A vision for robotics in construction

strobic fans), which may be necessary for some office to lab conversions.

There is a pressing need to reduce carbon emissions in the short term, so although having an efficient building over a 50-year period is a good outcome, it is insufficient if it causes a huge emission of CO2 in the next few years.There are technologies being developed that extract CO2 from the atmosphere to incorporate into building materials.

These ideas offer the opportunity to make the construction of an asset carbon negative.. How can we build and not just protect diversity (e.g.move a threatened species) but provide the foundations to increase natural habitats?This is not just putting money aside to plant trees, it’s about working with environmental groups – not to seek reluctant acceptance but instead enthusiastic support and ideas.

We know that green spaces are a positive influence on our well-being.Studies have shown that contact with nature has a significant impact on mental health.

This is another example where multiple value drivers can be augmented in tandem; increasing diversity, improving well-being, supporting productivity and creating educational environments.. How can we reduce waste materials, and, moreover, incorporate them into the built environment, reusing plastics and other potential throwaways?.

How do we look at all these things together to find the best business, aesthetic and environmental solutions?.It is integral to the way in which the built environment develops around us; affecting where we live, where we work, where we eat, shop and play, how we walk, cycle and drive, how we produce, manufacture, generate, store, dispose and recycle.

And yet the system we use has not changed since the 1940s.It is arcane, complex, fragmented and hard to access and navigate – especially for the public who are, ultimately, its most important stakeholder.

It has not even adopted technology that is virtually standard in other areas.. As such, planning is an excellent example of a process ready for digitisation.Many elements could be digitised and therefore automated, reducing friction (which causes delay and cost) and streamlining activity from project design through consultation, to planning approval and construction.