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    • Accruent Meridian 2024: Streamlining Engineering Information For All Industries

    Posted on by David Medeiros

    In today’s rapidly evolving industries, from manufacturing to utilities, managing and leveraging complex engineering information is key to success. In this context, Accruent Meridian 2024 emerges as a robust solution to help organizations achieve compliance, improve efficiency, and manage asset lifecycle information.

    Accruent has designed Meridian 2024 to cater to a wide range of industries, providing seamless access to accurate, up-to-date, and compliant engineering data. In this blog, we’ll explore how Meridian 2024 transforms asset and document management across sectors and how its interactive capabilities can streamline your operations.

    WHAT IS ACCRUENT MERIDIAN 2024

    Accruent Meridian 2023 is a comprehensive Engineering Information Management (EIM) solution designed to manage the complex, highly regulated documentation environments of various industries. Whether you’re dealing with critical infrastructure in oil & gas or managing compliance in pharmaceuticals, this tool offers:

    • Centralized document management for all engineering assets.
    • Version control and audit trail for regulatory compliance.
    • Collaboration tools to streamline workflows across departments.

    INDUSTRY-SPECIFIC BENEFITS OF MERIDIAN 2024

    1. Manufacturing: Accelerate Production with Real-Time Data

    In the manufacturing sector, managing engineering data efficiently is critical to reducing downtime and improving operational efficiency. Meridian 2024 allows manufacturers to:

    • Track asset changes in real-time, ensuring machines and production lines are always running optimally.
    • Monitor equipment performance with easy access to updated engineering data, preventing costly breakdowns.
    • Ensure compliance with industry standards and safety regulations via centralized document management.

    Infographic:

    oil & gas: improve DOCUMENT compliance and asset management

    Oil & gas industries deal with complex regulations and harsh environments that demand top-tier asset management. Meridian 2024 provides tools to:

    • Manage remote assets by ensuring all documentation is centralized, regardless of geographical location.
    • Adhere to strict compliance standards with built-in audit trails and version control.
    • Enhance safety through real-time access to engineering documentation, reducing human error in critical operations.

    Pharmaceuticals: Maintain Regulatory ASSET & DOCUMENT Compliance with Ease

    In highly regulated industries like pharmaceuticals, the margin for error is extremely thin. Compliance and safety are top priorities. Meridian 2024 enables pharmaceutical companies to:

    • Streamline FDA audits by having every document, from equipment manuals to process validations, available at the click of a button.
    • Maintain full traceability with a robust version control system that captures every change.
    • Ensure consistent quality by making sure the latest approved procedures are easily accessible to the staff on the floor.

    Case Study: AbbVie Accruent Meridian Case Study

    Utilities: Enhance Asset & Document Lifecycle Management

    In the utilities sector, companies must ensure that their infrastructure remains operational while complying with ever-changing regulations. Meridian 2024 offers:

    • Improved asset lifecycle management by storing all relevant documentation in one platform, accessible from anywhere.
    • Increased efficiency by reducing the time needed to find or update documentation for field operations.
    • Regulatory compliance through audit trails it ensures accountability for every modification to an asset.

    Diagram:

    Meridian 2024 integrates project with operations documents & assets

    Accruent Meridian 2024 goes beyond compliance and asset management. It also plays a crucial role in project management by integrating engineering documentation directly with your assets and equipment throughout the entire lifecycle of a project—from design and construction to operation and decommissioning. Here’s how:

