Digital Construction in action
Case Studies
SCAPE Group (a public sector procurement framework) employed Morgan Sindall to create their information management roadmap, deployment of Autodesk Forma Design Collaboration and helped define and implement their strategies to effectively meet the requirements of BIM in accordance with ISO19650. Activities included the creation of their BIM policy and wider collatoral to clients, as well as a client facing toolkit to reduce the technical burden in the establishment and deployment of digital construction in accordance with industry standards.
The BIM pathways were designed to assist customers with selecting and implementing the most appropriate level of BIM for their project, aligned to its complexity risk profile, and procurement route.
This document has been produced to support clients with the adoption of BIM, and to help them unlock benefits that can be realised from better information management.
I just wanted to take the opportunity on behalf of Arc Partnership to pass on a huge thank you to all on your support and guidance over the past two and a half years which resulted in a positive outcome for our strategic goal. This represents truly collaborative piece of work between our businesses. It’s been a pleasure working with your skilled team.”
Morgan Sindall worked with the National Association of Construction Frameworks (NACF) client group to lead a strategic initiative exploring how clients define and engage with digital construction. By commissioning independent research, the team identified key client needs, barriers, and tools, which informed the next phase of NACF’s digital journey. This included forming a facilities management working group focused on increasing digital adoption to reduce operational costs and improve estate performance.
Morgan Sindall developed a suite of operational phase benefits and clear asset requirements to support early-stage client decision-making. The teams support simplified digital transformation for clients, delivering measurable time and cost savings in facilities management.
Read more about the initiative
I personally believe this is a huge piece of work that you led, guided, and developed. It will be an enormous benefit to NACF members. I am so pleased to now put this out into the wider community, and am really grateful for everything you have done for us.
Developed a practical “menu of operational benefits” linking outcomes (cost, performance, compliance) to required data, improving briefing and targeted data capture
Simplified FM information management through clear use cases, access methods, and toolkit concepts, reducing adoption barriers and boosting confidence in asset data
Defined a clearer baseline for asset information (what data matters, for which assets, and why), enabling more consistent delivery and improved post-handover use, driving time and cost efficiencies
In response to the Building Safety Act, Morgan Sindall set out to transform how visual information is captured, shared, and validated on-site at scale. With over £1bn in active projects annually, the business needed a consistent, reliable approach to digital record capture to improve collaboration, reduce rework, and meet increasingly stringent compliance requirements. Traditional tools such as photos, site diaries, and snagging lists created fragmented records, limiting visibility and failing to provide the structured, auditable information required for modern assurance.
Following evaluation of 14 technologies, Oculo AI was selected as a strategic reality capture solution. Using rapid 360° imaging, it enables teams to create fully navigable digital records of site conditions, accessible remotely by project teams, clients, and stakeholders.
Working with Oculo and implementation partner Symetri, Morgan Sindall enhanced the platform to meet real-world needs, including BIM overlay to compare design and installation, automated capture dashboards, and AI-powered progress tracking. Supported by structured onboarding and continuous improvement, Oculo has been deployed across 200+ projects, with over 8,000 scans completed.
By embedding Oculo at scale, Morgan Sindall has created a strong digital foundation—leveraging reality capture and AI to improve transparency, reduce risk, and drive more efficient project delivery.
Improved collaboration: Faster identification and resolution of design and installation discrepancies
Enhanced compliance: Structured digital records aligned with Building Safety Act requirements
Reduced rework and disputes: Clear visual evidence improves validation and confidence
Greater efficiency: 2 hours saved per week per project, delivering 22,540 hours of time savings
Remote visibility: Stakeholders can review site progress without frequent site visits
NNUH Community Diagnostic Centre | Norwich
As part of the construction of a new Community Diagnostics Centre (CDC) at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, the project team adopted Gamma AR— the augmented reality tool that helped the team transpose the digital design into real life space.
By overlaying the digital model directly onto the real-world environment, Gamma AR enabled the team to verify spatial accuracy and ensure installations matched design intent. This not only streamlined quality checks but also served as a powerful visual aid for stakeholders, helping to align expectations, improve communication throughout the build and provide a clear understanding of their workspace before construction was complete.
