CIC sources global technologies and expertise to bolster the digitalisation of the construction industry

With the rapid advancement in technologies like artificial intelligence and big data, Hong Kong has laid out plans to reinforce its efforts to become an international hub of innovation and technology. In this initiative, the construction industry is an integral partner that has kept abreast of international trends and practices.

The Construction Industry Council (CIC), together with the Government’s Development Bureau, is showing the way by organising the CIC Global Construction Digitalisation Forum and Exhibition 2024 (GCDFE2024) to be held on October 29-30 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, where an assembly of over 30 experts and 40 leading firms from all over the world will share their expertise in the concerted drive to total digitalisation of the industry.

Comprising four conferences and exhibition under four themes, the event will feature distinguished speakers from mainland China, overseas and the local industry as they share successful case studies and insights on the latest advances and applications of generative AI, large language model (LLM), robotics, and more, in the building sector.

“These technologies are expected to shape the building industry in the future,” observes CIC chairman Thomas Ho On-sing. “We note that increasingly, some construction projects have their whole lifecycle digitalised, spanning from planning in the early stage to design, facility management, and a wider usage of robotics.”

Ho points out that, as AI-related technologies gain maturity, more and more countries like China and Singapore have started to incorporate new cutting-edge elements in their construction operations. He expects the introduction of advanced technologies will not only help keep Hong Kong at the forefront of  the latest trends, but also mitigate a host of challenges, including an ageing population, labour shortage and high construction costs.

According to a 2024 report by Arcadis, Hong Kong currently ranks 9th among global cities with the highest construction costs, and is the only Asian city in the top 10. Meanwhile, about 20 percent of construction workers in the city are aged 60 or above.

In spite of the slowdown in private sector construction activities, Ho estimates the industry still has around 260 billion HKD worth of projects in hand, due to the increase in government-led infrastructure projects. Therefore, moving forward, labour shortage will remain a major concern for Hong Kong’s construction industry.

High quality productive forces

In line with the goal of the Central Government and the Hong Kong SAR to seek “new quality productive forces”, Ho outlines three key strategies to enhance the productivity of the industry, namely, digital project delivery, holistic robotic construction and Mi-infinity. The last concept, proposed by the CIC, derives from the versatility of modular construction as the prefabricated modules could be applied to different kinds of projects.

In the upcoming Forum and Exhibition, CIC has invited leading entities from mainland China and overseas to showcase their successful applications of cutting-edge technologies.

CIC has set four specific topics for the exhitions, including “Smart Site Safety System”, “Digitalisation Platform”, “Robotics”, “Research and Innovation”, with the emphasis on how they can be integrated to produce optimal effect. For example, Mr. Mark Enzer, Strategic Advisor of Mott MacDonald and the Centre for Digital Built Britain, will share systems-thinking and systems change in the built environment. Dr. John KEUNG, Adjunct Professor of College of Design and Engineering of National University of Singapore, will provide insights on Singapore’s digitalised and decarbonised built environment sector.

Super connector and value-adder

The event is expected to enhance cross-border communication and cooperation between Hong Kong, mainland China and overseas, leveraging Hong Kong’s strategic role in the Greater Bay Area.

Ho highlights CIC’s contribution as a “super-connector” between mainland China and overseas markets, and also as a “super value-adder” for Hong Kong.

For instance, a Shanghai AI and robotics startup invited to visit the Middle East together with the Hong Kong government and the CIC has succeeded in clinching orders in the region. The company has since, along with other technology-driven partners, planned to set up operations in Hong Kong, through which new industries will be brought to the city as well.

CIC, Ho emphasises, will continue to introduce tech firms and nurture industries in Hong Kong, further facilitating the city’s economic transformation.

To be the best

Ho notes that Hong Kong’s construction industry has kept advancing in the past few years in technology applications, safety management and talent training. “We didn’t ‘lay flat’, no matter under what circumstances,” says Ho, using a Chinese slang that refers to an indifferent attitude to work in the face of competition.

A shining example is the completion last June of the world’s first application of ultra-high strength S960 steel in civil bridge construction in the Fanling North New Development, as undertaken by the Government’s Civil Engineering and Development Department.

Ho points out that Hong Kong is also promoting the Smart Site Safety System to enhance site safety through a labelling scheme. “The scheme is ahead of most regions worldwide, and some practices were recently adopted by Singapore, for instance,” he adds.

To nurture future construction leaders, CIC has organised master classes and learning modules to prepare workers for prefabrication and digitalisation. As the transformation gathers steam, CIC forecasts the emergence of two new key positions – digital leaders and system leaders – to blaze the trail for future growth.

Ho believes the coming Forum will provide an effective platform for intensive brainstorming among the experts with a view to discovering even more potential applications that would revolutionise the construction industry.

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