THE FUTURE OF CONSTRUCTION Getting ready for the next generation of technology

JUNE 2021

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2 / Digital transformation in construction

For everyone involved in Middle East construction, now is the time to invest in the potential of new technology

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T he Middle East construction industry is at an exciting turning point in its devel- opment. Several factors have coincided to bring the industry to this position. The first is the fundamental change in the

economics of the region. For decades, the projects market has been driven

by government spending, which has been fuelled by revenues from oil. As the world moves to alter- native fuels and seeks to reduce its hydrocarbon dependency, the era of oil is coming to an end.

Faced with increasing pressure on their balance sheets, governments are demanding much more productivity from their investments.

A second contributing factor is the high level of wastefulness that has been allowed to develop in the region’s construction industry.

There are many aspects to this issue, ranging from lowest-price-wins procurement models to lack of alignment between stakeholders. But the downturn in the market over the last few years has exposed the unsustainability of these practices.

Another factor in the industry’s turning point is climate change. The growing movement to reduce carbon dioxide emissions has become central to government and corporate policy, and for the Middle East construction industry it is time to prioritise environmental sustainability.

But perhaps the biggest catalyst for change is technology. Digital data and high-speed telecom-

munications capacity are now central to the way we live, and it is no longer feasible for contractors to bury their head in the sand over digitalisation.

Over the past three years, the region’s con- struction industry has opened up to the potential of digital technology to improve the way projects are planned and delivered, and data is increasing- ly being used to inform future developments.

In the coming years, there are three key areas where we can expect to see advanced digital tech- nology reshaping construction in the Middle East.

The first will be more widespread adoption of artificial intelligence in the design process, where it can be used to generate multiple design solu- tions to meet specified outcome criteria.

The second area of advancement will be a rise in the use of industrial manufacturing processes such as modular construction and prefabrication.

And finally, we are likely to see an increasing use of cloud-based project management and building design software to harmonise project team inte- gration, collaboration and improve the way project teams work together.

These technologies are already being adopted to varying degrees across the region’s construc- tion industry however, uptake is accelerating and many of the innovations will soon become com- monplace. For everyone involved in the sector, now is the time to invest in the potential of con- struction technology.

FOREWORD

TURNING POINT Advancements in digital technology will reshape construction in three key ways

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T he chess board was a long-standing battleground for supremacy between humans and machines, and in 2006, academics announced that machines had finally won. The decisive event was

the defeat of world champion chess player, Vladimir Kramnick by Deep Fritz, a computer that had the capacity to evaluate eight million posi- tions per second.

Since then, computer processing capability has increased exponentially, and with developments in artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and cloud-based computing environments, machines are now able to perform many tasks that were previously thought to require ‘human’ skills.

In architecture, engineering and construction, the next big battleground is design, and one of the most exciting developments in this area is AI-based generative design software that puts computers at the heart of the creative process.

Generative design is a design exploration process. Designers or engineers input design goals into the generative design algorithm, along with parameters such as performance or spatial requirements, materials, manufacturing methods, and cost constraints.

The software explores all the possible permu- tations of a solution, quickly generating design alternatives. It tests and learns from each iteration what works and what does not.

Generative design technology is now being de- ployed on large-scale projects in the region.

A recent addition to the Dubai urban landscape is the breathtaking Museum of the Future. De- signed by Dubai-based architecture studio Killa Design and engineered by Buro Happold , the 78-metre-high, torus-shaped structure is clad in Arabic calligraphy that forms the windows of the column-free building.

ENABLING INNOVATION Arguably one of the most complex construction projects ever attempted, Buro Happold engineers say that it may never have happened without building information modelling (BIM) and para- metric design processes.

The building is formed around a steel frame- work of diagonally intersecting beams, known as a diagrid. Christopher Wodzicki, engineering services director for Buro Happold in Dubai, explains that the diagrid structure was developed using com- putational algorithms to optimise the size and spacing of the frame elements, ensuring that there were nodes at each floor plate and that the stress- es on each element were within acceptable limits.

“By ‘teaching’ the algorithm to identify the more favourable scenarios the tool was able to gener- ate a series of efficient scenarios which achieved the target outcome,” says Wodzicki. “Without the computer aided intelligence for deriving the optimal form, this would never have occurred, or else we would probably still be designing it at this point, rather than seeing it being built.”

There is clearly a role for AI in project engineer-

THE NEXT MOVE IN PROJECT DELIVERY Artificial intelligence can accelerate design, but architects are still in control

GENERATIVE DESIGN

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ing and design, but this raises questions about the future of automated design processes, and the extent to which they could influence or even replace architects and engineers.

