- Kyle Chua
Built Environment Innovation Hub Opens at BCA Braddell Campus
Updated: Dec 18, 2023
A new space has opened at the Building and Construction Authority's (BCA) Braddell Campus to facilitate the development of technological innovations.
Called the Built Environment Innovation Hub (BEIH), the space, which was unveiled today by Ms Indranee Rajah, Minister, Prime Minister's Office, looks to connect like-minded individuals, showcase new technologies and help in the transfer of knowledge that support the transformation of Singapore's Built Environment (BE) industry.
One such use for the space is for it to be a "living laboratory", where collaborators could work together within the same campus, so as to be able to conduct research, test-bed and refine BE solutions in a real world environment.
Apart from this, the BEIH can bring stakeholders together to uncover new innovations through exchange and networking sessions. These technology-focused sessions have brought more than 300 local and international stakeholders, industry partners and solution providers across the BE value chain together since starting in October 2022.
Initiatives like the Built Environment Accelerate-to-Market Programme (BEAMP) also bring together innovators to develop technology solutions to address real-world challenges, bridging the gap between development and market adoption. The BEAMP has so far supported partnerships with more than 60 corporates, startups and enterprises, which has resulted in the development of 44 Built Environment solutions.
Some of those innovations are being demonstrated and showcased at the new space. One of which is SquareDog Robitcs' Sky Wash, a commercial robot that can clean the windows of buildings. The robot can also work at maximum height of more than 40 stories, which eliminates the need to deploy humans to work at extreme heights, lessening the risk of injuries or deaths, while reducing operation costs.
Sky Wash can also be set up easily and can be operated by manual remote control mode or semi-remote control. It's already been deployed commercially in Hong Kong, having completed 20 projects to date. In Singapore, it's still doing Proof of Concepts as it works with partners on a commercial roll out.
Another innovation housed in the new space is Robo Painter, an indoor painting robot that specialises in compact interiors. The robot, which was developed SquareDog Robotics in collaboration with China State Construction Engineering, can ensure a consistent and high-quality painting finish. What's more, it can autonomous navigate navigate through narrow doorways and corridors as well as pass through 20mm high door threshold. It also comes equipped with a six-axis robotic painting arm that allows it to access complex interiror structures, including ceilings.
The Robo Painter's capabilities can reportedly address the labour shortage and mitigate workers' exposure to toxic fumes and solvents.
Lastly, the BEIH underscores the industry's commitment to transformation and progress. The over 200 environment professionals, research partners and innovators who attended the opening of the space were treated to tours of two new Green Mark certified buildings at the BCA Braddell Campus: a seven-storey mid-rise Zero Energy Building and a 16-storey high-rise Super Low Energy Building. These two buildings are said to be a showcase of innovative construction methods, sustainable materials, integrated digital planning and smart building systems.
The Built Environment Innovation Hub (BEIH) has opened at the Building and Construction Authority's (BCA) Braddell Campus to facilitate the development of technological innovations.
The new space looks to connect like-minded individuals, showcase new technologies and help in the transfer of knowledge that support the transformation of Singapore's Built Environment (BE) industry.
Some of those innovations are being demonstrated and showcased at the new space, include Sky Wash, a commercial robot that can clean the windows of buildings and Robo Painter, an indoor painting robot that specialises in compact interiors.