The chief of service and the service operations manager were extraordinarily excited to walk around the facility with the augmented reality be able to actually see what was going to be delivered for them. In a very positive way, it raised some interesting questions about where patients are going to be seated and what the flow might look like.
Built right first time by learning lessons in virtual reality
Enabled precise customer and stakeholder engagement
Improved quality of deliverables through collaboration
Allowed for greater control of cost and risk through monitoring the quality of design early in the process
Click to watch
Molecular Sciences Building | University of Birmingham
The construction of the Molecular Sciences Building was driven by digital construction, aimimg at improving accuracy, eliminating clashes, and saving time. Central to this strategy was the use of an interactive Building Information Management (BIM) system, operated from an on-site ‘BIM Cave’. The team navigated the model using an Xbox controller, with the augmentation projected on walls and screens to create an immersive coordination environment.
The BIM model was updated daily, giving the team access to real-time information throughout the build. This enabled faster decision-making and reduced on-site clashes, contributing to a smoother construction process. What's more, at project completion, a fully verified digital twin—accurate to within 50mm—was handed over to the University, providing a powerful tool for future operation and maintenance.
Continued >
By using this scanning technology we're able to see in real time if any elements have been missed, or where elements don't perhaps align. We can then rectify, or update the model which provides an insurance to the client that their final BIM model is a true digital twin. The university’s overarching goal is to develop this digital twin to a 50mm tolerance with asset data & linked barcoding associated to each of the physical elements providing a direct link between the maintainable assets and the model.’’
Other innovations utilsed on the Molecular Sciences Building included Oculo, the 360° imagery capture tool that allowed the team to "walk the site" virtually. Using a Google Street View-style interface, they could compare current site conditions with previous scans and the digital model, enhancing progress tracking and issue resolution.
The team also used Gamma AR, the augmented reality validation tool that overlaid design models onto the live site via iPad, enabling fast, accurate comparisons between planned and actual construction. Integrated with Autodesk Forma Design Collaboration, it allowed issues to be raised and pushed directly back to the model for resolution.
What’s been really good working with Morgan Sindall is the approach to innovation. The innovation they have brought has been outstanding. There has also been a lot of digital technology used in the design and construction. The BIM work we have done is important as we have strict standards. It’s almost a digital twin that’s handed over at the end of the project and that’s important for maintenance and operation. We’ve also had a BIM cave on site which students and users have been in so they could experience the building before it was built. All of these elements have come together to support and deliver that world class building.
Read more
Improved quality of information using Digital Twin
Delivered cost and programme certainty
Improved safety and change management creating certainty
Enhanced lifecycle and project feedback informing continuous improvement
Increased efficiency of assets over their lifecycle
Shared control of asset data
Day Case Surgery and Imaging Centre | Harrogate Hospital
To help with the coordination and efficiency of on-site setting-out tasks, we proactively managed the entire process utilising the HP SitePrint robot. By providing all trades with a fully coordinated floorplan and precise on-site layout information, we were able to reduce errors and reduce the time spent on re-checks, ultimately avoiding potential delays to the programme and associated costs.
Using the HP SitePrint robot enabled our team to achieve complete cover within eight working days – six times quicker compared to traditional setting-out tasks. The printer delivers highly accurate, permanent markings on site within 3mm of accuracy, making it easy to spot potential clashes that might otherwise go unnoticed. For example, offset gridlines that are only visible on CAD drawings—but not on the A3 prints typically used by Dryliners—were identified using the printer, helping prevent the SFS from being set out 20mm in the wrong position.
The HP SitePrint has further capability to carry out other tasks such as slab surveys, and whilst there is an upfront cost, the quality and time saved by implementing this innovation ensures the investment delivers strong value for money across the entire programme.
Overall, the HP Site Print is a welcomed innovation, and its significant benefits out way the costs. My team have already been able to benefit from the use of HP SitePrint, and it is already evident that it will increase productivity during any build and significantly assist the site team in ensuring, quality is kept to the highest possible standard.
