Digital by Default

Morgan Sindall's approach to Digital Construction

Digital by Default

At Morgan Sindall, we believe digital construction is fundamental to delivering smarter, safer, and more sustainable projects. It's a key part of our Intelligent Solutions approach - using technology and innovation to unlock better outcomes for our clients and communities.

We have extensive BIM experience and support clients in defining data requirements, using SCAPE’s Method of Specifying to ensure valuable project information is captured and delivered.

But we go beyond BIM. From 3D model coordination and AI-powered design verification to augmented reality tools like Gamma AR and 360° site capture through Oculo, we bring clarity and precision to every stage of construction.

This digital-first mindset reduces risk, improves accuracy, and creates connected, future-ready assets - maximising long-term value for our clients and communities.

Intelligent Solutions.

Embracing Digital Technologies

Increasingly, we utilise advanced digital tools on our projects to boost efficiency, safety, and collaboration. The following pages showcase a selection of these technologies and the significant benefits they bring to our teams and clients.

Digital-first Construction

To help improve accuracy, eliminate clashes and save time, Morgan Sindall champions a digital-first approach to construction.

On certain projects, we use interactive Building Information Modelling (BIM) tools that function much like advanced gaming platforms. In dedicated digital coordination spaces - often referred to as BIM Caves - teams navigate immersive 3D models using gaming-style controllers, projecting the environment onto walls and screens for collaborative reviews.

These models are updated daily, ensuring the project team always has access to the latest design and construction data. At project completion, a fully verified digital twin can be handed over to support efficient building operation and long-term maintenance.

A verified digital twin of the building can be handed over at project completion, to assist operation and maintenance.

Oculo 360°

Oculo is a powerful 360° site capture tool that enables full visual tracking of construction progress. Team members "walk the site" with a 360° camera, creating a detailed digital record that is uploaded and stored on the Oculo platform.

This record can be reviewed in a Google Street View-style interface, allowing teams to compare different time-stamped site scans or review them side-by-side with the digital model. It’s a powerful way to track progress, validate installation, and identify any changes over time.

We've been using Oculo to record the activities on site and the platform has enabled us to keep track of the daily changes, whilst also providing a split screen viewer from the site to what the model is representing for the corresponding space. It's also helped as a live record for the quantity surveyors.

Zach Hamilton, Graduate Design Manager

Augmented Reality

To further enhance on-site validation, we’ve trialled Gamma AR - an augmented reality tool that overlays the BIM model directly onto the physical site using a tablet’s camera.

Gamma AR enables the project team to compare the live build with the design in real time, helping to identify discrepancies quickly and accurately. By integrating with platforms like Autodesk Construction Cloud and BIM 360, any issues can be raised directly within the tool and pushed back into the model for resolution by the relevant team.

Trialling Gamma AR has shown it acts as a powerful bridge between tools like Oculo and laser scanning—providing real-time insight without slowing down site activities.

AI Design
Verification

A key innovation in our BIM process is the
use of artificial intelligence (AI) to verify
the physical build against the design.

Using advanced laser scanning technology, such as
the Leica scanning kit, a 360° scan of the environment
is captured in under two minutes and uploaded
instantly to a tablet device for immediate review.

With the support of AI-driven platforms like NASKA,
this scan data is compared directly with the BIM
model to confirm the precise placement of
elements - often within a 50mm tolerance.
This ensures confidence in as-built
accuracy and streamlines issue
resolution.

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 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.

Laura Malone, Digital Engineer

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.

Trevor Payne discussing the adoption of digital construction during
the delivery of the Molecular Sciences Building, while serving
as Director of Estates at the University of Birmingham