    • Streamline Project Documentation: Meridian 2024 provides a centralized platform to manage all documents related to project planning, design, and execution. All documents—drawings, schematics, and technical specifications—are linked directly to specific assets, ensuring that the most current information is always available.
    • Efficient Collaboration: Large oil & gas projects often involve multiple stakeholders across different departments and external contractors. Meridian allows for easy collaboration, providing version control, document tracking, and approval workflows, ensuring that all parties are working with the latest, approved versions of documents.
    • Seamless Integration with Assets: Meridian 2024 seamlessly integrates project documents with the operational assets they support. Once a project is completed, the as-built documentation, including manuals, engineering diagrams, and equipment data sheets, can be stored and linked to the respective assets within the system. This ensures that when maintenance or future upgrades are required, teams have instant access to the full historical record of each asset.
    • Track Changes During Projects: One of the greatest challenges in oil & gas project management is tracking changes and ensuring all modifications are properly documented. Meridian 2024’s version control ensures that all changes to equipment, processes, and documentation during project execution are captured and traceable, helping to avoid costly errors or rework.
    • Compliance Throughout Asset Lifecycle: Meridian ensures that regulatory compliance is maintained throughout the entire asset lifecycle, from initial installation to ongoing operation. Each piece of equipment or asset has its associated documents and history tracked in Meridian, ensuring that the necessary certifications, inspections, and maintenance records are always accessible and up to date.

    FlowChart:

    Key Features of Accruent Meridian 2024

    1. Centralized Platform: All engineering documents stored and accessible from a single platform, ensuring no information is lost.
    2. Version Control: Every change is tracked, making it easy to maintain compliance and traceability.
    3. Collaboration Tools: Collaborate across departments and locations, ensuring that engineering, operations, and maintenance teams work with the latest data.
    4. Audit Trails: Keep track of every action, modification, and decision, streamlining the compliance process.

    Cloud & On-Premises Options: Meridian can be deployed in the cloud or on-premises, offering flexibility based on your organization’s needs.

    How Meridian 2024 Drives Digital Transformation

    Across all industries, digital transformation is a key focus. Accruent Meridian 2024 aids in this transformation by:

    • Reducing manual tasks through automation of document management.
    • Integrating with other enterprise systems such as ERP, CMMS, and GIS, providing a seamless digital environment.
    • Enhancing decision-making by offering real-time, accurate data about assets, systems, and processes.

    Quiz:

    Why Choose Accruent Meridian 2024?

    In a world where regulations are tightening, operations are becoming more complex, and downtime can cost millions, Accruent Meridian 2024 is an invaluable tool for any industry. It offers:

    • Increased operational efficiency by providing the right information at the right time.
    • Reduced risks by ensuring complete document traceability and regulatory compliance.
    • Future-proofing your business with scalable solutions that grow with your company.

    Ready to Implement Accruent Meridian 2024?

    Whether you’re in manufacturing, oil & gas, pharmaceuticals, utilities, or another industry, Accruent Meridian 2024 can streamline your operations and improve your asset management. Learn more about how Meridian can benefit your organization by scheduling a personalized demo.

    Conclusion

    The future of engineering information management is here with Accruent Meridian 2024. By providing a centralized, flexible, and highly secure solution, it’s empowering industries to achieve compliance, reduce downtime, and drive efficiency. The platform’s robust feature set combined with industry-specific adaptability makes it a go-to solution for organizations looking to stay ahead in today’s competitive landscape.

    To learn more about Accruent Meridian and how it can help your team, don’t hesitate to get in touch with the  SolidCAD Meridian Team.

    Executive Edge Episode 3 – Overcoming Productivity Challenges in Your Business

    Posted on by David Medeiros

    As business leaders, we know that maintaining success in today’s competitive landscape requires more than just innovative ideas; it demands a relentless focus on productivity. Let’s dive into why productivity is vital for sustaining business success and how it can transform your organization from the last installment. 

    In the final episode of our “Executive Edge” series focused on productivity, SolidCAD President Marcus Tateishi takes a hard look at why businesses often struggle to achieve productivity improvements. Despite knowing the importance of productivity, many organizations hit roadblocks that derail their efforts. Here’s my take on this episode and how you can overcome the common pitfalls that business leaders face when it comes to boosting productivity. 

    Challenges in Achieving Productivity 

    Our President didn’t sugarcoat it—strategic initiatives around productivity often fail, especially when it comes to investing in technology. According to Forbes, the failure rate of digital transformations is a staggering 84%. That’s right, 84%! These failures usually involve budget overruns, missed deadlines, and unmet expectations ​(Productivity episode 3)​. 

