until a lease pre-commitment was secured with CSL, the leading global biotech company. A bespoke design comprising corporate and administration areas, as well as pharmaceutical research and development laboratories, clean-rooms, certified physical containment spaces, and small-batch production facilities has been added to Probuild’s scope as an integrated fitout, transforming this build into one of Melbourne’s most highly complex and serviced buildings. When complete, more than 58,000m2 of gross floor area will be provided across 23 storeys, including three basements.

Caulfield Village Precinct 2 North Melbourne’s premier Build-to-rent (BTR) project has eight buildings and combines a total of 437 apartments.

This BTR development will feature high quality and expansive residential amenities 52

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including outdoor area decking and barbecue, pool, spa, sauna and a children's playground.

High-tech glass “We are known here in Melbourne to have four seasons in one day so it's a challenging environment to build in,” commented Simm. “It’s become fashionable to develop residential buildings with curtain walls, as opposed to balcony configurations, so it is important the glass facades need to perform.

It needs to keep the heat out during summer and the heat in during winter.

“There's a lot of very high-tech glass coatings and technologies being employed and adopted on our buildings. We have been working closely with Taiwan Glass Group, especially on Aurora Melbourne Central, which is the largest building in the CBD,” said Simm.

“I AM A BIG BELIEVER THAT BUILDING FOR THE LONG-TERM IS A PROFESSIONAL ENDEAVOUR” ALEXEI SIMM

Project Director, Probuild Constructions

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Probuild

DID YOU KNOW...

HOW THE HODDLE GRID SHAPED MELBOURNE AND CBDS AROUND THE WORLD When surveyor Robert Hoddle laid out the Hoddle Grid in 1837, he designed what would become Melbourne's signature: wide boulevards, alternating streets and smaller lanes, all laid out in a northsouth grid across 1.61 km × 0.80 km.

The Hoddle grid forms the central business district of Australia’s southern city stretching from Flinders Street to La Trobe north-south, and from Spencer Street to Spring east-west, inclusive.

Robert Hoddle, established the first formal town plan for the city when there were just a few hundred settlers there are now five million who navigate these streets by tram or car every day.

Today, The Hoddle Grid is known worldwide for construction terms for the central grid of streets that make up the central business district of a city and defines the buildings that lie along them.

Melbourne’s architectural history is quite rich. “There's this preservation of the old - although modern Australia is not an old country – and a contrast with the new; in a way it's almost as if the new has to try harder.

Some of the jobs we've done have used glass which is warm browns, hot pinks and bright greens. Aurora is made up of five different shades of magenta,” said Simm, who confessed he was a traditionalist and likes to work with blue glass on his skyscrapers.

“THE BUILDINGS THAT PROBUILD SHAPES AND BUILDS WILL HAVE A LONG LEGACY. WE ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT RECYCLING AND WASTE MINIMISATION IN ALL THEIR OPERATIONS AND ALL BUILDINGS ARE NOW BEING BUILT TO PERFORM BETTER” ALEXEI SIMM

PROJECT DIRECTOR, PROBUILD CONSTRUCTIONS

A move away from balconies is changing the focus of air-conditioning technologies.

“As apartment buildings have become taller, balconies have become less usable due to windy conditions. If you have no balconies, you've got nowhere to put the outdoor part of your air conditioning unit. There's been a big shift towards a hybrid of part-centralised and part-localised air conditioning systems.

Variable refrigerant volume cassette systems have become quite prominent in the residential high-rise market, as a result.”

Digital twins and 3D modelling As design and construct builders, Probuild extensively uses 3D modelling which has evolved into digital twins. Simm pointed out the benefits of this new way of envisioning the process to efficiently deliver a higher level of quality in the final build. They constructionglobal.com

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Probuild

THE FOUNDATIONS OF SUCCESS - STRONG PARTNERSHIPS Hilti Hilti designs and manufactures leading-edge technology, software and services, which power the professional construction industry including Probuild. The company, which is based in more than 120 countries and has more than 30,000 employees, has supported awe-inspiring feats of engineering around the world – from the famous bullet train in Japan to tunnels deep under some of the largest cities on Earth.

Cited as the “one-stop-shop” for building, Hilti partners with Probuild to provide engineered fixings, bracketry support, tools and equipment particularly for curtain walls.

“Hilti engineers fastenings and support brackets for curtain walls of multi-story projects for us,” said Simm. “This is one element you want to be 100% confident in and Hilti gives us that surety. “They have also partnered with us on our digital location technology through Ynomia to digitise tool sets and they are developing the ability to physically locate their range of ‘smart’ tools.”

Taiwan Glass Group For 50 years Taiwan Glass Group has been dedicated to its philosophy of persistence of advanced technology and total quality control in order to provide high-quality products to customers such as Probuild. Their signature Super Clear Glass is made up of clear float glass by reducing its green tint and iron content to achieve optimum clarity and vision. The low iron content enhances solar heat transmittance.

Simm said Taiwan Glass was the supplier for the Aurora Melbourne Central - a 92-storey tower making it the tallest in the CBD. “They worked with us and the designers to create a custom-colour palette of high-performing glass. We enjoyed the experience of working with them and went to

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their production facilities - we are big supporters of their product.”

Dow “Dow is the most trusted name in facade sealants and adhesives,” said Simm. “It gives us a great deal of comfort to know that when we're sourcing critical facade components from multiple continents there's a constant which is Dow, their strong reputation and technical support. We have a great relationship with Dow, in Australia and in China.”

LG LG worked with Probuild on Aurora Melbourne Central - which was one of the largest jobs they had undertaken - to provide variable refrigerant volume multi-head air conditioning systems for the building.

Simm said: “If there is one thing we like to talk about in Melbourne, that is the weather and the temperature so it was very important to work with a partner like LG that could provide reliable mechanical systems.

“Aurora has more than 1,200 individual apartments and serviced apartments within the development, which are all cooled centrally by cooling towers, but locally using LG’s technology.

We all worked closely to provide a product they were proud of, we were proud of and most importantly the owners were proud of.”

NBN Co NBN Co was established in 2009 to design, build and operate Australia’s wholesale broadband access network. Underpinned by a purpose to connect Australia and bridge the digital divide, NBN Co’s key objective is to ensure all Australians have access to fast broadband as soon as possible, at affordable prices, and at least cost.

Probuild

“COMBINED WITH THE DIGITAL TWIN THIS NOT ONLY GIVES US A MIRROR OF WHAT THE SITE LOOKS LIKE AS IT IS EVOLVING, COMPARING TO THE MODEL, …WE… CAN TRACK THE PHYSICAL LOCATION OF TAGGED ELEMENTS ON THE MODEL IN REAL TIME” ALEXEI SIMM

Project Director, Probuild Constructions

have incubated a technology company that's working on low-energy bluetooth technology to be able to track work on the construction site in real time.

“Our digital twin technology gives us the ability to integrate the design and allows us in real time to track construction progress.” said Simm who pointed out Probuild is always looking at innovative technology to improve working practices.

He highlighted the use of networks of digital display screens up and down a 90-storey tower during construction, to help the team. “This is simple and effective, allowing us to send messaging up and down to the workforce and direct them to the nearest construction hoist, or delivery of materials to the floor. This underpins our site efficiencies, logistics, and also an engagement with the workforce that leads to more productivity, safety, quality, and continuous

improvement. It's also a bit of fun to see hoist movement reflected in real time.”