HUMAN TOUCH The current use of AI in the region’s construction sector would suggest that a complete takeover of human jobs, if it ever happens, is still a long way off.

“At present, our business probably uses the simplest form of AI by developing bespoke algo- rithms to understand patterns and fitness criteria within our designs but only based on a fixed set of parameters,” Wodzicki says. “The application of these optimisations routines are more a func- tion of the specific problems being solved rather than the overall resolution of a complete archi- tectural design.”

The main argument against computer-generat- ed design is that it will not be able to define the elusive, ‘artistic’ elements of a building.

“The human touch is actually the interesting part because capturing the subjective part of architecture is probably the most difficult aspect to teach AI, essentially being able to accept flaws within the efficiency of design,” explains Wodzicki.

“The flaws are basically the aesthetics of archi- tecture that are driven by people’s opinions which cannot always be rationalised to a binary like or dislike. It’s these appreciated flaws that AI may struggle to capture, and what some client’s may ultimately desire.”

However, the organically curved MX3D bridge in the centre of Amsterdam (see box p6), designed using advanced parametric modelling demonstrates that, when used by designers and engineers, AI can help to generate incredibly artistic structures.

“Architects should see AI as an opportunity—a tool to augment practice, replacing mundane tasks—not as a threat to their jobs. Rather than considering AI as a robotic alternative to human beings, AI is meant to be an accelerator that posi-

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Dubai's Museum of the Future is formed around a steel framework of diagonally intersecting beams, known as a diagrid. This was developed using computer algorithms

6 / Digital transformation in construction

tions the computer to handle certain things that a computer is really good at.” says Wodzicki.

MIDDLE EAST In a bid to establish the region as a leading des- tination for business and tourism, governments have promoted groundbreaking structures such as Museum of the Future, Cayan Tower, One Za- abeel, King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Re- search Centre and the National Museum of Qatar

to create iconic, future-facing urban landscapes. Cutting edge technology is being used to solve

the unique structural and environmental challeng- es presented by this increasingly daring archi- tecture and there is an appetite to develop local knowledge and skills.

Wodzicki says “AI is another piece of innovation that will hopefully positively influence and con- tribute to the local market. What all this adds up to is a hot spot for construction.”

SOLVING PROBLEMS Generative design software is being used suc- cessfully in the construction sector, particularly when the parameters can be set to address very specific constraints. For example, Japanese con- struction company Daiwa House Industry is using generative design to meet the challenge of fitting industrialised housing units onto small plots within densely packed urban areas.

Building layout options can be generated that may not have been considered by an architect, and the software eliminates the lengthy manual design process so the sales team can quickly pro- duce detailed proposals for the client.

Since the Covid-19 pandemic, there is a need to re-think the design of indoor spaces to enable adequate social distancing. Generative design software can handle the multiple conflicting needs that should be considered in the internal organi- sation of a building, and could be used to create healthier spaces. Successful applications of the design algorithms already include office layouts that consider disturbance, lighting and proximity to facilities, and shop design that optimises cus- tomer experience and product exposure.

HARNESSING INNOVATION New construction technologies such as 3D print- ing can be leveraged to produce the more organic and unusual algorithm-generated designs. Dutch technology start-up MX3D together with designers Joris Laarman Lab created an award-winning bridge in the centre of Amsterdam.

Arup, lead structural engineer on the project, used advanced parametric design modelling to explore new shapes and accelerate the initial design process.

Material properties were assigned to the model, enabling extensive testing prior to construction and digital simulations of the bridge taught the design algorithm to optimise efficiency by remov- ing excess material.

Intelligent software was used to convert welding machines into 3D printing robots to produce the curved, graceful steel bridge.

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LEARN MORE: Japan's Daiwa House Industry uses generative design to retool urban housing

https://redshift.autodesk.com/daiwa-house-industry/?wvideo=zfh1vapq6y

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REPEATABLE SUCCESS Increasing digitalisation enables a manufacturing approach to construction

INDUSTRIALISED CONSTRUCTION

I n June 2020, management consultant McK- insey & Company published ‘The Next Normal in Construction’. The seminal report examines the impact of disruptive trends such as indus- trialisation, the adoption of new materials, and

increasing digtalisation on the future of the global construction industry.

One of the key shifts predicted by the report is the sector’s increasing adoption of product-led practices used in the manufacturing industry. This means reducing the bespoke nature of projects to utilise standardised, repeatable elements or mod- ules, that have been fabricated offsite by specialist teams, then transported and assembled onsite.

As well as reducing excessive waste currently plaguing the sector – an estimated 30 per cent decrease in waste has been reported with the use

of offsite fabrication processes – industrialised construction methods also improve project pre- dictability, both in terms of scheduling and quality.

