Cement giants hasten plan to cut CO2 emissions
Forty of the world’s leading cement and concrete manufacturers have joined forces to accelerate the shift to greener concrete by pledging to cut CO2 emissions by a further 25% by 2030.
The world’s most used human-made material accounts for 7% of total global CO2 emissions and is a pivotal material in the response to the climate emergency.
The cement producers target marks the biggest global commitment by an industry to net zero so far – bringing together companies from the Americas, Africa, Asia, including India and China, and Europe.
The firms have affirmed their commitment to net zero concrete by 2050 and agreed to a more ambitious intermediate goal of preventing 5 billion tonnes of CO2 emissions by 2030.
This is equivalent to the CO2 emissions of almost 15 billion flights from Paris to New York.
The roadmap to get there is built around a seven-point plan that seeks to cut the amount of CO2intensive clinker in cement, significantly reduce fossil fuel use in manufacturing, and accelerate innovation in products, process efficiency and breakthrough technologies including carbon capture.
Cement industry net-zero plan
The Global Cement and Concrete Association has also called on governments, designers and contractors to play their part by assembling the right public policies and investments to support the global scale transition of the industry.
These include greater development of critical technologies such as carbon capture and storage, and reforms to public works procurement policy to encourage the use of low-carbon cement and concrete products.
Thomas Guillot, GCCA Chief Executive, said: “We now need governments around the world to work with us and use their huge procurement power to advocate for low carbon concrete in their infrastructure and housing needs.
“We require their support to change regulation that limits the use of recycled materials and impedes the transition to a low carbon and circular economy.”
The association counts companies such as CEMEX, CNBM, CRH, HeidelbergCement, Holcim and Votorantim as members.
Click for full cement and concrete roadmap to net zero report.
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Digital Builder Ep. 20: Evaluating Construction Platforms and Technology
On the heels of Autodesk University, including dozens of engaging sessions from industry-leaders about the importance of data, the term “platform” came up often. But what does that concept really mean? A true platform is more than just a list of APIs connected to a SaaS solution. It provides a single experience where designers, engineers, and builders can harness the data and tools they need whenever and wherever they need them.
So, how can you ensure you’re getting a true platform experience? We cover top takeaways from the podcast below, including how to evaluate construction platforms and technology, and what to expect from data and digitization in the future.
Jim Lynch, Senior Vice President & General Manager, and Sid Haksar, Head of Construction Strategy, both with Autodesk, join the show to answer that question. Plus, they share pivotal moments from Autodesk University, discuss how to evaluate platforms and construction technology to ensure alignment to your business needs, and offer predictions on where construction is heading.
“The fact of the matter is that almost every SaaS product today has APIs that let you exchange data with other applications; but a true platform really plays a more active role in coordinating how products work together.” —Jim Lynch, SVP & GM, Autodesk Construction Solutions
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How to evaluate construction platforms and technology (5 considerations)
A key point of discussion in this episode is the importance of platforms in modern construction, and how AEC professionals can evaluate solutions that best fit their needs. As you’ll learn below, Jim and Sid both share actionable steps to help you do just that.
But before we get to those tips, it’s worth defining what a platform actually is.
“Everybody talks about platforms and there are many out there that seem to think that just because they have APIs, they have a platform,” says Jim.
However, an open API doesn’t necessarily mean that the provider offers a solid platform.
“The fact of the matter is that almost every SaaS product today has APIs that let you exchange data with other applications; but a true platform really plays a more active role in coordinating how products work together.”
Jim continues, “A true platform ensures that data flows seamlessly and bidirectionally across all the capabilities in that platform.”
Sid agrees and adds that those using solid platforms have a more seamless and powerful experience, as it enables “high fidelity connections across teams, workflows, and data.”
So, how can construction professionals ensure that they implement a true platform? Jim and Sid recommend the following steps to help you find and evaluate vendors and solutions for your business.
1. Make sure you know where data is stored and who has access
Getting a proper handle on construction data is essential for every firm. You need to have accurate and up-to-date information in order to execute on your projects. Data is also critical for measuring success and making business decisions.
For this reason, data must be the first factor you consider when evaluating solutions.
According to Jim, a good platform centralizes your data and makes it easy for teams to collaborate.
“Some solutions limit access to the data. They only allow the license holder to have complete control and ownership of that data.” —Jim Lynch, SVP & GM
“Having a single source of truth is paramount. It is a core pillar in the strategy of really creating ways for companies to work from the same documents while respecting the data ownership aspects of it.”
Speaking of which, ownership and accessibility of information should also be considered, says Jim.
“Some solutions limit access to the data,” he warns. “They only allow the license holder to have complete control and ownership of that data.”
PRO TIP
Before getting too far along with a technology provider, make sure you’ve asked them about how their platform handles data and how you and your team can access the necessary information.
2. Discuss how the technology provider defines the project lifecycle
“A true construction platform supports the entire project lifecycle—from design, through reconstruction, out to the job site, out to operations and maintenance,” states Jim. That’s why the question of how a vendor defines the project is really important.