On the subject of how technology has improved safety Simm pointed out how Probuild used bluetooth sensors on the Victoria University project.

“We combined some of our physical bluetooth sensors with our high-rise perimeter screens so that they were able to tell us the condition of those screens in real time, and to make sure that they were closed for safety. That was linked to a digital dashboard which would send an alarm if there was a gap in a screen. We think there's a huge amount of application in all of the things that we can track and monitor with a dashboard linked to real time safety equipment.”

Connectivity within buildings As WiFi has become a lifeline for almost everyone during the pandemic - for work, education and health - Probuild prioritises communication technology within its buildings. Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) ensures good mobile phone coverage within their building.

“Australia embarked on a huge modernisation programme for broadband fibre connectivity across the whole country. That has taken a form of fibre into every major development and to ensure the vast majority of the population have access to high speed broadband.

“A job I recently completed at Aurora Melbourne Central, we worked with the semi-government entity NBN Co as they have been doing the roll out of the fibre network, which at the time was their largest standalone building to incorporate that network, which involved all sorts of learning exercises.” constructionglobal.com

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December 2021

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Probuild

A LIFE IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY If you could sum it up in one sentence - how do you see the future skyline of Melbourne evolving over the next decade?

More buildings of genuine mixed-use, providing residential, recreation and workfrom home specifically catered for.

What is your favourite city skyline and why?

As a devotee of high-rise construction, it has to be Manhattan, New York, for sheer density and height. But London’s newer towers show they are willing to explore unconventional and iconic design.

Sustainability of skyscrapers Simm points out how Probuild will be focusing on their net-zero targets with sustainable building programs which move away from Melbourne-typcial insitu concrete structures to more hybrid girder beams, steel frames, laminated engineered timber structures, and more sustainable construction materials in the future. The company is now formally offering an integrated facilities management service to its customers, adding meaning to selection of materials and systems for Whole of Life impacts.

Which architect do you admire and why?

No single designer I suppose, but the profession itself which creates spaces to shape lives, livelihood and lifestyle.

Which building do you wish you had been part of constructing?

The ICC building in Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong is one of my favourites – for its scale, dominance on the harbour, complexity of interface with the subway and surrounds, as well the finished quality and outstanding technology incorporated into the facade.

What building in Melbourne are you most proud of and why?

That I have been involved in - right now, it would have to be Aurora Melbourne Central, completed in 2019, for its design, aesthetic, innovation during construction, high-quality product and having seen the project from first day to the last.

constructionglobal.com

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Probuild

“The buildings that Probuild shapes and builds will have a long legacy. We are passionate about recycling and waste minimisation in all our operations and all buildings are now being built to perform better.

As standards evolve, building tolerances are tighter and their facades need to cope with wide ranges of external conditions and maintain comfort without relying solely on electricity to run air conditioning and heating systems. We have recently coupled our capability with an inhouse facilities management business unit to ensure our clients can realise operational sustainability goals after construction has been completed.

“Although the operations of our completed buildings are becoming more efficient, the big challenge, particularly in Australia, is the traditional ways of building high-rise in our market, which is largely in-situ concrete structure frames, and obviously cement which has a very high carbon footprint.

“In Melbourne we can have up to 100 stories of reinforced concrete, but if you compare this to cities like New York who build skyscrapers from girder beams and steel frames these have a different energy footprint to the concrete volumes we use,” said Simm who pointed out Probuild is a member of the Green Building Council of Australia.

“For me this would be a half-way step towards greener buildings. The next one, which we're starting to see in the market, is the use of more sustainable materials and systems for use in multi-storey buildings.”

As Probuild continues to shape the skyscape of Melbourne we wait to see these new developments on the horizon.

constructionglobal.com

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ENGINEERING

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MOBILE APPS

BOOST

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Construction is only just scratching the surface of mobile’s potential WRITTEN BY: DOMINIC ELLIS

T

Fieldwire apps

hey go with us everywhere so it’s hardly surprising to read the mobile apps market is poised to grow by $653.91 billion in the next four years. It’s not just consumers finding apps are handy – they are helping to revolutionise workplaces too, not least construction.

The market is being driven not just by the growing penetration of smartphones but also the increased focus on AR apps and growing m-commerce industry. McKinsey forecasts implementing faster connections in mobility, manufacturing, healthcare and retail could increase global GDP by $1.2 trillion to $2 trillion by 2030.

A YouTube video highlights the ways Fieldwire has helped improve productivity with the Aon Center project in Chicago.

Project Manager Ryan Robinson said: “We can translate our logistical plans to our contractors, and send out a link saying ‘everything’s on Fieldwire.” A single, average-sized Fieldwire plan file uses 6MB of mobile storage space (2MB-10MB is the typical range). constructionglobal.com

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The right materials. At the right place. At the right time.

Industry Measured Results SiteSense® Materials and Inventory Management helps customers keep track of the materials throughout their project lifecycle more efficiently.

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IMPROVES CRAFT LABOR PRODUCTIVITY

* CII Best Practices Guide: Improving Project Performance

ENGINEERING

Aon Center Project | Fieldwire and Bear Construction

“ Information can be sent instantly out and hopefully within a few hours we can get an answer – whereas before that might have been three or four days” Superintendent Tom Lane added that the time-savings were crucial. “Information can be sent instantly out and hopefully within a few hours we can get an answer – whereas before that might have been three or four days,” he says. “A lot of people think technology makes your job longer, because you’re connected a lot more hours in the day, but I think it shortens the day, and shortens the project, because you’re not having to wait for answers.”

TOP 10 MOBILE INDUSTRY TRENDS

Huawei's Intelligent World 2030 recently highlighted 10 trends that will shape the mobile industry over the next decade.

Trend 1: 10 Gbps for PhysicalDigital Integration In the future, digital communications will be used to expand and deepen exchanges of information between people, delivering multi-sensory experiences including hearing, sight, touch, and smell. To enable these features, mobile networks will need to support 10 Gbps at millisecond latency everywhere and transmit information in ways that are more semantically organised.

Trend 2: One Network for 100-Billion All-Scenario IoT Connections Digital society will be reshaped by the 100 billion level 5 cellular connections constructionglobal.com

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networks will have to support by 2030.

Driven mainly by all-scenario IoT, networks will have to begin offering different types of connections services, differentiated by speed and priority requirements.

future drones and aircrafts. Mobile networks, with their exiting advanced communications technologies and multi-trillion dollar market, will also likely be used to nurture the new satellite communications technologies.

Trend 3: Satellite-Ground Collaboration for 3D Coverage Satellite-ground collaboration will plug the gaps in wireless ground coverage and achieve three-dimensional airspace coverage, enabling communications and control for

Trend 4: Integrated Sensing & Communications for True Digital Replicas Sensing and communications will be further integrated, enabling real-time digital replication of the physical world and facilitating high-level autonomous

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ENGINEERING

“ A lot of people think technology makes your job longer … but I think it shortens the day, and shortens the project, because you’re not having to wait for answers” all fully autonomous driving networks, which will further support automated O&M, deliver premium experiences, and minimise carbon footprints. Future radios will also be designed with native intelligence, and smart radio algorithms will further optimize the management of channel coding and radio resource.

driving and drone management. Both radio interfaces and network architectures will need to be similarly integrated and sensing resolution technology will need to advance to the centimetre level using ultrawideband with Massive MIMO to achieve these functions.

