Category: Construction Management

Nmcn will miss its latest deadline to publish delayed results which are necessary to secure a refinancing deal.

The contractor released its latest refinancing time frame last month which involved publishing a prospectus by November 1 which would require results for the year to December 31 2020 being signed-off before then.

But the firm issued an update on Friday afternoon confirming it will miss the deadline.

Nmcn said: “Further to the announcement of 24 September 2021, the company has been in intensive discussions with regards to completing the preparation of the group’s annual report in respect of the financial year ended 31 December 2020. 

“As a result of these discussions, it has become apparent that the group will be unable to approve the audited financial statements within the extension period set out in the company’s announcement on 24 September 2021.

“The company will make a further announcement as appropriate.”

Did you miss our previous article…
https://www.dennis-construction.com/?p=540

Being successful in construction isn’t just about a finished project. While completion is certainly important, the outcomes that you achieve during and after the project also matter a great deal.

Five essential construction KPIs to focus on improving are winning more business, minimizing costs, maximizing quality, optimizing project schedules, as well as promoting health, safety, and sustainability. Effectively delivering on these KPIs will result in short- and long-term success for everyone involved, which is why construction pros should strive to achieve them.

Our latest ebook, How Digitally Connecting Workflows Dramatically Improves 5 Key Construction KPIs discusses how you can improve these KPIs by digitally connecting construction workflows. Download it for free. 

DOWNLOAD FREE EBOOK

 

Essential Construction KPIs

1. Winning business

Many contractors want to win more business, and in today’s modern landscape, connected construction technology is one of the best tools you can have to achieve this outcome. When your workflows and systems are tightly integrated, you’re able to automate various tasks and be more efficient with your bids. 

It also paves the way for better stakeholder engagement and collaboration. Connected construction technology keeps everyone on the same page, reducing issues with miscommunication. 

In addition, a connected construction platform makes data more accessible. Information from different projects can be stored on one platform, so it’s easier to surface insights and analyze trends. This, in turn, can give you the information you need to make smarter bidding decisions. 

2. Cost

Maintaining cost-effectiveness in projects is critical to success. Unfortunately, the majority of construction pros regularly run into cost-related issues. Research by Dodge and Autodesk found that 66% of general contractors incur additional costs from overtime and second shifts on at least three-quarters of their projects. 

Connected construction helps solve budget issues for contractors in a number of ways. A robust platform can provide detailed reporting, allowing you to produce accurate forecasts, obtain better cost controls, and improve subcontractor qualification. 

Not to mention, the enhanced collaboration between all parties greatly reduces inefficiencies and helps stakeholders resolve problems quickly. 

As Michael Shurgalla, CADD Manager at Moffatt & Nichol, points out, “Connected construction allows teams to identify and resolve issues promptly, which significantly impacts costs before they appear.”

3. Quality

Quality issues lead to rework, which is a major headache for contractors. 

Here’s the thing, though: many of the issues that cause rework are actually preventable. According to the Autodesk and FMI report, Construction Disconnected, 52% of rework was caused by poor project data and miscommunication. 

Connected construction addresses these problems by bringing together various project workflows, ultimately reducing or even eliminating rework. 

What’s more, connected construction technology makes design reviews much more streamlined, thus helping stakeholders spot and prevent constructability issues before they lead to rework problems down the line. 

4. Schedule

Connected construction can also keep teams and projects right on schedule. 

When your tools and workflows are integrated, it’s easier to view the project timeline and determine what needs to happen and when. Armed with this information, contractors are able to spot opportunities and risks so they can optimize the project schedule accordingly. 

Plus, having the right data at your fingertips allows for more efficient resource allocation, so you always have the necessary resources at the appropriate time.

5. Health, safety, and the environment

With connected construction, you can have safer and more sustainable projects.

Integrated workflows and better communication between different parties promote a stronger safety culture in the workplace. Having better access to data also improves visibility when it comes to risks and hazards, so you can prevent safety issues on-site.

In terms of being environment-friendly, a connected construction platform makes it easier to source materials sustainably and ethically, enabling contractors to obtain the resources they need with the environment in mind. 

Download the ebook for free

We dive deeper into these construction outcomes in our new ebook, How Digitally Connecting Workflows Dramatically Improves 5 Key Construction KPIs. Download it today to start improving your performance and results. 

DOWNLOAD NOW

The post 5 Construction KPIs & How to Dramatically Improve Outcomes appeared first on Digital Builder.

Today, construction companies have more choice than ever before when it comes to technology. Not only are software solutions proliferating construction businesses, but innovative hardware is becoming prevalent on the jobsite.  

Twenty years ago, technology-forward companies were setting up infrastructure to have laptops and internet at jobsites. Ten years later, we saw smart phones and tablets becoming an industry standard. Now, wearables and extended reality (XR) devices are becoming increasingly common on jobsites.  

One company providing these wearables is RealWear, delivering ruggedized wearable, hands-free assisted reality devices (on the XR spectrum, but closer to physical world) to improve safety and efficiency. And Permasteelisa Group, is one of those innovative companies driving technology forward. Permasteelisa Group is a global leader in the engineering, project management, manufacturing, installation and after-sales service of advanced building facades, architectural envelopes, and interiors. 

Part of Permasteelisa’s promise to its clients is to leverage integrated and digitized processes that help ensure high quality and safety while improving management of the large amount of information that characterizes modern curtain wall projects. Permasteelisa has used Autodesk Construction Cloud products for many years to connect design and field teams to solve challenges posed by “free-form” projects such as the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao or the Olympic Fish in Barcelona.