If a vendor’s software only supports a single phase of the project, then it’s not truly a platform.
“I think a lot of providers define a construction project from the point they start on the project site, ending when they push it to operations and maintenance. But that’s not a real platform, that’s a point solution,” he explains.
3. Ask about the solution provider’s customer success and training initiatives
In today’s increasingly competitive and complex construction landscape, you don’t want just any vendor on your side. You need a partner who’ll support you and your team throughout all your projects.
Jim says that before selecting a technology provider, you need to ask them about the customer support, training, and resources they provide.
“Do they have the expertise and skillset to support you? Do they have the teams necessary to really help you adopt, embrace, and in fact, get the most from your technology investment?”
These are just some of the questions that you should ask, he says.
The key is to find a vendor who can support your entire business, not one that’s focused on how fast they can deploy their technology and quickly move on to another customer. The right vendor is there, “to help you take advantage of and collaborate better with the design team, with the team on the job site, with the pre-construction office, and ultimately, with the owner of the project.”
4. Explore their ecosystem of partners and integrations
The next step is to look into the other companies and providers that the vendor works with, and explore the depth of their partnerships.
Bear in mind that not all integrations are created equal. As Sid puts it, “Having partner logos on a website does not really mean much if those integrations are weak and limit the customer’s ability to utilize their existing solutions in an efficient and seamless manner.”
He adds that weak integrations that lack data interoperability and require manual processes “can ultimately lead to greater risk on a project.”
As such, properly vetting the vendor’s integrations and figuring out exactly what information is synced will lead to smarter decisions on which solution providers to choose. Autodesk, for instance, has deep integrations with the industry’s top solutions and also makes it easy for users to create flexible integrations through ACC Connect.
“One of the exciting pieces of news that we announced at AU was that we now have over 200+ integrations leveraging both forge and partner cards,” shares Sid.
“We also have ACC Connect, which enables customers to build their own custom integrations over 100 workflows that we offer, in a no-code environment.”
5. Talk about their pricing model
It’s best to go with a vendor that offers flexible licensing. The best solutions don’t limit the way the customer can purchase technology.
As Sid points out, “being a platform comes with a lot of responsibility to customers. We are essentially asking companies to standardize their core processes on one platform.”
“Construction professionals need to ask if these platforms really offer flexibility in how they can purchase software, rather than deploying a one-size-fits-all approach.” —Sid Harska, Head of Construction Strategy
“To that end, construction professionals need to ask if these platforms really offer flexibility in how they can purchase software, rather than deploying a one-size-fits-all approach.”
Sid adds that you should also determine if the vendor has price certainty so you’re not left with uncomfortable surprises during the terms of your contract.
“In listening to the industry and our customers, [Autodesk] offers multiple ways for people to consume our offerings, whether it’s user-based or account-based. We also strive to offer price certainty and really be a partner to them,” he shares.
The importance of data, digitization, and the future of construction technology
When asked about the future of construction, Jim and Sid both agreed on the importance of data.
The most successful firms will be the ones who can effectively manage and harness the data that they have—something that many companies are struggling to achieve. According to a recent study by Autodesk and FMI, the majority of construction teams don’t have a formal data strategy in place—and many don’t trust the data they do have available.
Data management is clearly a challenge that we must overcome, and the first step in doing that is to digitize systems and processes.
“Embrace digital technology to capture project information from early on in the project through to handover and operations.” —Jim Lynch, SVP & GM
Jim encourages teams to “apply or embrace digital technology to capture project information from early on in the project through to handover and operations.” Taking this step, he says, enables you to amass digital information, which you can integrate into your project management and financial systems.
“This then leads to the optimization stage, the idea of actually using technologies like machine learning to be able to look back at that information, extract key insights, extract key learnings, and drive better outcomes on future projects.”
In line with this, Sid points out the value of standardization.
“Getting access to the data is exceedingly challenging, and it’s really a prerequisite in order for companies to start driving actionable insights from that information,” he remarks.
“I would say standardizing on an open and integrated platform enables that first part of the journey in capturing data in one place. Then subsequent to that is really the ability to surface information in a highly consumable manner so you can make appropriate business decisions.”
The bottom line: data and digitization are the future of construction. The sooner you organize and manage these components in your business, the better positioned you’ll be in the market.
Listen to the Full Episode of Digital Builder
Can’t get enough of platforms, data, and construction tech? Catch the full episode of Digital Builder to hear more from Jim and Sid. You can listen to it on:
- Apple Podcasts
- Spotify
- Stitcher
- Google Podcasts
- or wherever you listen to podcasts.
The post Digital Builder Ep. 20: Evaluating Construction Platforms and Technology appeared first on Digital Builder.
200+ Powerful Integrations Built for Every Phase of Construction
Construction fails without collaboration.
Can you imagine a GC refusing to work with the project architect or a subcontractor unwilling to reply to submittals? I’m sure they’re out there, but they won’t win much repeat business. So then why would some software vendors create “walled-gardens” or prevent integration with their legacy on-premise software? Shouldn’t software collaborate and communicate the same way you do?