Trend 5: Intelligence in Every Industry and Connection Wireless networks will become fully integrated with AI technologies to enable

Trend 6: Full-Link and FullLifecycle Green Networks As network traffic grows 100 times over in the next few years, there will be an equal spike in demand for solutions that reduce network energy consumption. Per-bit energy efficiency will also need to improve at a similar rate. Energy efficiency must be considered in every aspect of network design, including radio interfaces, devices, and sites. This will enable the construction of these full-link and full-lifecycle green and sustainable networks.

Trend 7: Flexible Full-Band Sub-100 GHz By 2030, nations will need an average of 2 GHz mid-band bandwidth and over 20 GHz of bandwidths on millimetre wave to accommodate growing traffic. The industry will need to facilitate the evolution of sub-100 GHz spectrum to NR and redefine constructionglobal.com

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ENGINEERING

spectrum utilisation using multi-band integration and other innovative technologies to achieve 10-fold spectral efficiency improvement.

Trend 8: Generalized MultiAntenna for Reduced Per-Bit Cost Per-bit data transmission costs will be reduced as multi-antenna technologies begin to be applied to every spectrum band and every scenario. Ultra-wideband modular antennas will support flexible combinations of multiple bands and intelligent reflecting surfaces will apply multi-antenna technologies in more scenarios to enable cloud-based, higherperformance deployment.

Trend 9: Security as the Cornerstone for a Digital Future Intrinsic device security and intelligent and simplified security at the network layer will become increasingly important as network security and resilience come more into the global spotlight. Operators will need to provide these kinds of simplified security services via cloud-network synergy for their industry customers to promote digital transformation.

Trend 10: Mobile Computing Network for Device-Pipe-Cloud Collaboration Future mobile networks will support more diverse services, such as the Metaverse, industrial field networks, and vehicleto-everything (V2X) communications.

This means that computing will need to be integrated with mobile networks to provide uninterrupted, high-quality services on demand as a single service model will be insufficient for building new digital platforms.

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CLOUD TRANSITION DRIVES LIUNA AFFILIATE AND NATIONAL GROWTH 70

December 2021

LiUNA

WRITTEN BY: DOMINIC ELLIS PRODUCED BY: MIKE SADR

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LiUNA

Matthew Richard, Chief Information Officer at Laborers’ International Union of North America, reflects on the US Bipartisan Infrastructure deal and transition to the cloud

M

ost of us wouldn’t enjoy the idea of being accountable to 500,000 people, but Matthew Richard, Chief Information Officer at Laborers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA), looks relaxed as he reflects on its cloud transition changes and prospects of driving digital benefits to its large membership base across the United States and Canada.

With US construction on the up and incoming President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure deal in the offing, LiUNA finds itself in a sweet spot. The Union pushed hard to vote Biden in, and has a close ally in new Secretary of Labour, Marty Walsh, who happens to be a LiUNA member.

“If the deal makes its way through Congress, that’s a lot of work for us, and puts money into the benefit plans of our members,” said Richard. “We could be talking multiple decades’ worth of work.”

A strong believer in infrastructure – both parents worked in the natural gas industry – he has wanted to see construction investment prioritised for some time, and even though nothing is sure in politics, he senses the country is on the cusp of change.

“It’s fair to be sceptical, but I think the Democrats have alternative options, and we’re confident something will get done.”

Another key reason for the optimism is the structural changes which have

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XPERIENCE. XPERTISE. XCELLENCE.

Experts at Groundswell Consulting Group have the power to establish, configure, and integrate the Appian platform with other technologies to kick-start your ROI

“Our expertise in the Appian space gives us the competitive edge,” said Blake Templeman, Co-Founder and CEO of Groundswell Consulting Group.

Appian solutions “One of the best parts about the Appian platform is that it isn't a platform built for one specific use case like CRM or ITSM.

“One of the most important things when leveraging the Appian platform is doing things the right way, creating the proper foundation,” said Templeman from his USoffice in Virginia.

This allows customers to build exactly what they need. The software is low code, so customers build applications much faster than other platforms in the market. This allows us to provide the exact solution that meets their needs and the fastest possible ROI.”, comments Templeman.

Groundswell Consulting Group is a technology consulting firm that specializes in digital transformation and modernization leveraging the Appian platform. They work with customers, both in the private and public sector, to modernize and automate their business and lead to large return on investment (ROI) and enhanced experiences across the board.

Their implementation processes and powerful solutions focus on four key principles: • Innovate • Deliver • Accelerate • Advise Groundswell Consulting Group was founded four years ago by a group of executives from Appian. “Our customer satisfaction scores have consistently been higher than any other Appian partner’. We take a lot of pride in working with our customers and building great solutions for them,” said Templeman who has worked in the Appian space for more than 10 years.

Partnership with LiUNA Groundswell Consulting Group has worked with LiUNA for many years. “We support LiUNA across all of their Appian applications.

We make sure they're making the right decisions in a timely manner.

One of the things that we specialize in is taking an application that hasn't lived up to expectations and turning that application around into a massive success. “ We are leveraging the Appian platform and its ability to integrate with other technologies to provide the best overall solution, and also the most secure solution for LiUNA,” said Templeman.

Learn More

info@groundswellcg.com

Solutions

LiUNA

Cloud transition drives LiUNA affiliate and national growth

“ It’s that wind in our backs which gives me confidence over the next few years – that the standardisation and modernisation we’ve done internationally, we can do at affiliate level” MATTHEW RICHARD

CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER, LiUNA

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accelerated during the pandemic – notably the emphasis on energy, sustainability, and digital transformation. “There is plenty of work in the renewables and green energy sector. From a technology standpoint, I support that, and try to put the tools in place where we can show why these policies are important to our members,” he said.

For all its membership size and geographic spread across nine regional offices, LiUNA’s remit is refreshingly steadfast: to advocate good paid jobs for members in safe working environments that help support families.

“My job is to look at all the technology initiatives, set the strategy, and set standards for our affiliates to use. We don’t mandate, they have autonomy, but we set some standards on data collection,” he says. “So when the pandemic started, we were able to get our employees to pick up their laptops and work from home. We had training kits which didn’t need too much provision.

Google Meet was a big part of keeping the

LiUNA

‘face to face’ and Zoom for some of the more advanced features. I don’t feel as an organisation we really missed a beat.”

In terms of its overall digital transformation, Richard says he is happy where we’re at. “I have a strong team of world-class developers – we only have five developers, and that’s why we rely on partners heavily, and we have a support team which manages all the day-to-day tasks – and that’s only four people.”

LiUNA was able to retire over 40 legacy applications and build everything into Appian, where it now processes all membership data which connects with 300-plus local affiliates and 40-plus district council affiliates. “That’s empowered our team to build these powerful applications quickly.

