Salford Business School’s Associate Professor of Digital Transformation, Dr Angel Jimenez-Aranda, showcased his research on digital innovation in the construction industry at the 5th International Conference on Building Science, Technology, and Sustainability (ICBSTS 2024) recently.
Held at the University of Lisbon, Portugal, the conference brought together experts from around the world to explore key topics such as sustainable building design, new materials in the built environment, building information systems, waste management, and urban environmental challenges.
About Angel’s research
Ensuring the availability of accurate, up-to-date product information is critical to enhancing safety and efficiency within the construction industry. Recent legislative measures, such as the Building Safety Act and Construction Products Regulation, highlight the urgent need for digitalisation and more effective data exchange across the sector. However, existing practices are often inconsistent, making product information difficult to access and unreliable. The fragmented nature of the industry further aggravates these challenges, increasing the risk of preventable mistakes that can lead to serious consequences.
In response to these issues, the SmartScan platform was designed, developed and tested at the University of Salford. This pioneering digital solution streamlines the process of accessing validated and verified construction product information. Built on GS1 international standards, SmartScan provides a unified system for product identification and online information retrieval. By linking a product’s Global Trade Item Number (GTIN)—embedded in barcodes and QR codes—with detailed digital product data on manufacturers’ websites, the platform empowers stakeholders across the construction supply chain.
Whether a tradesperson needs installation instructions, a homeowner seeks operating manuals, a procurement team reviews product certifications, or a site manager verifies product origin, SmartScan simplifies access to essential information. By simply scanning product barcodes with a smartphone, users can make well-informed decisions quickly and accurately. This technology promotes widespread adoption of barcode standards throughout the construction sector, enhancing both efficiency and safety by ensuring easy access to crucial product data.
The core objectives of Angel’s research are:
- Prototyping a user-friendly digital tool for sharing validated construction product data linked to manufacturers’ digital platforms
- Facilitating efficient data exchange across the construction supply chain, promoting collaboration among industry stakeholders
- Showcasing the benefits of GS1 Standards, demonstrating how they drive accuracy, safety, and efficiency in product data management
- Strengthening ties between industry and academia, fostering innovation through collaboration and knowledge exchange
Reflecting on his presentation, Angel commented: “Our collaboration with industry leaders has allowed us to develop an innovative, award-winning solution that enhances both safety and efficiency in construction. By leveraging GTIN-based standards, SmartScan addresses some of the most pressing challenges in the sector.”
This research is evidence of the power of digital transformation in creating safer, more efficient, and sustainable practices in construction. The SmartScan project stands as an excellent example of how academia and industry can work hand-in-hand to drive meaningful change.
