Digital Construction Report NBS

1 NBS digital construction report survey
2 BIM
3 Cloud computing
4 Off-site construction
5 Digital twins
6 Artificial intelligence (AI)
7 Immersive technology
8 Supporting sustainable construction
9 Related articles on Designing Buildings

[edit] NBS digital construction report survey

The latest NBS digital construction report, in association with our sister company Glenigan, highlights the methods and technologies that are being used by the profession to tackle industry challenges, such as climate change and building more safely. As well as revealing recent adoption trends, it provides insights into likely future use.

We ran the survey between July and September 2023. It was distributed using various channels and supported by a range of industry bodies, including CIAT. We are very grateful for this support, which helps us to represent professionals from across the industry. In total, 723 people completed the survey. The majority (72%) are based in the UK, although 28% are based elsewhere, with 60 countries represented across six continents.

Survey respondents represent the main project roles of client, constructor, supplier and consultant. Comprising two-thirds of the sample, consultants are the largest group. In terms of discipline, the respondents include architects (23% of the sample), engineers, other designers, project managers, main contractors and product specialists – as well as a wide range of other roles. Two of the largest groups are architectural technologists (ATs) (6% or 42 people) and BIM specialists (17% or 125 people). The majority of ATs work in private practice, mainly architectural. Some work in local authorities. BIM specialists are spread across a wider range of organisations – architectural, engineering, and multidisciplinary practices, but also main contractors. ATs are spread across organisations of different sizes, while over three-quarters of the BIM specialists who responded are in organisations with over 50 staff. Almost nine out of ten ATs are in the UK or Ireland; for BIM specialists, this figure is seven out of ten.

[edit] BIM

Among all respondents, a solid majority (70%) say that they have adopted BIM. It has been at this level since 2018. Each year, many of those yet to adopt BIM (almost one-fifth in 2023) say they plan to do so. The fact that the proportion adopting it has not increased suggests that barriers remain. Furthermore, 12% of respondents to this latest survey have no plans to use BIM. Adoption among AT respondents is a little lower at 66%, while 16% have no plans to adopt BIM. For BIM specialists, the figure is, unsurprisingly, over 90%. BIM adoption does remain lower among smaller organisations, currently at 56% for those with 15 staff or less. Of these organisations, 23% have no plans to adopt BIM, with some saying it is not relevant for their projects.

There remain differences in the way that people view BIM. For some, it is simply working with 3D parametric models (26%). For others, it is following a process, such as that outlined in the international suite of standards – BS EN ISO 19650 (27%). BIM specialists are particularly likely to see it this way (55%). Some, although the number is falling, still identify with the older BS/ PAS 1192 standards, synonymous with ‘Level 2 BIM’ (22%). ATs are more likely to see BIM in this way (38%), although one-third of ATs view BIM in terms of ISO 19650. Perhaps in recognition of the technical language that has developed around BIM, there has been a move to think of BIM as simply ‘better information management’. This is the most common way that our survey respondents describe BIM (31%), although only 23% of ATs do so. Some (29%) see BIM as the foundation of digital transformation. ATs are less likely to agree, while 41% of BIM specialists see it this way.

In terms of ‘BIM tasks,’ such as sharing information in common data environments (CDEs), a majority of those who have adopted BIM tend to be involved with these, although there has been little change since 2021. However, in terms of information sharing, there appears to be an increase on all counts. Over three-quarters (77%) now say that their organisation follows a naming convention for all information that is shared. More than half (56%) exchange information in IFC1 format, and 36% in COBie2 format.

We have seen a gradual increase in the use of Uniclass, cited as the recommended classification in the ISO 19650 series. This trend has continued in 2023, with 46% of survey respondents now saying it is the most used classification on their projects, compared to 33% citing the Common Arrangement of Work Sections (CAWS). The results are a bit different among ATs: 32% for Uniclass and 51% for CAWS. Use of Uniclass by BIM specialists is much higher, at 79%.

