Members of the National Federation of Builders (NFB) and its Major Contractors Group (MCG) recently visited Helsinki, Finland to explore how AI and construction processes are being delivered in a Nordic country, where temperatures can drop as low as minus 20 degrees centigrade.
The trip, organised by Mark Wakeford, NFB Chair and Managing Director (MD) of EvoEnergy Ltd, began with an introduction to AiforSite, an AI solution designed for the built environment and project management, AiforSite offers an AI system called Wendy AI, real-time location systems, 360 reality capture, site cameras, and condition monitoring, all aimed at increasing productivity and meeting regulatory requirements.
From AI and digital construction, NFB members attended three further construction projects to understand how Takt, a planning and delivery control model, is applied in practice.
Takt can and has been compared to ‘Lean Construction’ (LEAN); however, Takt offers a more rhythmic approach. Much like an automotive production line, it follows a scheduled and repetitive process while being underpinned by strong pre-project planning and logistical procedures.
The first site visit was to the billion Euro Laakso hospital, being delivered under an alliance contract and benefitting from a Digital Twin. Logistics were key to delivery, with materials only arriving on site when they were needed. Takt was credited with ensuring they could deliver 250m2 of floor space per day.
The second site visit was to a commercial unit next to the Mall of Tripla, which borders an electrified railway line. To help visualise Takt and weekly construction expectations, a video of the building going up presented the schedule of works over a two-year period. Barriers to delivering Takt, such as setting concrete in the coldest and most challenging conditions and avoiding high voltage rail infrastructure were also presented alongside their solutions.
The final visit was to a residential project, detailing the complexities of delivery Takt in practice, the process of analysing and overcoming challenges, and why in five years, Takt has helped the builder Fira grow from delivering 120 units per year to 500.
Rico Wojtulewicz, NFB Head of Policy and Market Insight also met a Senior Specialist at the Ministry of the Environment, Build Environment Department. Discussions covered the Finnish planning process, their housing supply challenges, and how Housing First is delivered and funded at a local, regional, and national level.
Mark Wakeford, NFB Chair and MD of EvoEnergy Ltd said:
” “It has been a fabulous trip and heartening to see the realisation of systems and processes UK construction are aware of but have struggled to implement. Takt and AI clearly demonstrated that they could take time off development programmes, while reducing costs.
If businesses have the flexibility and bandwidth to do things differently, I always think it is worthwhile seeing how other people solve the same problem we have. As best in class constructors, I would urge and recommend members to keep an eye open for future NFB CPD Excursions so we can push our businesses and industry forward.”
Detailed reports and attendee considerations will be available on AskNFB in the coming weeks, and we encourage members to engage with NFB membership services to be made aware of future NFB CPD Excursions or would like to suggest some.