Permasteelisa Group specializes in curtain wall projects, where there are multiple control activities that must be carried out on exposed areas, or in some cases, on the floor edge at considerable heights and in confined spaces, where handling a tablet can be dangerous. The need to access information and capture notes is still present on projects like this, but it is also crucial to maximize the safety of workers on site.  

In a recent press release, RealWear announced a new and exciting integration with Autodesk® BIM 360

, built in collaboration with Permasteelisa, to solve exactly that challenge. The result was a connected, multimedia device that allows repetitive control operations to be carried out onsite using voice commands, keeping the operator’s hands free for the work. The integration with BIM 360 has helped them optimize time spent in high-risk spaces on the jobsite, reduce the risk of errors, and improve collaboration between all different stakeholders.

“Running BIM 360 on a RealWear device will be a gamechanger, keeping us on the cutting edge of technology and innovation,” said Gordon EarleGroup Operations Executive, Permasteelisa Group. “We are excited to deploy the devices to empower and retain our best workers by outfitting them with a full solution that will make them safer and more productive, delivered by two of the leading technology players in the field.” 

The primary reason Permasteelesa approached RealWear to develop the integration was to enable the execution of hands-free checklists. With this seamless integration, the team can inspect the quality of a curtain wall project while at great heights and maintain employee safety, helping to ensure safe quality deliveries for their clients.  

With this integration, teams can now also hands-free videoconferencing and live sharing of high-resolution images or videos. The project’s field team can bring their colleagues from the other side of the world with them to the construction site for a virtual general inspection or to observe a specific detail. 

“Delivering BIM 360 on the RealWear HMT-1 hands-free assisted reality device means that worker safety is enhanced,” says Gordon Earle. “During the pandemic, this has also helped us limit travel as much as possible, which has been crucial to mitigate the virus and keeping our teams safe.” 

Looking to the future, leaders at Permasteelisa also see this as a great way to avoid international travels for simple, half-day meetings on site that can now be executed virtually with a wearable.  

The advantages, in terms of collaboration and efficiency gains from an integration like this, are evident. For example, the Senior Designer of a project can check the construction site as soon as a potential issue emerges, in real time—resolving field issues remotely from the office. Travel times have been significantly reduced, keeping projects moving forward more efficiently. The video conferencing also allows a seasoned manager to scale across multiple projects and teams, by avoiding in-person meetings. Teams located in different countries can work in real time, favouring collaboration across the different time zones. Thanks to the integration of BIM 360, RealWear HMT-1 and Permasteelisa’s internal systems, the information captured by the field team is immediately available to colleagues, regardless of location. 

If you’d like to learn more about the RealWear and Autodesk BIM 360 integration, you can check out their RealWear’s press release here.

The post How Permasteelisa Deploys Hands-free Construction Management appeared first on Digital Builder.

Met Police and officers in Romania arrested 13 men on Tuesday morning in a series of raids as part of a major investigation into human trafficking.

Following the raids 54 men and one male juvenile have been safeguarded

The investigation was launched by detectives from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command in August 2019 after intelligence highlighted a Romanian organised crime group (OCG) operating between Romania and the UK.

Romanian adult nationals have been recruited and trafficked to the Kingsbury area of north London to work on building sites as unskilled labourers.

Four warrants were executed in Harrow and Brent. Cash and a firearm were also seized.

The males were found housed in multi-occupancy addresses with mattresses covering the whole floor space. Occupants were found sleeping in extremely cramped conditions. They are now receiving support from specialist officers.

Eight men have been arrested in London for human trafficking. They have been taken to a north London police station.

A further five men were arrested in Romania where gold and around 250,000 Euros were seized from the OCG.

Those arrested are aged between 22 and 49 years old. They have been arrested for a variety of offences, including causing another to complete forced or compulsory labour and human trafficking contrary to the modern slavery act 2015.

Detective Constable Dec Wilson, from Central Specialist Crime, said: “These arrests in the UK and abroad are the result of working closely with our partners in Romania for the past 18 months, to identify those involved in the human trafficking and labour exploitation.

“This Eurojust Joint Investigation Team should serve as a warning to other organised crime networks that the Met is committed to working with international law enforcement to target those committing modern day slavery offences in London.

“We need the public’s help as they have an important role to play in recognising and reporting modern slavery. If you suspect someone may be a victim of modern slavery, report it. You will always be taken seriously, and protection and support is available.

“Often those affected do not see themselves as potential victims of labour exploitation and many will have been coerced into this life to make money for an organised crime network.

“We believe there are victims of modern slavery in every borough across London and the public may encounter them every day, possibly without realising.

“As well as being exploited for labour, victims have been found working in construction, domestic servitude, agriculture, cannabis factories and in places you use yourself, such as car washes, barbers and nail bars.”

Police said their enquiries are continuing.

Did you miss our previous article…
https://www.dennis-construction.com/?p=489

Carroll Estimating was established in 2019 to help and support main building contractors and developers better understand their tender and construction costs. Focusing on estimating services, the firm helps secure tenders and projects in a simple and effective way.

However, Carroll Estimating provides more than just an estimating service. The team combines over 40 years of experience and works in a collaborative partnership with clients and construction professionals alike to develop transparent and trusting relationships. With every tender, they provide affordable, professional, cost-effective, confidential and punctual estimating services from the smallest construction projects to large civil engineering projects across Ireland, the UK and Europe.

Delivering a competitive advantage to their clients is vital and additional estimated coded breakdowns are provided to ensure tenders are factually priced to the last nail. The team recognises the important role technology solutions play in providing accurate and speedy estimates, and the business has invested in sourcing the best estimating and procurement software to deliver results for their clients.

