RC111 MarApr 2024 - Magazine - Page 13
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HILE BUILDING INFORMATION MODELING (BIM) continues
to expand its reach, innovative technologies
such as digital twinning and arti昀椀cial
intelligence (AI) applications hold out hope
for untold gains for Canada’s construction
industry.
A digital twin allows designers and constructors to collaborate and test their ideas
through virtual simulations. It can also improve cost and schedule performance, making pre-planning in a digital environment a
vital step in the construction process.
According to new rsearch from The
Conference Board of Canada, if deployed
correctly, generative AI, could help reverse
a decades-long decline in productivity and
add almost two per cent to Canada’s GDP.
During a recent ReNew Canada
Webinar Series—with support from
PCL Construction—a panel of experts
discussed how these technologies
are improving the process not just
before and during construction, but
throughout the project lifecycle.
ReNew Canada: Have we reached a tipping
point with the use of smart technology in
the construction industry?
JOHN BOKTOR (PCL): Yes, we’re
starting to reach a bit of a
tipping point due to a lot of
the headwinds that we’ve seen
in the last couple of years,
especially after COVID. Then there are the
issues around our economy, but also
around the labour shortage, particularly
within the construction industry. Between
digital twins, BIM, and arti昀椀cial intelligence (AI), we’re starting to learn a lot
more, because we need these technologies
to be more e昀케cient and more productive. I
think the other thing to consider is the
generational e昀昀ect in our industry. Internally, at PCL, around two-thirds of our
pre-construction groups are under the age
of 35. That demographic is heavily in昀氀uencing our teams and our projects, they’re
pushing new technology, because they
understand it better and they want to see
that in our industry more.
RENEWCANADA.NET
DOMENICO STATERRI (ATKINSRÉALIS): The construction
industry has been traditional for a long time. Over
the past few years, we’ve seen some advancements
with technologies, and I think the way we build is
changing and it’s going to continue changing, using
these technologies. If we combine BIM with AI and digital twins,
the possibilities are endless. It is safe to say that we’re approaching a historical period of change in construction, versus how
things have been done in the past. We’re not there yet, but I
notice a lot more awareness of new technology due to the new
resources that are coming out and what the next generation is
being taught.
BRANDON MILNER (ELLISDON): I think it’s a combination of
the age demographic that we’re seeing in the
construction space, but a tipping point sounds like
an imminent change in the industry. I think this
industry is very slow to move away from the
traditional ways that we build things. But there is a bigger
propensity for the younger generation, who grew up with
iPads, to absorb and utilize technology. I’m aging myself when I
say I didn’t, but I would say it’s less of a tipping point and more
of an awareness of technology that’s in the space.
DR. MELANIE ROBINSON (BIM ACADEMY): In the UK, we’ve
got an industry split between those that embrace
these technologies and those that don’t. Generally,
it’s the supply chain that struggles with digital
technologies. With any of this, it’s got to be push
and pull, and what I mean by that is we’ve got to have clients
understanding the value of digital technologies, because
ultimately, we work in an industry that has quite small pro昀椀t
margins. There needs to be a pull from clients to enable us to
innovate and allow us to make use of these technologies and
processes. I think it’s the next big step, but I don’t think it’s
going to happen overnight.
Is there a reason healthcare is leading in the use of digital
twins and, are there other sectors that could benefit from
their use?
DOMENICO STATERRI: It’s popular because [healthcare] is an industry where the bene昀椀ts are shared amongst all shareholders. I
think this is the same for all sectors, and I don’t see any sectors
where the use of digital twins doesn’t have advantages. Airports is one sector where digital twins can have huge bene昀椀ts,
from managing baggage handling systems to make sure we
reduce luggage loss, or monitoring terminal tra昀케c to plan and
avoid delays and congestion. Bridge inspections are another
sector. The use of drones and sensors can eliminate the building of the sca昀昀olds and it reduces costs and time and avoids
road closures. We can also inspect areas that are di昀케cult to
reach for inspectors, which means keeping them safe.
MARCH/APRIL 2024 – RENEW CANADA 13
