Digital Construction Summit

Tech at Work
Advancing Digital Construction

25 September 2024 / Habtoor Grand Resort JBR, Dubai, United Arab Emirates


Digital Construction Summit

Quality Boost
Risk Management in Digital Construction

25 September 2024 / Habtoor Grand Resort JBR, Dubai, United Arab Emirates


Digital Construction Summit

Tackling Enduring Challenges
Digital Construction Solutions

25 September 2024 / Habtoor Grand Resort JBR, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
MAIN HALL

09:00

Registration
Networking

Delegate registration and networking

Registration/snacks/networking in the foyer area outside the main ballroom of the Habtoor Grand Resort, JBR, Dubai.

MAIN HALL

10:00

Introduction
Introduction

MC event introduction and welcome

Welcome to the 2024 Digital Construction Summit, event mechanics and what’s lined up for the day.

MAIN HALL

10:15

Welcome address
Jason Saundalkar / Head of Content / Big Project Middle East

Welcome address

Jason Saundalkar welcomes speakers and delegates to the summit and discusses the event’s key themes and focuses.

MAIN HALL

10:25

Keynote address
Roger Wahl / Global Chief Technology Officer / Innovo Group

Construction Disruption: The Future of Sustainable and Smart Cities

As we strive to build more sustainable, productive, and intelligent cities, our industry is undergoing a major transformation. By embracing technology, data, analytics, and cross-industry collaboration, we are unlocking opportunities that were once considered unattainable. Join me to explore:
  • The Immense Opportunity: Understand the vast potential and the scale of the challenges ahead
  • The Catalyst for Change: Discover the forces driving this transformation
  • Tools for Success: Learn about the cutting-edge technologies that are enabling change
  • Achieving Results: Examine the results we’re seeing and the impact on the built environment

MAIN HALL

10:45

Keynote presentation
Marthad Mohammad Othman Ali / Senior GIS Technical Officer / Dubai Municipality, GISC Department

Keynote presentation

Dubai Municipality is implementing a project that combines Building Information Modelling (BIM) with Digital Twin technology to improve urban planning and infrastructure management. This project focuses on creating real-time digital models of city assets, enhancing decision-making, predictive maintenance, and resource management. The project aims to optimise city services and efficiency, contributing to Dubai’s smart city goals and commitment to sustainability and innovative development.

MAIN HALL

11:10

Panel discussion
Panel discussion

Technology – The Key to Unlocking Greater Asset Quality & Longevity

The most successful construction projects are those that are delivered safely and sustainably, while adhering to time and budget constraints, with the finished asset boasting a high level of quality and durability. The latter is critical to asset performance and longevity and has long been something of a sticking point in the built environment. This panel discussion will highlight:
  • The main causes behind construction quality and durability issues in the region and why digital quality checks and assurance are vital to project success
  • Taking collaboration to a new level – what new tools can the industry take advantage of and how can next generation Digital Twins boost stakeholder cohesiveness and minimise the impact of market dynamics, scope changes and budget constraints, and raise the bar on construction quality
  • Collaboration and communication to achieve project success: implementing a Cloud environment that adds transparency and accountability to key processes (quality, safety etc)
  • Staying on track – tracking construction progress accurately with Reality Capture tools to ensure timelines are met and quality is maximised
  • Stepping up build quality and reducing waste through industrialising construction with off-site construction, streamlined workflows, modular concepts, prefabrication, and on-site construction automation
  • Leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance project planning and mitigate risks, improve site safety and enhance control
Moderator:
  • Carolina Fong Guzzy / Co-Founder/Digital Engineering Manager / ACCIENTA   
Speakers:
  • Dr. Anas Bataw / Strategy and Innovation Director / KEO International Consultants
  • Derek Bourke / Digital Construction and BIM Manager / Khansaheb Civil Engineering
  • Fady Kobersy / Head of Sales & Customer Success – MENA | Levant / RIB Software
  • Roger Wahl / Global Chief Technology Officer / Innovo Group
  • Scott Henderson / General Manager / The Drone Centre

MAIN HALL

12:00

Presentation
Maxime Laugier / Chief Revenue Officer / Thinkproject

Presentation

Maxime will share how Thinkproject empowers clients like TenneT, Femern A/S, and key government agencies by accelerating digital transformation in construction, driving efficiency and creating connected data environments.

MAIN HALL

12:25

Networking
Networking

Coffee break

Networking in the foyer area.