Technology playing a key role in company growth

Patrick Carroll, Director at Carroll Estimating, knows that the shortage of surveyors and estimators across Ireland means many major infrastructure and construction project professionals are time pressured when it comes to tendering and bidding.

“We work with main contractors in Ireland and we’re now expanding into the UK, but we really serve as an extension into their project team,” remarks Patrick. “We take the utmost pride in what we do because when our main contractors are successful, so are we.”

Ensuring that technology plays a vital role in their day-to-day operations is crucial for Patrick and the team, helping to deliver timely but accurate contributions on projects.

“We know that continually evolving and investing in the best technology solutions out there ensures we can provide the most accurate numbers in a timely manner to nurture our relationships. We thrive on repeat business and that comes with the quality of work we provide” reflects Patrick. The quality of work provided by Carroll Estimating is exemplified through their business growth.

Since starting out in 2018, Patrick has been able to grow the size and scale of projects the team work on through fostering their client and customer relationships as well as focusing on innovation. Patrick completed a Masters degree in construction informatics – a Building Information Modelling (BIM) course that provided him with solid knowledge around BIM theory and application as well as principles and practices of advanced construction technologies.

For Carroll Estimating, using BIM on projects and technology like a common data environment is essential for access to the most up-to-date project data and information. As an extension to the project team of the main contractors they serve, Carroll Estimating has experience using a variety of BIM platforms. In fact, Patrick insists this technology is used by all supply chain partners during construction tenders and bids to streamline communication between all stakeholders during the process.

Establishing better BIM practices and creating time savings

Leveraging BIM models for estimating is something Carroll Estimating prioritises on every project. They began a trial of Autodesk Takeoff, an Autodesk Construction Cloud solution, in early 2020 to explore options that would combine 2D and 3D quantification capabilities in one solution.

“We’ve been able to collaborate much more efficiently with our supply chain and main contractor partners as we’re all working from one single source of truth on our takeoffs, bids and tenders,” says Patrick. “We serve as an extension to the main contractor’s project teams, and can use the solution to communicate upfront with our design team colleagues on our needs later down the line.”

Using Autodesk Takeoff, Carroll Estimating can create competitive tenders by performing more accurate 2D takeoffs and generating automated quantities from 3D models. “Before using Autodesk Takeoff, we spent a lot more time on this process. As an example, on a particular project we needed to perform a takeoff for 400 doors, with over 20 door types, each type had a separate specification example some had timber or metal door frames. Previously, this activity may have taken a day to identify all of the doors on the model but now using Autodesk Takeoff, we can do this in less than a minute through the 3D model in the software,” says Patrick.

“The efficiencies for our team and our clients are what really stand out to us. Another example is the time it now takes to price structural floors – previously this may have taken half an hour and now we can do it in a matter of seconds.”

For Carroll Estimating, reducing the time spent on administrative tasks so the small team can concentrate on value-adding activities that support their clients’ needs is essential. Using Autodesk Takeoff has allowed them to do exactly this.

Patrick reflects: “Our contractors ask us to price jobs after doing measurements. When we’re working on big infrastructure or commercial projects, we could have up to 50-100 subcontractors working with our team. This means when we send out jobs for pricing, we would need to contact every single one four times as we generally get around four prices per trade. So already, we’re looking at potentially sending out pricing requests to 400 people!

“And when you add the number of email replies you may have to respond to, as well as chasing for quotes and so on, in a week you may have sent up to 1200 emails to complete that one task. Having everyone using one common data environment reduces these administrative tasks immensely – we use the clusters features in Autodesk Takeoff to break out floors, doors and windows to streamline this process and provide a visual representation.”

Staying competitive and growing their offering through technology

Not only does Carroll Estimating save time using Autodesk Takeoff’s features to generate accurate quantities needed for pricing, but the team is also able to verify and capture the most detailed quantities when it comes to bidding and tendering for future work.

As Carroll Estimating works with a number of model iterations on their projects, when drawings change, the team is alerted easily and quickly. They can then quickly verify how any changes affect their pricing using Autodesk Takeoff where previously these changes may have taken a number of days to update.

Collaborating with architects and designers on their projects in real-time in the model using Autodesk Takeoff means communication is more transparent and accurate. The project team can communicate clearly in the models on the needs for pricing and estimating work further down the line. This is vital as accuracy is key when it comes to bidding for work – the competition is fierce, and estimation needs to be spot on and competitive in the marketplace.

“For us as a team, working with more 3D models has opened up our marketplace. Previously, we were primarily doing jobs that had 2D drawings but now we’re able to work on more complex and bigger jobs as the solution improves our productivity,” says Patrick. “We’re also still able to takeoff more regardless of whether they are 2D or 3D models as we’re working from the same environment.” All of this means Carroll Estimating has the capacity to take on not only more work, but more varied work, ensuring that the team gets a diverse variety of projects to add to their portfolios.

Looking to the future, getting the most out of the features and functionality of Autodesk Takeoff is a priority for Carroll Estimating. The team continues to learn more about the capabilities as well as ensuring good BIM practices are established on projects.

Patrick remarks: “Good BIM practice not only saves time on projects but reduces the need for rework and the number of mistakes that can arise, as well as allowing remote collaboration. Our team isn’t required on site as much because we’re working in a more digital environment that is collaborative and transparent. Not only does this improve productivity but safety is also supported too.”

For Patrick, the value of working digitally using BIM is something every construction project should be doing and is the future direction the industry needs to take.