“Converting the infrastructure to cloudbased AWS was crucial in helping us prepare for the pandemic. There were two stubborn legacy servers – one was moved to a SaaS provider and the other went to hosted infrastructure.

“We’ve been moving to a cloud-based modern infrastructure and software platform over the last nine years and finished migrating our last application this year,” he said. “For us, the biggest benefits of the cloud are the adaptability – the ability to modify ‘on the fly’ quickly when information comes

557,999

Number of members (2013)

350+

Number of employees

TITLE: CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER INDUSTRY: CONSTRUCTION LOCATION: VIRGINIA, USA

EXECUTIVE BIO

1903

Company founded

MATTHEW RICHARD

Matt Richard is the Chief Information Officer at the Laborers' International Union of North America (LiUNA), a non-profit Labour Union headquartered in Washington, DC that serves approximately 500,000 members across the United States and Canada. He joined LiUNA after nine years working as a project manager and technology consultant for a number of management consulting firms in the Washington, DC area. During his four year tenure at LiUNA, he has led the effort to modernise legacy systems, reduce infrastructure spending, and standardise the IT resources of the Washington, DC Headquarters and nine regional offices.

Mr. Richard received his Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology and Management Information Systems from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He also received his Master’s of Business Administration from the University of Maryland, College Park and a Master's of Science in Project Management from Boston University.

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LiUNA

ADVERT PAGE GOLD Your Guide Forward Cherry Bekaert’s Digital Advisory Practice provides strategic and tactical support to businesses, positioning them for long-term growth. We transform business models by improving financial and operational performance - leveraging technology and data as a core competitive advantage.

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LiUNA

LiUNA STAFF GO BACK TO OFFICE Interestingly, now that the focus is on how and when staff return after the pandemic, LiUNA has been decisive.

It wants everyone back at their desks after the Labor Day holiday.

DID YOU KNOW...

“What we’ve been doing since the start of the summer is allowing those who are vaccinated back in – to give employees the chance to return to routine,” he says.

“There will be some challenges on September 7, we’ve changed some of the equipment and docking stations, and video conferencing equipment, and so people will need to get used to the new set-ups. But, overall, it won’t be that difficult – what I would say, subjectively, is it will be a bit of a shock to the system on a human level – whether staff have to deal with childcare, or any other issues.”

“ Our approach is ‘if you’re going to build an application, you’d better build it in Appian unless you have a good reason not to’. That keeps us all on one ecoystem as much as we can” MATTHEW RICHARD

CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER, LiUNA

available, and that enables us, constantly, to lower our costs and take advantage of new offerings, and we’re using Snowflake for most of our back end. We’re working remotely all the time, and made secure access easier everywhere.”

His focus is primarily international. “We put platforms in place that can handle the ramp-up of thousands of users if needs be, and easily and securely integrate with our international systems,” he adds. “It’s all about better data collection, easier processes for our affiliates, and faster processing times.

We’ve brought the timeframes down from months to weeks to hours, and I see it continuing to evolve.”

The transition is likely to be a multiyear effort, requiring ‘buy in’ from affiliates at grass roots. “They’re happy sharing information – it’s more a comfort level, demonstrating that we’re here to help and working through technology issues,” he said. constructionglobal.com

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LiUNA

KEY PARTNERS DRIVE DATA EFFICIENCIES LiUNA has partnered with Cherry Bekaert, the public accounting firm, for many years.

“They’ve helped us access data in a visual and easily digestible way, not only in terms of making these migrations possible, but also showing our different departments how powerful this data can be,” he says.

DID YOU KNOW...

“Softchoice has been an advocate for us, in what products we should use, guiding us on what options there are to migrate safely to cloud-based infrastructure. They’ve been hugely helpful.

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“On the software application side, Groundswell Consulting Group is our partner which really allows us to get enough out of the platform. They clean up projects and rapidly turn them around, and we’re processing tens of millions of benefits through this system.”

Another key partner is Teknion in Dallas, which helped build its data warehouse. “I can’t speak highly enough of Geoff Whitney and his team – we wouldn’t have been able to migrate from the legacy systems without their assistance.”

December 2021

“We’re going to continue down this path of expanding our data practice, tracking, and seeing what sources are there – we’re just dipping our toes in OCR and Machine Learning. Our system has decades-worth of documents, and we’re seeing how we can leverage that, and give our departments more insights.

“We’ve all worked together on projects.

It results in better products and tools, and better cross-department collaboration.

Our approach is ‘if you’re going to build an application, you’d better build it in Appian unless you have a good reason not to’. That keeps us all on one ecoystem as much as we can. It’s been a good journey so far, and I suspect there will be more projects with these groups in the next couple of years.”

It has also used tools like Alteryx and Tableau, migrating the data to making it accesible, and providing affiliates with the answers they need.

LiUNA

“ If the Bipartisan Infrastructure deal makes its way through Congress, that’s a lot of work for us, and puts money into the benefit plans of our members. We could be talking multiple decades’ worth of work” MATTHEW RICHARD

CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER, LiUNA

He stresses the integral importance of its General President, General SecretaryTreasurer, & General Executive Board, who are huge champions for embracing this technology change and setting the tone that we’re going to collect better data and make processes easier.

“It’s that wind in our backs which gives me confidence over the next few years – that the standardisation and modernisation we’ve done internationally, we can do at affiliate level. None of this would be possible without the General President, General Secretary-Treasurer, and General Executive constructionglobal.com

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LiUNA

“I hope we can find some pilot affiliates and see if we can enhance that connectivity between local and international – that could bear a lot of fruit” MATTHEW RICHARD

CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER, LiUNA

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December 2021

LiUNA

Board – they have been hugely supportive of technology. It’s their advocacy which makes what we do possible.”

In terms of next steps, he foresess further integration, oriented around mobile technology.

“People live and work on their phones, so if we’re not making it mobile accessible, we’re failing them,” he says. “I would like to see an app that can show your status,

your pension, and other key personal information – that could be within five years. I hope we can find some pilot affiliates and see if we can enhance that connectivity between local and international – that could bear a lot of fruit.”

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ROBOT ‘WORMS’ BOOST PROJECT

ACCESSIBILITY An innovative new technology – based on the humble garden worm – may help boost accessibility in complex projects

WRITTEN BY: DOMINIC ELLIS

E

ven though we live in a rapidly integrating physical-digital world, there remain areas that are hidden or obstructed, or where the available data is inconclusive.

Sometimes it may only be a small area out of sight – but one that could have major implications for the success of a project.

Help may now be at hand in the form of worm-like robots which have been created by a team of engineers at the University of Glasgow.

Much like their animal cousins, these innovative ‘roboworms’ can stretch up to nine times their length and capable of a form of proprioception – the method by which biological organisms perceive their position in space – and access places which conventionally rigid robots cannot. The

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Nexxis Magneto-EX

TECHNOLOGY

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Fusionex Augmented Analytics

GROW YOUR BUSINESS BY HARNESSING THE NEXT DISRUPTOR IN ANALYTICS Explore all the ways digital transformation can help you make future-proof decisions based on existing data. Fusionex Augmented Analytics generates insights using the power of machine learning to accelerate the discovery of new growth areas and revenue streams for your business.

