In Profile
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little over two years ago, in April 2016, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched Dubai’s 3D Printing Strategy, an initiative that aims to use technology to “serve humanity and promote the status of the UAE and Dubai as a leading hub of 3D printing technology, by the year 2030”. The strategy aims to adopt an emerging technology that will help cut costs across many sectors and industries. As a result, local economies and labour markets are expected to undergo a comprehensive restructure and redefinition, with productivity increasing and efficiency improving as new ideas and methodologies are embraced. One of the main sectors expected to feel the impact of this strategy is construction, as by 2025, as per Dubai Municipality regulations, every new building in Dubai will be 25% 3D printed. This movement will begin in 2019, starting at 2% with a gradual increase to the 25% goal. As a byproduct, the 3D Printing Strategy will reduce labour by 70%, cost by 90% and time by 80% across different sectors, the Dubai Future Foundation predicts. These statistics are what Lynelle Cameron, vice president, Sustainability at Autodesk and CEO of the Autodesk Foundation, believes will drive the adoption of the technology in the regional construction industry. In fact, given the economic conditions and the overriding desire to cut costs, she believes more and more construction related 18 June 2018
firms will turn to technology to improve efficiency, productivity, sustainability and performance. “I think the AEC industry has traditionally been slow to adapt to new technology, and construction certainly. However, I feel that we’re at a pivotal moment in time where we’re going to see this technology adopted, because it enables construction [to be] faster and better, and with less impact,” she tells Big Project ME at Autodesk University Middle East. “The economics are going to play out – that we need the best technology on construction sites to make these decisions. I’m optimistic that the adoption speed is going to accelerate in the construction market. “What our customers care about is cost and time, and so when a tool enables you to make better, greener decisions – and save money and time – then you don’t need to sell the idea. Better design is sustainable design, everybody is trying to reduce energy, and everybody is aware that materials equals cost savings. So really thinking about it in terms of economics, it’s going to drive speed and change in the industry,” Cameron asserts. With regard to the 3D Printing Strategy, she points out that having a stretched target, as set out by the Dubai government, will drive the behavioural change that will push the industry forwards, regardless of whether the target timeline is hit. “I’ll give you a good example,” she says. “Architecture 2030 is a voluntary initiative that companies around the world have signed up for, it aims to make 100% of their portfolio net-zero energy by 2030. I don’t know if we’re going to get there by 2030, but many of our customers around the world are shifting and making their portfolio net-zero, and that’s the kind of trend that I think we need – one
thinking in economic terms Lynelle Cameron says that if sustainability and technology adoption principles are presented as being economically beneficial to companies, there will be a strong uptake within the construction industry.
“Visionary goals are needed, frankly. That’s going to be the one component that’ll drive the transformation towards the future that we all need to live in”
which is going to drive the market. “Visionary goals are needed, frankly. That’s going to be the one component that’ll drive the transformation towards the future that we all need to live in.” She stresses that developing an entrepreneur ecosystem in the regional construction industry is going to be crucial if this is going to be achieved. This is because it will be this segment of the market that will push the boundaries and innovate, using these technologies. “We have the Autodesk Foundation, which I also lead. That has grown out of a history of supporting start-ups and clean tech entrepreneurs around the world, because these are the