    Why Businesses Struggle 

    1. Fear of Failure: Given the high failure rate, many leaders hesitate to invest in productivity initiatives, fearing it could be career-ending if the results fall short. 
    1. Consultant Over-Reliance: While consultants often guide businesses through productivity transformations, they sometimes present overly optimistic budgets and timelines, setting organizations up for failure. 
    1. Clinging to the Status Quo: In the absence of fierce competition, companies tend to maintain their current practices, but this “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” mentality can lead to stagnation, especially in rapidly evolving industries ​(Productivity episode 3). 

    Getting It Right: 4 Key Aspects to Success 

    Overcoming productivity challenges requires a focused approach, and Marcus lays out four major aspects that I will dive deeper to: 

    1. Choosing the Right Technology: Investing in technology is essential, but the key is selecting the right tools for your organization’s specific needs. It’s not just about having the latest tech—it’s about technology that fits your workflows and can scale with your business. The wrong choice can lead to wasted resources and frustration, while the right decision can unlock new levels of efficiency. 
    1. Selecting the Right Consultant: Consultants can be vital in guiding your productivity journey, but not all consultants are equal. There is an importance of selecting consultants who have a deep understanding of your industry and realistic expectations about budget and timelines. They should be partners who help you implement sustainable, long-term changes rather than offering quick fixes. 
    1. Training Your Staff: No technology or strategy will be effective without a properly trained workforce. Investing in employee training ensures that your team can fully utilize the tools at their disposal. Marcus points out that a well-trained staff is a company’s greatest asset—they bring your productivity plans to life. 
    1. Having the Right People in Place: Ultimately, the success of your productivity initiatives depends on the people in your organization. Marcus underscores the importance of evaluating whether you have the right team members in place to support your productivity goals. Having people who are adaptable, innovative, and aligned with the company’s vision is critical for sustained success. 

    These four aspects work hand-in-hand: focusing on just one while ignoring the others won’t cut it. To really boost productivity, your technology, consulting, training, and team need to be aligned. Think of each as a piece of a bigger puzzle—if one piece is missing or doesn’t fit right, the whole thing falls apart. When all these elements are in sync, that’s when real productivity gains happen. 

    The Path Forward 

    Despite these challenges, there is a high reward for getting it right. Companies that invest wisely in digital transformations and productivity improvements see significant growth and efficiency gains. Even McKinsey study shows that digitally mature companies grow much faster than their less mature counterparts ​(Productivity episode 3)​. 

    Packed with insights and practical advice for business leaders looking to enhance productivity, watch the second video below: 

    Bluebeam Actions vs. Adobe

    Posted on by David Medeiros

    We Bluebeam Revu users are lucky enough to have access to 2 tools: Edit Action and Capture.

    Edit Action

    This tool does a few things, but many users use it for adding a hyperlink to a selected markup.

    Capture

    This tool allows a user to attach an image to any markup. The image takes up no space until the user clicks it.

    Usage

    These 2 tools are accessed by selecting a markup and right clicking. After configuring, they will appear as symbols below the markup. The left one is the image, and the right is the hyperlink. Clicking on the image symbol displays the image in its own temporary interface. Clicking the link opens the link in a new Revu tab.

    Gotcha

    There could be a slight problem though depending on which PDF software your recipient uses. If your recipient uses Bluebeam Revu, there is no problem. These symbols appear and they can be clicked on. If they use any other software, such as Adobe Acrobat, these 2 symbols don’t appear, and they don’t do anything.

    Is there a workaround?

    Workarounds

    1. Flatten the markups (Hyperlink): The link symbol will not appear, but when your recipient moves their mouse over your markup, the link will be clickable.
    2. Flatten the markups (Image): Flattening the markups has no effect on the captured image. Your recipient will have no idea there was ever an image attached to that markup. Sorry, but you’ll have to add the image as a separate markup.

    The other hyperlink tool: Use this tool instead of the Edit Action tool. Adobe users will be able to click these even if you don’t flatten the markups.  You’ll find this in the Tools menu. FYI, this creates a separate markup and it’s in no way linked to any other markup.

