An interview with Sam Stacey the Challenge Director for UK Research and Innovation
Our in-conversation-with series talks to BIM Show Live speakers Sam Stacey, Challenge Director – Transforming Construction for UK Research & Innovation (UKRI).
Sam is heading up the Transforming Construction challenge which aims to create new construction processes and techniques for building manufacture in the UK.
What is your current role?
Challenge Director – Transforming Construction at UKRI. I am leading the Transforming Construction challenge, a £170 million research and innovation investment, matched by £250 million from industry, to create new construction processes and techniques for building manufacture in the UK. Linked to the Construction Sector Deal, the programme includes funding for research, a new construction network and the creation of an active building centre and innovation hub.
What does BIM mean to you and how do you use/implement digital construction methodology on your projects?
BIM primarily means that everyone involved in a project has the right information at the right time. This facilitates the whole process of design, construction and operation of a built asset.
When did you first start working with BIM?
It must have been about 2005. I was working for Wates as a Design Manager. I instantly recognised it as the future of the industry. From then on I’ve been a keen advocate, and watched the developments with interest. Wates was an early adopter of modelling construction sequences – 4D BIM.
Why should BIM Show Live visitors attend your talk?
I’m going to talk about the Government’s Industrial Strategy for Construction, which will affect everyone in the industry. We are implementing a powerful plan to improve construction through digital techniques, manufacturing approaches and optimisation of whole life performance. There will be great opportunities for the early adopters, and risks for the laggards!
What technologies in the AEC industry currently impress you the most?
There are many: internet of things applications to monitor and track components; advances in digital modelling; flexible factories; robotics; application of machine learning (artificial intelligence) to construction data; autonomous plant on construction sites; and the emergence of buildings that generate their own energy – buildings as power stations.
What do you think will be the next big thing in BIM and digital construction?
Generative design. Much of the routine design work will be taken over by computers, leaving human designers to focus on ideas and the more precise needs of building users.
You can see Sam’s talk at BIM Show Live 2019 on Wednesday 27 February at 14:00: Transforming Construction.