Learn more

www.fusionex-international.com

TECHNOLOGY

Bioinspired Soft Robots with Intrinsic Strain Sensing

“Our inspired robots are a step towards creating soft, flexible robot systems capable of the infinite directions of movement that nature has created in inchworms and earthworms” RAVINDER DAHIYA

PROFESSOR, UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW

researchers are hopeful they can be used in construction, mining and disaster relief.

The team’s paper, Bioinspired Inchworm and Earthworm like Soft Robots with Intrinsic Strain Sensing, was published in Advanced Intelligent Systems, and their research was supported by funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the European Commission.

Professor Ravinder Dahiya, of the University of Glasgow’s James Watt

School of Engineering, leads the Bendable Electronics and Sensing Technologies (BEST) group, which developed the system.

“Proprioception is a vital characteristic of many forms of biological life, and scientists have long been inspired to try and develop engineered systems which mimic this ability,” he said.

“Our inspired robots are a step towards creating soft, flexible robot systems capable of the infinite directions of movement that nature has created in inchworms and earthworms.” constructionglobal.com

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TECHNOLOGY

University of Glasgow.

“ Until now, robotic inspections haven’t been possible in confined and hazardous spaces due to the risk of ignition.

But Magneto-EX changes all that” JASON DE SILVEIRA

MANAGING DIRECTOR, NEXXIS

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It builds on previous research from the BEST group, which has found novel ways to embed flexible electronics into deformable surfaces. That expertise has allowed them to build intrinsic strain sensors into the wormlike robots, which are around 4.5cms long and covered in ‘skin’ made from a form of stretchy plastic, Ecoflex, and a graphite paste.

Robotics and automation have been commonplace in industrial manufacturing for decades, but we are seeing a new wave of opportunity driven by declining technology costs, growing functionality, and an expanding range of environments in which robotics can

Construction robots market growth The global market for Construction Robots, estimated at US$87.4 Million in 2020, is projected to reach US$218.7 Million by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 16.4% over the analysis period, according to Global Industry Analysts’ research.

The Construction Robots market in USA is estimated at US$30.7 Million in 2021. China, the world’s second largest economy, is forecast to reach a projected market size of US$38.3 Million by 2026, trailing a CAGR of 15.8%. Among the other noteworthy markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at 14.5% and 14.1% respectively. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 12.1% CAGR.

be safely and effectively deployed, according to McKinsey.

Producing individual components, or modules, in factories lends itself to much more machine use than what can be done on-site. McKinsey estimates that about 15-20% of new building construction will be modular in the United States and Europe by 2030.

Nexxis Magneto-EX targets hazardous inspections, Gilbane and Nextera team up Western Australian-based robotics firm Nexxis claims to have developed the world’s

first, fully design-approved EX-rated robotic camera inspection device — Magneto-EX. The spider-like device, with its magnetic feet, is the first system to be developed which is suitable for use in hazardous area inspections.

Nexxis’ managing director Jason De Silveira says Magneto-EX is a game changer not only for the oil and gas sector, but any industry where there is a need for hazardous, confined space inspections.

“Whether it’s operating at heights, deep underground or in the presence of toxic chemicals, industrial worksites are dangerous places. And confined spaces pose the biggest risk in terms of death or injury. Anything that can be done to keep humans out of these environments is a great step forward.

“Until now, robotic inspections haven’t been possible in confined and hazardous spaces due to the risk of ignition. But Magneto-EX changes all that. With its design constructionglobal.com

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approved, EX-certification, our prototype can work safely and reliably in the most extreme conditions, alleviating the risk to human operators.”

Working in confined spaces is estimated to be 100 to 150 times more hazardous than operating on an open site. By their nature, confined spaces are not designed for people to work in with poor ventilation allowing for hazardous atmospheres to quickly develop.

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December 2021

“With its stable navigation and seamless movement, Magneto-EX can place its feet in small gaps and on narrow beams, adapting its body configuration to navigate complex geometry and through narrow apertures.

“We’re confident Magneto-EX will not only save lives but will also dramatically reduce downtime costs at an industry-wide level,” added De Silveira. Elsewhere Gilbane Building Company and Nextera Robotics have entered

TECHNOLOGY

“ The global market for Construction Robots is projected to reach US$218.7 Million by 2026” into a joint venture partnership to develop a transformational Ai platform that utilises a fleet of autonomous mobile robots to track construction progress and provide safety monitoring at job sites.

The new robotics platform, dubbed ‘Didge’, provides autonomous eyes-onsite 24/7 by obtaining detailed visual data at construction sites, creating a bridge to the field between design models, digital twins and plans, while also boosting

transparency, monitoring safety, and expediting progress tracking.

The platform is designed to be customisable and multi-functional to include capabilities such as 360 degree video capture and daily laser scanning in order to automate a field to BIM connection. The platform will also be able to monitor environmental conditions and enhance security surveillance on project sites. constructionglobal.com

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SUDLOWS

Growing with the Demand WRITTEN BY: HARRY MENEAR

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December 2021

PRODUCED BY: LEWIS VAUGHAN

SUDLOWS

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SUDLOWS

John Rippingale, Director of APAC at Sudlows Consulting

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SUDLOWS

John Rippingale, Managing Director of MEA & APAC at Sudlows Consulting, talks designing, building, and commissioning for the MEA & APAC data centre boom

T

he Asia Pacific (APAC) data centre industry is undergoing a period of unprecedented growth. Countries like India, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines - all of which find themselves with large, growing populations and a lack of digital infrastructure - are racing to digitalise fast.

“India's a really interesting market at the moment. There are over 1.3 billion people, and the amount of digitalisation happening there is staggering; the number of people that are getting connected, and the number of people who have yet to be connected, is significant,” says John Rippingale, MEA & APAC Managing Director for the newly re-branded and relaunched Sudlows Consulting. “Earlier this year, the total data centre capacity that was live in India was roughly 400 MW. We currently have over 330 MW at varying stages of development, from concept to detail design and commissioning. Sudlows in isolation is contributing to almost doubling the country's data centre capacity, let alone other consultants who are active in the market - who I’d imagine are dealing with a similar number of projects to us.

And that's still not enough to satisfy the demand.”

The Sudlows that people are familiar with and know in the UK and Europe is a constructionglobal.com

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Sudlows Consulting: the top-tier ` data centre experts

niche design and build company working primarily in critical infrastructure that, John explains, “predominantly designs and builds data centre facilities that go up to about 10 MW of IT Load.” Just as the data centre industry has radically evolved over the past five years, Sudlows too is growing in the direction of the highest demand. Over the past few years, John explains, that demand has pulled the company inexorably in the direction of MEA and APAC. Rippingale joined the company in late 2014 to take a leading role in setting up Sudlows’ first international office in Dubai.

Roughly two years later, growing demand from Sudlows’ clients in the UK prompted the company to expand still further into India, where the number of hyperscale projects was just beginning to explode.

Now, in 2021, Sudlows Consulting is looking 96

December 2021

further east. “After the success of our India office, the progression into the rest of APAC was quite a natural one. We were looking to expand further into central APAC, and Singapore was an obvious choice for our next office,” John explains, adding that “A lot of the organisations we work for in India have their head offices in Singapore.” While restrictions on new data centre builds remain in place throughout Singapore, Sudlows Consultings’ new office will, John continues, be a staging ground for further growth throughout Central and Southeast Asia. “We're looking beyond Singapore into some of the surrounding markets where there's absolutely massive growth in demand for digital services and infrastructure - not to mention all the hyperscalers setting up new cloud regions.”

