Building a new dimension - software reduces errors, cuts costs

China's rapidly growing building design and construction sector could be poised for an extreme makeover as companies from the United States, Britain and Hong Kong introduce a new generation of digital tools to mainland projects.

That change is expected to stimulate development and promote savings and greater collaboration - from design and engineering to fabrication, construction project management and on-site construction activities - in mainland building activities, large and small.

Los Angeles-based Gehry Technologies has developed an advanced, three-dimensional software application called Digital Project, which is being pushed by several British and Hong Kong firms to replace outdated two-dimensional computer-aided, paper-based design methods.

Malcolm Davies, chief operating officer at Gehry Technologies, said: 'We are offering a better way of working in the construction industry, and we see a vast opportunity in China to expand the use of Digital Project.'

Gehry Technologies, which recently completed consulting work on the Beijing Olympic Stadium, plans to pursue more software and services deals on the mainland.

'By applying the most advanced [design and construction] technology, China will be able to design and build more efficiently than has been possible in any country before,' said Stephen Au, managing director at Hong Kong manufacturing consultancy MTech Engineering.

Mr Davies said building projects around the world had become increasingly complex, and poor data co-ordination between designers, builders and other contractors typically resulted in cost overruns of up to 20 per cent during construction.