Words and Images International Built Environment Week (IBEW) 2024
Editing The Kanto team
The sixth edition of the annual International Built Environment Week (IBEW) is happening from September 4 to 6, 2024! Placing engineers at the forefront of the conference, this year’s theme is “Solving for Tomorrow, Today”.
“In the built environment, engineers have been responsible for making abstract ideas and design a reality,” IBEW explains. “Engineers strive to find better solutions, looking at different approaches to solve building and construction challenges.” Various topics including modern construction methods, sustainability, collaborative contracting, and lean construction will be discussed during the three-day event at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore.
Modern construction methods
This edition’s opening keynote speaker is Mr. Jan-Hendrik Goldbeck, engineer and CEO and MD of Goldbeck GmbH, one of Germany’s leading construction and engineering firms. Jan-Hendrik was instrumental in developing Goldbeck into a firm that has “solved the problems of modularization and standardization” in modern construction methods. The system Goldbeck has developed involves standardizing the structural components of buildings while allowing for a high degree of customization. This approach has allowed the company to streamline construction and reduce costs.
Their modular construction methods also enable them to rapidly complete projects, even large ones like the Tesla factory in Berlin, at a fraction of the time needed in traditional construction. The Tesla factory’s core shell was completed in six months, demonstrating how a “pick and plug-in” modularization model can pay off.
Technology and construction automation
Carrying on the theme of finding solutions that can be applied today, IBEW shall also explore technological developments in Construction Automation through Artificial Intelligence (AI), Construction Robots, and 3D printing. In this session, Assistant Professor Immanuel Koh of SUTD shall share the work he has put in to develop a generative AI software for architects, one that is being trained on various building codes and designs to test whether prompts can speed up the design process for architects in the future.
Anand Nantarajan, Global Sales & Portfolio Manager, General Industries, Robotics Division of ABB will also share his thoughts on how robots have helped automate the processes in various industries and how our industry can potentially benefit.
Sustainability in the built environment
“As more companies and building owners are required to publish detailed carbon accounting, engineers can make an outsized impact on projects, from greenfield to retrofitting projects,” IBEW shares. Sessions on carbon accounting and decarbonization will take over two days of the conference, with developers, financiers, certification bodies, and solution providers from various sectors sharing insights and developments.
Ms. Jocelyn Campbell, Regional Commercial Director, Asia Pacific from CarbonCure will talk about the use of greener building materials such as green concrete while Mr. Jasper Wong, Managing Director, Head of Real Estate, United Overseas Bank will share his perspectives on green financing and how the financial industry can catalyze innovation in engineering for a greener future.
A panel discussion called Plenary 5 “Overcoming Barriers to Innovation in the Built Environment” will also be happening. Leaders from different organizations such as Mr. Hajime Onojima, Executive Officer of Obayashi Corporation, and Dr. Thomas Hyde, Chief Transformation & Innovation Officer of Beca, will shed light on how they made transformative changes and continuously incorporate innovation as a part of their companies’ DNA. This will be moderated by Luke Wu, Head of Innovation at Kajima Development.
IBEW partnerships
IBEW 2024 is also proud of its partnership in co-creating educational pathways for engineers alongside industry associations. As part of the conference program, the Society for Project Managers (SPM) as well as the Institution of Engineers, Singapore (IES) will be conducting their own workshops and seminars within IBEW Conference. For IES, two tracks will be created, a Mechanical & Engineering track and a Civil & Structural track. Masterclasses on Day 3 of IBEW include “Decarbonization for ASEAN Data Centres”, “Demystifying Digital Twins” and “Masterclass on CORENET X BIM Approvals” which are available for engineers who want a deep dive into these topics. •
More at IBEW
BEX Asia 2024 – Co-locating with IBEW, BEX Asia is the must-attend tradeshow showcasing market-ready innovations, digitalization, and sustainability solutions for the built environment. Visit their website for more information.
BCA Awards – A series of awards organized by BCA to recognize high standards in various fields such as digital transformation, quality, design, and engineering excellence.
ConTech Summit – The inaugural ConTech Summit is poised to serve as the region’s premier gathering of innovators and investors to propel the development and deployment of new, emerging technologies for the Built Environment sector. (By Invitation only)
CEOs in Conversation – An exclusive session for senior leaders to congregate, network, and share insights, experiences, and innovations that will drive the built environment sector forward. (By Invitation only)
Learning Journeys – Site tours to exemplary Singapore projects to provide delegates with examples of how innovative solutions work in real situations.
Future Talent Programme – The Future Talent program aims to provide young talents with opportunities to enhance their understanding of the built environment and hopes to inspire them to explore careers in the built environment sector.
To attend IBEW 2024, purchase your conference pass here.
Engineers attending the conference will also be entitled to Continuous Professional Development (CPD) points from various organizations. Refer to this link for updates.