You need software systems that not only allow, but in fact promote the smooth flow of data and documents to the systems you use. You deserve software that exhibits some key characteristics:
- A broad and ever-expanding ecosystem of integrations, including the cutting-edge technology that may transform your business, as well as the critical workflows on which you rely daily
- A set of technological capabilities that make it easy for other software companies, and for builders like yourself, to integrate data into a central platform
- Continued investment in that ecosystem and those tools
Last week, we announced that Autodesk Construction Cloud now has over 200 partners who have built direct and seamless integrations with our applications via APIs and Partner Cards. Each one of these partners recognizes that linking data with Autodesk solutions helps customers build better.
What’s more, over 120 of these integrations now work with Autodesk Build, our new, comprehensive field and project management solution that unifies the best-in-class features from BIM 360 and PlanGrid with new capabilities such as cost and schedule management. In just the last few months, the partners listed at the bottom of this article have developed integrations to one or more Autodesk Construction Cloud applications.
Here’s a little more about our partner ecosystem and integration capabilities:
Autodesk’s robust ecosystem of easy-to-deploy integrations
Building and maintaining an ecosystem this expansive requires a solid technological foundation. Autodesk Construction Cloud built that foundation with three primary integration methods: Partner Cards, Forge APIs, and Autodesk Construction Cloud Connect.
Partner Cards allow easy integration deployment and use
Partner Cards provide another way for software applications to integrate with Autodesk Construction Cloud quickly and easily. Partners can embed their application’s interface in a tile within the Insight dashboard in Autodesk Build or the Project Home dashboard in BIM 360.
By selecting and adding these Partner Cards, which support technologies including reality capture, BI tools, workforce planning, and more, our customers create a command center within Autodesk Construction Cloud for their analytics and decision making to drive better, more timely results.
Advanced APIs power critical construction workflows
Through our Forge Platform, Autodesk has made robust, open APIs available to partners and customers. With the high quality and advanced capabilities of these APIs, enhanced by standardization across many Autodesk products and developer support provided by the dedicated Forge team, partners can confidently build integrations powering critical construction workflows.
hh2’s integration between Autodesk Build and Sage represents just one example as explained below. Partners have also built advanced integrations marrying BIM models to reality capture, tying jobsite activity to risk analytics, and more.
New ERP and Accounting Integrations
While our customers embrace new technologies such as drones, virtual reality, and advanced reality capture, they also understand the value of robust and reliable processes and workflows. With that in mind, we are excited that Autodesk Build’s Cost Management capabilities now integrate with leading construction ERP and accounting solutions.
For instance, hh2 Cloud Services’ integration between Autodesk Build and Sage 300 Construction and Real Estate demonstrates the value customers can realize when software tools collaborate. Now, customers can synchronize key financial data between their project management activities in Autodesk Build and their accounting system of record in Sage.
“With [hh2’s Universal Construction Model], Autodesk customers now get technology to make sure their key financial data flows swiftly and error free.” —Devon Dorrity, President & CEO of hh2 Cloud Services
“Financial information must be constantly up to date, no matter which software application you use,” said Devon Dorrity, President & CEO of hh2 Cloud Services. “hh2’s Universal Construction Model, or UCM, has already connected thousands of construction companies to the critical systems they need to manage their projects. With the UCM, Autodesk customers now get technology to make sure their key financial data flows swiftly and error free.” Learn more about how customers benefit from last week’s Autodesk University session featuring hh2.
Autodesk Construction Cloud Connect gives customers ultimate control
Autodesk Construction Cloud Connect, which itself leverages Forge APIs, democratizes integrations and gives the customer ultimate control over how their integrations work. The solution enables users to lay out their integration workflows in a flowchart-like interface, easily routing data and documents between Autodesk Construction Cloud and hundreds of pre-built connectors to common cloud software tools.
Early customers quickly deployed integrations to solutions such as cloud storage (e.g., Microsoft SharePoint, Box, and Egnyte) and analytics tools (e.g., Smartsheet and Microsoft Power BI). More recently, customers’ creativity and the platform’s flexibility have unlocked even more use cases. For instance, customers now synchronize change orders, purchase orders, and other financial data with QuickBooks Online while others create customized, automated alerts via Microsoft Teams, fostering even greater collaboration.
Our continued investment in integration technology
Building and growing a strong ecosystem necessitates continued investments in capabilities, such as the ones mentioned above, and updates and enhancements to make developing more powerful integrations even easier. Since last year, Autodesk Construction Cloud has added APIs for many of the capabilities on Autodesk Build, including Assets, Forms, Locations, Photos and more. As additional APIs roll-out over time, customers and partners will undoubtedly create even more impressive and useful integrations.
We have also continued to invest in Autodesk Construction Cloud Connect. Last week we announced the solution now supports Autodesk Takeoff. Customers can now automate the export of the details of their quantifications in Autodesk Takeoff and capture that information in other tools such as QuickBase, Smartsheet, and a variety of database applications.
