DTSA approved to deliver ‘Level 3’ Qualification in Digital Construction
- Digital Twin Skills Academy CIC
- Sep 1
- 8 min read
“Nothing good comes easy and patience is a virtue;
if you have patience, you have everything …. ”
Alhaja Sidikatu Abisogun (Hon DUniv, Hon MBA, ‘OBE’)
….. amidst the (above) sage advice, received at an early age from his Mother, our Founder and Chief Excitement Officer, Dr Bola Abisogun OBE has a compelling story to share – regarding his love and constant quest, for ‘new’ knowledge.
As a young child, Dr Abisogun was continuously reminded by family members including his cousin (Dapo), that he had “teaching qualities”. After a near 30year professional career as a Chartered Quantity Surveyor (including a long stint as an RICS ‘APC’ Assessor and Chairman), Dr Abisogun decided to set his sights upon his longstanding decision to #PayItForward and created the Digital Twin Skills Academy, aka ‘DTSA’. This idea, seemed even more relevant, back in April 2022 – when the Building Safety Act received Royal Assent – which allowed him to frame his conclusive and well documented contribution, arising from his 32-month tenure at the University of Cambridge [Centre for Digital Built Britain].
The Centre for Digital Built Britain (CDBB) a partnership between the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and the University of Cambridge, was established by HM Government in the 2017 Autumn Budget (immediately following the Grenfell tragedy) and was the home of the UK BIM and Digital Built Britain Programmes. Its key objective was to deliver a ‘smart digital economy’ for infrastructure and construction, and to transform the UK construction industry’s approach to the way we plan, build, maintain and use our social and economic infrastructure for the future.
Credit: University of Cambridge / CDBB
CDBB was a member of the Construction Innovation Hub, alongside the Building Research Establishment (BRE) and the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), and collectively, they collaborated with other partners in the Transforming Construction Sector Deal. It was also home to a number of UK government programmes including the UK BIM Programme, National Digital Twin Programme and parts of the Global Infrastructure Programme. The National Digital Twin Programme (NDTP) was launched by HM Treasury in July 2018 to deliver key recommendations of the National Infrastructure Commission (2017) 'Data for the Public Good' report.
The collective effort towards ‘creating’ a digital built Britain sought to digitise the entire life-cycle of our built assets (in the UK) finding innovative ways of delivering more capacity out of our existing social and economic infrastructure, whilst dramatically improving the way these assets deliver social services to deliver improved capacity and better public services.
“Above all, we wanted to enable citizens to make better use of the infrastructure we already have.” University of Cambridge / CDBB
The application of digital twins, seeks to provide layers of value both prior to, during and beyond the ‘traditional’ construction process, including the ability to visualise the entire project, at a high-level. Visibility can also extend all the way to establishing the granular detail of assessing and confirming both the quantification and viability of any proposed material(s). The ability to review the project in ‘real time’ during the ‘traditional’ pre-construction phase, can also ensure that precious resources are used efficiently and, in accordance with any predetermined project programme / schedule.
Credit: University of Cambridge / CDBB
You see, the DTSA is more than just ‘an Academy’ – and following the tragic event that took place on 14thJune 2017, in London’s _ Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea; Dr. Abisogun’s aim has always been to create a ‘global family’ of competent, digital construction specialists. A family that looks out for one another and operates, at all times, in the best interests of the general public.
Since the engrossment of our MoU [Memorandum of Understanding] back in December 2023, the DTSA and OCN London have sought to do at least two things really well, initially on a pan-London (and now a global) basis;
· Accreditation of skills delivery and training, supporting youth engagement, employability and employment / entrepreneurship; and
· Development of a digital twin curriculum to meet the needs of employers and learners.
Our own reasons for choosing to focus on 'digital construction' have been captured below, in a few statements of fact, with a primary focus on the principal benefits that the use of Digital Twin technology can provide; principally unlocking the ‘global’ construction sector; an industry currently valued at $12trillion per annum. In fact, our ‘global’ family of emerging #ConTech specialists, will essentially help project owners, funders and insurers to, de-risk construction projects from design, into construction and beyond, not only avoiding a repeat of the Grenfell tragedy, but also:
_ Fostering greater adoption (and understanding of digital construction, and) of the new legal requirement, in the UK, called the ‘Golden Thread’. It is imperative that EVERY member of the project team, whether they are office OR site-based, fully understands their own legal obligations regarding this new legal requirement particularly during Gateway 3 (the Construction Phase);
_ Upskilling and equipping the (UK) construction sector, which according to CITB; now forecasts, some 2.65 million people (as of 2024) increasing to 2.75 million required (by 2029), across the entire value & supply chain;
Credit: CITB (2025)
_ Empowering the team with better ‘project simulation’ capabilities; that deploy advanced 3D and 4D visualisation. Such technological advancements, can facilitate deeper levels of insight and better risk management for the project owners, funders and/or insurers who may be keen to ‘dry-run’; the entire construction process in 5D (with a particular focus on project controls, ‘out-turn’ cost and carbon accounting);
CDBB (Centre for Digital Built Britain) was a partnership between the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy and the University of Cambridge. It was also a partner in the Construction Innovation Hub. CDBB sought to understand how the construction and infrastructure sectors could use a ‘digital first’ approach to better design, build, operate and integrate the built environment. A digital built Britain envisaged:
an understanding of what information is needed to enable better through life economic, social and environmental value from our built and managed environment;
to champion human-centric design of infrastructure and the services they deliver;
to exploit new and emerging ‘digital construction’ and manufacturing skills and technology to reduce costs and increase productivity; and
to grow new career, business and export opportunities for the UK.
