Tilbury Douglas Deploys £15,000 Humanoid Robot
Tilbury Douglas, a UK tier‑one contractor, has introduced a humanoid robot called Douglas on a live construction site, costing about £15,000 (≈ $19,000). The robot autonomously captures 360‑degree imagery, performs laser scanning and generates progress, defect and safety reports, replacing roughly 40 hours of manual work each month. The ten‑week trial is part of the firm’s digital strategy to alleviate the construction skills shortage and modernise the industry’s image. Tilbury plans to expand the fleet and integrate the robot with construction‑management software.
CN Launches App with Unlimited Access Offer
Construction News has rolled out a new mobile app for Android and iOS, giving industry professionals instant access to news, interviews, analysis and digital editions of its monthly magazine. The app also integrates the Ask CN AI research tool, push‑notification...
Fragmented Contract Management Fuels ‘Project Gremlins’ Risk
A recent Sypro poll of tier‑one contractors, consultants and owners reveals that only 19% of construction contracts are managed through a fully digital system, while 52% use a hybrid of digital tools and manual processes and 15% rely mainly on...
Risk Managing Data Centre Developments
Data centre developers now confront risks that differ from traditional logistics projects, with power availability, long‑lead‑time components and insurance complexity shaping programme certainty. Panattoni has entered the market, offering powered shells rather than full fit‑out to meet hyperscale client preferences...
The Tech Trying to End Construction’s 300-Year-Old Payment Problem
Construction’s chronic cash‑flow issues have spurred two new fintech solutions. Saible, launched in 2023, introduces a Digital Parallel Payment Account that holds project funds in a regulated trust, separating cash from payment authority. ProjectPay, also founded in 2023, embeds short‑term...
Dalkia Picked for M&E at British Museum Energy Centre
The British Museum has appointed Dalkia to design, install and commission the mechanical and electrical (M&E) systems for a new energy centre that will replace its gas‑fired boilers with an all‑electric solution. The programme, valued at £33 million, incorporates a 5.1 MW...
Smart Moves: The Man Overseeing Balfour Beatty’s AI Plan
Balfour Beatty has launched a multimillion‑pound artificial intelligence programme aimed at a "productivity revolution" across its construction portfolio. The initiative is being led by a newly appointed AI chief, who will embed machine‑learning tools into design, scheduling and site safety...