BIM Team Now Under Future Technology Institute for R&D
Yoonhong Heo, CEO of GS Engineering & Construction, Emphasizes Digital Transformation and AI
Yoonhong Heo, CEO of GS Engineering & Construction, is giving a presentation on digital transformation (DX) at the executive workshop held last month. GS Engineering & Construction
Even during the construction industry downturn, GS Engineering & Construction is focusing on developing new technologies to secure future growth engines. The company has accelerated its technological capabilities by establishing a dedicated team for Building Information Modeling (BIM), which creates virtual models of structures in three-dimensional space. Yoonhong Heo, CEO of GS Engineering & Construction, is also supporting this initiative by emphasizing digital transformation (DX).
According to industry sources on May 19, GS Engineering & Construction reorganized its R&D division in the first quarter of this year, placing the BIM team under the Future Technology Institute. The BIM team now forms part of the institute's R&D organization, alongside the Research Planning Team, Architectural Technology Research Center, Fundamental Technology Research Center, and Green & Energy Research Center.
A GS Engineering & Construction representative explained, "In order to maximize R&D synergy based on construction technology, we reorganized the BIM team?which had previously been under another department?into a direct team under the Future Technology Institute as of last year. The BIM team is now responsible for core technologies needed to execute the smart construction strategy, and has established an organizational management system to enhance technical expertise."
BIM, which GS Engineering & Construction is pursuing through this reorganization, is emerging as a key new technology in the construction industry. BIM involves digitally creating three-dimensional virtual models of buildings and other structures. Unlike traditional two-dimensional design, BIM allows for the creation and utilization of three-dimensional models that cover the entire lifecycle, construction, and design of a building. Its applications extend to cost estimation, external environment analysis, maintenance, construction simulation, and automatic area calculation, among others. DL E&C is also conducting research on optimization and automated design through its Housing BIM Team.
In particular, the use of BIM during the construction phase is increasing. GS Engineering & Construction applied three-dimensional modeling technology using BIM when building the Singapore Rail Test Centre (SRTC), which is the world’s tenth and Southeast Asia’s first comprehensive rail test center. By identifying potential site interferences in advance, the company minimized risk factors. As a result, it achieved 14 million accident-free hours and completed the project on schedule.
Under CEO Heo’s leadership, GS Engineering & Construction has actively pursued the development of various new technologies, including not only BIM but also artificial intelligence (AI). In the first quarter, the company’s R&D expenditure as a percentage of sales was 0.56%. This represents a 0.01 percentage point decrease from the previous quarter’s 0.57%, but a 0.04 percentage point increase compared to the same period last year.
These efforts are yielding tangible results. GS Engineering & Construction has developed 'Xi-Book,' a platform that uses AI to allow users to search construction standards at any time. The platform, introduced at construction sites, enables users to find desired information within seconds. In addition, the company is developing AI-based real-time concrete quality anomaly detection technology to further improve productivity.
Last month, CEO Heo also personally gave a presentation on AI utilization at a workshop attended by more than 100 executives and next-generation leaders, driving the company’s DX initiatives. The reason for choosing AI as the presentation topic reportedly stems from a sense of urgency that digital technology is not a choice but a necessity for survival.
GS Engineering & Construction stated, "We are focusing on developing core new technologies such as smart technologies that provide differentiated value to customers, high-efficiency energy solutions, and AI-based quality and safety management technologies. We are actively developing and applying digital transformation technologies to enhance convenience and eco-friendliness?centered on our residential brand 'Xi'?as well as productivity at construction sites, and are pursuing continuous innovation to lead the future market."
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