Over 500 people responded to the first Construction Technology Report from the Newcastle-based technology business which launched last week.
Having mapped the adoption of BIM in the UK over the last decade, NBS wanted to run a parallel survey to provide a wider perspective of digital transformation.
“Digital construction technology will finally become an enabler for daily urban life worldwide, in combination with growth in offsite construction and 3D printing,” said NBS CEO Richard Waterhouse.
When developing, coordinating and sharing the information that is needed on any project, there isn’t a single technology solution that does everything. You cannot buy ‘BIM in a Box’ and this report shows the breadth of tools our industry is using to strengthen their position and further digitise their processes.
Richard Waterhouse, CEO, NBS
Digital tools in use across the industry include: cloud computing, AR, VR and mixed reality technologies, drones are becoming more commonplace and many companies are advising that they’re already solving complex problems with machine learning and AI.
Many are designing for offsite construction, with 41% doing so now, and a third saying that they will be within the next five years.
The report shows that the potential is there for smart sensors, the internet of things, material science development and robotics to vastly change construction sites and design offices.
Richard continued: “Digital transformation is not simply the adoption of a set of technologies.
“As we have seen over the last nine years with the continued rise in the adoption of BIM, digital transformation is about creating a culture of cooperation and innovation, supported by the use of digital tools.”
With 90% of respondents agreeing that digitisation will transform how they work, particularly in changing how they communicate with clients and how collaboration takes place, it’s no surprise that almost three quarters agree that those who don’t adopt digital ways of working will go out of business.
The report also includes case studies from Microsoft, Ryder Architecture, BDP, Bond Bryan and IBI Group, sharing technology solutions and software they use in combination with NBS specification products.
In tandem with renewed BIM processes responding to ISO 19650, Parts 1 and 2, NBS continues to work closely with industry partners to encourage digital transformation and industrial innovation, supporting the evolving strategy of the UK Government.
To download the free report visit www.thenbs.com/ConTechReport
NOTE TO EDITORS
ABOUT NBS: NBS is committed to offering distinctive, innovative specification and information solutions to construction industry professionals and are proud to be leading the construction industry in its digital evolution. Our origins lie in the National Building Specification and for over 40 years we have developed and produced NBS products which support the built environment. Our NBS specification products cover construction, engineering services and landscape design.
More recently we have developed an integrated Building Information Modelling (BIM) platform that has been designed to support global design and construction. It currently has four major components:
- NBS Bim Toolkit. BIM execution plan, roles and responsibilities.
- NBS Chorus. Cloud-based specification platform.
- NBS National BIM Library. BIM object library, generic and actual.
- Construction Information Service (CIS). Standards and regulations.
CIS is delivered via a joint venture with IHS Markit. This relationship has successfully prospered for many years.
Our products are recognised as being individually effective in their own right, but via the linking of the data, classification and integration, the true power comes through these connections across the NBS BIM platform. Combining world leading technology with expert knowledge, NBS is trusted to help construction industry professionals make the best project decisions.
To find out more about NBS, visit www.theNBS.com
