TRAINING PAUL MCCORMACK, INNOVATION MANAGER FOR BELFAST METROPOLITAN COLLEGE HIGHLIGHTS THE BENEFITS OF A DIGITALLY INFORMED AND EMPOWERED WORKFORCE… Building a digital pathway to recovery, growth and sustainability DIGITAL
C onstruction in the UK and Ireland is experiencing significant internal supply chain problems, cost controls and added external problems such as the demand to reduce the C0 2 footprint of construction to meet the energy reduction targets as demanded to address the climate crisis. Despite strong pipelines of work (€1.64 trillion of construction- related turnover estimated for the EU market during the next five years), attracting young people into the sector is difficult, partly due to associations with a lack of stability, modernity and diversity. challenges including labour shortages, One of the fastest and most beneficial routes for the sector to address these challenges is to upskill its workforce and provide them with the digital skills, access and tools to help transition the sector into an innovative, relevant and energy-efficient industry. To meet the climate challenge, the construction sector must reduce its carbon footprint. To achieve this, it is vital that the green economy delivers a better-skilled workforce and develops new competencies and methods of working such as digitalisation. The pandemic has led to shortages of staff on construction sites with reductions and labour shortages appearing across construction supply chains. With productivity and safety at the top of all company agendas, the use of digital tools and data analysis is the solution to maintaining safe
numbers of staff on site while also maintaining productivity. As a digital tool, Building Information Modelling (BIM) packages help designers access and develop key parameters such as: cost, weight, design specifications, CO 2 emissions, material wastage and much more as part of the design phase. Digital project planning using 3D scans to measure planned versus. actual timelines allow for highly accurate iterations and control measures. These digital advances have improved efficiencies by up to 50%. BIM and ‘digital twins’ provide the construction company with continuous streams of data. This data, translated into information, ensures that the company is making decisions based on real-time information, enabling more thorough on-site and off-site inspections. Utilising digital ‘disruptive’ methods and technologies, such as BIM, enables staff, contractors and others in the supply chain to communicate electronically, exchange documents, make immediate changes and revisions and importantly review building performance characteristics and allows for visual
Belfast Metropolitan College
Belfast Metropolitan College is a major provider of skills and training support for the built environment. This is achieved in collaboration with a wide network of stakeholders and partners including the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), the public sector and industry. For more information regarding courses, call: +44 (0)28 9026 5265, email: studentportal@ belfastmet.ac.uk or visit: www.belfastmet.ac.uk
language tailored to different sectors. A digitally informed and empowered
construction workforce will drive innovation and growth in the sector and ensure that the sector can adapt, modernise, embrace new technology and truly adopt digital working as the new standard.
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