< Previous10 CONSTRUCTION WEEK NOVEMBER 2020 Fenwick Elliott speak to Construction Week’s editor Ashley Williams to discuss how technology has helped them adapt as a business to support construction clients through the global pandemic for the third episode of The Legal Table webinar series November 2020 marks nine months since COVID-19 rocked the world and resulted in multiple unexpected challenges and issues that the construction industry has had to overcome. While construction has continued and has not felt the full brunt of the pandemic compared to other sectors, the industry has been forced to adapt quickly and efficiently in order to stay afloat. To explore these issues, we launched The Legal Table webinar series with global construction and energy law specialists, Fenwick Elliott, in May 2020. Returning for the third episode of The Legal Table webinar series was the managing WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEE WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM Fenwick Elliott on dealing with the COVID-19 “learning curve” Photo courtesy: ITP Media Group partner for Fenwick Elliott's Dubai branch, Ahmed Ibrahim, and Dubai-based partner Patrick Stone who gave their perspective on what’s changed since appearing for our first episode of the series five months ago. “The COVID-19 pandemic has continued to have a big impact over the last five months and has been a big part of the work that we have been doing,” said Stone. “I’ve not seen many new claims solely related to COVID- 19, but it has continued to have an impact on on-going claims and disputes between contractors and employers.” Elaborating on the impact of the global pandemic, Stone adds that contractors have dealt with COVID-19 “reasonably well” and have “worked together” with employers. “Contractors have attempted to find their way through the issues and negotiate with employers,” added Stone. “It has been more of a problem where there are existing disputes on projects, and the pandemic has exacerbated those differences, and impacted on the delay, making delays worse and has impacted the contractor’s ability to mitigate those delays. “The other big development over the past few months has been further restrictions on cash flow and liquidity within the market,” Stone continues. “The market has generally tightened and payments are becoming more delayed. Contractors are looking at claims and are starting to consider formal dispute resolution methods to resolve cash flow NOVEMBER 2020 CONSTRUCTION WEEK 11 THE LEGAL TABLE field, Stone believes that technology is one of the most positive developments to come out of the pandemic. “People are embracing technology and it makes for a more efficient way of working. We quite often travel for 20-30 minute meetings. Doing that by video conference is far more efficient than travelling to client’s offices.” Stone also discusses how the pandemic has changed client’s attitudes towards legal proceedings. “People have realised that provisions such as Force Majeure are not a huge help and understand that the pandemic hasn’t made projects impossible, it has just made them more difficult,” Stone explains. “People are looking more specifically at how the pandemic has impacted their works and given rise to entitlements to extension of time and additional money under the contract.” Ibrahim also spoke about changes in the arbitration community, including the encouragement of the use of mediation in construction disputes by some arbitral institutions such as the Cairo Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (CRICA) and the Saudi Centre for Commercial Arbitraiton (SCCA), as well WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM RUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM as the recently announced ICC and LCIA rules. “The new LCIA Rules represent a great step for efficiency, flexibility and transparency,” said Ibrahim. “I think these arbitral institutions are very keen to review their rules. This is a significant development in terms of better management in terms of dealing with complex disputes.” Fenwick Elliott’s partners both agreed that the industry still faces tough times ahead but remained optimistic for the future. “It’s clear that the industry is facing challenges both in terms of COVID and market liquidity,” said Stone. “I don’t want to be too negative – I think there is plenty of opportunity in the market both in the UAE and the wider region. There are projects out there and there is work to be had and there are reasons to be positive. The use of technology and learning new ways of working will help this.” Signing off the discussion, Ibrahim said: “I expect a more stable environment for contractors as it was a tough learning curve and they will be able to negotiate more with employers, as well as being able to look at their risk assessment in a different manner." problems.” Like many firms and businesses, Fenwick Elliott has had to adapt and change its way of working. “The pandemic has changed how we do everything whether that’s connecting with friends and even buying groceries, and it has of course affected our business,” says Ibrahim. “In terms of changing dispute resolution proceedings, we have been through a learning curve. We quickly realised that holding hearings virtually is now the new normal, which is supported by the UAE arbitration law.” With technology being accelerated and being part of our day-to-day routines both personally and from a professional perspective, Ibrahim made several recommendations to clients on how to proceed with virtual hearings. “Today virtual hearings have resulted in changing the culture in terms of managing the arbitration. We advise all clients, experts and arbitrators to make sure that they are up-to-date with the new practices, have strong IT infrastructure which is