[edit] Cloud computing

The survey results indicate that cloud computing is now used by eight out of ten professionals. Its use has grown steadily over several years. It was a little lower for ATs (70%), although most plan to use it. Slightly more respondents say they use cloud computing than BIM, the next most adopted digital way of working. People are using cloud computing solutions for storage, to share information with clients and to collaborate with other team members. While cloud computing and BIM are used by a majority, their rates of adoption are slowing. In contrast, there is stronger growth in the proportion of professionals involved with off-site construction, digital twins and AI.

[edit] Off-site construction

In 2021, half of respondents were involved with off-site construction projects, whereas in 2023 this had increased to 57% (51% among ATs). The most common types of off-site construction are sub-assemblies and accessories, which could include a wide range of elements from door furniture to roof trusses. However, significant numbers are involved with panelised and modular construction. Data from a range of other sources, including Glenigan, also shows a growing trend in off-site construction. For instance, 7% of new-build projects started in the first nine months of 2023 included an element of off-site construction or manufacture. By value, the proportion is higher (11%). Off-site has made the greatest inroads into the industrial, education, and hotel and leisure sectors. During the first nine months of 2023, 22% of new-build education projects included an off-site element.

While some modular housebuilding factories and companies have closed in the last year or so, we do anticipate continued growth in off-site construction in the long term.

[edit] Digital twins

Like BIM, ‘digital twins’ can mean different things to different people. In our survey, we provided the definition: ‘A realistic digital representation of something physical. What distinguishes a digital twin from any other digital model is its connection to the physical twin.’3 One-quarter of survey respondents said they had been involved in a project that used a digital twin, up from 16% in 2021. Use was lower (13%) for ATs and higher (38%) among BIM specialists. Most commonly, digital twins are used to mirror the construction and to create an as-built model, or to inform design, including for clash detection. They are also used to create a twin of an existing building for improvements and retrofit.

[edit] Artificial intelligence (AI)

In previous surveys, the proportion of people using AI was low, usually in single figures. That changed in this survey, with 22% using AI. While this is not a sudden mass adoption, there are signs that it will gain ground in the industry. One-fifth plan to use AI within a year, and some respondents commented that they see great potential with the technology, as well as some risk. Indications are that ATs are a bit more circumspect, with just 7% using AI now, and 66% with no plans to do so.

[edit] Immersive technology

Finally, immersive tech. Over the years, we have seen a consistent, strong minority of about one-third of respondents using virtual, augmented or mixed reality. In 2023, the figure was 36%. However, this has not really increased, despite people saying they intend to use it: 27% in 2023. Use is higher among ATs (40%) and BIM specialists (43%). This tech is most used for stakeholder engagement, such as client walkthroughs.

[edit] Supporting sustainable construction

Most survey respondents believe that the adoption of digital ways of working is helping to create better places (79%), to create a safer built environment (73%) and is having a positive environmental impact (72%). For ATs, the numbers are a little lower at 74%, 67% and 64%, respectively. For BIM specialists, they increase to 89%, 84% and 77%. In terms of sustainability, we find that two-thirds of respondents are using digital tech to calculate metrics, such as embodied carbon (40%) and energy demand (38%). Some of these are higher among BIM specialists; for instance, 50% use digital technology to calculate embodied carbon.

The survey results show that built environment professionals are using new technologies and ways of working to address industry challenges. Their use to calculate environmental metrics is a practical example of this. Looking ahead, BIM continues to be seen as a key enabler of other innovations. Cloud computing and off-site construction are also expected to play an important role, with some also anticipating that AI will do so. In some areas, ATs appear to be cautious about adopting certain technologies, while in other areas they are leading the way. Certainly, there are challenges, particularly in ensuring that the benefits of new technologies can be applied appropriately to benefit all parts of the industry.

You can read the full report here: https://www.thenbs.com/digital-construction-report-2023/.

This article appears in the AT Journal Spring issue, 149 2024, as 'NBS Digital Construction Report 2023' and was written by David Bain, Research Manager, NBS

--CIAT