Over the past three years, Orbit Group has actively collaborated with Parametrix to leverage modern technology for advancing the housing sector. Prompted by safety concerns from the Grenfell tragedy and the Building Safety Act 2022, our primary goal was to digitize building management and utilise building data for enhanced oversight.
The project commenced with Parametrix conducting an in-depth digital transformation study. This involved comprehensive interviews with each department at Orbit Group to scrutinise daily information usage and identify opportunities for process enhancement. This initial research laid the groundwork for our pilot project in Erith, East London. Chosen specifically for its complicated history of ownership and lack of existing design or condition records, The three Erith tower blocks were an ideal testbed.
The pilot project aimed to expand the limits of building surveys, incorporating over a dozen different methods. These ranged from traditional services like utility and topographical surveys to advanced techniques such as drone scans and thermographic data capture. Parametrix meticulously managed these surveys, synthesizing the diverse data into a structured 3D database using the Scan-to-BIM methodology, adhering to critical principles of Building Information Modelling (BIM).
The insights from the pilot exceeded expectations, providing Orbit Group with essential information for BSR registration and regulatory compliance. Moreover, we uncovered details about previous building extensions and refurbishments, material performance specifics, redundant mechanical and electrical systems, and the building’s structural integrity under potential scenarios.
As a result of the pilot’s success, Orbit Group has refined its surveying services and is currently partnering with Parametrix to digitize over 23 high-risk buildings across London, Southeast, and South England. The digital models produced by Parametrix are far more than simple 3D representations; they are fully reverse-engineered, interdisciplinary databases of all building elements. Each element is classified according to Uniclass 2015 and equipped with 20-50 bespoke information parameters, facilitating integration with Orbit’s internal IT systems. This innovative, data-centric approach, pioneered by Parametrix, ensures continuous data updates, reinforcing the golden thread of information and prioritizing accessibility for all project stakeholders, from Investment Directors to on-site caretakers.
Our key takeaway from this journey is that digitization of the housing sector is imminent. Although challenges such as establishing a UK Housing data standard and developing appropriate IT infrastructure persist, increased adoption will hasten the standardization of processes, automation of services, and, most importantly, enhance the safety of all residential buildings in the UK.
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