In the final instalment of a short series of Q&As to mark the turning of the year, BuildData Group Research Institute R&D lead Emma Hooper reveals her highlights from 2023 and her hopes and plans for 2024. "Use databases far more," she states.
BIMplus: What’s the best thing that happened in BIM and digital construction in 2023?
Emma Hooper: Seeing and talking to people about all the cool ways they were implementing and utilising IFC. This is miles away from where we were 10 years ago. For me, it demonstrates that people are starting to see passed ‘3D models’ and are really starting to understand the power of what lies beneath: constantly structured and connected data. Plus, of course, winning Digital Consultancy of the Year at the Digital Construction Awards 😉.
“Use databases far more. The scale and complexity of information within the built environment is too difficult to manage without them.”
What are you looking forward to professionally in 2024?
More thinking and joining the dots. I have many ideas that I need to think through and also where AI fits into the overall information management puzzle.
What does the industry need to do more (or less of) in 2024?
Use databases far more. The scale and complexity of information within the built environment is too difficult to manage without them.
Do you have any sort of festive ritual?
I always have to watch The Snowman on Christmas Eve and now I can do it with my young son.
Recommend a book, podcast, TV series, film or album that you enjoyed in 2023.
I really enjoyed the Turing Lecture series on how AI broke the internet and I definitely recommend going to see the stage version of Moulin Rouge! in the West End.
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