The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) prioritises AI and data for improved safety.
- CLC’s Information Management Initiative (IMI) partners with Nima to harness AI and digital tech.
- Enhanced data management promises significant sector advancements in safety and cost efficiency.
- Industry-wide adoption of IMI principles is encouraged for comprehensive safety improvements.
- Balfour Beatty and major firms endorse technology that safeguards site workers.
The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) has issued a directive aimed at embedding artificial intelligence (AI) and data-driven strategies into the health and safety protocols of the construction industry. This initiative underscores the sector’s commitment to leveraging technology to bolster safety standards and operational efficiency.
Central to this endeavour is the CLC’s Information Management Initiative (IMI), developed in collaboration with Nima, previously known as the UK BIM Alliance. This initiative is designed to stimulate transformative improvements across the industry by integrating emerging digital technologies such as AI, the internet of things (IoT), and digital twins. These technologies offer promising enhancements in managing data, which can lead to substantial benefits, including reduced costs, increased project value, and improved sustainability and performance.
The newly released document by the CLC outlines a comprehensive approach for the industry, including a directive and a roadmap to 2030. It sets forth principles to guide the sector, inviting organisations to commit to these foundational ideals as a first step. Following this, organisations are encouraged to formulate customised rules and desired outcomes, receiving frameworks and resources to further their data management capabilities.
Richard Robinson, CLC deputy co-chair and AtkinsRealis president for the UK and Ireland, highlights the essential role of quality information management throughout the lifecycle of built assets. He emphasises that such management is crucial for ensuring a safe, thriving environment for people and businesses alike. Robinson also notes the necessity of industry-wide collaboration to realise the digital enablement of the construction sector fully.
In recent developments, Balfour Beatty has mandated the use of human-recognition cameras on large machines to enhance safety by preventing accidents involving moving vehicles. This move exemplifies the types of innovations the CLC aims to propagate within the industry.
To date, thirteen organisations, including notable names like McGee and the Construction Products Association (CPA), have pledged their support as IMI sponsors. However, both Nima and the CLC call for broader support across the sector to ensure the initiative’s success.
Anne Kemp, the chair of Nima, asserts that the IMI’s goal is not to complicate processes but to clarify and simplify them. More importantly, Kemp stresses that the approach is designed to be relevant and feasible for the entire spectrum of the built environment, stretching into the foreseeable future.
The CLC’s recent push for technological integration follows findings from a study by Costain, which suggested that embracing broader technology use could substantially elevate the construction sector’s economic contribution by £417 billion over the next twenty-five years. This initiative is also in line with previous insights from the Chartered Institute for Building, which advocate for viewing AI as an indispensable tool for workers.
This strategic push occurs after the CLC decided to discontinue a prior tech-based initiative due to insufficient industry engagement, highlighting the need for commitment and collaboration across the board.
The CLC’s emphasis on AI and data management marks a forward-looking step towards a safer, more efficient construction industry.
