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Despite drone delivery technology soaring in recent years, most Australians still have a while to wait before dinner—or anything else on demand—is dropped at their doorstep.&nbsp;Although trials in some parts of the country are revolutionising the delivery and logistics space, red tape is keeping the tech grounded in our more built-up areas.Experts in the field believe our homes and businesses could be tailored to accommodate drones, similar to the integration of electric car charging stations, but adoption won’t be overnight.Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), which is responsible for the safety regulation of aircraft including drones, estimates the number of domestic recreational drones at up to 2 million, meaning about 1 in 10 Australians have a drone.&nbsp;However, from January 2021, fines of up to $11,100 can be issued to anyone flying unregistered drones for commercial use.Brendan Gillen, director of Kapcher, a data acquisition company using 3D modelling and AI, says the drone paper trail required by CASA is arduous.“The laws we are held to by CASA have created a bottleneck in the industry,” he says.&nbsp;“Because CASA is a government body, it can’t really get enough cash behind it to bring it up to speed.&nbsp;<div id="4GAHvcT2DhvbYV9IWVM0ot"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/5ee1ZY7hA0qvD3KJ2yioPz/ba2f1574ee03a5d05792872ab3cc41fd/3.jpg" alt="null" data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/5ee1ZY7hA0qvD3KJ2yioPz/ba2f1574ee03a5d05792872ab3cc41fd/3.jpg"></picture><div>▲ Australian authorities are not keeping up with how fast the technology is evolving, the industry says. </div></div>“They’re trying to manage drones with laws created for manned and hybrid aircraft which means, basically, if you follow the letter of the law you can’t really fly drones anywhere.“There just isn’t enough funding in the drone space for how fast the technology’s going.&nbsp;“Within CBD locations you can’t fly a drone, it’s just an absolute no-go because it’s unsafe, according to CASA.”Gillen says that although Australia’s drone industry is progressing at a measured pace, other countries are “happy to push the boundaries”.Zipline, a US drone delivery company, is setting a high benchmark in Rwanda, Africa, where it has completed more than 540,000 commercial deliveries and served more than 3400 health centres by providing blood and other medical supplies to about 45 million people.&nbsp;&nbsp;“I think there are pros and cons to being very highly regulated as we are in Australia,” Gillen says.“While it does mean we follow the procedures, it also hinders the ability to try new things and innovate really quickly.&nbsp;“My opinion is you should fail fast. If it doesn't work, then we know and we don’t invest more money and more time than we need to.”<div id="1oh1dWb2HGoBUqW7MFZU1c"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/3vX2i3tZO1fFEUuQiIRiFo/d921ad0bad05dfa6721295c872082d21/1.jpg" alt="null" data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/3vX2i3tZO1fFEUuQiIRiFo/d921ad0bad05dfa6721295c872082d21/1.jpg"></picture><div>▲ Wing general manager Simon Rossi. “In time we’ll be able to deliver to apartment buildings.” </div></div>Given the restrictions around operating drones in cities, businesses such as on-demand drone delivery service Wing are piloting programs in spacious suburbia.&nbsp;Wing’s latest partnerships are with retail brands such as Coles and Doordash, along with developer Mirvac, to get groceries and takeaway meals to people’s doors.Recently, Mirvac’s Orion Springfield Central shopping centre in Queensland’s Ipswich started using Wing’s delivery drones to provide food and essentials to surrounding communities.&nbsp;Wing general manager Simon Rossi, said the operation was unique for Australia.“We’re really focused on suburban areas right now, places where there are more houses and a little more space,” he says.“We think in time we’ll be able to deliver to apartment buildings and the like but, at this stage, we’re really focused on single family homes that are probably more suitable.”The drone industry has the potential to increase Australia’s GDP by $14.5 billion by 2040, according to Deloitte Access Economics. Drones and other emerging aviation technologies are projected to create up to 10,000 jobs over the next 20 years.Analysis from Accenture revealed an uptick in drone usage could eventually reduce traffic congestion by 2 billion vehicle kilometres, of which 1.2 billion will be from main arterial roads.<div id="7q0yh5Ds0xF0NLB7ZUra5D"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/1SY0cFUu8Xx63o7lWEiMME/ad9188187d97fa33cdce39f240da85c5/2.jpg" alt="null" data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/1SY0cFUu8Xx63o7lWEiMME/ad9188187d97fa33cdce39f240da85c5/2.jpg"></picture><div>▲ Doordash and Wing are trialling home drone deliveries in limited locations. </div></div>This reduction could result in 320 fewer serious accidents a year and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 238,000 tonnes—equivalent to the carbon storage of more than seven million trees.Rossi says the luxury of space in suburbia means safety can be more accurately guaranteed.