supported by on-going investments in market leading cybersecurity systems.” Echoing Ibrahim’s views on the movement of technology within the legal Patrick Stone: "People are embracing technology and it makes for a more effi cient way of working" INTERVIEW 12 CONSTRUCTION WEEK NOVEMBER 2020WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM Leading AI- driven property operations platform Facilio Inc has been selected by ICD Brookfield (ICDB) to deliver real-time operational intelligence and optimise building performance for their luxury lifestyle project ICD Brookfield Place, at the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). Progressive developers and owners of new construction projects have begun provisioning for operations technology right at the design-build stage. Projects have begun implementing cloud software platforms and taking the path towards data-driven operations to optimise efficiency, sustainability, and tenant experience. As one of Dubai’s premier lifestyle and business destinations, ICD Brookfield Place is leading this shift, by implementing Facilio’s modern solution – to embed a digital O&M foundation into the project. As it welcomes tenants and turns fully operational, the project serves as a showcase of Dubai’s transition to connected, sustainable, and intelligence- led real estate operations. Construction Week sat down with the property operations manager of ICD Brookfield Place, Haithem Ibraheem, and the founder and CEO of Facilio Inc, Prabhu Ramachandran, to get their take on how the ICD Brookfield Place project is pushing the envelope in real estate operations by leveraging data-driven intelligence. Haithem, ICD Brookfield Place is being spoken of as setting a global benchmark for future workspaces. What was the primary driver for ICD Brookfield to evolve to this occupant-centric vision? What are the key outcomes you are hoping to address, from a wellness and end-user experience perspective? Haithem Ibraheem: Contemporary tenants have needs and expectations that legacy commercial real estate models are unable to address. A new generation of employees expect the same responsive and personalised services from their workplaces, which they experience in other aspects of their lives. At the same time, the commercial real estate industry is faced with having to adapt to more specific and demanding regulations. The ICD Brookfield Place property will adhere to these evolving guidelines, while delivering on the paramount need to create productive work environments, with optimal sustainability and a focus on occupant health. In my opinion, such holistic capabilities, which address the needs of all stakeholders, make this project unique. ICD Brookfield is driven by a technology enabled, progressive and future-ready AI-Based Operational Intelligence: A key pillar in building construction The property operations manager of ICD Brookfield Place, Haithem Ibraheem, and the founder and CEO of Facilio Inc, Prabhu Ramachandran, talk to CW deputy editor Anup Oommen about leveraging data-driven intelligence in real estate operations Facilio enables real-time and granular visibility into operations, empowering all stakeholders to evolve, from siloed and reactive, to unifi ed and pro-active operations Photo courtesy: ICD Brookfi eld PlaceNOVEMBER 2020 CONSTRUCTION WEEK 13WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM how Facilio has contributed to these capabilities? Prabhu Ramachandran: ICD Brookfield Place is implementing a discreet new generation in real estate operations. Facilio’s property operations cloud platform will allow ICD Brookfield Place to centrally monitor, control, and operate every operational aspect of their buildings. This includes gaining granular real-time insights into building performance, as well as the ability to manage spaces, equipment, and multiple building systems remotely, using a single-window view of operations. The shift is not just from siloed operations to total system-wide transparency. AI analytics and machine learning harness building data to enable a predictive model of operations and maintenance, which helps commercial office spaces enrich the occupant experience and exceed sustainability goals. Facilio is able to help building owners unlock value from day-to-day operations by optimising asset performance on an on- going basis – leading to a drastic reduction in downtime and better ROI over the life cycle of a component. A data-driven and proactive approach optimises sustainability, enables cost effective operations, and empowers property operations teams through mobility and collaboration. This, ultimately, translates into personalised and exceptional tenant experiences, as a result of significantly lower downtime, and the ability to deliver a consistently optimal, safe, and comfortable environment. In years to come, this business model will simply be the default standard, which tenants will demand and expect. approach to deliver exceptional end-user experiences. Our vision was to harness technology, to empower system-wide transparency, and utilise a data-driven model of operations. We believe this will be the preferred model of operations going forward. How do you see real estate owners and operators proactively including these solutions to achieve efficiency and deliver seamless experiences? Haithem Ibraheem: Well, automation itself is nothing new to real estate operations, but in traditional real estate these solutions tended to be deployed in isolation from each other. However, disconnected and soiled systems are just not agile enough to create the responsive and optimal end-user experiences that contemporary tenants seek. As emerging technologies and customer expectations reset the industry, cloud- based centralised management software, which integrates all building systems – such