London Build Expo 2025: How Digitisation, AI and Information Management Are Re-Shaping Construction
I attended the London Build Expo 2025, and it was an action-packed day where a clear and consistent message emerged: the future of construction is digital, intelligent and firmly grounded in better information.
Though each session touched on different areas — from fire safety and circularity to digital delivery, tall buildings and emerging technology — their themes interlinked to gravitate towards the “Golden Thread” and how this can be achieved sector-wide.
Airey Miller has recognised the importance of information and that “Knowledge is Power” and it should also be recognised as a valuable item of property, just like any other tangible asset, such as a building or a product.
A Sector Moving Beyond Digital Aspirations
Some organisations still rely heavily on Excel, manual processes and unconnected tools, while others are embracing scanning technologies, clash detection and integrated platforms to improve certainty and reduce risk.
The consensus was clear: digitisation must extend beyond buying new tools. Technology succeeds only when people are equipped, engaged and supported by clear internal procedures.
Interoperability emerged as a major priority, ushering in a future where data can flow more freely across platforms, reducing friction and improving collaboration.
Artificial Intelligence: From Concept to Practical Enabler
AI featured prominently throughout the day—not as a distant innovation, but as a practical tool already improving workflows.
In sustainability discussions, AI’s ability to analyse and classify reusable materials was highlighted as a potential game-changer for circularity.
In safety-focused sessions, speakers underscored the challenges of unreliable handover information and inconsistent O&M documentation. Here, AI-supported validation—combined with competent practitioners—could strengthen compliance and bridge gaps between design intent and installed reality.
Information Management Takes Centre Stage
One of the most unifying themes was the rising importance of Information Management (IM). With the UK BIM Alliance’s transition to nima, the industry is shifting its focus from models and deliverables to the wider concept of the Golden Thread of Information.
At Airey Miller our in-house BIM & Information Management department supports the wider company with working in a structured way to ensure everyone is clear on what is required at the end. Viewpoint for Projects is our single source of truth for projects that ensures that the “right information reaches the right people at the right time”.
Safety, Sustainability and Early Decision-Making
Sessions on fire protection, high-rise buildings and circular construction converged on a critical point: the decisions made early in the project lifecycle have the greatest impact.
Whether reducing carbon, ensuring passive fire protection or improving long-term building performance, early coordination supported by reliable data allows risks to be designed out rather than mitigated later. Digital models, clash detection, façade scanning and resident feedback were all recognised as key tools in creating safer, more sustainable outcomes.
Key Takeaways
From digitisation to safety, from AI to the Golden Thread, the direction of travel is clear:
Digitisation is no longer optional — it is the foundation of modern construction delivery.
AI is emerging as a practical decision-support tool, improving everything from material re-use to safety validation.
High-quality information is becoming the industry’s most valuable asset and managing it is now everyone’s responsibility.
Interoperability and open standards will shape the next decade, reduce silos and enable connected workflows.
Better outcomes depend on early, data-driven decision-making, whether for fire protection, circularity or design coordination.
Digital transformation is an ongoing cultural shift, requiring investment in people, processes and continuous improvement.
At Airey Miller, we embrace digital transformation and world-class information management from the outset, ensuring we never lose the Golden Thread. By starting with the end in mind, we design and implement solutions that underpin safer, more sustainable and cost-effective outcomes. Our collaborative approach to team building and training fosters the cultural shift required to make digital and IM practices part of every colleague’s daily workflow.
For more information, visit: Scanning Services or contact us today.
