Newcastle-based NBS welcomed Mark Bew MBE to its offices last week to deliver an industry talk on the ‘Digital Built Britain’ programme.
Mark, who chairs the UK BIM Task Group, spoke about the programme which is the next phase of the UK’s journey towards a new generation of smart infrastructure and construction.
The 50-strong audience listened intently as Mark touched on the journey the UK construction industry has been on, the praise for the sector getting ‘BIM ready’ for last year’s mandate and looked ahead to future trends including BIM Level 3, quantum computing, quantum sensing and smart cities.
Mark, who is also chairman of PCSG, said: “The progress made in the last six years or so has been fantastic but progress mustn’t stop there.
“We need to continue to drive the quality of data we’re using across the industry that will help drive trust, better use and better productivity for us all.
“UK figures show that from 2009 to 2014/15 the construction industry saved £1.2 billion through the efficiencies and benefits brought about through the use of BIM and digital engineering. In everyday terms those savings would equate to buying five schools and getting one for free, and those are the messages we need to be pushing to showcase the improvements and progress that the industry is making.”
UK figures show that from 2009 to 2014/15 the construction industry saved £1.2 billion through the efficiencies and benefits brought about through the use of BIM and digital engineering. In everyday terms those savings would equate to buying five schools and getting one for free.
Mark Bew MBE
NBS Chief Executive Richard Waterhouse, who recently announced the news of NBS’ expansion into Canada and Australia, said: “To welcome such a key industry figure like Mark to our offices was a great privilege.
“Hearing again, that the progress made over the last six or seven years has catapulted the UK construction industry as leaders in digital information and digital construction in an international arena is fantastic.
“At NBS we’re passionate about digital construction and we know this passion is echoed across the industry, working collaboratively to realise the benefits in the development of BIM, smart cities and standardised data – accelerating towards a better built environment for everyone.”
The Digital Built Britain programme which will be led by Mark, with collaboration from Innovate UK and the Department of Business Energy and Industrial Strategy, BEIS, will bring together the development of BIM, smart cities, industrial controls and advanced manufacturing.
The programme will work to guide, inform and educate construction professionals to understand the connection between how buildings and infrastructure impact society and how using new technologies and quality data will help create smart cities that will keep the UK at the forefront of the world’s stage in terms of construction and digital excellence.
NBS provide technical information, specification and BIM tools to construction industry professionals including architects, engineers and surveyors as well as services for building product manufacturers.
About NBS
NBS, specialist provider of technical information for construction industry professionals, offers essential, innovative products and services, highly valued by those working in architecture, construction, design and engineering.The premier source of construction-related information, NBS has produced the recognised national standard specification system for the UK for more than 40 years. It provides solutions for a broad range of new build, refurbishment, retrofit, landscaping and domestic projects for construction professionals. Delivered within a powerful software package, NBS’s specification products continue to develop, leading an evolution of the specification and procurement process for buildings in the UK and overseas. NBS also provides solutions for contract administration and project information management.
NBS Create is a ground-breaking new specification tool that ensures all documentation works together intelligently throughout the entire project timeline, from concept stage to completion and beyond, to save time and money. More than 5,000 offices across the UK subscribe to NBS products, including 96 of the top 100 AJ practices.
The award winning NBS National BIM Library is also the primary source of free-to-use Building Information Modelling (BIM) content in the UK. It contains thousands of generic and proprietary BIM objects authored to the trusted NBS standard, all of which are data rich and are integrated with the world leading NBS specification software.
NBS is part of RIBA Enterprises Ltd, the knowledge management company of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). RIBA Enterprises employs 250 staff and has offices in London, Newcastle upon Tyne and Newark.