    For any questions reach out to your sales rep or contact us at info@solidcad.ca

    Civil 3D 2025.1 Update

    Posted on by David Medeiros

    The Civil team at Autodesk has released the latest update to Civil 3D 2025. Click here to see Release Notes and click here for the Online Help page. As usual, the update can be installed via the Autodesk Access app in your Windows status bar, or by downloading the update at your Autodesk Account page.

    Here are a few noteworthy new features:

    Corridor Performance

    If you like to grip-edit corridor regions, but you are apprehensive due to the poor performance and laggy cursor, you’re in luck. I tested a very large corridor with a dense assembly frequency, and I noticed zero cursor lag! Impressive.

    Survey Database

    The survey database is now fully supported in Autodesk Docs.

    Surfaces

    Imagine a surface style that displays only contours, and that style is assigned to a surface. Your goal is to edit the TIN lines or points. In 2025, you’d need to assign a style with those components turned on. Now in 2025.1, these components are automatically turned on after initiating these edit tools.

    Dynamo

    If you’re a Dynamo developer, or you know one:

    • 1100 new nodes have been added.
    • The library has been reorganized.
    • The Dynamo Core has been upgraded to 3.2.2
    • Colour control has been improved.

    For any questions reach out to your sales rep or contact us at info@solidcad.ca

    Executive Edge Episode 2: Overcoming Productivity Challenges in Your Business 

    Posted on by David Medeiros

    In the second episode of our “Executive Edge” series, Marcus Tateishi dives straight into the challenges businesses face when trying to improve productivity. If you haven’t caught our first episode yet, where we break down why productivity is such a big deal, check it out here: Why Productivity Matters for You. 

    Even though most of us know what drives productivity, many businesses still struggle to actually achieve it. In this episode, Marcus doesn’t just explain the “why,” but more importantly, the “how” of overcoming these hurdles—and makes a convincing case for why productivity should be a top priority for every business leader. 

    Why Focus on Productivity as a Canadian? 

    Here’s the hard truth: Canada’s labor productivity has been on the decline. From 1981 to 2021, productivity dropped from 88% to just 71% of the US levels. This steep decline is a wake-up call for Canadian businesses to start making productivity a priority if we want to stay competitive on the global stage ​(Productivity episode 2). 

    The Three Key Drivers of Productivity 

    Marcus lays out three crucial factors for boosting productivity: 

    1. Capital Intensity: The tools your team uses matter. The better the tools, the better the output. Investing in the right technology can make a world of difference. 
    1. Labor Composition: This one’s all about your workforce. The more skilled and well-trained your employees are, the faster and better their work will be. 
    1. Multi-Factor Productivity: This focuses on how effectively you’re using your capital and labor together. Are your people and tools being used in the best possible way? This is where management practices, competition, and smart decision-making come into play​ (Productivity episode 2). 

    Why Productivity Pays Off 

    1. Boosting Profit Margins: More output from the same resources means higher profit margins—it’s that simple. 
    1. Staying Competitive: Productivity is your secret weapon for staying ahead in a global market. The businesses that focus on it will outshine their competitors. 
    1. Sustainability and Growth: Efficient resource use doesn’t just help you survive—it helps you thrive. It builds a foundation for long-term success​ (Productivity episode 2). 

    Departmental Contributions 

    Here’s the big takeaway: every department in your organization can and should contribute to boosting productivity. Equip your team with the best tools and provide them with top-notch training. It’s not just about cutting costs; it’s about empowering your people to work smarter and more efficiently. As leaders, it’s our job to evaluate our productivity metrics and make informed decisions that drive improvements across the board. 

    Want to learn more about how you can sustain productivity in your business? Watch the next installment, where valuable insights and practical tips that every business leader can benefit from.  

    OpenBIM: Bridging the Gap Between Design and Operations in Canada

    Posted on by David Medeiros

    OpenBIM was a key topic at the Building Transformations conference, with Claudia from buildingSMART Canada leading a panel discussion with industry leaders from HOK, EllisDon, and Turner Fleischer. The consensus among the design community is that openBIM, particularly the use of Industry Foundation Classes (IFC), should be more predominant in North America. However, this vision is at odds with the demands of many building owners, who prefer deliverables in more commonly used formats such as Revit, AutoCAD, MicroStation, and PDFs.