&nbsp;Secure shopping centre rooftops or upper-level carparks are housing drone “nests” and the aircraft remain 6m to 7m from the public during delivery.“Once we’ve collected the order from the shop or restaurant, we take it up to the drone which will then take off vertically to a height of about 7m where it hovers,” he says.&nbsp;“It lowers a tether and the item in a specially designed box is attached to the tether, which then retracts up and locks itself into the drone.&nbsp;“The drone will ascend to about 70m and travel at around 110km/h to the customer.“As it gets to the customer, the drone will lower itself, slowly lower the parcel by the tether to the ground and release the parcel.&nbsp;“Then the tether retracts into the aircraft and it flies back to its drone base or ‘nest’.”<div id="3pFvdgxXlPH543psaZjLEB"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/21y7OWKmiXo6BvziGQIaEx/a96eda5eae2797f0983c6791a4d34a26/4.jpg" alt="null" data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/21y7OWKmiXo6BvziGQIaEx/a96eda5eae2797f0983c6791a4d34a26/4.jpg"></picture><div>▲ Paying attention: Mirvac chief digital officer William Payne. </div></div>He says that any address with an open area in a front or backyard, or even a driveway, could accommodate a drone delivery.“As long as there’s a space of about the size of a picnic blanket then the drone will fly to that location,” Rossi says.Mirvac chief digital officer William Payne says the reality of drone technology is being carefully considered by the developer.“The future-proofing of Mirvac’s buildings and ongoing maintenance is critical, so we are always looking at ways we can improve processes and create efficiencies without compromising on quality,” he says.“Technology in all its forms plays a major role here. There are numerous applications for autonomous and semi-autonomous drone and robotic platforms, many of which focus on safety and quality control,” adding that Mirvac employs drones for inspecting and tracking the progress of its masterplanned community developments for maintenance, quality assurance and customer updates.&nbsp;“While the use of drones won’t immediately change the design of buildings, the technology will be used more and more to augment current development models.&nbsp;“Looking further into the future for example, it is possible we will see buildings and precincts designed with both drone delivery and personal transportation in mind.” <hr> You are currently experiencing The Urban Developer Plus (TUD+), our premium membership for property professionals.<a href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/membership-plans" data-mce-href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/membership-plans"> Click here to learn more.</a><div id="2GhuueZl01Zwo2aFfjNVi2"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/12UMq5eMSEOh0QxJVBYaDt/d7507cf4ceb1365cc9ce7eaff84d06cc/tud___banner.jpg" alt="TUD + Banner" data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/12UMq5eMSEOh0QxJVBYaDt/d7507cf4ceb1365cc9ce7eaff84d06cc/tud___banner.jpg"></picture></div>

Red tape may be tangling drone deliveries right now, but the industry has been warned it must cater for the coming aerial revolution or be left behind…

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As work ramps up for the coming Commonwealth Games in regional Victoria, a link to the state’s Olympic past has been getting attention.Melbourne’s last remaining purpose-built building from the 1956 Olympic Games, the heritage-listed AIA Centre, has recently undergone critical maintenance works to preserve its original design.Built to host the swimming, diving, and water polo competitions, and listed on the National Heritage Register and the Engineering Heritage register, it was the first building of its kind in Australia, and today remains the only post-tensioned steel building in the state.The AIA Centre is now home to the Collingwood Football Club and Netball Club and is managed by the Melbourne and Olympic Parks Trust.<div id="2jjrbMwsHzfZjMLlLaC8S3"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/6AppWDYxMDbeMQVYRqQbcZ/8cbc4e163a4e1ad64b33c9c9b9879cd9/1.jpg" alt="null" data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/6AppWDYxMDbeMQVYRqQbcZ/8cbc4e163a4e1ad64b33c9c9b9879cd9/1.jpg"></picture><div>▲ The Olympic Swimming Stadium in 1956. Image: Wolfgang Sievers </div></div>Works were completed over three weeks to maintain the building’s stability, tightening the 26 vertical tie-down rods that pretension the steel superstructure and provide lateral stability.“The AIA Centre is a significant building in our city’s history – not only as an architectural achievement but in having made an important contribution to Melbourne’s cultural and sporting landscape,” Melbourne and Olympics Parks Trust chief executive John Harnden said.