There are many different methods of constructing a building.
You need to assess the entire process and engage actively with technology to see where – or whether – it will add value.You also have to be open to the very real possibility that its use may fundamentally alter that process for the better.As an industry, we have to get better at creating and sharing data, information and learning.
At the moment, we just don’t do that well enough.We have the computing and processing infrastructure to do amazing things with data in the built environment sector, but we have to create it, share it – and use it.. We’re big believers in open source.We use open source tools and technology in our work and we have built and shared some of our design automation work in the same way, so that other architects and designers can explore, understand, benefit – and hopefully build on – the work that we do.. Whilst technology can bring huge benefits to the construction industry, we also have to be aware of ethical questions around how data is collected and used.
We all know that when some of the big tech companies created big data and laid the foundations for many technical advances, they gathered that data in some questionable ways.We now hear people talking about putting tracking devices onto construction workers to record and measure their movements to increase efficiency, or to assess their wellbeing for health and safety purposes – but might these devices also be used to assess work rates and monitor time spent taking a toilet break?.
As an industry, we should also be conscious of how technology moves through society, and the consequences of that.
We’ve seen the recent studies showing how Twitter’s face-crop algorithm prioritises white faces and women;.By leveraging both in-house expertise and external partnerships, Edged looks to mitigate risks while still pushing the boundaries of efficiency and sustainability..
Looking ahead: The data centre as a driver of change.Data centres are evolving from passive consumers of power to active participants in broader energy ecosystems.
Lincoln views this trend as opening doors to cross-sector collaboration, particularly in areas like distributed power generation and advanced manufacturing.By championing an industrialised, adaptable, and sustainable model, Edged aims to prove that data centres can be both profitable and environmentally responsible..