Automating these data flows will help customers convert their takeoffs into estimates and budgets faster and more accurately than ever before. Customers could even setup automatic, periodic exports to spreadsheets and immediately distribute them to critical teammates via email or communication tools such as Microsoft Teams.
In addition to developing new integration technology, we’re also investing in how we support our partners and customers. For instance, over the last year, we have created new training and enablement tools for Autodesk channel partners to teach them the advanced capabilities in Autodesk Construction Cloud Connect. Now several partners stand ready to help customers expand beyond simple and routine integrations to implementing highly advanced and specifically tailored workflows.
Integrations that work for you
Because collaboration pervades construction, it pervades our approach to construction software. When it comes to integrations, we constantly strive to improve how we connect our solutions with other vendors’ solutions, and how we connect with those vendors. We work hard to enable collaboration by expanding our partner ecosystem, developing technology to support our integrations, and continuing to invest in both our ecosystem and that technology. We are eager to collaborate with project teams to deliver the valuable integrations enabling them to work best.
If there are integrations you need to make your business more efficient or you know software vendors you think Autodesk Construction Cloud should integrate with, please reach out to us via email at [email protected] and please encourage your other software vendors to join our ecosystem.
Latest Integrations for Autodesk Construction Cloud
This is a list of our latest additions to our Integration Partner Ecosystem. If you’d like to see all 200+ integrations, we encourage you to explore them by category or product here.
3D Repo: Automatically import the latest 3D models from Autodesk Build, Autodesk Docs, or BIM 360 into 3D Repo via ACC Connect to easily identify and manage project risks.
Aespada: Manage on-site logistics directly in your Project Home dashboard with the Aespada Partner Card.
Airtable: Embed specific views from Airtable in the Airtable Partner Card, making it easier to track project information.
Arkio: Easily import BIM 360 models into Arkio to collaboratively explore building spaces, markup existing Revit and Rhino models, and present design options in VR, on your computer, tablet, or phone.
BIM Holoview: Construction teams can easily view 3d models and create BIM 360 Issues with photo attachments directly from BIM Holoview on HoloLens and Oculus Quest.
Build.Works: Effectively manage production planning and execution in Build.Works by easily accessing 3D models stored in Autodesk Build, Autodesk Docs, or BIM 360.
Cupix: Building teams can now use Cupix’s rich, 3D 360-degree site-view mode to “walk through” job sites remotely, creating RFIs, issues and tasks immediately and assigning them to project stakeholders on the BIM 360 and PlanGrid platforms. The Cupix integration imports 3D models from BIM 360 to compare to 360 images and pushes CupixWorks’ SiteView annotations to RFIs or Issues in BIM 360 and RFIs or Tasks in PlanGrid.
DAQS: Embed Revit model quality and performance data from DAQS in an Autodesk Build or BIM 360 Project Home dashboard, showing project managers which project model requires their attention to meet requirements and deadlines.
eFiler: Leverage eFiler, a Microsoft Outlook plugin, to file emails directly into Autodesk Docs or BIM 360.
embneusys: Customers can add the embneusys Partner Card to easily monitor every piece of equipment – from simple generators to their fleets of excavators – on the job site, saving working hours in the field, minimizing downtime from idle equipment, and preventing miscommunications between site managers.
Esri: Import 3D models from BIM 360 into ArcGIS GEOBim to easily collaborate on geospatial and BIM data together in one application.
Google Workspace: With the Google Workspace Partner Card project members can display individual Sheets, Slides, Docs and Calendars from Google workspace. Customers can use multiple cards across different Google apps to create their perfect project dashboard in ACC.
hh2 Cloud Services: hh2 delivers a seamless integration between Autodesk Build – Cost Management and Sage 300 CRE.
Join: Improve preconstruction collaboration around financials and easily view cost trends and budget items via the Join Partner Card.
Novade: Novade’s construction management platform integrates multiple ways with Autodesk Construction Cloud: Easily import quality and safety inspections from Novade to BIM 360, and export BIM 360 drawings to Novade using ACC Connect. Embed Novade’s platform in your Project Home dashboard.
NTI: Seamlessly import Revit models from Autodesk Build, Autodesk Docs or BIM 360 Docs to NTI Connect to easily prepare specification documents for construction.
Oculo: Seamlessly create BIM 360 Issues directly from Oculo’s virtual job site walkthrough to provide full context and locality, and access Oculo 360-degree visuals from navigable floorplans embedded in your Project Home dashboard.
OpticVyu: Embed OpticVyu camera feeds & time-lapse videos alongside construction documentation in Autodesk Construction Cloud via the OpticVyu Partner Card.
ProNovos: Add the ProNovos Partner Card to view ProNovos construction intelligence KPIs such as efficiency, liquidity, and profitability ratios directly within Autodesk Construction Cloud. Data collected in the field or from project and financial apps such as FOUNDATION, Viewpoint or Sage is connected in ProNovos to provide project managers valuable insights to make well-informed decisions.