as HVAC, fire response, security and more – are the most effective means to achieve these outcomes. By leveraging the power of modern technology elements – such as IoT, AI, and cloud technology – real estate portfolio owners and operators can access operational intelligence, to optimise asset performance in real-time. In addition, this solution is wholly compatible with any emerging innovations and future generations of technology. In fact, such a platform driven approach is well-suited for scalability, and is totally agnostic to any current or future addition of automation, sensors, or devices. For instance, cloud-based centralised management software can integrate HVAC, fire response, security, sanitisation and much more, while enabling access to real-time data and system-wide granular transparency. The scalability of the approach, as well as its ability to be vendor and technology agnostic in incorporating future innovations, is what makes it most compelling. Prabhu, what role do you see for technology partners such as Facilio in enabling this transition to a connected, data-driven model of operations? Prabhu Ramachandran: Data is the key resource that the new generation of digital technologies are using to add value to operations, as well as end-user experiences. Buildings have always produced huge volumes of data, but it hasn’t been possible to use this to optimise operations. The key capability, which technology providers such as Facilio are unlocking, is the ability to aggregate all building data, optimise performance in real-time, and control operations from a single place. Technology makes it possible for commercial real estate businesses to gain a unified view of operations and make informed decisions, using a centralised platform. New construction, which incorporates tech-enabled and data-driven smart operations, can help building owners acquire and retain tenants, through the highest level of service quality, sustainability, and experience. Building owners and operators can use data to automate maintenance, optimise experiences, and improve sustainability, concurrently and in an integrated manner. Facilio enables real-time and granular visibility into operations, empowering all stakeholders to evolve, from siloed and reactive, to unified and pro-active operations. This allows real estate owners and operators to create exceptional occupant experiences, seamlessly anticipate inefficiencies, and address their customer’s needs. We believe ICD Brookfield Place will emerge as a standard bearer for future projects in this regard, both within the region and globally. Could you elaborate on how the ability to leverage operational intelligence sets the ICD Brookfield Place apart, and Haithem Ibraheem Property Operations Manager ICD Brookfi eld Place Prabhu Ramachandran Founder and CEO Facilio IncTECHNOLOGY 14 CONSTRUCTION WEEK NOVEMBER 2020WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM Technological advancements are proving to be more important than ever, and the growing need for digital transformation among sectors has now become imperative. The construction and real estate industries are no exception to the breakthroughs that have changed how buildings are operated and maintained — thanks to the evolving nature of technology and the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and the internet of things (IoT). Stakeholders within these sectors, whether developers, contractors or consultants, are all looking at the challenges that the adoption of technology can resolve, and the opportunities it can provide, in the present and the coming future. Talking about how the evolution from closed and rigid protocols, as well as legacy operating models, Sanjeevv Bhatia, CEO of SB Group and Netix Global BV, tells Construction Week: “The digital economy has normalised the application of AI and IoT virtually across all businesses and industry sectors. Despite being slow to adopt these emerging technologies in the past, real estate is currently undergoing an accelerated uptake of cognitive technology and IoT-based solutions.” “Primarily, this boils down to the ability of such solutions to deliver demonstrable and sustainable value for all stakeholders at an enterprise scale,” adds Bhatia. Today, when the world is hyper- connected through digital transformation, a tech-enabled integration of people, processes and systems in built environments are essential more than ever. This was evident during the COVID-19 pandemic when facility management (FM) companies were able to monitor and maintain their assets remotely and with minimal staff. “It is unsurprising that technology adoption in real estate is being linked to safety, wellness, and productivity. Developers are incentivised to capitalise on a better return on investment (ROI), enhanced brand value and improved occupancy rates,” stresses Bhatia. O&M for big developers In October 2020, ODS Global, a SB Group International company was appointed by Dubai Financial Market- listed DAMAC Properties to optimise O&M across 24 of its towers in Dubai. The project marked a major shift in the industry, from siloed and disparate vendor control to a unified original equipment manufacturer-led (OEM) model of building operations, integrating building management systems (BMS) and services for several legacy brands. As part of the deal, ODS Global will utilise AI, IoT, and Netix Global’s — a vendor-neutral iIBMS automation Adopting cognitive technology Adopting cognitive technology and IoT for real estate O&Mand IoT for real estate O&M Sanjeevv Bhatia, CEO of SB Group and Netix Global BV talks to CW’s digital editor, Ranju Warrier, on how developers are turning to artificial intelligence (AI) & Internet of Things (IoT) to optimise operations & maintenance (O&M) across buildings “Despite being slow to adopt emerging