The benefits go beyond project delivery. Nicholas Reynolds, construction director at the super luxury tourism destination Amaala on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast, says that offsite fabrication also min- imises the impact of building in environmentally sensitive and isolated areas.

“We are looking at all things offsite that can assist delivery of our buildings in a very remote location,” says Reynolds. “There is not an existing workforce, there is not an existing contractor base…We have got very high sustainability and environmental standards that we have to meet.”

But the Amaala director stresses that offsite pre- fabrication cannot be carried out using traditional

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construction methodology. Modular construction requires stakeholders to adopt a different approach from the outset to fully leverage its benefits.

DATA-LED DECISIONS “For companies wanting to do modular construc-

tion, the major investment needs to be in data and design,” says Naji Atallah, head of construction and manufacturing at the Middle East office of US- based technology firm Autodesk. “And getting that right is becoming easier.”

“It all starts with the data that describes the components: how they are made, how they fit to- gether, build assemblies and then modules.”

The digitalisation of products and services is generating an abundance of data available to make decisions on product design and construction and also on supply chain management.

“Our current generation of technologies can easily handle these considerations,” says Atallah. “Technology is no longer a bottleneck.”

Using data-informed design, a library of stand- ardised products can be created and reused. Modifications and updates can be made to the original elements, building on expertise that has gone before.

But standard products need to be taken into account during the early stages of a project to minimise expensive, bespoke deviations. Final design and specifications decisions on details such as interior finishes must be made from the outset so that module fabrication can begin immediately. While this may shorten the overall build schedule, it is not easy to make changes at a later stage.

Upfront payments for prefabricated components is another key consideration for contractors using offsite prefabrication. Traditional cash flow models and contract payment terms need to be redrafted to cover liabilities relating to manufacture, delivery and assembly.

Decisions and spending that would traditionally have been spread through the lifespan of a project are increasingly concentrated in the planning stage of a module-based development.

While this could delay the start of construction, it enables the prefabrication of different elements to run in parallel – a kitchen pod can be fitted out while concrete foundations are being poured.

This shortens the overall build time and reduces waste caused by clashes, design variation, rework- ing and disputes.

Offsite manufacturing can cover anything from advanced building products, single and multi-trade assemblies to flat panels and 3D volumetric mod- ules that include structural elements along with other trade assemblies.

Amy Marks, head of industrialised construction strategy and evangelism at Autodesk explains that aiming to use or produce the larger, volumetric modules is not necessarily the best approach.

“This [continuum] is not a hierarchy,” says Marks, “volumetric modules are not at the top. It is what- ever tools you have in your toolkit that actually meet the requirements and parameters that you need for that project.”

Marks says that, while a volumetric approach is ideal for local markets, highly-technical, specialised units such as medical headwalls are more likely to find international customers.

“Empty boxes do not ship very far,” she says. “Very complex assemblies ship around the world.”

REGULATING CHANGE As with any innovation, government regulation can lag behind, slowing take up. This is certainly the case with the adoption of industrialised construc- tion methods in the Middle East, as permitting and approvals for modular developments is often slow.

Advocates of modular building methods say that the biggest challenge it faces is a lack of under- standing of prefabricated products and processes in the industry.

A broader education of all stakeholders, from cli- ents and architects to developers and contractors is required, they say, so that a cohesive case can be presented to authorities.

While some governments have shown a lot of interest in promoting greater use of industrialised construction to reduce waste, improve predict- ability and reduce the impact of construction on the environment, a better understanding of the concepts would promote confidence and reduce resistance to innovation across the region. Once authorities understand this new way of working, building codes can be streamlined to make vital improvements to the construction infrastructure.

“Everything is changing within our construction market,” says Amaala’s Nicholas Reynolds. “We know that we cannot build the way we have built in the past. It is not labour efficient. It is not material efficient. It is not carbon efficient. We can get a good product at the end, but at what cost?”

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INDUSTRIAL THINKING Greater use of offsite prefabrication will deliver projects faster, to more consistent standards. It will also change the cashflow for construction projects. But key enablers must be in place.

Source: MEED

PRODUCTION ENABLERS - Robotics and animation - Additive manufacturing

TECHNOLOGY ENABLERS - Cloud - Big data and analytics - Internet of things (IoT)

PROCESS ENABLERS - Data for manufacturing and assembly - Building information modelling (BIM) - Lean manufacturing

REGULATORY ENABLERS - Broad engagement with all stakeholders

to reduce resistance to uptake - A solution-focused approach to generating adequate legislation to support adoption

VS CONSTRUCTION CASH FLOW

Costs are spread throughout the projects

Procurement - Orders placed for modular components

- No changes from this point

Higher costs at early stage

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On site assembly - Reduces impact on environment - Fewer errors

Offsite module fabrication - Factory quality control - Reduced waste - Smaller carbon footprint

Critical design decision - Is development suitable for modular?