“From the 1956 Olympics to its life as the Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Centre, and now as the home of Collingwood, this building is unique, and we are proud to have it within the Melbourne and Olympic Parks precinct.”The protocols for the retuning works were completed by engineering firm WSP, which incorporates the practice founded by engineer Bill Irwin who, along with local architects Peter McIntyre, Kevin Borland, and John and Phyllis Murphy, won the 1953 design competition.<div id="35zSkh7uM5sqlR4LvnwKMf"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/71IfVDfGhRbM24bK17Z5oX/4334832166fd75263f377505d7cabc11/3.jpg" alt="null" data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/71IfVDfGhRbM24bK17Z5oX/4334832166fd75263f377505d7cabc11/3.jpg"></picture><div>▲ The pool in action for the games, and architects Peter McIntyre and Kevin Borland with engineer Bill Irwin present a model of the Melbourne Olympic Swimming Stadium. Architects John and Phyllis Murphy were also on the project team. Source: Archive of Peter McIntyre, courtesy of Open House Melbourne </div></div>During the 1956 Games, the Olympic Swimming Pool was the scene of the infamous “blood in the water” water polo match between Hungary and the Soviet Union following the Soviet Union’s violent suppression of the Hungarian Revolution.“An award-winning design at the time, the AIA Centre was designed to be material-light, reflecting the challenging post-war times where materials were limited, but labour was abundant,” Principal Director WSP Phil Gardiner said.In addition to the tensioning works, the AIA Centre is in the process of a $15-million redevelopment to set up a multidisciplinary medical and sports performance hub thanks to a partnership between Collingwood Football Club and Monash University.The four-phased project is due for completion in this year.<div id="5poHOpkjpZci2PrS0zljPZ"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/lPiieQwC2Brz9XoAsdiCm/9087e3d2912400fca0c772afa0827432/2.jpg" alt="null" data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/lPiieQwC2Brz9XoAsdiCm/9087e3d2912400fca0c772afa0827432/2.jpg"></picture><div>▲ The centre during construction. </div></div><span class="mce-preview-object mce-object-iframe" contenteditable="false" data-mce-object="iframe" data-mce-p-data-mce-fragment="1" data-mce-p-allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-p-frameborder="0" data-mce-p-src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/54123413?h=e6ec667aa5"><iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/54123413?h=e6ec667aa5" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/54123413?h=e6ec667aa5"></iframe>

As work ramps up for the coming Commonwealth Games in regional Victoria, a link to that state’s Olympic past has been getting attention…

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The days of the tired, lacklustre display home in a demountable are fading fast as technology and creativity combine on the frontline of sales.In fact, some developers and builders are repurposing display units multiple times while there are those with intriguing former lives.Take the Nine by Mirvac development in Willoughby, on Sydney’s North Shore, Channel Nine’s former studios were located.“We had an opportunity to either demolish an existing 1960s building used by Channel Nine as office space or somehow repurpose it and give it a new life,” Mirvac general manager residential development NSW Toby Long says.“We chose an adaptive reuse process, with the idea of creating an experience centre where our customers can really immerse themselves in what Nine by Mirvac will become to promote the precinct from the beginning.“We significantly modified the façade of the building to create a Parisian-style boutique commercial building which complements the local residential architecture.“We redesigned the interiors to bring a European feel to Willoughby, paying homage to the original building by keeping the name, The Loft.”Long says Mirvac took a strategic approach to this display suite.<div id="4eIGQ5Prgbzuv5hJy65Huo"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/4DMwLj7xFnOJ7PD4ctqF7k/7a3baa3f1f9c4d2538df6451377cba2c/1.jpg" alt="null" data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/4DMwLj7xFnOJ7PD4ctqF7k/7a3baa3f1f9c4d2538df6451377cba2c/1.jpg"></picture><div>▲ A render of the Aspect building in the Nine by Mirvac development. </div></div>“We always intended that it would transition to commercial or retail use beyond its display lifecycle,” he says.“We were really looking at the future use and potential of the space, as well as what was immediately needed for the display gallery.“We are really proud of the legacy we have created at Nine by Mirvac because we’ve given new life to a building that was otherwise destined for demolition.In doing so, we contributed to the project goal of reducing waste onsite by 50 per cent, as we move towards Mirvac’s broader goal of zero waste to landfill by 2030.”