The future of the Built Environment in a Digital World webinar

In this joint Interest Network session presented on Wednesday 17 September, our expert panellists shared their vision of what the future of the Built Environment could look like with greater adoption of AI and digital tools.

The webinar featuring a moderated Q&A session.

This was a joint webinar from the APM AI and Data Analytics Interest Network and the APM Built Environment Interest Network.

Webinar resources

The panel have kindly allowed their presented material to be made available for viewing. The webinar recording on Vimeo and the slides on Slideshare, will shortly be available in our APM resources area and also embedded below for reference.

The panel are reviewing the questions submitted during the broadcast, and as an additional resource the answers will be added shortly.

This webinar content is suitable for professionals with any knowledge level of the project profession.

 

Speaker panel members

The event was chaired by Dave Corbin, APM Built Environment Interest Network Lead.

Dale Sinclair, Head of Digital Innovation, WSP

Described as a pragmatic futurist, I'm driven to transform project delivery through innovative use of digital technologies and offsite manufacturing. By integrating artificial intelligence into interdisciplinary workflows, I aim to revolutionise how we approach design complexity and future challenges including net zero. My global team is actively engaged in delivering cutting-edge projects, collaborating with clients and contractors to harness the advantages of progressive manufacturing methods including kits of parts and platform approaches.

Having qualified as an architect and with over 35 years of experience, I've played a key role in shaping industry standards, including being the lead author of the RIBA Plan of Work 2013 publications. Recently, I’ve contributed to the field with the publication of the RIBA Plan of Work 2020 Overview and the Security Overlay and contributed to the 2nd Edition of the DfMA Overlay. I've also authored multiple books emphasising design management and the crucial role of the lead designer in the digital age.

I’m involved in many forums to help stimulate and drive change in the built environment industry. I am chair of the UK Construction Industry Council (CIC) Digital Forum, sit on the digital committee of the Construction Leadership Council (CLC), chair the CB/1 committee for the British Standards Institute (BSI), and am an adviser on the Bridge AI steering committee.

 

Cristina Sánchez, Digital Construction Manager, Bovis

Cristina's vision is a built environment that better responds to the user’s needs, and her mission is to enable that through a more efficient construction industry empowered by digital and data strategy.

From a junction between architecture, construction, BIM, and data analytics, Cristina advocates for a culture change in the way we design and build, to learn from tech disruption in other industries - while acknowledging the uniqueness of ours.

 

James Garner, Head of AI and Data, Gleeds

I am a Chartered Quantity Surveyor who joined Gleeds in 1998 and graduated from Leeds Metropolitan University with a First Class Honours Degree.

I currently work as a the Global Head of Data and Insights & Analytics, as a Senior Director, mainly based out of the London Office, although I have the benefit of our large network of offices around the UK.

I am a Fellow of the RICS and also a chairman for the RICS Assessment of Professional Competence.

I am the technical author for RICS having recently published the technical guidance for cashflow forecasting in the construction industry.

Specialties:
I am passionate about data in the construction industry. I believe that the proper use of data can allow our industry to keep moving forwards and breaking boundaries. 

I specialise in the Cost Management and Procurement of Student Accommodation and has successfully completed schemes for many Oxford Colleges, as well as London Colleges.

My experience includes work on listed buildings, phased buildings and restricted sites.