SUDLOWS

John Rippingale

“After the success of our India office, the progression into the rest of APAC was quite a natural one”

TITLE: M ANAGING DIRECTOR OF MEA & APAC John is a proficient, highly respected leader and data centre professional expert.

John has amassed a strong and detailed knowledge of the fast paced critical data centre industry. He has accumulated a wide range of leadership, technical and commercial skills gained through various roles within design, sales, management, project delivery and commissioning, this has provided John with a full lifecycle knowledge/appreciation and holistic approach to data centre design and build projects and the critical infrastructure industry as a whole.

John has successfully launched three international consulting offices, creating a specialist data centre MEP consultancy business.

Through his leadership has turned the brand into both a successful and highly sought-after critical infrastructure specialist in the middle east which has seen progressive growth doubling year on year since its launch both in headcount and revenue.

JOHN RIPPINGALE

MANAGING DIRECTOR OF MEA & APAC, SUDLOWS CONSULTING

SUDLOWS

The Contractor’s Consultancy Sudlows Consulting is “an inch wide and a mile deep,” John explains. Outside of the UK, the company is a dedicated, full-stack, fulllifecycle consulting and professional services provider to some of the world’s biggest data centre operators - and the work they attract speaks for itself.

“Between Dubai and India, we have over 500 MW of projects, and we're working with pretty much every company in the top right of the Gartner Magic Quadrant for our industry,” says John.

One of the key reasons behind Sudlows’ success in the UAE, India, and beyond is the level of intersectional expertise and holistic understanding that it cultivates across its teams. “It's really important that our people have a holistic understanding of how all the elements of the business work. If you've 98

December 2021

got commissioning experience, it's going to make you a better designer because you understand the whole process from start to finish, not just your own little silo,” John explains. “We move people around the business and we end up with people who've been design engineers for five years telling us that they actually really like and now prefer commissioning.”

As a result, he continues, designers pick up tricks of the trade from commissioners, people working on projects have a deeper understanding of the intent behind designs - not to mention how to execute them - and the entire team ends up having a flexible, dynamic approach that translates directly into benefits for the client.

“We're known as the contractor's consultancy out here because we come from a contracting background, which

SUDLOWS

“ It's really important that our people have a holistic understanding of how all the elements of the business work” JOHN RIPPINGALE

MANAGING DIRECTOR OF MEA & APAC, SUDLOWS CONSULTING

means we're better equipped to work with contractors, be flexible, and not just rigidly stick to our initial designs when something poses a problem,” John explains. “It's all about making the project work. And data centre projects have really aggressive timelines, because the client wants the site to go live as soon as possible - because that's when the facility can start generating revenue for them.”

By applying this approach to the full endto-end lifecycle of a data centre project, Sudlows has established itself as an extremely versatile organisation in the UAE and India.

“We can be with the client throughout the whole lifecycle of a project,” adds John. “Even if we're not the lead consultant on a project, there are still lots of different stages where we can get involved and help support the client by adding value to the project.” constructionglobal.com

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SUDLOWS

“ Even if we're not the lead consultant on a project, there are still lots of different stages where we can get involved and help support the client” JOHN RIPPINGALE

MANAGING DIRECTOR OF MEA & APAC, SUDLOWS CONSULTING

India: Building with the boom Nowhere is the tremendous growth that Rippingale describes more apparent than in India, where Sudlows Consulting has been active for several years now. It was in 2017, John recalls, that the Middle East operations he had spent two years working hard to build “really started to take off.”

“We got invited to more projects, started to win more bids, and forged some strong alliances with contractors and clients in the market,” he says. “Around that time, our UK office did some work with a global developer whose Indian team really liked what we did. They asked if we could come over and do some peer review work for them on a big project out there.” Rippingale took on the account, met with the company’s CEO and Indian team, and “what started off as a small peer review package turned into Sudlows doing the mechanical design, the testing, and commissioning for that project,” John says. “They said they really loved what we do, loved our experience and focus on the A-to-Z of data centres, and said they wanted to give us more work if we could make the commitment to opening an office in India.” Fast forward to the end of last year, and Sudlows was working on approximately 250 MW worth of projects 100

December 2021

SUDLOWS

as the lead consultancy with that single developer. “We're working on some of the biggest projects in India right now, which I am extremely proud of but equally aware of the gravity of what we are doing and the trust put in us by our clients,” adds John.

In the UAE - a place which John describes as “heaven for engineers” where people like him are “encouraged to dream bigger” - Sudlows Consulting’s largest data centre project has a capacity of 16 MW IT Load.

In India, he says, “we're working on 50 MW single buildings as well as campus projects with capacities of 250 MW or higher. And we're just one consultancy. There are other successful firms working in the market, there are a lot of new players moving into the market; despite all this, we just can't build sites fast enough to meet demand.”

A typical data centre project in India, John explains, is a vertical build of between 6 and 10 floors which progresses from the concept stage to fully operational in between 22 and 26 months. “At the beginning of that two-year period, the demand is already outstripping the supply.

Even if everyone decides to build to meet that present demand, by the time those projects are live two years later, the demand has already grown again,” he laughs. “The industry just can’t bring new facilities online fast enough.”

The prospect of tackling bigger projects in smaller amounts of time was one that John admits he definitely found exciting. “Land really is at a premium, so everything is being built at least eight floors tall now and we're heading for eleven floors becoming the new standard,” he explains. “It can be quite a mind-boggling thing to fit bigger and bigger, denser and denser data centres into these buildings that are getting taller and taller, all while using as little space as possible for all constructionglobal.com

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SUDLOWS

TACKLING THE SKILLS SHORTAGE Rising above other industry pain points like COVID-19, rising materials and construction costs, and the looming spectre of the climate crisis, John Rippingale sees the industry skills shortage as the biggest challenge facing the data centre industry today. “One of the biggest struggles in the market right now is obviously the skills shortage when it comes to getting people into the MEP space, not just into data centres,” he notes. “Lots of people are going into IT, cybersecurity, fintech - all the more 'glamourous' sectors - but behind all of those industries is a data centre. There's increasing demand, but we need people who understand how to do hands-on engineering.”

The exponentially rising demand for capacity in markets like India, he adds, is only exacerbating the issue.

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So how are you solving the skills shortage at Sudlows Consulting?

I've always been a big believer in taking on graduates. Even in the early days when I was building up the business in Dubai, employing staff with vast data centre experience was beneficial and required, however, but we also made sure we were hiring people just a few years out of university who didn't necessarily have data centre experience, but maybe they'd worked on a server room or some other MEP work and were eager to make the jump.

People can gain experience. What makes the difference is having the right attitude. That’s something you cannot train.

SUDLOWS

“ When more than 884 million people (1 in 10 people) don't have access to clean drinking water, we shouldn't be using millions of gallons per day to slightly benefit our PUE” JOHN RIPPINGALE

MANAGING DIRECTOR OF MEA & APAC, SUDLOWS CONSULTING

your auxiliary functions. And then you have all the different demands of the customers.