<h2>Easy being green</h2> The Modscape team also has a list of projects with recycled display units.The modular building specialists are presently repurposing an old display suite to be relocated to Federation Square in Melbourne.The revamped display suite will showcase Melbourne’s new Greenline, touted as the city’s equivalent to New York’s elevated High Line Park.Modscape were also the display builders for a number of CBUS Property apartment developments—The Langston in the northern Sydney suburb of Epping and Newmarket Randwick.The Randwick development’s display suite had two wings fitted out separately, one to reflect the interior design of the apartments being sold at the time, the other dedicated to educating people about the development.<div id="7xFVPtEEokgSdoTri9ARcK"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/2bumLsawVT9KExwc80joXt/6cd2f26908b90969b0cc645bb5753b23/2.jpg" alt="null" data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/2bumLsawVT9KExwc80joXt/6cd2f26908b90969b0cc645bb5753b23/2.jpg"></picture><div>▲ Modscape’s display suite for the Risland Australia Windermere development in Victoria. </div></div>“The second display suite we did for CBUS was an internalised space and experience suite, which was repurposed into a residential property and sold,” Modscape director Jan Gyrn says.Gyrn says it is the high quality of the display suites that enables them to be repurposed for a second life.“These are not just portable buildings or demountables. They are permanent, bespoke structures and that’s why the developers or the clients are able to resell them and reuse them,” Gyrn said<h2>Long-term thinking</h2> Long says Mirvac looks at many different aspects when planning display galleries or sales offices for its projects.“We carefully consider many factors including the customer and location of the project to determine the unique and individual approach required,” Long says.“This also includes any existing structures we can reuse or lease to reduce waste, as well as how best to bring to life the project vision and future lifestyle for our customers to experience.”He says that as master-planned communities rarely have existing structures to consider, mobile, multi-use display structures can be reskinned and repurposed with minimal waste.“Our current display unit at Georges Cove has been in use for around 10 years in this manner,” Long says.<div id="7pvpK1c1LYgD7OiRrvoYqZ"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/1SUjjRaOGKVIVbfv3pSndt/e4dcb1b4ff77a6a42a16a68ba9d141cf/5.jpg" alt="null" data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/1SUjjRaOGKVIVbfv3pSndt/e4dcb1b4ff77a6a42a16a68ba9d141cf/5.jpg"></picture><div>▲ Inside Modscape’s display suite for Caulfield Village. </div></div>“We also consider the idea of bringing forward and building a house design planned for the community, which can then be retrofitted and sold at a later date.”Mirvac has recently opened a sales office at Cobbitty by Mirvac, which was an existing structure purchased and transported to site from another property developer and modified to suit the new development.“Our intention is that this structure will be transported by truck and relocated when we require it for another project,” Long says.“This is another example of repurposing something that may otherwise have gone to landfill that we can also continue to use for decades to come.”For apartment project display suites. Long says, Mirvac considers is on the site and whether it can be repurposed or reused.“We also look at whether leasing a nearby premise or a mobile display would work better,” he says.<h2>Digital alternatives</h2> Meanwhile, some industry players are eschewing physical display suites in favour of more modern marketing techniques.Leading kit home supplier iBuild Building Solutions stopped using display suites during the pandemic due to difficulties keeping the suite staffed and changing customer preferences.<div id="4DUyvSBEhqY7YNfyxohf8a"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/9zb0LjpATa128Yo0FgU14/2fc86d95eb4bd78a43cef6858177b1be/6.jpg" alt="null" data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/9zb0LjpATa128Yo0FgU14/2fc86d95eb4bd78a43cef6858177b1be/6.jpg"></picture><div>▲ A screenshot from the VR display used by kit home supplier iBuild Building Solutions in place of display homes. </div></div>“We made the decision to close our display suite and redirect our resources towards more modern marketing approaches such as virtual reality, augmented reality and webinars,” managing director and co-founder Jackson Yin says.“We believe that the traditional display suite model is becoming increasingly outdated and cost prohibitive,” Yin says.“We have embraced new technologies to provide our customers with a more immersive and interactive experience that accurately showcases the features and benefits of our kit homes.“By not having our display suite open on a regular basis, we can pass on cost savings to our customers in the form of more affordable kit home prices.”For this firm at least, the display suite as we think of it faces an uncertain future.