In the tradition of Top of the Pops, here’s the rundown of the most popular digital construction stories, starting at number 10.
On the £63m Mynydd Isa Campus – a two-storey, 10,500 sq m facility near Mold in Flintshire, north Wales – Arup used the Virtual Environment dynamic modelling software from IES (IESVE) to reduce carbon emissions by more than 100 tonnes a year.
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Steven Burrows, associate building physics engineer at Arup, said: “IESVE modelling played a significant role in the design of the scheme – from developing the complex cross ventilation chimney concept to achieving NZCio [net-zero carbon in operation]. It’s an incredible achievement that the building generates as much energy as it will consume over the course of a year.”
NBS innovation director Dr Stephen Hamil declared: “Digital product passports (DPPs) are set to transform how we track and trust data on the materials shaping our built environment. Their real value is their ability to break down the data silos that have plagued our industry for decades.”
Housebuilders – often regarded as the construction sector furthest behind on the digital technology journey – are responding to the demands of the golden thread and Part L, but more progress is required. Trimble’s survey of nearly 100 housebuilders revealed that almost two-thirds are either using digital technology, but not taking full advantage of its capabilities, or are at the early stages of adoption.
Published just before the festive break in 2024, this story took off in the new year and continued to attract readers as the year went on. The feature sought to promote DPPs, setting out the facts and the timeline. CM will continue to follow the development of DPPs in the next few years.
The first mention of AI on this list – and not the last! Balfour Beatty announced a £7.2m investment in Microsoft Copilot, the generative AI assistant that helps with work tasks by providing suggestions and automating actions across various Microsoft 365 apps. The contractor said the AI assistant will operate securely within the company’s “compliant and confidential” IT structures.
Our exclusive interview charted the initial stages of development of the Manufacturers’ Information Hub. The hub was spearheaded by Tata Steel digital platforms and innovation lead Alex Small, Saint-Gobain Interior Solutions head of digital construction Paul French, and former chair of Construction Products Europe’s digital task group, Brian Glancy.
Small explained: “The Manufacturers’ Information Hub is a central access point for all construction product manufacturers’ information across Europe. It’s not a data repository, it’s not a database: it is simply a routing tool, a conduit, whereby all manufacturers have one link into the hub, and anyone that wants manufacturers’ information also has one link to extract from the hub. The mapping is done in each person’s link into the hub.”
To get to grips with information management, we must go back to first principles. So said RLB Digital head of information management strategy Emma Hooper. She noted: “People can’t do their jobs without information, and when information is difficult to find or incorrect, it wastes time and money, and can even cause potential harm. In fact, most issues related to the lifecycle of a built asset stem from poor information or its inefficient exchange.
“With recent developments, we’re now at a time when this can no longer be ignored. Of all the industries, surely we know better than anyone how crucial strong foundations are in building something fit for purpose.”
The term ‘common data environment’ (CDE) is a cornerstone of information management, often used interchangeably with various point solutions. As the market grows, Philip Hannabuss of Asite asked: is the term losing its meaning?
“Acquiring a CDE is not just a software purchase decision: it is equally about adopting a defined, structured process for managing information throughout a project’s lifecycle,” he warned.
Generative design, verification and real-time forecasting of project risks are among the seven ways AI can impact construction, says a report from the Get It Right Initiative.
The report examined how AI can help reduce errors across the construction lifecycle, from project inception and design to practical completion and handover. The report also looked at where AI could introduce new risks in construction and how the industry should adapt and develop to manage these.
When the ISO 19650-6 standard was published at the start of the year, we interviewed its author Nick Nisbet. 19650-6 – the final part of the 19650 suite of standards – covers information management for health and safety.
Nisbet said that setting out a standard approach to health and safety information is an “important element of the golden thread, because it helps ensure that the information isn’t lost or overlooked”.
Thanks to everyone who contributed to our digital construction coverage in 2025.