The post Using Technology to Slash the Time It Takes to Deliver Accurate Takeoffs With Carroll Estimating appeared first on Digital Builder.

Learn about the latest releases for Autodesk Build

When we launched Autodesk Build earlier this year, we set out to give construction teams a powerful set of tools for seamless collaboration between field and office. Autodesk Build is now a centerpiece for managers on thousands of projects worldwide.

In the last few months, our team has been working hard to release over 20 new updates, features, and enhancements—all geared towards helping you better connect your teams, data and processes. So, whether you’re looking to ensure schedule detail is always visible no matter where you are, or need to make your RFI process a much smoother one, check out the latest Autodesk Build releases below.

Jump to details by type:

Highlighted ReleasesSchedule ToolDocument Management Releases  Custom Attributes enhancements *Holding Area updateHypermodel viewing and alignmentSearch Reviews and Transmittals by name  Cost ReleasesCost ManagementConnection to locations Cost payment applications custom approval workflows Project Management ReleasesMeetings | Microsoft Teams integration RFIsEmail mechanism for project team membersEnhanced references View and edit custom fields on mobile ***Quick List action / Three dot menuSubmittals | View linked markups on mobileField Collaboration ReleasesPhotos | Locations **Forms | Forms tab UI revamp on mobileTemplates | Adding Form templates from Account LibraryData and Intelligence ReleasesDashboards | Additional Partner cardsData ConnectorForms data & Power BI templateUpdates to Document Management and Assets Power BI templates *Admin ReleasesAdministrationLimit project and template creation to Account Admins Product Display list in project Admin and Member pagesUI updates to Project List pageAPI | App Gallery

* = features on both Autodesk Construction Cloud unified platform and BIM 360
** = features in both Autodesk Build and BIM 360
*** = features in Autodesk Build, Autodesk BIM Collaborate and BIM 360

 

 

Highlighted Releases

Schedule Tool 

Autodesk Build’s Schedule Tool is now available for all Autodesk Build users! Schedules uploaded from Primavera P6, Microsoft Project, and ASTA Powerproject can be imported to a Build project and displayed in a Gantt chart or calendar view.  

Create custom views that display desired schedule items with the filter function, allowing users to look three weeks ahead or behind the current schedule. Share the schedule with field teams so they can comment on specific activities and link references to each activity item. References include photos, files, sheets, assets, and issues. Users can also integrate Schedule with Cost in Autodesk Build to improve budgeting and planning for schedule-related costs. 

Get all the details on the new Schedule Tool in this blog post [coming soon].

 

 

Document Management Releases

Document Management | Custom Attributes Enhancements * 

You now have better document control with custom attribute enhancements. For example, Custom Attributes with text fields now have character type and character limit constraints. In addition, Admins have the ability to edit custom attributes that already have data associated with them. 

Document Management | Holding Area update

Previously, files in the Holding Area were split into batches based on upload group with a time/date stamp. The Holding Area will now show all files in a single list and will be sortable by columns so Admins can easily review, edit, and approve.

Document Management | Hypermodel Viewing and Alignment 

Users will now get a better understanding, and visualization, of their 2D drawings and 3D Models with hypermodel viewing and alignment. Users can choose 2D drawings to position on top of a sectioned 3D model to align and seamlessly navigate between. 

Document Management | Search Review by Name 

You now have access to a new search bar at the top of the Reviews page. By inputting a keyword in the search bar, users will be able to search through all Review Names to quickly find the Review they’re looking for. 

 

 

Cost Releases

Cost Management | Connection to Locations ** 

Autodesk Build and BIM 360 Cost Management users can now connect a location to budget and change order items. This feature allows teams to see how much money is allocated to specific areas in the building, and have a location-based view of changes. This provides a powerful way to track patterns to mitigate risk and potential cost overruns. 

Cost Management | Cost Payment Applications Custom Approval Workflows **

Autodesk Build and BIM 360 Cost Management users can now utilize the decision-based workflow engine to create custom workflows to automate the internal review and approval process of cost payment applications. 

 

 

Project Management Releases

Meetings | Microsoft Teams Integration *** 

Autodesk Build and BIM Collaborate users will now be able to add a Microsoft Teams meeting link directly from the meeting. This helps to enable more collaboration between project teams as users can now choose between Zoom and a Microsoft Teams collaboration toolsets.

RFIs | Email mechanism for project team members

Coming early October. Project team members can now reply to RFIs directly from the email notification, without logging into the platform. If a team member has a ball-in-court, their response will be noted as the official response and the RFI will automatically move to the next step in the process. This increases collaboration, streamlines the process, and helps improve the response time for RFIs.  

RFIs | Enhanced References

Autodesk Build users can add additional references including submittals, forms, assets, and schedule items. When referencing RFIs in other tools, such as Issues, users will be able to search and filter across all RFIs, making it easy to connect workflows within Build. 

RFIs | Quick List Action / Three dot menu 

Autodesk Build users can now perform quick RFI actions from the RFI menu within the RFI log. These actions include: duplicate RFI, sending a reminder email to the RFI ball-in-court, and exporting the RFI.

RFIs | View and edit custom fields on mobile

Autodesk Build users can now view and edit custom fields, within RFIs, directly from their mobile devices. 

Submittals | View linked markups on mobile 

Autodesk Build users can now view linked submittals directly from markups on their iOS and Android advice. This ensures that all team members, especially those in the field, have access to important project documents. 