RealWear: RealWear has integrated its HMT-1 headset to Autodesk BIM 360 to enable voice-enabled, handsfree checklist completion.
Safe Site Check In: The Safe Site Check In Partner Card improves job site safety by providing a comprehensive overview of field personnel directly within an Autodesk Build or BIM 360 Project Home dashboard.
Shepherd: Seamlessly import project data from PlanGrid to streamline insurance applications in Shepherd.
SiteKick: With the new SiteKick Partner Card, project members can easily view job site imagery & environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity from SiteKick in an Autodesk Build or BIM 360 Project Home dashboard.
Stevenson Systems: View 360-Degree Virtual Walkthroughs in Autodesk Construction Cloud using the Stevenson Systems Partner Card.
StructShare: Improve productivity and cost management with field ordering, automated procurement and seamlessly viewing real-time material costs via the StructShare Partner Card.
Tomorrow.io: With the Tomorrow.io Partner Card project teams can view real-time weather data right in an Autodesk Build or BIM 360 Project Home dashboard.
UpKeep: Export as-builts from Autodesk Docs, Autodesk Build, BIM 360, or PlanGrid into UpKeep via ACC Connect for efficient maintenance management.
vGIS: vGIS absorbs Autodesk Docs and BIM 360 models and automatically produces AR and mixed reality visuals that are overlaid on the user’s view of a physical job site helping customers gain instant and comprehensive awareness of their surroundings, saving time and preventing costly mistakes and delays.
viAct: viAct powers any existing job-site camera with scenario-based AI technology to capture various non-compliances that can be viewed in Autodesk Construction Cloud via the viAct Partner Card.
WakeCap: With WakeCap’s IoT site solution, customers can easily add and manage their on-site workers, track progress, report on key performance indicators, and monitor safety in real-time to make informed personnel decisions from one place.
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Re-energised Kier tops September contracts league
Kier has bounced back with a winning streak of contract wins after getting its finances back on track.
The firm top September’s contracts league with a haul of 22 project wins, including the £200m Liverpool Bixteth Place office scheme for its in-house property division and a £66m project for Thames Water to modernise Mogden Sewage Treatment Works in Isleworth.
The surge of projects last month also lifted Kier from sixth to second place in the 12-month rolling league table of secured work just behind league leader Morgan Sindall.
Click for full tables
According to data collected by information specialist Barbour ABI, other big project wins included Buckingham Group securing a major warehouse deal for Trixtax at Symmetry Park near Kettering, south of junction 9 of the A14.
Infrastructure works will be completed early next year allowinbg new logistics buildings of up to 1.3 million sq ft to be delivered by late 2023.
The firm also bagged a £45m warehouse job for Prologis at Pineham Buisness Park in Northamptonshire, due to start towards of the end of this year.
Two new warehouses will be built on cleared land at Pineham business park
Among the other big wins Vinci secured a major near £80m deal for student accommodation for the University of the West of England at its Frenchay Campus in Bristol.
Design for UWE blocks which will be the largest Passivhaus student scheme in the country
Phase one of the £200m scheme will initially involve demolishing the existing Carroll Court buildings and constructing 900-bed spaces across three buildings rising to six-storeys.
ISGbagged Millennium Bridge House redevelopment in London
On the civil side Bam Nuttall signed an ECI deal to deliver detailed design and advance works for the £118m Cross Tay Link Road in Scotland.
The new road north of Perth will connect the A9 to the A93 and A94 north of Scone.
Race starts for Sellafield £1bn concrete structures deal
Sellafield’s project delivery team has fired the starting gun on race to find two key delivery partners for a combined concrete structures, groundworks and blockwork package worth £1bn over 18 years.
The tender is the largest to hit the market from a new pioneering procurement model that uses Project 13-style integrated collaborative teams.
The big procurement shake-up is being delivered the Programme and Project Partners (PPP) that are driving forward the clean-up of the Sellafield site in West Cumbria.
This overarching integrated team is made up of a Kellogg Brown and Root (Integration Partner); Jacobs (Design and Engineering Partner); Morgan Sindall Infrastructure (Civils Construction Management Partner) and Doosan Babcock (Process Construction Management Partner), and Sellafield.
Under the new multi project procurement process, key delivery partners will be appointed by the PPP team to carry out the main elements of construction works across the programme.
Contests are already underway for sheet piling partners and building interior fit-out and finishes.
PPP anticipates that two KDPs will be appointed for the concrete structures, groundworks and blockwork package.
Tenderers will be required to set out a predetermined supply chain for the work they will deliver and requiring just over a third to comprise of SMEs.
As part of the process, PPP has enlisted the Swimming with the Big Fish SME Matchmaker Service to broker and develop relationships between those bidding for KDP packages and high performing SMEs able and willing to invest in West Cumbria.
This introduction service is being delivered by quantity surveying and procurement specialists Solomons Europe.