“Digital technology is changing the way we plan, build, maintain and use our social and economic infrastructure. Building Information Modelling (BIM) is already transforming the UK construction industry, using information management processes to gain efficiencies in the design and construction processes. Over the next decade this technology (along with the use of Agentic AI) will fuse digital twins and date from the Internet of Things – sensors, advanced data analytics, data-driven manufacturing and the digital economy – enabling us to plan infrastructure more effectively, to build it at a lower cost and to operate and maintain it for better performance, over a longer lifespan…..”
For more information on the CDBB legacy, visit www.cdbb.cam.ac.uk
Credit: University of Cambridge / CDBB
Digital construction actively and positively contributes to project cost savings of all descriptions, along with the ability to tease out opportunities for enhanced and increased efficiencies, within and throughout the construction lifecycle. Typical ‘cost centres’ / bottom-line benefits could include, reductions in waste presenting better recycling & circularity opportunities, and improved allocation of plant and the scarcity, of a competent and available labour / workforce; all of which could lead to, shorter overall, project programmes.
The ability to empower the project team to deliver construction projects [specifically the ‘digital’ Cost Manager] using a dynamic, federated ‘digital’ model, updated with real-time data is a powerful addition to the construction (Cost Management) professional.
By adopting the use of ‘agile’ data-twins, leading to 5D digital-twins, the cost manager(s) can, alongside the entire design team, begin to simulate various design options (at every RIBA stage, across the entire project lifecycle) and critically review and evaluate the asset’s performance before construction actually begins on site. Purely from a cost/value perspective, the ability to avoid costly re-design and/or construction changes (i.e. change orders), during construction, is of extreme value to all stakeholders, particularly the project owner, funder and insurer.
Credit: University of Cambridge / CDBB
In addition to reducing waste and lowering costs, digital twins can also optimize the procurement and use of materials and financial resources. Additionally, digital twins can facilitate collaboration more effectively, providing a single platform for sharing information and making informed decisions, which can help to avoid misunderstandings and reduce the risk of costly design-led errors.
Using digital twin technology can significantly reduce construction costs by enabling early detection of ‘any’ buildability issues, whilst simultaneously increasing project efficiencies and therefore, profitability.
See here for more information on “digital ways of working” _ https://www.cdbb.cam.ac.uk/subject/digital-ways-working
Credit: AI-QS / Dr Bola Abisogun OBE
According to the RICS: https://www.rics.org/news-insights/bim-power-data-construction
“The digital transformation of the construction industry has taken immense steps forward, rapidly adopting tools and technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT). Building Information Modelling (BIM) is at the heart of this shift, enabling smarter planning, management and collaboration. By streamlining workflows and improving data-driven decision-making, BIM helps stakeholders create more efficient, valuable and sustainable ways of working that can help projects in the longer run, creating an asset within the professionals who are well-versed on the subject.
What does BIM offer?
BIM plays a key role in managing information by providing a structured methodology following the international guidelines of ISO 19650 series. It enables data and information to be scoped, planned for and processed efficiently through standardised data management and workflows.
The true power of BIM lies in its ability to create a centralised digital model of datasets, making project information easily accessible and helping teams work smarter. BIM enables the creation of a 3D model that represents the physical and functional characteristics of buildings and infrastructure such as skyscrapers, bridges, airport, inclusive and sustainable residential or commercial developments.
BIM’s multi-dimensional capabilities go beyond design (3D) to include additional data layers for a more comprehensive understanding of project or asset overview. One of the easiest ways to visualise BIM’s benefits is through the common BIM dimensions. While definitions of these dimensions can change, in principle they refer to:
3D – Design
4D – Time
5D – Cost
6D – Sustainability
7D – Facilities Management
8D – Health and Safety
Credit: University of Cambridge / CDBB
BIM – IoT data integration
The integration of BIM and IoT enables smarter construction and asset management, facilitating precise information handling throughout a project’s lifecycle and into the operational phase of a building.
By collecting real-time data from smart sensors, construction progress can be tracked, equipment performance monitored, and the BIM model updated instantly, providing an accurate real-time 3D visualisation. This reduces errors, optimises performance and enhances decision-making, accelerating project delivery.
Successful IoT integration within BIM creates cyber-physical systems that replicate both static and dynamic building characteristics. This real-time connectivity between virtual and physical counterparts enables the development of smart buildings and cities for a more sustainable, effective and interactive built environment.
Beyond the construction phase, this innovation holds great potential for optimising technological and financial performance with dynamic and real-time operational data enabling more accurate and efficient building operations management.
Credit: Digital Twin Hub
Leveraging BIM’s full potential
BIM provides a range of benefits, including:
Efficient and secure information management processes
Smoother collaboration with your project stakeholders
Better decision-making with 3D visualization
Optimised asset and facility management over the entire life cycle
More accurate cost predictability and improved scheduling
Less project errors and clashes
Optimised design techniques
Improved sustainability with reduced energy consumption
Advance your career with RICS BIM training
The digitalisation of construction is fast becoming today’s reality. Stay ahead by leveraging BIM to its full potential in your projects. To remain compliant with the latest BIM requirements, the RICS Certificate in Building Information Modelling (BIM) is the right training for you, providing practical knowledge at the highest standards.
This 10-month online training programme is ideal for project managers, architects, quantity surveyors, engineers, building surveyors, building control and digital construction professionals looking to enhance their BIM capabilities and unlock global opportunities, from BIM Coordinator to Management positions.
Credit: The IMI / nima
Join us, at the DTSA, as we begin to offer a deeper insight (and approved ‘Level 3’ qualification) into this new and evolving career pathway. Regardless of size, value and/or geographic location, ‘Digital Construction’ will be coming to a project near you, the question is _ “are you ready and fully equipped, to thrive?”
Author: Dr Abolade “Bola” Abisogun OBE, FRICS