    Construction drawing board with house

    The OpenBIM Challenge

    • Design vs. Operations: While architects and engineers are advocating for openBIM, operations teams, who are focused on the lifecycle of a building, prefer simple and popular formats. This disconnect between design and operations is one of the main barriers to the widespread adoption of openBIM.
    • Owner Preferences: Building owners often prioritize practicality over innovation. They prefer deliverables that are easy to use and integrate with existing systems, which often means sticking with industry standards like Revit and AutoCAD.
    • The Push for Change: Despite these challenges, there is a growing movement within the design community to change owner perspectives and highlight the long-term benefits of openBIM, including improved collaboration, data exchange, and project outcomes.

    What Does the Future Hold for openBIM in Canada?

    The path to openBIM adoption in Canada is a complex one, requiring a shift in mindset from both the design and operations sides of the industry. While the transition may be slow, the potential benefits make it a worthwhile endeavor.

    Sources:

    How DarkSky Standards Combat Light Pollution and Protect the Night Sky

    Posted on by David Medeiros

    This story was originally published by  Diana Kightlinger on the Bluebeam Blog.

    DarkSky International, an education, advocacy and conservation organization protecting the night sky, approves new luminary standards, lighting programs and policy language

    At one time, nightfall plunged our ancestors into darkness and let them marvel at celestial objects in an inky sky. But in recent times, our ability to alter natural light levels has advanced to the point that stars, planets and galaxies are fading from view. Of the 2,500 stars that should be visible, the typical American suburbanite can see only a few hundred.

    Instead of starlight, the night is filled with streetlights, spotlights, stadium lights, neon signs, billboards and parking lot towers—all contributing to light pollution, defined by National Geographic as the excessive or inappropriate use of outdoor light. Light pollution damages human health, alters wildlife behavior and wastes energy and money as light blazes when and where it’s not needed. The result is glare that blinds drivers, light trespass that disturbs sleep, eerie orange skyglow over metro areas and confusing and garish groupings reminiscent of Times Square.

    Until light is policed in the same way as air, water and land pollution, it falls to architects, engineers and designers to select lighting systems that perform their function while still preserving the night sky—with the help of manufacturers whose fixtures meet the specs for responsible lighting and governments that support policies to protect darkness.

    “I think people are understanding the urgency of lighting design, because it’s become more and more difficult to see a clear night sky from anywhere,” said James Brigagliano, lighting program manager at DarkSky International.

    The harmful effects of too much light

    Light where it doesn’t belong disrupts the night and day rhythm encoded in the DNA of all animals and plants. That impacts behaviors from feeding and sleep to reproducing and evading predators.

    Human circadian rhythms are attuned to outdoor light during the day and darkness at night. Breaking that cycle with artificial light increases the risk for obesity, depression, sleep disorders, diabetes and other diseases, according to research reported in Environmental Health Perspectives.

    For wildlife, prey use darkness as cover and predators use light to hunt, so illumination dramatically alters the environment and the odds. For instance, newborn sea turtles need to turn toward the ocean and safety after hatching on the beach, but often they’re confounded by light on shore. Birds that migrate or hunt at night are lured by brightly lit cities and veer from their flight patterns. And after dark, the insects that birds depend on are drawn to burning bulbs and their deadly heat.

    Worse still, lights are often pointless, adding economic waste to ecosystem harm. DarkSky International estimates that at least 30% of all outdoor lighting in the United States serves no purpose and is emitted by lights that don’t have shields to prevent spillage. Wasting light costs $33 billion each year and uses about 120 terawatt-hours of energy—enough to meet New York City’s electricity needs for two years. Quality outdoor lighting could cut energy use by 60% to 70%, saving billions of dollars and reducing carbon emissions. But that depends on lighting responsibly.