Successful KDPs will be expected to help PPP meet its five ‘Critical Success Factors’, which include cost savings on project baselines, certainty of delivery and rewarding supply chains that achieve agreed outcomes.
Emphasis is also placed on local employment and upskilling the local workforce, along with financial and social investment in West Cumbria.
A full strategy paper outlining the procurement approach, commercial model, timeline, and other important information will be made available to businesses who register their interest by 12pm on Thursday, October 14 by email.
Sale agreed for final £70m stalled Elliott Group scheme
Agreement has been reached for the sale of the last of four stalled Elliot Group schemes after the developer collapsed into administration following the arrest of founder Elliot Lawless.
Administrators for the company’s £70m hotel scheme on Norfolk Street in Liverpool’s Baltic tech district have exchanged contracts with the scheme’s original investors.
HBG Insolvency Ltd will now put the sale proposal before the High Court for final ratification.
The 306-bedroom property had secured planning permission and construction had commenced, before ceasing when investors decided not to continue funding the project following Lawless’s arrest in December 2019.
Lawless said: “When my schemes were placed in administration I made a promise that I would work ceaselessly to help secure each site’s sale and protect the interests of investors, so I am delighted that my final stalled scheme is to be acquired by its original investors.
“The process, as with the other administrations, has been handled by a third party under strict rules and I sympathise with investors whose bids for The Residence and Infinity weren’t successful.
“It has not been easy but with flexibility and good will on all sides the administrators have been able to ensure that all of my stalled projects will now be placed in the hands of new owners and move forward to completion.
“What this latest deal reinforces is that my projects were always very good schemes in prime locations. I’ll take considerable satisfaction from seeing them completed. If you take a look at the outstanding job done by the investors who bought Aura in Liverpool, for example, you can see that the original vision for each project can still be delivered in the right hands.”
No charges have ever been brought against Lawless and he says he “looks forward to Merseyside Police concluding their investigation.”
Willmott Dixon wins £10.9m Oxford decarbonisation deal
Willmott Dixon will work with Oxford City Council on a £10.9m project to reduce carbon emissions from public leisure centres.
The programme will see water and air source heat pumps installed at four leisure centres around the city.
The work is part of the council’s aim to become a Zero Carbon Council across its own estate and operations by 2030, with leisure centres responsible for around 40% of current building carbon emissions.
Richard Poulter, Managing Director from Willmott Dixon’s Central South region said: “We are proud to be working alongside Oxford City Council on this exciting carbon reduction project, which will deliver a step change in the mitigation of fossil fuels in the local community.
“The programme is close to our heart and through our own 2030 ‘Now or Never’ Sustainability strategy, we have committed to achieving net zero operational carbon on all our new buildings and major refurbishments within the next decade.
“Working in tandem alongside the council, Fusion Lifestyle and the local community, we will deliver the works as swiftly as possible while ensuring the highest standards are met, ensuring the leisure centres provide the best possible facilities once the works are complete.”
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A Guide For Mudjacks Leveling
Mudjacks are tough, but if you know how to go about mudjacking properly, you can get the job done faster and with less effort. There is a right way to do this sanding and you need to know it if you want to level fast and easy. Here are some tips that will help you out.
The first thing to do is to prepare for your big day. Get all the accessories together. You need to have enough mud for the tires to grip, and at least two mudpacks to give you extra support and power as you go. It’s also a good idea to bring a friend along with you who has experience in mudding mud because it will help you get into the mood and stay motivated.
Next, you should do a practice run or two on the mud course before you try it on the real course. This will help you get used to the texture of the mud and the jacks. It will also help you understand how the course is laid out and any obstacles you may encounter.
Once you feel confident that you understand the course, it’s time to set up. The first step is to set up your tires and get used to their weight. You can either use a hand for this or attached mud flaps. You will have to do this in small areas at first and then move on to the larger one. Do not push yourself too much at once; just take baby steps until you get used to it.
Once you have completed setting up your equipment, you should get mud flaps. This will help you control the direction of the mud; it will also keep you from getting stuck in the mud while you are trying to level. Mudflaps are connected to the tires with a cord that is tied to the bottom of the tires, and the mud itself plugs into the end of the cord.
Once you have everything set up, you should be ready to start the ride. Before starting, you should turn the key and start the vehicle up so that you do not get stuck in the mud. The key is turned in reverse to start the vehicle and it should not start until mud tires are placed on the front forks of the truck. This puts all the mud in the back so you do not have to keep pulling the truck behind you.
As soon as you put mud tires on, you should immediately step on the brake so that you can stop the truck in time. Then you should raise the jack and level the tires. As you drive the truck over the mud, you should be going pretty fast. If you go slow, the mud will still be in the way and you will have to walk around it. If you go too fast, you may end up doing more damage than good.
To make things even more fun, you should have a radio so you can hear when you get to the final destination and can hear the tires squealing. You can also get a big screen TV with surround sound so you can enjoy the ride even more. There are many companies that sell and install mudpacks. Go ahead and do some research and find one that will give you the best service.