technologies in the past, real estate is currently undergoing an accelerated uptake of cognitive technology and IoT-based solutions.” [Representational image: CW Archives/ Shutterstock]NOVEMBER 2020 CONSTRUCTION WEEK 15WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM systems allows owners and operators to aggregate performance data in real-time, which [then] enables in-house operatives to easily detect root causes and address them without requiring vendor assistance. “Over several such proactive cycles of fault detection and maintenance, equipment performance is optimised, and the asset’s lifecycle is prolonged, resulting in saving on early replacement costs,” explains Bhatia. Sustainable smarter cities According to the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC), together, building and construction are responsible for 39% of global carbon emissions. Hence the real estate sector adopting a sustainable model for the future of smart building and smart cities. Referring to the importance of optimised O&M model, Bhatia says: “With the emergence of smart retrofits and plug- and-play solutions, achieving portfolio- wide energy efficiency, and complying with more stringent emission standards, is now well within the capability of modern real estate operations.” “Seamless cluster deployments, from smart buildings to communities, and ultimately cities, will help developers and policymakers bring an increasing number of built spaces under the larger sustainability umbrella. “Eventually leading to these capabilities becoming the default way in which we manage buildings,” he concludes. solutions provider, with a strong focus on solutions for sustainable smart buildings, smart cities, and energy efficiency. Intelligent Integrated Command and Control Centre (iICCC) upgrade the 24 towers to a connected buildings model. Talking about how tech adoption has optimised O&M for big developers, Bhatia explains: “Big developers think differently. With the accelerated digitisation that real estate is currently undergoing, big developers are playing an important role in driving the wider adoption of tech-driven innovations to optimise processes across the value chain.” “O&M of buildings is a function that has been adopting a new generation of digital tools.” According to Bhatia, traditional O&M models were riddled with challenges, including unsustainable energy usage, high carbon emissions, process inefficiencies, and cost-intensive operations. “Big developers are keen on solutions that seamlessly unify systems, operations, and processes across facilities, irrespective of the array of multi-vendor solutions that the industry relies on. By creating the template for the integration of this previously siloed automation, these industry heavy hitters are helping to unlock value for all stakeholders,” notes Bhatia. Unifying the operations model Traditionally, the complexities involved in integrating building automation, multi- proprietary vendor protocols, and software licenses have restricted property owners from engaging OEMs for the maintenance of building assets and systems. However, the industry has been undergoing rapid change. According to Bhatia, proprietary vendor protocols are often considered as complex and inflexible and require specific software licenses to access. He explains: “Whenever building owners and operators need to redefine rules and change settings, vendors must be involved. This essentially means downtime, interrupted services leading to poor end-user experiences and added service costs.” “[However], a connected model would alert operatives in the event of even the slightest drop in performance levels or increase in energy usage, allowing condition-based maintenance and proactive rectification,” he affirms. AI and IoT capabilities enable building owners and operators to circumvent complex and rigid vendor-specific protocols. “The basic idea is to establish integrated platforms that unify critical assets like HVAC, lighting, and security systems across the building portfolio, under single window command and control,” Bhatia notes. “Unified and centralised control, along with granular-level visibility into equipment and their real- time performance, enables efficient management, over the entire life cycle, as well as on a day-to-day basis.” Predictive & preventive maintenance Explaining about the implementation of a predictive and preventive maintenance model that can improve the performance of building assets throughout their life cycle, Bhatia tells Construction Week: “The vendor-agnostic integration of siloed “O&M of buildings is a function that has been adopting a new generation of digital tools.” [Image: Netix Global BV] Sanjeevv Bhatia, CEO of SB Group and Netix Global BV TECHNOLOGY16 CONSTRUCTION WEEK NOVEMBER 2020WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM THE BIG PICTURE FOLLOW CONSTRUCTION WEEK @CWMIDDLEEASTCONSTRUCTION ON DIYAR AL MUHARRAQ’S MARASSI AL BAHRAIN HAS HIT 56% COMPLETION 56% NOVEMBER 2020 CONSTRUCTION WEEK 17 WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM THE BIG PICTURE Maraassi Al Bahrain, a waterfront commercial and residential project, is one of eight artifi cial islands that is being developed within the masterplanned megaproject Diyar Al Muharraq. It was revealed that the Marassi Al Bahrain development will be completed in Q4 2021. [Image: Supplied]PROPTECH 18 CONSTRUCTION WEEK NOVEMBER 2020WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM The Middle East property market is known for innovation and ambition that sets a benchmark for contemporary design and engineering around the world. But it’s not just the scale and creativity of architecture that sets developments in the region apart; developers are also keen to embrace technology too. Proptech Benefits and Challenges The use of digital