Digital technology helps to integrate buildings into the living environment and the city. Thanks to digital technology, it is now possible to gain a better understanding of how people use buildings today, while anticipating how they will use them tomorrow and anticipating unexpected developments. How can we do this? Thanks to data! Properly processed, data widens the field of vision of those involved in the construction industry, enabling them to target more accurately. It's a rich resource that opens the way to buildings that are as useful as they are virtuous, to modular constructions that are relevant and (almost) limitless. It's a wealth that allows us to move faster, to take time where it's needed, to build for tomorrow. But does the construction industry have the time?
Thanks to its mastery of a certain amount of data essential to design (in particular the carbon, cost and energy consumption associated with defined infrastructures) digital technology is able to intervene in the different time scales at play in the city. Reliable and practical, it can support and even clarify the choices made by operators in the sector, enabling them to make structuring choices capable of placing their buildings or infrastructures, whatever they may be (nuclear power station, hospital, motorway, etc.), in a long-term vision.
The evolution of buildings over time: the key role of digital technology
Today, only digital technology makes it possible to manipulate data to compare different parameters and guide contractors to reliable and relevant decisions over time. This is essential if we are to move towards resilient infrastructure while improving and sustaining use over time. In fact, this is the whole point of the so-called "life cycle": to move beyond a simple vision of the construction phase. To achieve this, the challenge for both new and existing buildings is to take a long-term view. How can this be achieved? By thinking of the city as an evolving place, capable of responding to the diverse needs of its current and future users. And contrary to what you might think, thinking ahead also means thinking temporarily. The 2024 Olympic Games are a case in point. The infrastructure developed for this global event has been designed from the outset with other uses in mind, this time for the long term. This reversibility is in line with the social and environmental challenges facing the country. At the same time, it avoids the environmental problems associated with this type of construction, which is initially intended for temporary use. This reversibility is not only useful in this situation.
The reversibility of buildings: imagining the future to save time
As people's habits evolve, time is often disrupted. What does this mean? Several years can pass between the time a developer starts designing a fifty-storey office building and the time the building is inaugurated. And yet, during that time, a revolution in use may well take place, rendering the building completely uninteresting as a place to work. So what should we do with the building when its design is no longer relevant to its target audience? It's worth noting that the only way to accommodate changes in use at an acceptable cost is to anticipate them from the outset. And this must be done digitally. And with good reason: the act of redoing is usually the reason for abandoning the project. By anticipating, i.e. taking the time before the design stage to identify what may evolve as society itself evolves, it is entirely possible to be part of the evolution of use itself and to adapt effectively to it. Those involved in a construction project will know how to adapt the building in progress, so they will be well informed and ready for change when it comes. This not only saves time, but also means they can respond more quickly to emerging needs. In short, it's a way of taking a long-term view thanks to improved responsiveness.
Far from being a waste of time, this work on the potential reversibility of a property represents an added value for any type of construction. It means that a social housing building is no longer simply defined (fixed) as such. Because of its design, it can easily be transformed into an office building, a logistics building or even a hospital if the need arises. The pandemic has reminded us how important it is to be able to react quickly! Of course, reversibility comes at a price and must be considered over time. In fact, it's almost inconceivable that it can be achieved at less than staggering cost unless we work with the agility and flexibility of data sets that can be modelled using digital tools driven by artificial intelligence.
Digital modelling to create living spaces that evolve and diversify
The data collected, analysed and compared using digital tools is the key to imagining the uses of tomorrow. They allow us to project ourselves into the future, giving a broader meaning, or even several meanings, to buildings to be renovated and to new constructions. Without digital technology, for example, it is very difficult to build external insulation, just as it is virtually impossible to build off-site. Modular construction (prefabricated buildings that are much more environmentally friendly), which can be used to reduce construction times, has its place in the city of the future. Everyone remembers the images from China of entire hospitals being built in a matter of weeks. Whether or not these images are true, it is important today to take stock of what off-site construction can offer: the ability to build quickly where there is demand, to meet a need in the short term (immediate and urgent).
Digital technology: accelerating informed decisions
Digital technology and the data it provides enable a higher quality of interaction with those involved in the construction industry and promote greener decision making. The result is cities that are good places to live, now and in the future, and good places to take the time to live. At a time when everything is speeding up, including people's desire to live better, digital technology is an invaluable tool for rethinking the way we design places to live, taking into account real human expectations and the essential needs of the planet. "Yes, but analysing data is time-consuming and opens the door to endless reflection," some may think. "It's a waste of time we don't have," say others. But it's the data that saves time. Time for what? In the arbitration phases. Thanks to data, it is possible to interact more effectively with the various parties involved in a project and, as a result, spend more time working together. More effective collaboration because it involves all the players in the construction industry.
Reallocating time for thoughtful design and operation
The time required for design, construction, implementation and operation fundamentally changes the way an infrastructure is designed for its users. But from a technical point of view, it is only by taking enough time and making the most of it, thanks to digital tools and data collection, that it is possible to make coherent and sustainable decisions. This applies to all stakeholders. Let's not forget that digital data takes time, but it saves time and, most importantly, allows us to take a long-term view of design and construction. This is essential if we are to deliver a building that can be used by its users. And for good reason, this user support is essential, especially from an energy management perspective. It is not uncommon, for example, to hear of a building that has been modernised or refurbished to minimise energy consumption and then blows its energy predictions after just one year. In most cases, however, it's not the equipment that's to blame. They work perfectly well. So where is the problem? In reality, the problem is simply the way people use the building and its equipment. The accumulation of new features (new environment, performance of appliances and materials, and all the ventilation and insulation systems) means that users need to rethink all their habits.
Encouraging use for optimal energy and environmental performance
Just as we need to change our vision to build in line with today's notion of 'utility' and to build in line with new uses, we also need to be able to support the handover of delivered buildings. The delivery of an asset (building or infrastructure) can no longer be the same as in the past. In practice, it is up to those involved in the construction industry to pass on the good habits associated with the structural and functional evolution of their buildings, which are designed to be economical, comfortable and sustainable. This is further proof, if any was needed, that taking the time to get things right at every stage of design, construction and operation is essential if we are to ensure that:
- users can fully enjoy the asset with which they interact,
- the building does what it is capable of doing in terms of modularity, energy savings and environmental impact.
There's no magic formula for achieving this! We simply need to take on the role of supporting the whole process, taking more time before the design phase and after the construction phase. All the while ensuring that the data sets generated by digital tools are properly calibrated.