When you get to your destination, the first thing you need to do is to fill out the dirt and make sure the mud tires are inflated correctly. You can’t start the vehicle until the mud tires are at the proper tire level. So when you are leveling the vehicle, you have to be very careful so as not to tip the vehicle over.
One last tip is to not wear your safety gear too much. The mudjacks can really dig and wearing your safety gear too much can cause you to lose control. Plus, when you are in the vehicle, you are at a higher risk for getting dirty or injured. You should try to avoid using heavy equipment unless you are familiar with it. Plus, you need to make sure you always have water with you.
Mudjacks are great for leveling. You just need to be aware of what you are doing so you don’t get hurt. And don’t forget to wear your safety gear!
Behind the Build: Interview with Gabriela Celi, Head of Innovation, Research, and Development, SEMAICA
“Get used to learning and unlearning.”
What drives innovation and change in our industry? Market changes and customer demands are certainly at the top of the list. But there’s another driver required, the power of curiosity. Curiosity pushes us to understand how and why things work while giving us the opportunity to make improvements and enhancements.
Gabriela Celi leveraged the power of curiosity to drive her career advancement at SEMAICA from Junior Architect to Head of Innovation, Research, and Development in less than six years. We recently spoke with Gabriela to discover why curiosity, as a character trait, has had such a positive impact on her career and SEMAICA as an organization. Read her story below.
Tell us a little about SEMAICA and what you specialize in.
Sevilla y Martínez Ingenieros (SEMAICA) is one of the leading construction companies in Ecuador. We’ve been in the market for 65 years. We execute all the stages of a development project (one-stop-shop) in diverse areas of expertise. From construction to renovation and restoration of infrastructure projects, industrial plants, institutional, commercial, residential, and non-residential buildings. In addition, we have expertise in civil engineering, demolition, and earthworks.
At SEMAICA, we have a strong company innovation culture that’s been passed down from the DNA of our founders Gonzalo Sevilla and Ernesto Martínez. We’re one of the most innovative companies in Ecuador. For example, we were the first ones to bring an engineering computer here. It was an IBM and almost the size of a room. The first time it broke, we had to send it back to New York because it was the only one of its kind in the country.
We love to say, give us a challenge, and we’ll solve it. That’s one of our slogans; the other is that SEMAICA is built to last. The reason why we invest so much in innovation and new technology is because we wish to provide our clients the best quality they can have for their project.
“We have tripled the projects we work on, getting important multinational clients for the excellent product that we show we can reach.” —Gabriela Celi, SEMAICA
We take good care of our client relationships. For example, we’ve been working with the same production factory for 12 years. They’ll come to us when they need to extend operations, adjust, or build another industrial warehouse. So as the client’s business grows, ours does as well, which only strengthens our relationship, becoming strategic allies.
Walk us through your career and what led you to becoming Head of Innovation, Research, and Development?
Everything started back in college. I’ve always been really curious, and thankfully I attended San Francisco University in Quito, which has a deep liberal arts philosophy. You’re able to sign up for diverse types of classes. So, besides my bachelor’s degree in architecture I got a minor in universal history and took, for example, art, language, and administration courses. This forced me to study and understand different topics rapidly. I took 313 credits out of the 145 needed to graduate as an architect.
Then, after I defended my thesis on a Wednesday, I began working at SEMAICA the following Monday on a construction site as a construction resident of the T6 Building. Even while studying architecture, I didn’t receive many construction classes, but I still learned a lot. They were tough times because I had to manage a group of personnel and different production fronts, but we completed a magnificent building that is now the project that I am most proud to have taken part in.
Meanwhile, one of my bosses saw that I learned Revit at the university. For this reason, at the end of the project’s construction, they transferred me to the central office. After 6 months of hard effort, we developed the manuals and protocols as a plan to implement BIM in the design and development department.
“Get used to learning and unlearning. The scenarios you encounter are highly variable, so be versatile in applying your knowledge in the same way you search for solutions.” —Gabriela Celi, SEMAICA
In the beginning, I was the only person in the architectural division. Later, we hired more colleagues and got more projects because the novelty of the methodology attracted people. My boss had the vision to provide clients with this method to solve most of their pain points during construction. On the other hand, we empowered the change of mindset of our collaborators because BIM is more of an attitude focused on collaborative work. You can invest in hardware and software, but if you don’t have the right mindset to learn and adapt to fresh technologies, you won’t increase your BIM maturity level.
Since we already had a solid architecture division, this year we decided to face a distinct challenge. Thus, after being in the design and development department for about four years, I commenced my new position as Head of Innovation, Development, and Investigation in which I am carrying out studies and transformations in multiple departments of the company.
I’ve experienced both worlds, being on-site and off-site. I know that despite having great communications on-site, there are invariably problems to figure out. If you don’t monetize them at a certain point, you may generate problems for your clients. That’s why my first big project in this role was to implement Autodesk Construction Cloud to improve the relationship between the office and the construction site.
What is your proudest accomplishment in your career?