    Five principles for responsible outdoor lighting

    DarkSky and the Illuminating Engineering Society jointly published the Five Principles for Responsible Outdoor Lighting to prevent and reduce light pollution. Designing new projects or retrofits using the principles can create beautiful, functional, healthy lighting that minimizes harmful effects and saves energy and money.

    1. Useful: If it’s not serving a function, you shouldn’t have it.

    Identify the purpose of lighting and its impact on everything in the vicinity, including wildlife and habitats.

    • Targeted: Aim light so it falls only where it’s needed.

    Direct and shield light beams so they point down and don’t spill outside the area being lit.

    • Low level: Light should be no brighter than necessary.

    Use only the light required and make sure nearby surfaces don’t reflect light and create excess.

    • Controlled: Use light only when it’s needed.

    Install motion detectors, dimmers and timers to allow only the minimum light needed available at any time.

    • Warm-colored: Use warmer-color lights where possible.

    Cut back on shorter wavelength light (blue-violet) to the least amount needed.

    New standards, programs and policies to bring back the night

    The DarkSky Approved program provides objective, third-party certification for lighting design,  products and installed projects that reduce light pollution. Designers can search products by manufacturer, use, retailer, light temperature and residential use. Project standards fulfill requirements for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification as well, but requirements continually evolve based on new information.

    “We’re cutting down on what we allow for high-angle lighting—from 90 to 80 degrees,” Brigagliano said. “So now we’re allowing only 1% of the total light output of a fixture to be between 80 and 180 degrees. There’s no benefit to light between 80 to 90 degrees and the new cutoff will help reduce uplight and sky glow.”

    DarkSky Approved programs now include pedestrian lighting as well as sea turtles, sports venues and lodging. The new program addresses glare from light fixtures used in areas like campuses where people need lower-level lighting for safety at night.

    “We also have wildlife-tuned luminaries, with subcategories like sea turtles,” Brigagliano said. “That’s needed because different species have different sensitivities to wavelengths. However, if we control brightness and shield the light source, we’ve taken care of much of the issue and the color of light is less important.”

    In addition, DarkSky recently released an updated and simplified model policy that was written to make it easy for states and municipalities to adopt. “Just a little bit of improvement is better than none,” Brigagliano noted.

    Every place a dark sky place

    The International Dark Sky Places program certifies areas worldwide that preserve and protect darkness through responsible lighting policies and public education. Not all are remote parks and sanctuaries—a neighborhood or city can earn recognition as a Dark Sky Community or Urban Night Sky Place if residents are committed to a healthful and beautiful night.

    “Anywhere where there’s a DarkSky-approved place, there’s been a fair amount of dark sky conceptual lighting design,” Brigagliano said. That work may soon be required as part of state or local regulations. At least 19 states and a number of municipalities have laws in place to reduce light pollution.

    To be ready, architects, engineers and designers must recognize that light can be a pollutant—and balance providing light with protecting the dark.

    Hero image courtesy Mark Eichenberger

    SolidCAD Announces Strategic Partnership with Hysopt to Revolutionize HVAC Engineering in the MEP Sector

    Posted on by admin

    Toronto, ON, September 5, 2024 – SolidCAD, a leading provider of innovative digital transformation solutions, is proud to announce a strategic partnership with Hysopt, a pioneering company in HVAC engineering software. This collaboration aims to empower firms in the Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) sector with advanced tools to accurately calculate and simulate HVAC systems, driving significant improvements in efficiency and sustainability.

    Hysopt’s unique design software helps HVAC engineers and designers maximize the efficiency of their heating and cooling systems, which often underperform and over-pollute. By collaborating with Hysopt, SolidCAD can help organizations across Canada drastically reduce CO₂ emissions and cut energy costs, all saving engineering time and reducing failure costs.

    “At SolidCAD, we are always on the lookout for cutting-edge technology that can improve efficiency and deliver measurable results for our clients,” said Marcus Tateishi, President at SolidCAD. “Our partnership with Hysopt allows us to offer a powerful solution that enhances HVAC system performance and contributes to sustainability by reducing energy consumption and carbon footprints. SolidCAD clients will benefit from accurate calculations, precise modeling and simulation, and the creation of digital twins to identify the most efficient strategies. This leads to significant energy savings, lower operational costs, improved indoor climate control, and reduced environmental impact.”

