immo!nvest – Die Plattform für Standorte und Immobilien

Tag: Bauplanung

  • How artificial intelligence secures the construction process

    How artificial intelligence secures the construction process

    According to a press release, the Benetics AI email assistant is designed to help prevent one of the most costly sources of error in everyday construction work: incorrect execution due to outdated plans. This assistant was developed by Benetics AG. Founded in 2022, the Zurich-based software company will be presenting it as a world first at Swissbau in Basel from 20 January.

    Following the voice assistant for the skilled trades, also based on artificial intelligence (AI), which will be launched in 2024, “the AI email assistant is the second world first from Benetics AI,” says CEO Ferdinand Metzler. “This brings us another step closer to our vision: less time-consuming administrative work and more focus on what makes the skilled trades strong: productive work.”

    The email assistant recognises construction plan PDFs in incoming email attachments and compares them with existing plans in all current projects. It automatically notifies users when a new plan version has been received. And at the touch of a button, it ensures that no one is still working on the old plan version.

    The AI assistant is embedded directly in Microsoft Outlook and can be integrated from there into other systems such as SharePoint or other DMS and CDE solutions. According to the information provided, the open API of Benetics AI and new connectors on Make.com and Zapier enable flexible integrations. “This creates a continuous digital plan flow all the way to the fitter on the construction site for the first time,” the press release states.

    “The Outlook integration brings even more structure to the construction process,” says Bledar Beqiri. He is head of installation in plant engineering at Basler Rosenmund Haustechnik AG and a user of the AI email assistant. “New plan statuses reach our teams faster and without detours. This reduces sources of error and gives our project managers more certainty in execution.”

  • New tool facilitates coordination between 2D and 3D

    New tool facilitates coordination between 2D and 3D

    Revizto has added a number of new features to its integrated collaboration platform for the architecture, engineering, construction and operations (AECO) industry. As the Lausanne-based company explains in a press release, the new tools and improvements in Revizto 5.16 are designed to optimise workflows and enable smarter collaboration at every stage of a project.

    “Every improvement in this version has been designed to enable teams to coordinate more efficiently and make more informed decisions in real time,” CEO and founder Arman Gukasyan is quoted as saying. “All these improvements are the result of extensive discussions with our customers and feedback from our users. This is just another step in our journey to create a new standard for collaboration in the AECO industry.”

    New features include the ability for users to view a 2D sheet and a 3D model, including issues and markers, side-by-side, and the ability to instantly jump from a position in 2D to the corresponding position in the 3D model without having to switch between tabs. Further improvements relate to the selection field, object isolation and optimisation of the scheduler. The new “Required objects” collision function automates the coordination process, which can now also be carried out overnight.

  • New approaches to collaboration and remuneration

    New approaches to collaboration and remuneration

    The current revision of the SIA’s service and fee regulations sets a new milestone in construction planning. For the first time, the regulations for architecture (SIA 102), civil engineering (SIA 103), landscape architecture (SIA 105) and building services engineering (SIA 108) have been harmonised. This harmonisation is intended to strengthen cooperation between the disciplines and avoid misunderstandings caused by inconsistent terms or service descriptions. The basis for this is a common phase model and the clear allocation of functions such as overall management, specialist planning, construction management and construction supervision.

    Clear terms – fewer misunderstandings
    A central focus is on the standardisation of terms. For example, the term “creative construction supervision” replaces the previously different use of “creative management” and “construction supervision”. These adjustments are intended to minimise confusion and facilitate communication between the specialist areas. Specialist coordination for building technology and installations is also regulated more clearly. It is defined as a separate service to be agreed and can be undertaken by different specialists depending on the project.

    Future-orientated fee agreements
    The fee calculation based on expenditure-determining construction costs that was previously used has been replaced by a method-neutral approach. This takes project-specific features into account and enables transparent adjustment of fees to individual requirements. The new Article 7 of the LHO describes in detail which criteria should be included in the calculation, thereby creating a basis for legally secure and fair fee agreements.

    Consultation until 2025
    The consultation on the new LHO will run until 28 February 2025. Interested parties can view the drafts and further information on the SIA website and submit comments.