It's really challenging, but it's exciting putting 30 MW of power in a building. You go back 30 years and you'd struggle to find 30 MW of power across the whole of some cities.”

Moving East with the Demand When I ask most people about the future of their industries, they’re usually quick to throw around phrases like “the future is bright” or “the opportunities are boundless,” or “greater value for our shareholders.”

When I put the question to John, he pauses for a moment, frowning slightly. When he does respond, he seems determined to frame his answer carefully. He’s excited for the future, to be sure, but he’s also very cognizant that every reward has its risks. constructionglobal.com

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INNOVATIVE DESIGN Both the UAE and India (not to mention the SEA markets where Sudlows Consulting is headed next) present some interesting design challenges, especially when working on huge projects for hypersustainable, hyper-efficient hyperscalers.

“Climate was one of the big challenges coming from the UK where you can do free cooling pretty much all year round. In Dubai - and also now in India - the ambient temperatures can sit for prolonged periods of time in the high thirties, and even up to the fifties as well,” Rippingale explains. “The heat is something you just can't avoid. To make things efficient in your external environment, you need to make them as efficient as possible inside the data centre.

On the power side, we make sure to closecouple everything from the UPS to the IT load to prevent losses. On the cooling side, if you're trying to run a data hall under 20 degrees, it doesn't matter what country you're in, it's

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not going to be efficient. Here in the Middle East and India, we're really trying to push our internal temperatures as high as we can without getting into areas that would be unsafe for human beings. We're usually running our whitespace at about 27 degrees, which does give us the opportunity to do some free cooling during the winter and reduce our PUE.” The other area to which Rippingale has clearly given a lot of careful thought is water.

“One thing we're very mindful of in the UAE and India is that one's a desert and one has water scarcity where people don't have secure access to clean drinking water. So, we don’t use water to cool our sites; it wouldn't be ethical or responsible,” he says emphatically. “When there's water scarcity, and more than 884 million people don't have access to safe water to drink, we shouldn't be using millions of gallons of it per day to slightly benefit our PUE; there are other ways.”

SUDLOWS

“The future is going to be challenging for everyone in the sector. It's going to be good, but it's definitely going to be a challenge as demand grows, time frames get shorter, sustainability gets more important, and skills are in shorter and shorter supply,” he says, adding that the international business’ rebranding into Sudlows Consulting is an important step towards “reinforcing to our clients that Sudlows Consulting is a fullyfledged, full-stack data centre consultancy,” capable of taking on any of the challenges that lie ahead.

“The first challenge now is getting the Singapore office up and running, which has been hampered by travel restrictions,” adds John, “but the biggest challenge is still going to be getting the right people, which COVID19 also isn't making any easier.”

However big the hurdles facing the entire industry at this pivotal moment in time, Sudlows Consulting is remarkably well equipped to capitalise on this unique opportunity. “Across the whole region (APAC) there's about 2.3 GW of data centre capacity active right now. That's going to double over the next three to five years. Even if every data centre building is 50 MW, that's still almost

“ It's exciting putting 30 MW of power in a building. You go back 30 years and you'd struggle to find 30 MW of power across the whole of some cities”

another 50 projects,” he says. “The demand is so much bigger than the supply, and that's just based on predictions; over the last few years, growth predictions have consistently turned out to be on the conservative side, so who knows how big things are going to get, and how fast it's going to happen.”

When it comes to competing in this world of unprecedented demand, Rippingale is confident that “Our specialist knowledge is going to stand us in good stead at a time when there are a lot of other players trying to get into this industry - largely because, outside of the data centre sector, the markets aren't doing so well.”

He reflects: “Just because you're an established general MEP consultancy and have one person in your organisation who knows about data centres, that doesn't really qualify you to be a data centre consultancy or expert. The reason we can deliver top level work is because we've got experienced, top-tier talent. There’s a saying in the Middle East that, if you want good bread, you should be ‘giving your bread dough to the baker,’ which means always go to the expert.”

JOHN RIPPINGALE

MANAGING DIRECTOR OF MEA & APAC, SUDLOWS CONSULTING constructionglobal.com

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MEASURES FOR DECARBONISING CONSTRUCTION Codes, designs and energy renovations are key elements in the construction decarbonisation journey

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WRITTEN BY: DOMINIC ELLIS

ith the global population increasing by two billion by 2050, new buildings will have an important effect on building-related energy use and emissions. In emerging markets, most buildings that will be standing in 2050 are not yet built, and most of those buildings will be in countries without mandatory building codes. The higher uptake of buildings with zero operating emissions and with very low or even negative carbon footprints of their building structure is essential to the reduction of emissions in the sector. In addition, net-zero buildings improve resilience by remaining comfortable for longer periods in the absence of mechanical cooling or heating. Here are the top 10 measures that need to be implemented according to The Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction.

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10 Develop integrated resilience strategies and plans for the built environment The careful consideration of resilience promotes a holistic view of urban systems, embracing the interconnected and complex nature of cities’ spatial configurations, physical assets, socioeconomic functions and organisational structures (UNEP/ GlobalABC 2020). Integrated risk assessment and long-term resilience strategies can ensure that the adaptation of existing buildings and the integration of resilience into new construction occur in a comprehensive manner.

“ Integrated risk assessment and long-term resilience strategies can ensure that the adaptation of existing buildings and the integration of resilience into new construction occur in a comprehensive manner” 108

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09

Integrate nature-based solutions into urban planning, buildings and construction Nature-based solutions – green corridors, green roofs, urban tree canopies and permeable pavements and other green infrastructure – have a variety of climate-related benefits, particularly in urban areas. They reduce extreme heat and the impacts of flooding, prevent erosion and increase carbon sequestration. The co-benefits include better air and water quality, which contribute to the quality of life of urban dwellers and to the building sector’s sustainability in a comprehensive way.

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Develop public procurement policies that incentivise materials with low carbon footprints Public procurement constitutes a high-impact policy arena for achieving deep decarbonisation in the infrastructure and building sectors. Public procurement represents a substantial proportion of government expenditures – for example 12 per cent of GDP and 29 per cent of government expenditures in OECD member countries (OECD 2017). Infrastructure assets are the largest area of public spending and the carbon impact of these assets is significant during all the stages of the life cycle.

07

Enable easy access to information on the carbon footprint of materials Improving efficiency in the use of materials, minimising embodied greenhouse gas emissions of building materials and closing material cycles will be key to decarbonising construction. Thinking carefully about a circular economy means considering the postdeconstruction lives of buildings and materials so they do not end up as waste (Iyer-Raniga and Huovila 2021). Transparency and enhanced knowledge about embodied carbon over the life cycle of building materials empowers investors, designers and consumers to make informed decisions. constructionglobal.com

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Use energy information and behaviour change to drive energy efficiency

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Promote financing for energy efficiency The increasing need for energy goes together with increasing investment needs for energyefficient technologies. Despite the obvious economic benefits of efficiency measures, underinvestment in energy efficiency persists due to high upfront technology costs, capital constraints and information barriers. New business models help to overcome current barriers that hinder investments in energyefficient equipment.