and data-driven technologies to enhance a building, or proptech as it’s become known, is leading to increasingly sophisticated fit-out requirements in the Middle East. Embedding proptech in a project brings together data, software and infrastructure to make buildings more efficient and responsive, while enhancing the user experience. The trend pervades all sectors; from hotels where smart technology can be used to personalise the guest experience, to residential developments where it adds a layer of luxury that complements high-end facilities and sumptuous finishes. In the commercial sector, smart technology can make buildings more adaptable, enhancing comfort levels in real time, improving security and driving efficiency. As developers respond to demand for smart systems and improved energy efficiency in their projects, the construction sector must rise to the challenge of installing increasingly sophisticated data networks. This complex infrastructure must be installed without delaying the project, either during the build programme or as a result of snagging. Key to addressing these challenges is ensuring that the multitude of terminations required provide a robust and compliant CONSISTENT DATA TERMINATIONS TO ENABLE PROPTECH BENEFITS Brett Smyth, General Manager of Ideal Industries EMEA, discusses the need for consistent and compliant data network terminations in smart buildings, and how they can be achievedNOVEMBER 2020 CONSTRUCTION WEEK 19WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM connection. Any multi-occupancy building - whether it’s a hotel, an apartment block or an office development - is likely to involve an installation that requires multiple operatives carrying out the terminations for data networks. Consistency can be compromised by individuals working with varying standards of quality and expertise. Time pressures can also jeopardise quality and consistency, with tight programmes causing terminations to be rushed, reducing consistency as a consequence. When consistency and compliance are compromised, identifying the terminations on the system that need to be rectified can be an onerous and time-consuming task. The answer, therefore, is to ensure terminations are carried out in a way that guarantees best practice and consistency, regardless of the number of operatives and time pressures on site. Installation Issues Data networks require field-termination of CAT5e, CAT6 of CAT6A cables using RJ45 modular plugs. The more complex the network, the greater the number RJ45 assemblies and terminations required. Conventional installation methods require conductors to be trimmed to an exact length before the plug is placed onto the cable. If the conductors are too short, circuits will remain open, but this will not be evident until the system is tested. Finding the issues on the network at this point can be a needle-in-a- haystack exercise. If the conductors are too long, meanwhile, there is a risk that the pairs could be left exposed outside of the plug body or cable jacket. This not only looks sloppy, but could also hinder performance on the network. In this scenario, the conductors can also move out of place; an issue that is likely to remain unnoticed until the cables are tested. To overcome both of these potential data network termination issues, technique is needed that will offer complete consistency for every termination, regardless of the number of installation operatives involved, without increasing the time needed to complete the work. Speed, Simplicity and Consistency Designed to completely re-think the traditional RJ45 assembly and crimping process, IDEAL Industries’ FT-45 solution allows installers of smart networks to speed up and simplify the termination of RJ45 plugs by eliminating the need to trim conductors to a precise length before inserting the cable into the plug. The Feed-Thru Modular Plugs are single-piece connectors, so there is no need for installers to assemble a three-piece connector, even when working with CAT6 cable. This makes terminations faster, simpler and more consistent, whether using CAT5e, CAT6 of CAT6A cables. Conductor wires do not need to be accurately trimmed to a specific length; instead, installers simply need to remove an appropriate section of jacket, remove the centre spline, untwist the pairs into the right order, and trim the ends flat. The cable can then be slid into the connector until seated. The unit has been designed with open ends that allow conductors to be completely fed through the connector before crimping. The cable can be pushed into the connector to ensure the twisted pairs are as close to the pin contacts as possible, and that the jacket is seated beyond the primary strain relief for a secure connection. The installer can then visually inspect and verify the correct wiring order, ensuring greater accuracy. The versatile FT-45 Crimp Tool designed to be used with the IDEAL Industries Ft-45 Modular Plugs further enhances the right-first- time consistency of this approach. With a single crimp cavity for RJ-45/8-position connectors, it is capable of crimping Ideal Feed-Thru standard, shielded, and unshielded connectors for CAT5e, CAT6 and CAT6A cables. The installer simply squeezes the handle to the closed position to cleanly shear the excess conductor wires and leave a smooth, flat finish – crimping and cutting the cable in a single action. Progressive Approach The speed, simplicity and consistency the system offers makes FT-45 a popular choice for installers in the Middle East construction market, linking a progressive approach to installation with the progressive smart technology that is helping the region lead the way in delivering the benefits of proptech for both developers and end-users. Ideal Industries EMEA general manager Brett Smyth (pictured) reedsmith.comNext >