High-spec design completed upfront

Construction underway before design finalised enables early start onsite

TIME

Uncertain schedule & spend

OFFSITETRADITIONAL

Earlier revenues

Changes are still possible and final decisions can be delayed

Clashes, variations and overruns contribute to delays and waste

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OFF-SITE SOLUTIONS Amana Contracting Group has leveraged technology and modern, modular methods to postion itself at the leading edge of construction in the Middle East

How much of Amana Contracting Group’s projects in the Mena region utilise modular practices? Approximately 15 to 30 per cent of the compa- ny’s resources are dedicated to modular design through its subsidiaries DuBox and DuPod.

What have been Amana’s more significant projects in the region using manufacturing processes? In Saudi Arabia, housing, hospitality and entertain- ment mega projects have driven demand for man- ufacturing construction. In 2019, DuBox expanded to Saudi Arabia, setting up a new 94,000 sqm factory in Rabigh to meet the market demand, and has since won contracts for clients such as the Qiddiya Investment Company and The Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC).

Saudi Amana Contracting, an Amana subsidiary, was awarded the contract to design and construct

a 150-room hotel by TRSDC, and DuBox and DuPod were chosen to supply modular pods to the hotel and residential project.

Is industrialised construction the same as modular construction? Industrialised construction (IC) is a building sys- tem that uses more innovative techniques and processes to enable structural components to be manufactured offsite, then transported and assembled at the build site. It is becoming a sig- nificant trend as manufacturing, technology and construction increasingly converge.

McKinsey’s ‘The next normal in construction’ report, predicts that a large share of future con- struction projects will be built using customisable, modularised elements and components produced using standardised processes in off-site factories. Research and development spending among the top 2,500 construction companies globally has risen by approximately 77 per cent since 2013.

Modular construction applies IC methodologies; the process is at least 70 per cent prefabricated. Manufacturing construction potentially reduces material waste by 30 per cent and improves the work safety environment by up to 70 per cent, as compared to traditional construction.

How much time or costs savings can be achieved through industrialised construction? Industrialised construction delivers superior qual- ity, provides a quicker return on investment, and is environmentally friendly. Modular design requires off-site production, which guarantees quality

Riad Bsaibes, President and CEO, Amana Investments

INDUSTRIALISED CONSTRUCTION

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specifications across the project and better value for end-users. Owners benefit from shorter con- struction times, hence a shorter time to market and better ROI.

In general, modular buildings can be construct- ed in 50 to 75 per cent of the time of a con- ventional site-built project of comparable size. However, construction timelines vary based on each unique project’s requirement.

We can save 20 to 30 per cent of the time it takes to build a building by doing it modular- ly. Modular construction is especially useful for remote sites, because unlike traditional construc- tion, it doesn’t require resources to be mobilised and housed.

How established is IC in the Middle East? The growth of the IC sector in the region has been accelerated by technology such as Autodesk Re- vit–assisted Building Information Modeling (BIM).

As projects across the region race to completion amidst unprecedented challenges, modular con- struction has emerged as a viable solution. It offers a safer building environment, decreasing the need for manpower by 30 per cent, making it an ideal solution for the post-pandemic environment.

Do you expect to see much greater adoption of modular construction in the region? Due to current underlying constraints, the adop- tion of modular construction methodologies is still limited. We believe that off-site construction will receive a boost this year as companies will look to become flexible, while reducing costs and wastage. In the post-Covid work environment, especially on

site, there is a greater focus on health and safety – modular construction offers that security.

Where is this new approach likely to be adopted? Accelerated digitalisation and focus on food secu- rity in the region has unleashed design-build op- portunities in data centers, ecommerce fulfillment centers, agritech, and cold storage facilities.

Saudi Arabia is a key market for us because the mega projects currently under construction in the Kingdom greatly benefit from the social, commer- cial, economic, and environmental benefits deliv- ered by modular construction.

What are the key factors to the success of these projects that others can learn from? Modular projects require approvals on design and specification from the client and the authorities at the early stages of the project.

For successful modular projects, skilled labour, resource support, high quality inspections and ad- herence to health and safety standards amongst multiple other factors, are required. Designing and executing these projects is dependent on the extensive use of BIM tools.