    SolidCAD is dedicated to driving transformation and innovation by partnering with companies that share the same vision for a sustainable and efficient future. We encourage you to learn more about how this partnership with Hysopt can benefit your organization. Visit www.solidcad.ca and www.hysopt.com/ for more information. Together, let’s shape a better, more sustainable future.

    AI in Architecture: A Promising Yet Uncommitted Landscape

    Posted on by David Medeiros

    At the Building Transformations conference, Krigh Bachmann, Digital Innovation Leader in Canada, highlighted the current state of AI in architecture and engineering. While AI is a hot topic, there is a noticeable hesitation among industry professionals to fully commit to AI solutions. This reluctance is largely due to the fragmented nature of AI applications and the varying definitions of AI across different sectors.

    Why the Hesitation?

    • Lack of Commitment: Many firms are exploring AI but are hesitant to fully invest in a single solution, leading to a fragmented adoption of AI technologies.
    • Modular AI Solutions: Most AI applications in the AEC industry are modular rather than comprehensive, which adds to the reluctance. Firms are wary of committing to a solution that may not be adaptable in the future.
    • Different Meanings of AI: AI can mean different things to different people. For some, it’s about automation; for others, it’s about data analytics or predictive modeling. This lack of a clear definition makes it difficult for firms to align on a strategy.

    The Real Focus: Machine Learning

    According to Bachmann, the real focus for the AEC industry should be on machine learning, a subset of AI that involves training algorithms to recognize patterns and make predictions based on data. Machine learning has the potential to revolutionize the industry by optimizing processes, predicting project outcomes, and improving overall efficiency.

    What’s Next? Overcoming Hesitation and Embracing AI in Architecture and Engineering

    AI has the potential to transform the architecture and engineering sectors, but the industry needs to overcome its hesitation and focus on machine learning as a starting point. By doing so, firms can gradually integrate AI into their operations without the need for an all-or-nothing approach.

    Sources:

    The Modular Construction Paradox: Lessons from the UK and Canada

    Posted on by David Medeiros

    At the recent Building Transformations conference, a guest speaker from the UK shed light on the stark realities of the modular construction industry, comparing its trajectory in the UK with the situation in Canada. Modular construction has long promised to deliver projects on time, on budget, and with greater sustainability. However, the current landscape tells a different story, particularly in Canada, where many modular manufacturers and constructors are struggling to stay afloat.

    Challenges in Modular Construction

    The promise of modular construction has been hindered by several factors:

    • Skilled Labour: A significant shortage of skilled labour has caused delays, making it challenging to meet tight project deadlines. As a solution, retraining initiatives are being implemented to upskill existing workers, helping to mitigate these delays and improve project timelines.
    • Material Costs: Rising material costs have made it difficult for manufacturers to choose sustainable options, leading to budget overruns.
    • Financial Struggles: Many modular manufacturers are facing financial difficulties, with some even closing their doors.

    A Parallel with the Electric Car Industry

    A solution to these challenges can be found by drawing a parallel with the electric car industry. The modular industry, much like the fully electric car market, may have gone too far, too fast. While fully electric vehicles represent the future, the transition has been slow due to infrastructure challenges, a lack of trained workforce, and consumer hesitation. Similarly, modular construction has jumped straight to complex solutions, such as producing entire pods or suites, without a transitional phase that would allow for quality improvements and industry adaptation.

    The better approach may be a “hybrid” method—focusing on building kits of parts (e.g., floors and exterior walls) rather than entire modules. This approach could help ease the transition and provide more sustainable and cost-effective solutions.

    What Lies Ahead for the Future of Modular Construction?

    While modular construction holds promise, the industry must take a step back and reassess its approach. By adopting a hybrid model, similar to the automotive industry’s embrace of hybrid vehicles, the modular construction industry can better navigate its challenges and fulfill its potential.

    Sources: