In this role, I get to work with so many organisations that are determined to collectively make a difference and accelerate our journey to net zero. One such organisation is Aberdeen City Council. I met with the Corporate Management Team and Alex Nicoll, co-leader recently to discuss their vision for the Council and its ambitious sustainability goals.

The team at Aberdeen sees acting on sustainability as a social and environmental duty. The Climate Change Scotland 2009 Act set out targets to reduce carbon footprints, make the best use of resources, reduce waste and protect water. It is something that Aberdeen City Council takes very seriously.

On the council’s own progress, Andy MacDonald, Director of Customer Services at Aberdeen City Council, said, “We will achieve net zero corporate carbon emissions by 2045 at the latest, with interim targets of a reduction of at least 48% by 2025 and a reduction of at least 75% by 2030. As a city at the heart of the energy sector, the energy transition is a vital priority for Aberdeen. Using skills, knowledge, and experience as a world-leader in energy, the city is investing in net zero technology, building low carbon infrastructure and reskilling and upskilling to support a just transition to net zero.”

This isn’t a new vision for the city. It began its journey to net zero several years ago. In 2020 the Council set out its Energy Transition Vision. This is its progressive plan to position Aberdeen as a climate positive city while helping to lead the world on the rapid shift to a net zero future.  

The city has also launched Aberdeen Adapts, which is a framework for city-wide adaptation to changes to our climate. The framework incorporates the views of local organisations and communities, and sets the direction to build long term city climate resilience.

Working with its citizens is key to meeting these goals. In fact, it is critical. We are all in this together so only by bringing the community into the actions taken can we see the change we need.

The Council has developed a Net Zero City Routemap, along with its Energy Transition Vision, following public consultations and engagement with citizens. This collaborative approach with stakeholders, both public and private, and communities is what will allow Aberdeen to succeed. With investment in the plans going far beyond the Council and into the communities they are supporting, there is a collective effort to see real change.

Making progress

The Council is already further along than many. It has been leading on low carbon technology with two hydrogen refuelling stations to service its growing hydrogen bus fleet. It has also rolled out LED street lighting, expanded its range of electric and hydrogen fleet vehicles, increased connections to district heating for some public buildings and council housing, and installed several green roofs across its buildings.

This overarching approach to reaching Net Zero means every part of the Council is being reviewed and changes made where needed. It also shows the citizens of Aberdeen that their Council is taking its commitment to everyone’s future seriously.

Technology will play a vital role in how Aberdeen City Council is able to achieve these goals. In how it is able to retrofit housing projects, in how it monitors scarce resources and in many other projects. This is where we come in. It is only when we work together that we can see real progress.

Find out more

The need for urgent action: COP27 and the road to net zero

Microsoft 2021 Environmental Sustainability Report

Accelerating the Journey to Net Zero study

Microsoft Sustainability Webinar: From COP26 to COP27

Resources to empower your development team

Get started with Microsoft Cloud for Sustainability Training

About the author

Musidora joined the Microsoft UK Senior Leadership Team in February 2022 as Chief Sustainability Officer. She is accountable for driving sustainability outcomes for our customers, partners and internally. Prior to that, Musidora spent three years at Salesforce setting up and leading the Energy and Utilities Go to Market. She has extensive experience of the technology industry across hardware, consulting and software sales, over the past twenty years.

She featured at number 3 in the top 100 global sustainability leaders for 2022 in Sustainability Magazine, was named one of the top 100 female future leaders in 2020 by INvolve and Yahoo Finance UK, and was included in Kindness & Leadership’s Rising Star list for 2020.

Musidora is passionate about D&I and particularly in supporting more women in the STEM industries. She is an active coach, mentor and sponsor both inside and outside of the industry.

The post Aberdeen City Council shows ambition and leadership in tackling climate change appeared first on Microsoft Industry Blogs - United Kingdom.

There’s also the challenge of staying resilient and adapting to the changing needs of your business. In our whitepaper Reconciling the Irreconcilable, we look at the challenges faced by infrastructure projects and how interoperable solutions can help. By using a digital building lifecycle, the industry also has a key opportunity to boost sustainable industry growth, fix the supply chain, improve site safety and productivity, and drive innovation.

[msce_cta layout=”image_center” align=”center” linktype=”blue” imageurl=”http://approjects.co.za/?big=en-us/industry/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2020/06/whitepaper800x.jpg” linkurl=”https://info.microsoft.com/UK-DIGTRNS-CNTNT-FY20-06Jun-22-MSConstructionWhitePaper-AID-3013731-SRGCM3575_01Registration-ForminBody.html” linkscreenreadertext=”Download the whitepaper: Reconciling the Irreconcilable” linktext=”Download the whitepaper: Reconciling the Irreconcilable” imageid=”36465″ ][/msce_cta]

See how implementing smarter lifecycle management, flexible workplaces, or using technology to help your employees can address your needs and support your resilient operations.

1.      Workforce safety and protection

Employee safety and protection will always be a top priority for organisations. We also expect new processes and procedures to be implemented as the industry returns to site.

AI-infused IoT wearables and sensors in the field can also monitor and report to ensure health and safety best practices are being followed, or alert when there’s potential issues, like spills or leaks.

Microsoft HoloLens 2 infused with AI will allow employees to survey sites and create innovative, highly precise, sustainable solutions, delivered in an agile, flexible off-premises environment. It can also be used by on-site employees to access instructions hands-free while on the job.

2.      Connected Workers

Help employees stay engaged through Microsoft Teams and virtual desktop environments. Teams lets employees securely chat, meet, share and collaborate on files together no matter where they’re located. Virtual desktops enable employees to access the apps and information they need securely, from anywhere.

Additionally, use tools such as the HoloLens 2 and Dynamics Remote Assist will enable on-site employees to collaborate with experts in different locations. These tools also help upskilling employees with new processes.

3.      Smart lifecycle management

As the sector looks to control cash flow and make cost savings, whilst also planning ahead for economic recovery, it will be essential to optimise supply chains. Through better use of data across the supply chain, organisations can adapt to complex scenarios in real time.

Reduce physical onsite presence, and streamline operations with IoT technologies for remote monitoring, remote control, and automation of simple tasks.

You can then take advantage of the data collected to create processes and quickly adapt to changing working patterns. Deliver an intelligent, connected field service by moving from a costly break–fix model to proactive, predictive maintenance.

4.      Stay secure

As organisations move to more digital processes, it is critical organisations have security infrastructure in place to detect, respond, and protect against threats.

Microsoft builds its products with security-by-design, making it easy for your IT team to keep control of the whole digital estate. Think about implementing multi-factor authentication, conditional access, and creating strong security policies. Keep employee education up-to-date.

Help build a stronger future

We strongly believe there is a huge opportunity for technology to help transform the Built Environment Sector, whilst also supporting resilient operations.

By creating smart, interconnected sites, data, and people, we can bring together the skills and information today needed for tomorrow’s innovative projects. Which is a really exciting opportunity you don’t want to miss out on.

Find out more

Learn more about our vision for the Built Environment

4 ways the construction industry can use technology to fix the supply chain and empower employees

Learn how we’re supporting resilient operations

About the author

Adam has worked at Microsoft for over 13 years and is energised by the culture, direction, and strategy as an organisation. He is passionate about the amazing opportunity this provides to empower customers to achieve their goals.

Adam currently leads the Built Environment Team at Microsoft in the UK, where they enable the business outcomes of organisations in the Design, Engineering, Construction, and Facilities Management Industries through digital technology. The Built Environment sector is particularly interesting area to focus as there is a huge opportunity for the industry to transform and it has an impact on all of us in our daily lives.

The post How to support resilient operations in the Built Environment Industry appeared first on Microsoft Industry Blogs - United Kingdom.

At Microsoft we believe we can help empower the construction and built environment sector to fuel sustainable growth, fix the supply chain to increase employee productivity and deliver exceptional customer and social outcomes. To do this, organisations need to digitally transform with modern tools and solutions that bring AI, data, and analytics together to improve collaboration and productivity.

Ultimately our vision is to transform construction and built environment businesses with design innovation, a supply chain you can control, and a connected, safer, more productive workforce.

To help clarify our vision for the sector we have broken down where technology can play a key role in the built environment roadmap into four areas:

1.      Intelligent Design

Technology can enable significant innovation within design processes. This is achieved by smart design automation via the cloud to enhance simulations and generate better quality data.

Using HoloLens mixed reality glasses with data, it can help boost innovation and sustainability.  For example, HoloLens will make your building designs a reality by helping you view it in 4D. This enables teams to see how the building will look before it is even built, to help provide better collaboration and design.

We can even integrate HoloLens into Dynamics 365 to mobilise and increase collaboration across your workforce. Dynamics 365 Guides, provides employees with step-by-step instructions so they can learn by doing. You can even have remote assist, which provides instant collaboration.

Therefore organisations are able to bring ideas to life and create ground-breaking, sustainable designs swiftly and efficiently, powered by state-of-the-art mixed reality, AI, and the cloud.

2.      Smart Lifecycle Management

The challenges within the sector can mainly be around project delays and budget challenges. These have significant impact on companies and the individuals that rely on the infrastructure.

Technology can help make risky tenders and project overruns a thing of the past with AI-fuelled analysis of past project data to predict future projects.

Furthermore, with Dynamics 365, you can connect sensors, networks, and ambient intelligence to create autonomous supply chains that predict and avoid project delays and amplify resources.

3.      Intelligent Asset Management

Internet of Things and Azure Digital Twins technologies are revolutionising the maintenance, facilities management, and the servicing of asset operations.

Firstly by managing and tracking maintenance and facilities in real-time, you can improve building efficiency, and automate tasks using device and sensor tracking. With Dynamics 365 this means better resource management allowing you to predict, detect, and solve issues before they happen.

Additionally companies can improve the management and efficiency of construction assets that help connect workers with the building. Non-operational assets, such as cranes, tools, and machines can also be monitored and managed through IoT and Azure Digital Twins.

This helps organisations discover ways to improve consumer experiences and spaces as well as create new efficiencies. By pairing the physical and digital world, you can analyse data and monitor systems to fix problems before they occur, prevent downtime, and even plan for the future using simulations.

4.      Connected Sites and Workers

Health and safety and productivity are key priorities for the sector. We want to help organisations empower their workforce by protecting and connecting their people, projects, and properties.

Companies can improve workplace safety for frontline workers when they combine mobile, wearable, and sensor technologies with visual recognition systems for real-time activity, safety, and personnel location tracking. The use of augmented reality for site surveying and drones to monitor dangerous areas of site can also be used to limit need for additional onsite staff.

With Dynamics 365, staff can manage and optimise projects in real time, with one consistent interface across all business functions. Technicians in the field can manage workloads easily as Dynamics brings all the relevant information together in one app. Using Remote Assist or the HoloLens, staff can easily build, repair, or consult specialist technicians in real-time.

Using a flexible device like the Surface also encourages staff to work the way they see fit. It brings together intuitive devices that are built with security by design with the apps and tools staff need to do their job. It’s even available with 4G connectivity for sites that are out of WiFi range.

Technology allows organisations to embrace safer, more collaborative, and productive working.

Help build a stronger future

We strongly believe there is a huge opportunity for technology to help transform the Built Environment Sector and build a better future for us all.

By using Dynamics 365 with the power of AI, mixed reality and advanced technology such as digital twins, you can enable your organisation to fuel future sustainable growth, fix supply chain, and site productivity.  This will help you deliver exceptional workforce, customer, and social outcomes.

Find out more

Discover how Dynamics 365 can help you

Go to a Dynamics 365 training day

About the author

Having worked at Microsoft for over 13 years I am energised by our culture, direction, and strategy as an organisation. I am passionate about the amazing opportunity this provides us to empower our customers to achieve their goals.

I currently lead the Built Environment Team at Microsoft in the UK, where we enable the business outcomes of businesses in Design, Engineering, Construction, and Facilities Management Industries through digital technology. The Built Environment sector is particularly interesting area to focus as there is a huge opportunity for the industry to transform and it has an impact on all of us in our daily lives.

The post 4 ways the construction industry can use technology to fix the supply chain and empower employees appeared first on Microsoft Industry Blogs - United Kingdom.