Digital innovation has always been integral to John’s work as an engineer. The following list gives some examples of early adoption spanning 36 years.
Teaching and research John is the Royal Academy of Engineering Visiting Professor in Digital Technology and Net-Zero Design and Construction in the Build Environment at the University of Hertfordshire.
Construction Technology
(Priestland 2020-1) Has supported the strategy and UK market entry for CTech start-ups including Alice Technologies, SAALG, Morta and Matrak.
Digital Strategy
(Priestland 2020-1) Was part of the expert team reporting on best practice in digital optimisation for future phases to enable construction efficiency.
Parametric design tools
(LOR 2014-19) Led teams developing software for bridge and water tank design, and optimisation of transport networks. Collaborators included Cambridge University and Imperial College, with funding from Innovate UK and Highways England.
BEP development
(LOR 2017-19) Responsible for coordination and approval of the Digital Engineering strategy defining design, manufacture and construction information for three major projects.
Excel based optimisation tools
(LOR 2015-16) Led the design, supply and design teams through a bespoke process that reduced piling costs by of £400,000 at Davyhulme WWTW.
ICE BIM Action Group and UK BIM Alliance
(2014-17) Committee member.
Global BIM Standards
(Atkins 2011-14) Published Atkins’ first global CAD and Level 2 BIM standards. Hosted webinars highlighting best practice to drive adoption.
Revit and automated rebar
(Atkins 2006-8) Led implementation in Atkins’ Indian offshoring team.
Battersea Power Station Development
(Arup 2001-4) Early adopter of Rhino as a visualisation and optimisation tool.
Miller Park, Milwaukee, USA
(Arup 1997-8) Generative design and optimisation, iteratively linking model outputs, with direct output into drawings.
Canary Wharf Station, Jubilee Line
(Arup 1991-96) Linkage of complex geometry and analysis.
UK’s first civil graduate trained on CAD (Arup 1986)
Joined the UK’s first CAD-based building design team working on Broadgate and Stockley Park.