  • Vision for sustainable technology centre takes shape

    Vision for sustainable technology centre takes shape

    FlexBase intends to realise its new technology centre in line with the plans already presented. According to a press release, the technology company has secured the ERNE Group, also based in Laufenburg, as general contractor. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2025. An updated planning application has been submitted to the relevant authorities.

    The technology centre is to be built on the former Swissgrid site. The centrepiece will be a new building opposite the existing building. In addition to many research facilities, a data centre with capacities for the use of artificial intelligence is to be built there. FlexBase also plans to build a 20,000 square metre battery storage facility with a capacity of more than 500 megawatts on the site. According to the press release, the non-flammable and non-explosive storage facility is the “world’s largest and most modern battery storage facility of its kind”. The construction of the new technology centre will create several hundred jobs for skilled workers and apprenticeships.

    According to the press release, Marcel Aumer, CEO of the FlexBase Group, does not anticipate a delay in construction despite the relaunch of the project. He justifies this view with the close collaboration with ERNE: “In this project, I have not only experienced ERNE’s expertise right from the start, but also the full attention of the top management.” The CEO of ERNE, Giuseppe Santagada, is also optimistic: “My personal commitment goes far beyond the realisation of this project; it also includes the promotion of new technological skills and increasing the attractiveness of Laufenburg as a location for the vision of a prosperous region”.

  • Steiner AG wants to build 13 residential buildings in Wollerau

    Steiner AG wants to build 13 residential buildings in Wollerau

    Steiner AG has submitted the guideline project and the design plan for the Unter Erlen residential development. According to a statement by the real estate developer on LinkedIn, the project comprises 13 staggered buildings on a slope. All of the 62 Minergie-standard flats with 2.5 to 5.5 rooms planned in the terrace houses will have an unobstructed view of Lake Zurich.

    Seraina Investment Foundation, the investment foundation of Steiner Investment Foundation, acquired the property in 2021. It was established in 2016 as an independent and self-managed investment foundation and renamed Seraina Invest at the end of 2022. It has a portfolio of over 45 projects and an investment volume of over 1.4 billion Swiss francs.

    Together with Seraina Invest and the Meister family as neighbours in the development perimeter, Steiner AG invited tenders for a study. Finally, seven teams were invited to prepare their designs for this challenging area. The evaluation committee decided in favour of the vision of NUSUS Architekten and Studio Vulkan Landschaftsarchitektur.

    The public plan submission for the Unter Erlen design plan has been running since 6 October 2023 in the municipality of Wollerau. Landowners, developers and planners hope to be able to start construction of the buildings and flats in 2028. The construction costs are estimated at around 50 million Swiss francs.

  • Watt d'Or honors innovative companies

    Watt d'Or honors innovative companies

    The Swiss Watt d'Or 2022 Energy Prize was awarded on January 6th. The Federal Office of Energy ( SFOE ) has been presenting this seal of approval for energy excellence every year since 2007 on the occasion of its New Year's event. The prizes are not endowed. They should motivate business, politics and the general public to discover the advantages of innovative energy technologies for themselves.

    Schaerraum ag received the award in the building and space category. In just eight months of construction, she built a climate-neutral multi-storey residential and office building made of regional wood in Horw LU. According to a press release by the SFOE, it produces 50 percent more electricity than it needs. In addition, the rental prices are around 20 percent below the local average. This is made possible by the modular planning principle RaumRaster.

    In the renewable energies category, Verora AG is awarded to a group of farmers from the Zug mountain region. Since 2012, it has been producing biochar from tree and shrub cuttings with a pyrolysis system that has been further developed in-house. As a feed additive, it reduces the formation of gas during the digestion of cows and the smell of ammonia in the barn. It also increases the nutrient content of fertilizer and compost and binds CO2 for centuries.

    No winner was chosen in the mobility category this year. SBB receives the Watt d'Or 2022 in the energy technologies category. It has developed intelligent load management software that replaces the construction of new, expensive electricity production plants. In the event of peak loads, for example when many trains are accelerating at the same time, it switches off the train car and point heating for a short time. In this way, SBB can flexibly control 70 megawatts by 2023, according to the SFOE: "It is thus assuming a role model for the general electricity grid in Switzerland."