 

 

Field Collaboration Releases

Photos | Locations

Users will have the ability to add a location to a photo. Linking jobsite photos to predefined project locations will help teams further standardize the way they collect and organize their data.

Forms | Forms Tab UI revamp on mobile

Coming soon. The Forms tab UI will be revamped to offer a more convenient experience to mobile users. With this improvement, finding and quickly editing form drafts becomes easier for the field team. The update includes a new“At a glance” view and searching and filtering options. 

Templates | Adding Form Templates from Account Library 

Account Admins will now see the ability to add a form template directly to a project template. This can be created within the account level library. This expands on the standardization capabilities ensuring that teams are always inputting the right data via the most up-to-date templates. 

 

 

Data & Intelligence Releases

Dashboards | Additional Partner Cards 

Both Autodesk Construction Cloud Unified Platform and BIM 360 users will now see new partner cards for Google,  Airtable, Join.BUILG , Stevenson Systems, EmbneusysField Control AnalyticsLambertssonOpticVyuProgressCenterProNovosQuickbaseSafe Site Check InSignOnSiteStructShareTopBuilder, and WakeCap

Data Connector | Forms Data & Power BI Template

Coming early October. Autodesk Build users can now extract Forms data using the Data Connector as well as leverage a new Power BI Template. This will help improve visibility into how teams are using forms, an overview of the status of forms, and highlight any issues that need to be addressed. 

Data Connector | Updates to Document Management & Assets Power BI Templates ** 

There is now a new Document Management Power BI Template that includes formats for both csv and compatibility with the Power BI Connector tool. Additionally, there is a new Asset Power BI Template that is compatible with the Power BI Connector tool.These templates help teams start to create custom dashboards that align more to their company KPI’s while using easy out-of-the-box options.  

 

dmin Releases

dministration | Limit Project & Template Creation to Account Admins 

Autodesk Construction Cloud Unified Platform users can now limit the creation of new projects and new project templates to only Account Admins. This restriction creates more control, improves standardization, and ensures the unnecessary creation of duplicate projects or project templates. 

dministration | Product Display List in Project Admin & Members Pages

Project Admins will now only see the products they have purchased as options to assign to members. This will avoid potential confusion of which products or licenses are available to use. Additionally, Account Admins will have the option from this screen to purchase or add additional products. 

dministration | UI Updates to Project List Page

Users can now see additional links to other Autodesk Construction Cloud products in the top of the project list page. The addition of these links will help teams save time with the ability to easily access other Autodesk Construction Cloud products like BuildingConnected and TradeTapp.

PI | App Gallery 

The App Gallery allows Account Admins to easily connect Autodesk Construction Cloud platform products with third-party apps such as augmented reality tools, jobsite cameras or scheduling applications. The App Gallery allows users to explore and discover a range of integration solutions that leverage the Forge open platform for seamless data flow. 

To see the full list of our latest updates across all Autodesk Construction Cloud, please check out this blog post.

 

Get the newsletter and stay up to date on the latest features and product announcements

The post Autodesk Build Gets 20+ Product Updates, Features, and Enhancements appeared first on Digital Builder.

Did you miss our previous article…
https://www.dennis-construction.com/?p=405

Picture this. Project setbacks are no longer something to dread, instead, you’re able to navigate them with ease. Your project is on track and your entire workforce, from jobsite managers to executives in the office, are seamlessly sharing real-time data—and making great decisions because of it. Every phase of construction is on time and on budget. Sounds like a dream, right? You might be surprised to learn that this dreamscape is closer to reality than you think. 

So, what holds so many construction firms back from achieving this possibility? Harnessing the Data Advantage in Construction, a global industry report made in partnership between Autodesk and FMI, uncovers some answers to this pertinent question.

According to our research, over $1.8 trillion in global construction waste may be caused due to bad data. The root of this problem is largely associated with deficiencies in the quality of data you make decisions from. In turn, this issue begs some important questions directly related to how skilled your workforce is in leveraging the plethora of data points.

 

s a leader or manager, ask yourself:

What kind of skills are needed to make sure my teams keep up with industry tech?Should I be investing in my teams’ data and tech skills? What does that look like?What roles should I expect to fill as construction becomes more data-driven?

To help answer these questions, we spoke with several respected technology leaders in construction. They shared their thoughts on the importance of workforce upskilling and tips for embracing the data-driven world of construction. What we found was a range of ideas for getting more value from your data, how to properly govern data, and suggestions for fostering a data-first culture. Read on for their insights.

Data skills with high value

The volume of construction data has doubled in the last three years according to our research in the data strategy report mentioned above. We asked, “What data management or analytical skills do you think will be most important in the future of the construction industry?”

Understanding the value of data in decision-making 

“In general, every person should understand the value of data and data-driven decision-making. This might include how to think about what data is important for evaluating a particular business process or problem area, effective ways to visualize data, and even applying basic statistics concepts like correlations and standard deviations.” —Warren Kudman, CIO, Turner Construction Company

Making data trustworthy and easy to access

“Robust data collections and a single source of truth are critical for a successful project. The data needs to be timely and accurate. Users should be able to trust the data. In addition to this, the data entries need to be automated. People should not have to enter the same data in multiple systems.” Hrishi Maha, Leader Data Analytics and Software Development, DPR Construction

Knowing how to use new analytic technology

“Do not rely on the age-old reporting that your system is currently generating. Ask new questions about how jobs perform. Ask questions about how teams and different combinations of teams, project types, and clients all interact. Start leveraging new analytic technology to tell you where it sees issues in your business and go from there.  If you just stick to the same report you have always used, you won’t see the value of the gold mine you are sitting on.” —Matt Lamb, Chief Innovation Officer, Rosendin

