Big 5 calls for investments in innovative technologies

Professionals across the UAE and the GCC's construction industry have called for greater investments in innovative technologies that will help to improve the quality of life for citizens across the region.
Speaking at the 39th edition of The Big 5 exhibition, which concluded on Thursday at the Dubai World Trade Centre, experts noted that governments across the GCC has stepped up their efforts to incorporate various technologies in the region's growing construction industry.   
BNC Network noted that the GCC urban sector currently consists of 18,000 projects and accounts for 49 per cent of the region's $2.3 trillion construction market. According to latest BNC Dubai Overview Report, the combined value of the 11,755 active construction projects in the UAE has exceeded $818.2 billion in November 2017. Of the 11,755 active construction projects, 9,972 are urban construction projects with a combined value of $537 billion. The urban construction sector in Dubai has more than 3,200 active projects amounting to a combined estimated value of over $245 billion.
"Innovation is and will be key to driving the construction industry forward," said Ralf Steinhauer, director of the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region at RSP Architects. "The architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry should prepare for the Fourth Industrial Revolution. With clear digital workflow and clean data, limitless possibilities can be opened with the current computer science technologies thanks to tools such as Artificial Intelligence, the Internet of Things, and 3D Printing."
Similarly, Colin Bridges, Business Development director at Belimo Automation, said: "The Internet of Things technology is a major opportunity in the GCC construction industry, where data driven smart devices are being increasingly used to improve and enhance performance of cooling systems."
Many experts also spoke about sustainability principles in urban design and the growing need for Green Urbanism in the region.
"The fact that cities will house over 75 per cent of the world's population and people need green appearance in order to achieve a better balance in life and performance, mean that the green business overall is just at the beginning of a new era in landscaping In the Middle East and its rapidly growing cities, business and new industry developments will need to invest in green as an asset for keeping workers satisfied and inviting new creative and capable workers who will add value to the future," said Robert van Aerts, founder and MD of NextGen Living Walls.
"The greatest opportunity for the UAE is to have federal legislation within the country, outlining how to create sustainable urban planning within the country," said Hamda Ahmed Bukalla, head of Creativity and Innovation at the Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority (Sewa). "The UAE government is pushing to go back into history to look at how historical solutions can be implemented in today's modern world. An example of this is the concept of Al Barajeel - an air attractor or wind tower that allows cool air to flow from the top of the building down to the residences on the ground floor. We have used this design for the Tree of Life at the Sewa HQ." -  rohma@khaleejtimes.com