Being aware of individual energy consumption is a first step towards behaviour change. Programmes to encourage people to save energy have relied largely on technological interventions and decision-making driven by economics: consumers will save energy to save money.

Energy-consumption behaviour is not always rational, however, and can benefit from nudges and neighbourhood competitions designed to encourage households to be more energy-efficient.

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04 Lead by example by decarbonising public buildings The schools, offices, hospitals and other buildings owned by state and municipal authorities provide an opportunity for government to lead by example.

Many of these buildings were constructed decades ago with little regard for renewable energy and energy efficiency, and they offer a large potential for transformation into zeroenergy buildings. By renovating public buildings to a zero-energy standard, governments can raise the awareness of the population and educate industry about netzero building solutions.

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03

Promote deep energy renovation Performing deep renovations at scale is a necessity for building a zero-carbon society. Boosting the energy performance of existing buildings improves living conditions of residents and supports several economic sectors. Ensuring adequate and well-targeted funding is key to enabling the appropriate depth and scale of renovations.

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Support the use of integrated design

An early stage integrated design process involving all disciplines of a building project enables the adoption of effective passive design measures. It helps find effective, low-cost solutions and make the best design choices. Life cycle assessments in the design phase allow designers to minimise the whole life carbon emissions of buildings. As a project progresses, design changes become more challenging and costly.

“ As a project progresses, design changes become more challenging and costly” constructionglobal.com

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Difference between Planning Permission and Building Regulations

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Establish and implement an ambitious energy code for buildings Building codes regulating the energy performance of new and existing buildings are a powerful way to address future emissions growth related to both operational and embodied emissions. They are a key regulatory measure for decarbonising the building sector. A good building code allows for locally adapted designs that offer an opportunity for countries to valorise local materials and climate knowledge.

“ Building codes are a key regulatory measure for decarbonising the building sector”

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BI GROUP

BI GROUP RISES TO MEDICAL CHALLENGES IN CENTRAL ASIA WRITTEN BY: DOMINIC ELLIS PRODUCED BY: GLEN WHITE

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COMPANY NAME

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BI GROUP

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BI GROUP

BI Group has seen a boom in health business during the pandemic and Chief Procurement Officer Darkhan Shildebayev anticipates rising demand

T

Darkhan Shildebayev, CPO, BI Group

he last 18 months have been universally challenging for the construction industry but companies of the size and pedigree of BI Group have weathered it better than most.

The COVID-19 crisis actually presented the group – which has 5,000 employees and is ranked as one of the leading globally – with unexpected opportunities, as it was tasked with building 15 hospitals in two months, spanning a total area of 115,000sqm.

Meeting the urgent health needs has been an overriding priority for its 160strong procurement team, to the extent that it established a dedicated medical procurement division and even opened its own lab for PCR studies at Nur-Sultan (formerly Astana – the name change was made by Presidential decree in March 2019).

This was on top of procuring items for the group’s 180 projects, covering everything from materials and machinery for housing developments to major stadium projects; last year saw the launch of a 7,000-seat athletic complex in the Kazakhstan capital.

“There was huge demand for medical equipment last year. We did well, as we never broke any agreement terms or schedules,” said Chief Procurement Officer Darkhan Shildebayev. “We believe constructionglobal.com

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BI GROUP

that medical building will be at the heart of construction for the next couple of years for us.”

As part of a charitable campaign to help fight the pandemic, BI Group also donated 1,065 oxygen concentrators to hospitals throughout Kazakhstan.

The BI-Zhuldyzai Foundation, despite the quarantine measures and economic difficulties, has continued its charitable activities and helped 1,253 children with difficult medical diagnoses. In total, 52,603 rehabilitation services were provided in 2020.

Housing drives group growth This year BI Group is budgeting for growth of 15% in development business, and a 122

December 2021

slight growth in contracting and projects – and altogether group growth of around 5%, which is respectable given the precarious economic situation.

Housing projects are its main business driver and affordable housing accounts for 10-15% of its portfolio.

The main objective is to make sure it doesn’t face challenges with shortage of materials – a universal predicament facing the industry.

“The pandemic has had a huge impact on our business. We had our suppliers shut down their production lines, and had to deal with border closures – we had materials stuck but it’s much better nowadays.

BI GROUP

DARKHAN SHILDEBAYEV

“WE BELIEVE THAT MEDICAL WILL BE AT THE HEART OF CONSTRUCTION FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS FOR US”

TITLE: CPO INDUSTRY: CONSTRUCTION LOCATION: CENTRAL ASIA Darkhan Shildebayev, 34 years old born in Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan. He has been with BI Group for a little under six years, and held various positions within the company including, head of competitive intelligence and representative offices in Moscow and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia. Previously worked at financial institutions and mining companies including Jusan Bank (formerly Tsesna Bank) and Kazakhmys. Holds master’s degree in International Business Management from Carinthia University of Applied Sciences, Austria.

DARKHAN SHILDEBAYEV

“We don’t have much production in Kazakhstan, it’s mostly imported from Russia and neighbouring countries – and they’re trying to develop their economies through construction,” he said. “The fastest way to warm up the economy is construction and there will be huge demand for resources and procurement.”

One permanent change will see BI Group set more long-term contracts with its suppliers, and prioritise them, he said.

“We’re going to change how we work with our suppliers, making it easier for them to see what they’ll be working on, so they’ll know the projects in advance – so they can allocate their resources much easier than it used to be.”

EXECUTIVE BIO

CPO, BI GROUP

BI GROUP

BI Group rises to medical challenge in central Asia

He foresees sharp growth in construction, anticipating 9% industry growth, which will create challenges with materials, machinery and manpower.

Building on supplier relationships BI Group was fortunate as it had embraced digital before the pandemic, so making the switch was painless compared with many companies.

Through its supplier relationship platform, BI Partners, suppliers can directly interact through the app. Without going into specific terms, he says that “the more you buy, the bigger your discount.” Last year also marked a real estate services turning point, as apartment units could be bought via the BIG App. Now the plan is to combine all the platforms together, creating one ‘eco-system’ for the whole company. He hopes it will 124

December 2021

be finalised within a year. In 2020, service specialists processed 147,608 client requests.

“The idea is to connect what we buy, with those who buy it from us,” he said. “We have sufficient amount of information, in construction and sales, but now the idea is to create a picture to understand what this data says to us.”

Out of 10,000 partners, BI Group has 200 main partners, which will be important for the next five years. Suppliers at the top of the list include Danfoss (hydraulic solutions), Kazenergokabel (electrical equipment

BI GROUP

1995

Year Founded

$1.4bn (2015) Revenue

5,000

Number of Employees

supplies), GQ Engineering (low current solutions and electrical equipment supplies), MIT (medical innovation technology and medical supplies), Troya, Fenix, Megasmart (all furniture supplies) and Kazintertech (educational equipment supplies).

In another clear example of its attention to detail, BI Group has a special IT department responsible for cybersecurity, which carries out ‘penetration testing’ on an ongoing basis.

RECORD SALES IN 2020 In 2020, more than 10,039 thousand families received the keys to their apartments. The first residential complex Tamerlan Residence was built in Shymkent and the company entered the Uzbekistan market with the construction of the first residential complex from BI Group in Tashkent (NRG Oybek).

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