Ensuring data governance, stewardship and consistency

“Embedded data governance and data stewardship will be essential to ensure the credibility, quality, and security of data as the demand for self-service continues and as we become more interconnected with our partners, clients, supply-chain, and environment.”Jenny Moshea, Chief Information Officer, Sellen Construction

“As we dive deeper into data, having governance and policies associated with how data is collected, used, and shared, is crucial. Doing so involves the hiring of IT personnel with data analytics/architecture backgrounds to help wrangle the data. This is step one; without consistency, data is useless, and without governance, the associated risk is exponential.” Dan Smolilo, Director of Process and Innovation, Walsh Group

Connecting and relating data from disparate sources

“The two skills that will be paramount in the future are understanding how to connect and relate data from disparate sources. Then you need to focus on keeping controls in place so that the data stays clean and standardized for better analysis.” Travis Voss, Leader of Innovative Technology, Helm-Mechanical

 

Why and how to invest in data skills

Investing in skill development can help ensure your team is equipped to manage current and future challenges. Knowing where to start is often the hardest part. We asked, “Do you think construction companies should be investing in skill development (such as data management and analysis) to equip their workforce for the future? If so, where do you think firms should start?”

Education is critical to success

“We can start by understanding our current development plans and how we can provide simple introductory lessons. These lessons will help weed out the people that do not value these processes and empower the ones who do with more refined and developed courses. There are various ways to empower through education, whether it’s through local university data analytics courses, solution-specific courses (from providers like mondoDB or PowerBI), or advanced certifications courses (from solutions such as Udemy, Codecademy, or various other certification courses). Education is key to being a highly functional and top-performing company.” Dan Smolilo, Director of Process and Innovation, Walsh Group

Begin with a data strategy

“Companies should establish a data strategy and set goals, and work toward a data culture in the organization. That part is critical for becoming a data-driven company. Once the data strategy is established, the roles within data can be identified. As each organization works differently, the roles may have to be customized to suit the needs.” Hrishi Maha, Leader Data Analytics and Software Development, DPR Construction

Support high-level B.I. and analytics training

“I think [companies] should be hiring people specifically for these roles. We should be investing in some high-level training for our project teams on the importance of good data collection as well as placing controls into the systems we use to prevent bad data from being entered.” Travis Voss, Leader of Innovative Technology, Helm-Mechanical

“We should expect to support a large percentage of our staff in basic business intelligence/analytics tools so that anyone can quickly develop a visualization of their data.  Of course, there will also be specialist roles that include Data Analysts and Data Engineers, who have deeper training and experience in how to build more complex analytic models.” —Warren Kudman, CIO, Turner Construction Company

Bring or build the talent in-house

“I believe there is value in every functional area across a company having a resident data analyst with data literacy skills, whether or not it is in their official job title. Someone who likes to dig into the data, understand it, question it, and be able to run simple queries to answer business questions. Incorporate data analytics skills into existing job descriptions as you look to hire new or grow existing employees. Look for folks who are curious and want to continue to grow.” Jenny Moshea, Chief Information Officer, Sellen Construction

“If construction companies don’t start building this talent in-house or bring it in from outside sooner than later, they are going to be behind the curve.  It will be important to have a data analyst or scientist on staff or on retainer and a data visualization specialist to present the data in a way that it can be consumed. Companies should work with their IT departments to see what is currently available in house, what is provided through an existing consultant network or what options their ERP provider has for them with regards to data management and analytics” —Matt Lamb, Chief Innovation Officer, Rosendin

Predictions for emerging construction roles

Good data is imperitive to to decision making. Who manages the data and how continues to reveal itself as the industry evolves. So, we asked, “What type of construction roles do you expect to emerge or expand in the coming decade as construction becomes more data driven?” Here’s what was shared in our interviews.

Focus on data culture and data democratization

“We will see roles emerge in the field that drive data collection workflows whether that data comes from people, passive systems, autonomous capture, or IoT edge-connected devices. Creating a data culture that fosters data democratization so that everybody in a company, regardless of their technical know-how, can work with data comfortably and make data-informed decisions is vital.”Jenny Moshea, Chief Information Officer, Sellen Construction

Expect more data analysts and engineers

“We will see more data analysts and engineers who know how to collect, integrate, and analyze data to perform more complicated associations and correlations across individual data sets.  These aren’t construction roles per se, but will support and provide additional insight to front-line construction teams” —Warren Kudman, CIO, Turner Construction Company

“I expect more data analyst roles specialized in each part of the construction life cycle to emerge.” Hrishi Maha, Leader Data Analytics and Software Development, DPR Construction

 

“We will start to see not only new roles but evolving roles and responsibilities such as Project Engineer – Data.  Their core focus will be to leverage the data collected from jobsites to build automation and reporting modules, enabling better decision-making. We will start to also see data groups evolving within organizations that will be used as real-time construction centers. These centers will function similarly to a 911 dispatch center as they develop tools to educate us on the real-time quality, safety, performance, and profitability of our projects”. Dan Smolilo, Director of Process and Innovation, Walsh Group

Growth of the construction technology role

“I definitely think that the role of Construction Technologist that’s gotten popular in the last few years needs to continue to expand into entire teams and departments that will include business analysts and data scientists. It will be a very critical part of leading construction companies to continue to improve processes and to tease insights out of the data.” Travis Voss, Leader of Innovative Technology, Helm-Mechanical

Data specialists integrated in IT

“I don’t know if I see a whole lot of new roles emerging as we become more data-driven, but I do think we are going to see more data specialists present in IT departments.  Naturally, the operations staff such as project managers and superintendents are going to have to adapt to a world that is providing them a lot more data points to accomplish their work than were present in the past.” —Matt Lamb, Chief Innovation Officer, Rosendin

 

What does the future of data skills look like?

