TECHNOLOGY & EQUIPMENT
THE COST , TIMEFRAME , and effort involved in creating and adapting buildings means that most organisations do not do so every year – or even every decade . But business needs are changing at an ever faster pace . Which raises the question – how can you ensure that a building constructed today is still up-to-date in 20 , 30 or even 50 years ’ time ?
Constant technological progress is changing the way we live , how we work , and even where we work at an astonishing rate . The past is littered with examples of once cutting-edge structures that quickly became outmoded and redundant , leading to costly remodelling . But can technology enable us to futureproof a building , and if so how ?
By definition , it is too early to say . Certainly many structures are now designed with a host of contingencies in mind , from technological advances and flexible working patterns to extreme weather events , security threats , and climate change .
But designing an adaptable structure is only one way of hedging against the vast unknown .
Data = knowledge = true adaptability An alternative , and potentially less costly , strategy is to focus on gathering consistent , rich , and accurate data and engaging with stakeholders about its outcomes as early as possible .
The guiding principle is to track every element of the built asset , and how its occupants operate within it . Detailed , consistent data leads
14 July 2016