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Digital Built Britain launches next phase of construction's digitisation

The UK’s Building Information Modeling Task Group today launched the next stage for smart infrastructure and construction, the Digital Built Britain programme.

Introduced in the 2016 Budget the Digital Built Britain programme is set to improve productivity and capacity while delivering reductions in carbon emissions, as well as total life asset costs. 

Digital Built Britain will deliver a variety of the UK government’s digital transformation objectives to maintain the UK’s status as a leader in the field. The programme will focus on the growth of smart cities, cyber and physical security, as well as the use of sensors and the internet. 

The new programme will continue the work of the UK’s BIM Task Group, streamlining efforts to progress BIM and Smart Cities to ensure that both technological innovations coincide to best benefit UK industry.

Mark Bew, chair of the BIM Task Group and the newly appointed chair of Digital Built Britain, said: “Today marks a significant step in the journey to a digital economy for the built environment. The UK has made a significant step in creating a world-class position in delivering capability, standards and capacity in the sector to reduce cost and increase value. The coming together of the BIM and smart city programme into Digital Built Britain will continue this commitment to providing jobs, homes, services and growth to the UK economy.”

With the BIM Task Group having been established in 2011 to deliver a goal of up to 20% savings on major project costs, it is hoped that the better coordination of efforts made possible through Digital Built Britain make such goals a reality.

Today’s launch of the new programme was announced at the Institution of Civil Engineers BIM 2016 conference and is launched in parallel with the publication of a document in conjunction with the Construction Products Association on the digitalisation of construction.

Peter Caplehorn, deputy CEO and policy director of the Construction Products Association commented: “The digitalisation of the construction sector is revolutionising every aspect of the industry as it has done in other areas. Driving up performance reliability efficiency in construction is vital on an industry and national level. The DNA of construction is the products and ensuring they are fully connected to this sea change is crucial in making digital everyday business. The CPA are delighted to support this change and their members through the launch of the LEXICON system.”

As well as today's launch, with the recent news that the UK Accreditation Service has been appointed to establish a certification scheme for Level 2 BIM, it is clear that digitalisation of infrastructure will continue to be a priority for UK industry as well as government.