We can expect to see data governance, stewardship, and consistency grow in importance as the industry embraces a data-first culture. As you’ve heard from the experts, making data work for your firm requires an investment in skills development as well as a strong foundational strategy. We’d love to hear your thoughts on the future of data-driven roles in construction. How do you see roles evolving and how can companies best upskill their workforce? Join the discussion in The Big Room, our online construction community.

 

Download our in-depth Data Strategy report

Harnessing the Data Advantage in Construction is a revealing report covering the true cost of bad data, and the actionable steps you can take to build a data strategy that gives you a competitive edge. The report includes guidance on establishing focal points, organizational buy-in, standardization of data and more. The report was made in partnership between Autodesk and FMI. If you’d prefer to listen, you can download the audiobook version of the report as well.

 

Get the Data Strategy Report

The post 6 Leaders in Construction Share Priority Data Skills to Plan for Now appeared first on Digital Builder.

Paperless is a term that is being tossed around more and more in the construction industry. However, it doesn’t always mean the same thing. Paperless can mean different things to different businesses. Some might consider using software like Zoom or Xero as a big step in the right direction; others are issuing company devices and mandating field apps and others still feel like ‘going paperless’ is a myth. So, who is right? What does paperless mean and how is it achieved?

The shift to paperless

Remember when faxes switched to emails? Yeah, neither can we… however some could say this was one of the first steps that led to a significant reduction of paper being used in business. In most office-based businesses this slowly led to moving other processes online, and more recently, into the cloud. Once Covid-19 was added to the mix, online collaboration tools like Zoom, Slack, Teams and SharePoint became the norm across all industries, including those that previously lagged in digitising, like construction.

Although some of these tools were completely new in the construction space, these companies still found themselves with plenty of paper. Plans, diagrams, tender submissions, RFIs, checklists and occasionally, even timesheets, can still be paper based. In some instances, it might be mandated by site or government regulations, in other instances it’s a case of a lack of technically skilled workers, a technology budget or the right knowledge to take the plunge.

How to make the paperless move

Going paperless isn’t as daunting as it may seem. Yes, it is a big change, but a welcome one. According to recent research by McKinsey & Company moving to paperless projects is one of the five trends shaping construction and capital projects. Skilling and tooling up a couple of workers on a specific project is a common way many companies start. By taking this approach they can reduce risk and manage budgets by upskilling employees and investing in devices on a rolling basis, rather than all at once.

Although it’s also not uncommon to take an ‘all in’ approach like Melbourne-based BN Electrical did in 2018. They set a goal to go completely paperless by 2019 to ensure better document management to improve communication and reduce project risk.

“We simply took the paper away,” says Matthew Bien-Izowski, Managing Director at BN Electrical. “Our goal in the future is to operate a completely digital environment that will not only change the future, but enhance the functionality and productivity of staff by measurable degrees.”

After the change, BN Electrical workers claim they would never go back to using paper in the field.

The benefits of paperless

When we say paperless, we’re not talking Excel. We’re talking cloud-based software that is always up to date, and accessible by the right people at the appropriate time (and is easier to use than Excel). When your project and or team is using the same software, you become truly collaborative:

Everyone is always using the latest version or set of drawings, even onsiteMark-ups are updated in real timePhotos, videos, notes or even web links can easily be attached to markups or quality signoffsChecklists and reports can be filled out, reviewed and submitted quicklyRFIs and responses can be made visible to all authorised contractorsAll information is stored with backups in the cloud securelyCompiling all information for handover and maintenance is easier than ever.

A recent study by Autodesk to quantify the challenges of more traditional methods and the benefits of a digital approach to construction, found that  84% of those who track project data find it useful, more easily clarifying errors in tender documents before construction starts. When it comes to effective construction project management, fostering high levels of productivity on site and in the office is key; over 70% of contractors say the greatest issues damaging productivity are problems with coordination and communication, and poor schedule management. Construction software solutions provide an approach to dramatically mitigate these issues.

It doesn’t need to be daunting

As mentioned above, starting with a single paperless project can be a great way to begin. Or, if the decision is made to go all in, the process will stay on track if there is a clear roadmap with goals and timelines and buy-in from different people in the business.

If you would like to learn more about how Autodesk Construction Cloud can help your business go paperless, you can request a demo. To learn more about digital transformation, and how to start your journey, our digital transformation roadmap infographic can be viewed here.

The post Going Paperless in Construction: What It Really Means and How to Do It appeared first on Digital Builder.

Did you miss our previous article…
https://www.dennis-construction.com/?p=374

Discover key findings in infographic below

Advances in construction technology continue to accelerate what’s possible for the industry at large. The challenge with all this new technology is the sheer volume of project data it generates.

In fact, over the past three years alone, our research shows that new project data has doubled industry-wide. Couple that with common industry challenges in capturing, managing, and analyzing data, and we find a startling $1.8 trillion in cost impacts to the construction industry globally due to “bad” data. This is notably associated with the impact of bad data on decision-making.

This is where a clear data strategy can change everything.

In today’s construction landscape, working fast is a competitive advantage. Whether you’re coordinating with stakeholders, generating designs, or managing a jobsite, the speed at which you make decisions can make or break your projects.

With the right data management systems and strategies, construction teams can easily get the information they need to make good decisions that move projects forward at minimum risk.

A new report from Autodesk and FMI, Harnessing the Data Advantage in Construction, reveals the fundamental need for proper data management in construction, and the surprising cost of inaction. It also identifies current roadblocks and practical, actionable steps to implementing a data strategy that can make your projects significantly more profitable.

DOWNLOAD THE REPORT

Read on to get a glimpse of some key findings you’ll pick up from the report.

Key report findings and how they impact data strategy

Finding #1: Too much of your data is likely unusable or bad

Data is only as good as it is useful. So when it comes to construction data, true value lies in quality, not quantity. Having a lot of information isn’t necessarily a good thing, and that’s especially true if you’re looking at bad project data — i.e., your data is inaccurate, incomplete, inconsistent, or untimely.

In our research, 30% of the survey’s respondents indicated that up to 50% of their organization’s data are considered bad.

Having poor project data comes with consequences. Without accurate information, you won’t be able to make the best decisions, which can ultimately hurt your projects. In our research, respondents indicated that bad data led to poor outcomes in a third of their organization’s decisions.

As for the causes behind bad project data, our research found that the top contributors include:

Inaccurate/Incorrect data (24%)* Missing data (24%)* Wrong data (21%)*

So, what should construction professionals do to address the issue of bad project data? One important step is to tighten up your data entry practices. Inconsistent data entry is the largest cause of bad data. So by standardizing how you capture information, you can prevent bad data from permeating throughout your organization, and negatively impacting your bottom line.

*Please refer to the full report for detailed definitions of bulleted items

Finding #2: Making field decisions using data is critical, but often undervalued

We’ve already established that having good data is essential to making sound decisions. However, this has serious impacts in the field because these are your frontline decision-makers. It’s your project management and field supervision staff that are collecting, managing, and analyzing data every week.

The biggest reason behind the lack of data-driven decision making, according to respondents, is the urgency required when making a decision. And when accurate data isn’t readily available, we’re forced to move forward even when we don’t have all the information. Here are the top three risks to project decision-making:

Time constraint or urgency of decision (43%)Lack of reliable data (36%)Lack of experience with similar project decisions/issues (36%)

You can already see how good data serves to resolve major concerns associated with making critical decisions in the field. Read the full report to see the complete list of risks to decision-making.

Finding #3: Simply put, formally implement a data strategy

From the report, “The first step to supporting project staff who are tasked with data management and analysis is implementing a formal data strategy. Having a framework in place will lift the burden from busy supervisory staff and it will improve data consistency and insight moving forward.”

The problem for those without a strategy in place is that project data is not consistently informing decision-making. Only a fraction (12%) of respondents say that they always incorporate project data in their decision-making. Over 50% of survey respondents indicated they use project data when making decisions only occasionally, or even worse, not at all.

Our study found that respondents who “always” or “often” use project data when making decisions are more likely to have a data management plan or strategy already in place.

What elements should your data plan include? When asked about their own strategies, respondents highlighted they include the following components:

Sources and collection methods Standards for project data formatting and processingIdentifications and descriptions of data Methods and platforms for collecting, accessing, and sharing project data Archiving data Formal data management roles and responsibilities

The report also reveals what organizations put effort into when committed to quality data. Respondents said the following investments ensure decision-makers in the field can access actionable, high-quality data:

Regularly reviewing data at set intervals for quality purposes (40%) Having established data reporting and monitoring practices, both at the time of collection and use (38%) Structuring data in a common data environment (38%)

Our findings clearly lead to the importance of implementing a formal data strategy for project data, but we found that only 55% of respondents have done so themselves.

Finding #4: Buy-in from your entire organization is vital

According to the report, “Even if organizations understand the benefits of having a data management strategy, the path to implementation may be littered with roadblocks. Clearly, project management and field supervisors should require a plan to collect, manage, and analyze data. However, without knowing what investment is required or where to begin, leadership may not back the project. Obtaining buy-in from all key stakeholders is necessary for the successful roll out of a data management strategy.”

When asked what is holding respondents back from implementing a formal project data plan/strategy themselves, the top three concerns included:

Cost/required resources (40%)Not sure about where or how to start (36%)No leadership/organizational support (36%)

Further, organizations with revenue over $500 million were more likely to suggest “No leadership/organizational support” as a reason for not implementing a formal data strategy. This may be tied to how challenges manifest in a large construction firm compared to a smaller one, according to findings.

In the report, we also share key learnings associated with the lack of understanding benefits of a formal data strategy. There’s also the factor of workforce training. What do you do with all your data? Who manages it? How do you create consistency in entry, management and use of data?

We provide insight into those questions, and so much more, in Harnessing the Data Advantage in Construction, an in-depth report made in partnership between Autodesk and FMI. You can download it right now at no cost.

DOWNLOAD FULL REPORT

Download the report, Harnessing the Data Advantage in Construction, for actionable insights on the vital nature of a formal data strategy

At the end of the day, when equipped with good project data, construction stakeholders can rest easy knowing that they have reliable information at their fingertips to make important decisions quickly.

Accomplishing this requires having a formal data strategy in place, and one that’s executed by skilled team members. With these two components in place, you’ll be in an excellent position to leverage quality data for meaningful project decisions.

Download the report, Harnessing the Data Advantage in Construction: Why adopting a data strategy can bring firms a competitive edge.

If you’d prefer to listen and learn, you can download the audiobook version of the report as well.

The post New Report Reveals Data Strategy is a Key Advantage in Construction appeared first on Digital Builder.