MAIN HALL

12:45

Panel discussion
Panel discussion

Cities of the Future

As more and more people move into existing and new urban centres around the world, authorities and urban planners have an uphill battle to design and operate cities that allow residents and businesses to thrive. In addition, these cities must remain resilient to the increasing occurrences of extreme weather events, spurred on by climate change. This panel discussion will highlight:
  • Digital systems and infrastructure (data centres etc) that’s vital to managing rapid urbanisation and its associated challenges within current and future cities
  • Deploying AI to responsibly source and ingest vast data sets gleamed from across a city to provide real-time insights and decision making to enhance quality of life, and achieve sustainability objectives
  • Preparing for and responding to extreme weather events through the use of state of the art tools and technology
  • How advanced Digital Twins can take critical infrastructure development to the next level and alleviate pressure on existing infrastructure as urbanisation continues its upward trajectory.. and how end-user information can be incorporated for infrastructure decision making and planning
  • The importance of ensuring digital systems and infrastructure are protected from nefarious individuals looking to profit from compromising vital systems and data
Moderator:
  • Aza Elnimah / Senior Associate Sustainability Consultant / AESG
Speakers:
  • Dr. Harpreet Seth / Head of Architecture, School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society / Heriot-Watt University Dubai
  • Juan Tena Florez / Digital Services Director / KEO International Consultants
  • Mohammad Hidayath Ali / Head of Sustainability / Alpin Limited
  • Sayantan Sarkar / Lead – Digital Advisory / WSP
  • Majd Fayyad / DSM Strategy & Policy Lead / Dubai Supreme Council of Energy
  • Vijay Jaswal / CTO APJ & MEA / IFS

MAIN HALL

13:40

Presentation
Fady Kobersy / Head of Sales & Customer Success – MENA | Levant / RIB Software

Data for Smarter Construction: The Power of Data-Driven Projects

Discover how data-driven approaches are transforming construction processes, enhancing decision-making, optimising project efficiency, and improving asset quality, leading to smarter, more sustainable outcomes in the built environment.

MAIN HALL

14:05

Lunch break
Networking

Lunch break

Buffet lunch and networking.

MAIN HALL

14:45

Fireside Chat
Fireside Chat

Navigating the Future: Insights on Resilience and Growth in Construction

Join us for a dynamic conversation featuring speakers from Autodesk and ALEC as they discuss insights from the 2024 State of Design & Make report. This session will explore key themes around building resilience, embracing sustainability, retaining talent, and the evolving role of technology in driving business success within the AECO industry.
Speakers:
  • Tony Abou Jawad / Senior Industry Manager / Autodesk
  • Severin Tenim / Head of Strategy & Growth / ALEC Engineering & Contracting

MAIN HALL

15:05

Panel discussion
Panel discussion

The Balancing act – growing technology adoption and managing its impact

Technology has proven its worth in the built environment, however adoption is still limited and there are a number of major issues that are problematic now, with others poised to have a detrimental impact on the industry in the future. This panel discussion will explore:
  • The main reasons technology has yet to be embraced by many stakeholders across the built environment despite its many benefits, and how firms can begin their respective digital transformation journeys the right way
  • The impact on the journey towards Net Zero by relying on resource intensive technology such as cloud-based tools and AI, and how firms can manage their Scope 3 emissions in support of their long-term sustainability goals. Are policies needed to limit the use of technology to ensure Scope 3 emissions don’t skyrocket?
  • Avoiding an overreliance on technology and ensuring that important skills – even those that are deemed basic – are passed onto the next generation of construction professionals
  • Balancing learning new while valuing prevailing industry knowledge, experience and practical acumen – how can these be merged to produce true value for organisations more efficiently
  • Preparing for a digital construction future – what should fresh graduates be doing now to get a foothold in the industry, and what can existing professionals do to ensure they continue to progress in their respective careers?
Moderator:
  • Louise Rodrigues / Founder & Managing Director / Aquila Project Strategy & Advisory
Speakers:
  • Alan Crystal / Regional Design Technology Manager / Gensler Middle East
  • Anand Thayalaguru / Founder / Swifterz Creative Engineering Services
  • Attila Vidra / Digital Delivery Director – Planning, Design & Engineering, Middle East / AtkinsRéalis
  • Ghina Yamak / Principal Façade Consultant / Zutari Middle East
  • Mina Nessim / Head of Engineering & BIM / Binladin Contracting Group

MAIN HALL

15:55

Presentation
Rajesh Renganathan / Assistant Manager – Business Solutions, MEA / Zoho Corporation

Streamlining Project Management with Zoho Projects: Enhancing Efficiency and Collaboration

In the fast-paced world of construction, effective project management is critical to delivering projects on time and within budget. This presentation will explore how Zoho Projects can revolutionise construction project management by providing a robust, cloud-based platform designed to enhance collaboration, streamline workflows, and improve overall efficiency

MAIN HALL

16:20

Contest
Contest

Prize draw

As a thank you for attending the 2024 edition of the Digital Construction Summit, the Big Project Middle East team will award two attendees with a prize each.

MAIN HALL

16:30

Closing Remarks
Closing Remarks

MC closing remarks

Thank you for attending the Digital Construction Summit 2024.