COMMENTARY

Building a collaborative future

Integrating ‘disruptive technology’ is the way forward for a total quality future.

The building industry straddles both manufacturing and service industries. It is a lumpy process, with different professional disciplines contributing their part in design, procurement, and construction. It is an industry whereby designers and manufacturers do not normally come under one roof, and clients would have to rely on contracts as vehicles to bring their concepts from design to fruition, with quality, time and cost in mind. There is also room for improvement on each party in the industry to reduce waste, avoid re-work and ensure sustainability.

My ‘dream industry’ is one that can deliver total quality all the time. Total quality means fitness for purpose in all dimensions. When we strive to improve total quality, we need to examine the purpose and the entire value chain—the process, product, people—holistically, with an aim to achieve sustainability and create a better world.

I have dreams for collaborative design, a better living environment and streamlined workflow. The final outcome would be a more efficient process, more economic and quality product, more satisfied stakeholders and a healthier living environment.

THE IT REVOLUTION
In this digital era, we are entering another wave of industrial revolution, where smart use of information technology (IT) or ‘disruptive technology’ will bring significant changes in all aspects of the construction industry’s ecosystem. These IT systems may include building information modelling (BIM), geographic information system (GIS), Internet of things (IoT), virtual reality, augmented reality, big data etc.

BIM, for example, calls for better integration and collaboration of the entire project team to work smart and stimulate continuous innovation and continuous learning. As a progressively evolving technology, it is disruptive as it shifts the resource curve upfront to achieve synergistic results and, in return, helps generate better solutions for a better built environment. We need concerted efforts to drive BIM in the industry.

At the industry level, the Construction Industry Council (CIC) has taken up the role as a coordinator in BIM development and digital construction, since setting up a working group on BIM in 2011 and publishing a BIM implementation roadmap in 2013. In 2017, CIC established the Committee on BIM to formulate strategies for market transformation, and to promote and facilitate the use and application of BIM, digital construction and its related technologies in the construction industry.

CIC serves as a Centre of Excellence for BIM in the form of a central hub and an open-sharing platform, with a specific focus on the following:
• To develop standards, specifications and common practices for BIM;
• To develop and promote good practices in both BIM management and operation; and
• To build capacity, develop and operate the BIM development ladder.

However, this is not disruptive enough. I am a firm believer that IT systems must further integrate to enable us to work smarter and excel. The Hong Kong Housing Authority (HKHA)’s work towards integration of BIM and GIS is one example of how work processes can be improved with better collaboration and integration of IT.


ADA YS FUNG, BBS, JP, FHKIA
CHAIRPERSON, COMMITTEE ON BIM, CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY COUNCIL;
FORMER DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF HOUSING (DEVELOPMENT & CONSTRUCTION)
Fung is an architect by profession and is active in the architectural field and construction industry in Hong Kong.

During her career as Deputy Director of Housing until end 2017, Fung oversaw all facets of public housing development work in Hong Kong, from project management, planning, design and contract management to establishing operational policies. She also promoted sustainable development, community engagement, Green building and BIM and product certification in the industry, among others.

She is the past president of the Hong Kong Institute of Architects (2013–2014), past chairperson of the APEC Architect Monitoring Committee of Hong Kong (2012/13– 2015/16), and past chairperson of the Architects Registration Board (2010/11–2011/12).

She is chairperson of the Committee on BIM and past chairperson of the Committee on Construction Safety (2016 and 2017) of the CIC. She is the president of the Lighthouse Club (HK) and one of the directors of the Hong Kong Green Building Council.


To read the complete article, please download the Construction Plus App on the App Store or Google Play.