Everyone has a job, but I'm one of the lucky few who loves theirs. Across the world, BIM and digital construction tools are rapidly evolving, becoming critical to reducing the cost of re-work on site. Faced with tight margins and rising costs, progressive construction companies are seeking skilled workers with experience implementing digital workflows.

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Starting my career as a Structural Draughtsman, I was immediately drawn to the problem-solving side of the work. This led to me spending more time on site, interacting with builders and site managers. I enjoyed talking to them about the design, and what caused problems during construction.

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I enjoyed this so much that I decided to switch from the design side to the construction side. I became a "Digital Engineer," basically a draughtsman with a more diverse range of digital skills and construction knowledge. I worked on complicated temporary works structures - a natural fit for my background as a Structural Draughtsman. Again, I enjoyed the role because it let me get on site and get insight from the people on the tools. I took feedback from site staff and began investigating different digital tools and methods we could implement.

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I then accepted a role at another construction company as BIM Manager. A smaller company, working on intricate cut-and-carve structures in central London. With the BIM Manager role came information management aspects expected on modern commercial buildings. My focus, however, was work-winning and digital deployment. Creating renders, animations, drawings and sequences that showed our methodology. On site, I implemented new tools at all levels: quantity surveyors gained the ability to complete 3D takeoffs, site engineers used augmented reality and model viewers, and project managers benefited from 360° reality capture to support later variation claims and for snagging.

 

New Zealand construction companies have a history of being innovative, which has been essential for survival in our small market. We're now at the precipice of the next wave of innovation. Clients are de-risking their projects using modern tools. Contractors are looking for staff who understand and can drive adaptation of these tools.

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That's why I decided to form Modelspace. I can contribute to projects from pre-construction through to handover, giving direct deliverables like visualisations and drawings, or consulting to implement new workflows. This could be anything from laser scanning and as-built modelling, to model viewers and coordination tools on site, or 360° technology for progress capture. If you've seen a tool that interests you, chances are I've used it or researched it.

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So if you're wondering what you need to do to get ahead of other contractors, get in touch! We can have a no-obligation chat to discuss how I can help your business.