What are the biggest barriers to increased uptake of industrialised/modular construction practices? As industrialised construction and technology adoption increases, the demand for staff with dig- ital skills also grows. Talent acquisition and devel- opment will be significant challenges, especially in Saudi Arabia’s growing construction sector. There needs to be a greater awareness about modular construction and its benefits.

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N o doubt, the Covid-19 pandemic has had a major impact on almost every industry, not least on construction where social distancing and dormant projects have wreaked havoc on stakeholders, from de-

velopers to suppliers and subcontractors. There is, however, one positive trend to emerge and

continues to grow in popularity, that of increased collaboration to produce higher and faster stand- ards, in terms of both delivery and engineering.

As a veteran of UAE’s construction sector, ALEC Engineering & Contracting is no stranger to deliver- ing iconic projects, varying from infrastructure such as Dubai International Airport Terminal 3 Concourse A or leisure such as Madinat Jumeirah, however no project undertaken could have prepared their team for Ithra Dubai’s iconic One Za’abeel project.

“Described as ‘the new gateway to Dubai’, One Za’abeel isn’t your average mixed-use develop- ment. Featuring over half a million square meters of luxury retail, residential, hospitality and offices, the building is as impressive as it is challenging from an engineering perspective, primarily thanks to its 9,500-tonne, 226-metre sky bridge, known as the ‘The Link’, which was hoisted 100 meters into place between the two towers over a live, six lane highway.

“This was only achieved through close collabo- ration between all stakeholders, while employing some of the latest technologies available in the market,” said ALEC CEO, Kez Taylor.

WORKING TOGETHER TO BUILD THE FUTURE One Za’abeel project showcases a collaborative approach to project delivery

COLLABORATION

Amongst the key technology providers working on the project is HoloBuilder, a US-based company whose Construction Progress Management soft- ware has provided a new and unique way to keep stakeholders in the loop with 360° photo capture technology, while quickly being able to cross-check and compare project progress with renderings, while flagging any issues on its Autodesk BIM 360 integrated interface.

Commenting on its rapid expansion into the mar- ket, which includes over 28,000 projects to date, Brian Kelly, CEO of HoloBuilder, described some of the challenges the software is helping to overcome.

“HoloBuilder is a highly agile tool which ensures that progress can be accurately tracked and man- aged from start to finish,” said Kelly.

8,000 images are captured every day to track the construction of One Za'abeel

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Officially recognised as the world’s longest cantilever, ALEC and HoloBuilder’s tech-focused collaboration is making this engineering masterpiece a reality

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The 9,500 tonne, 226 metre sky bridge, known as ‘The Link’, was hoisted 100 meters into place between the two towers over a live, six-lane highway

“This has been even more useful in the past 18 months since more people are forced to work re- motely. By using HoloBuilder, engineers are able to virtually visit their site from anywhere. For hundreds of contractors such as ALEC and thousands of pro- jects like One Za’abeel, HoloBuilder has saved signif- icant amounts of time and increased efficiency.”

Taylor added, “HoloBuilder’s platform has helped to ensure that each stage of One Za’abeel has been carefully tracked, meaning a perfect record of the project’s progress.

“When we first started, we were taking around 500 images a day, now we take somewhere closer to 8,000. As an app-based software, it’s also very user-friendly for all personnel, making it highly versatile on site. It’s also highly secure with built-in end-to-end encryption, meaning confidentiality can be maintained from start to finish.”

Other useful features on HoloBuilder include the option to zoom in to the 360° photos to mark-up or annotate corrections and to coordinate tasks, ensuring that all relevant stakeholders are made aware of any changes in real-time, ultimately lead- ing to less confusion and clearer progress.

HoloBuilder is also equipped with an in-app measuring feature which allows site teams to photograph and send measurements as part of the record-keeping process.

“We are really pleased with the progress that has been made on One Za’abeel and how we’ve been able to support ALEC and the other stakeholders. Now that the most challenging part of the project has been delivered, and both towers have topped out, we look forward to getting the project fully de- livered, so it can take its place amongst the city’s instantly recognizable skyline,” concluded Taylor.

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ABOUT MEEDABOUT AUTODESK MEED has been integral to delivering business informa- tion, news, intelligence and analysis on the Middle East economies and activities for over 60 years. Attracting a key senior management audience through its content and activities, MEED is a media brand, publication and data business that covers a spectrum of services which inform, engage, connect and ultimately support our subscribers and partners in their business development and strategic growth.

Recently acquired by GlobalData Plc, MEED is now part of one of the largest data and insights solution providers in the world with the capacity to build global communities for our clients.

Our purpose is to support the region’s companies to make better and more timely decisions through our innovative data solutions and grow through our com- prehensive and world-class marketing solutions.

To find out more email: info@meed.com

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