Today, there are 130 people in our Innovation group. Their mission? To speed up the develop- ment and integration of new technologies and methods on all our worksites in Canada. This largely depends on R&D, software develop- ment, the automation of low value-added tasks, change management, and the management of worksite teams, including the virtual design and construction coordinators.

We hope to bring our entire ecosystem clients, designers, trade partners, suppliers into the fold, so that we can deliver more sustainable projects.

R&D applied to the needs of our activities

Research is a vital link in the innovation chain. Our R&D experts look for the very best prac- tices on the planet, regardless of discipline.

Technologies designed for the construction industry are rare. No matter! We continue to take the best of what s available elsewhere and adapt it to our needs. The robot Spot is a perfect example.

Innovation is an integral part of every one of our spheres of activity.

Digital transformation, a boon for one and all

Everything is interdependent. State-of-the-art technologies must be adopted in every link in the chain if we are to modernize the construc- tion industry. Otherwise, what s the point? The collaborative mode will help us get there.

Over the last 10 years, we ve set our sights on increasing the use of technology. The highlight was in 2012, when we were one of the first in Canada to adopt Building Information Modeling (BIM) and 4D simulation.

We see the full potential of BIM in increasing our own productivity and building in a more envi- ronmentally responsible way for our benefit, of course, but also for the benefit of the entire industry and society as a whole.

BIM means better building

Architects, engineers and trade partners all pro- duce 3D models. Integrating these into a single federated model allows us to work together using the same 3D model.

Then we bring in BIM, a collaborative process facilitated by the latest digital technologies. BIM integrates performance details, specifications and other non-physical project data.

Using BIM, we can, for example, improve plan- ning, optimize prefabrication, plan the delivery of materials and equipment, detect problems before they come up on the worksite, reduce change orders, meet the highest quality stan- dards and execute complex projects. This saves time and money, and shrinks our environmental footprint.

But it s during the facility management phase that BIM really shines. It can provide data that property owners need to optimize the life cycle of their infrastructure and the value of their investments.

INNOVATION

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