My greatest professional achievement was starting and expanding the architectural design department of SEMAICA. After 4 years, we have tripled the projects we work on, getting important multinational clients for the excellent product that we show we can reach. As said before, we started only with me as an architect but thanks to a lot of perseverance and hours of work invested in growing, today we are 6 architects.
I also led the implementation of BIM in the design department, of which we have achieved a high level of maturity by integrating models that already include all specialties (architecture, structure, and MEP). Methodology that I took to be a process for SEMAICA, now allows them to comply with section 8.3 in design and development of its ISO 9001 certification. Tools that have been key in satisfying my company and our clients.
Tell us about the Hotel Le Parc project your team is working on.
The Le Parc project is one of the largest hotel investments this year in Ecuador. The project is nearly $30 million and will revolutionize the architecture of the city of Quito. Le Parc is an existing hotel, so the project is an expansion. Sort of second phase. It will be completed by July 2023 and has been certified with the international Edge Advanced certification (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies). This certification recognizes sustainable construction focused on efficient use of resources and zero carbon emissions.
Gabriela Summerfield, one of the most respected executives here in Quito, is leading and developing the project. The project is called I Am Beyond the Stars. It will turn the hotel into the first sustainable multi-use building in Quito, combining hospitality, residences, and corporate offices. The work will include 18 floors in a construction area of 25,000 m², 30 hotel suites, 17 corporate offices, and 108 residences.
At SEMAICA, we’re using Autodesk Build, Autodesk BIM Collaborate, and Autodesk Takeoff on the project. It’s incredible to see the potential. Right now, we’re working on our learning processes and taking classes to learn how the tools work and how to structure information. We’re going to teach and give our subcontractors classes. I’m thrilled with the tool and ready to see what comes next.
When you think about the future, what are your plans to advance innovation and productivity for SEMAICA?
We currently have 6 ongoing studies in a space called SEMAICA Lab. In which, with the development team, we investigate various paths to solve challenges for both our external clients and the company internally. Some topics that are being developed are visualization and augmented reality, parameterization and standardization, off-site construction and connected construction. We expect that soon these pilot projects will have their implementation plan and go live. I think that as a team we have a great deal of potential ahead of us to implement new things in SEMAICA.
“We love to say, give us a challenge, and we’ll solve it.” —Gabriela Celi, SEMAICA
Likewise, I see potential for the general improvement of the construction industry in the use of big data for decision making. A lot of information that could be useful for projects just stays stagnant and archived, and sometimes is even thrown away. If instead this data were processed and analyzed adequately, it could give us interesting perspectives on efficiency, performance, productivity, or really any other improvement that could be used in subsequent projects.
What advice would you give to the next generation of men and women entering and preparing for the future of the industry?
I think I can focus my advice on two keywords. The first is versatility. Get used to learning and unlearning. The scenarios you encounter are highly variable, so be versatile in applying your knowledge in the same way you search for solutions.
The second is purpose. Purpose gives direction to our path and meaning to our effort. For example, spending time training on the use of new software and spending money on new hardware always serves a higher purpose. For me, in this case, our strong innovative nature is in the DNA of SEMAICA. We always want to give the best to our clients.
Want more stories like this?
I regularly interview construction leaders to promote knowledge sharing. We cover what works, what doesn’t, and what the future holds. Check out our entire series of Behind the Build interviews, featuring some of the best in construction.
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Quickly Generate Microsoft Teams and Zoom Meetings in Autodesk Build
In June 2021, we released our Zoom integration with the Meetings module in Autodesk Build.
Now, Autodesk Build and BIM Collaborate users will have the ability to choose between launching a Zoom or a Microsoft Teams meeting. This provides companies with a wider choice of conference platforms as well as more flexibility for your project teams.
This free integration gives meeting organizers the ability to automatically generate a Microsoft Teams meeting directly from a meeting record. When meeting participants access the agenda within Autodesk Build, they can simply select the MS Teams link to join the meeting. Not only does this integration make it easier for participants to access and join meetings, MS Teams video and audio-conferencing capabilities increase engagement during the meetings.
Key benefits of the Microsoft Teams and Meetings Integration
- Greater flexibility related to the ability to choose the video conference tool of company preference based on IT requirements
- Integrated workflows between Autodesk Construction Cloud & Microsoft Teams
- Improved speed and productivity
- Enhanced collaboration across project teams
- Single source of truth: enhanced track record of meetings in one common data environment
Key features of the Microsoft Teams & Meetings Integration
- Add Microsoft Teams Link to a Meeting
- Choose between Zoom & MS Teams
- Join Teams meeting from the browser, Teams app or by downloading the app to the PC
Note: Generating the link is only possible from the web interface, however, the link will be visible on the mobile device within the app.
More Product Updates Across Autodesk Construction Cloud
We have released over 40 new features & enhancements across our unified offering this month. Make sure to stay up-to-date and read about all the latest product releases in this announcement.
If you’d like a demo of the new integrations or any product within Autodesk Construction Cloud, please contact us.
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