“It was once a key part of our business model,” Yin says.“Now, we are considering recycling or disassembling it.“Although the traditional display suite may still have a place in the property industry, we believe that its role is becoming increasingly limited.” <hr> You are currently experiencing The Urban Developer Plus (TUD+), our premium membership for property professionals. <a href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/membership-plans" data-mce-href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/membership-plans">Click here to learn more.</a><div id="2GhuueZl01Zwo2aFfjNVi2"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/12UMq5eMSEOh0QxJVBYaDt/d7507cf4ceb1365cc9ce7eaff84d06cc/tud___banner.jpg" alt="TUD + Banner" data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/12UMq5eMSEOh0QxJVBYaDt/d7507cf4ceb1365cc9ce7eaff84d06cc/tud___banner.jpg"></picture></div>

The days of the tired, lacklustre display home in a demountable are fading fast as new approaches strive to make a lasting first impression…

[+] HVAC new future Ralp.jpg

The Sackett and Wilhelms Lithography and Printing Company had a problem.Humidity at its Brooklyn, New York plant was causing havoc with the colour register of its high-quality, multi-colour printing. The different coloured inks kept misaligning as the damp paper stock expanded, contracted and wrinkled.Enter Willis Carrier, a 25-year-old research engineer working with the Buffalo Forge Company.&nbsp;He designed and patented an “apparatus for treating air”, which used cooling coils to either humidify air by heating water or&nbsp;dehumidify&nbsp;by cooling it.It was 1902 and Carrier had solved Sackett and Wilhelms’ printing problem ... and invented Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning, or HVAC.The first residential airc onditioner was installed 12 years later.&nbsp; At 2m high, almost the same depth and more than 6m wide, it needed a room of its own.Nearly 110 years later and in a warming and energy-expensive world, heating and cooling is still vexing designers, engineers and developers.But in a new report commissioned by build-to-rent platform Local, the Macquarie-back group believes it may have found some answers. And a few surprises.<div id="2mwfyBJ0SLJWnZWG6C4cz3"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/52Fi7CAVFNI4F08RRB6AOz/305b30cbf5821569bf3de3db0566b7aa/1.jpg" alt="A render of a room in Local's planned build-to-rent in South Melbourne." data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/52Fi7CAVFNI4F08RRB6AOz/305b30cbf5821569bf3de3db0566b7aa/1.jpg"></picture><div>▲ A render of a room in Local's planned build-to-rent in South Melbourne. </div></div>Local chief executive Matt Berg asked the multi-national professional services firm Arup Group to use real-world modelling to work out the most optimal HVAC system for two of its build-to-rent projects.In a 67-page report, Arup compared centralised HVAC with equipment on a roof controlling units in apartments below, to the other option—a decentralised system where each apartment has a small, independent air conditioning unit on a balcony.Arup compared both technologies in Local’s 483-apartment,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/macquarie-funds-local-btr-platform-launch" data-mce-href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/macquarie-funds-local-btr-platform-launch">campus-style development in Kensington</a>, as well as its proposed 421-apartment, 40-storey&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/build-to-rent-local-south-melbourne-deal" data-mce-href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/build-to-rent-local-south-melbourne-deal">tower project in South Melbourne. </a>The two buildings are very different.But in both scenarios, individual split-units were judged to be the best in each of four categories, according to Arup.Split units used less floor space and less floor-to-floor height, they were more energy-efficient, had lower lifetime carbon and leaked less refrigerant than central units. And, over 30 years the total cost of ownership was lower.Local’s senior development manager Peter Smith says the results surprised everyone.“When we’re working through the viability of the project’s cost, it’s a big factor. And the mechanical services of a project are a big component of that overall cost,” he says.“There was a general belief in the industry that a centralised HVAC system is a better outcome for every given metric. And certainly, the belief out there is that it’s a better quality outcome, it’s a better sustainability outcome, and it’s not cost prohibitive.<div id="11AajoHWx0MsObQsCTkBA2"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/3B2kO30TshHf50yBHfievn/eb2af98c093a07798e13e7ecdb569d81/HVAC__Mid_1.jpg" alt="A central HVAC system. The report says they cost more, take up more space, and are less energy efficient." data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/3B2kO30TshHf50yBHfievn/eb2af98c093a07798e13e7ecdb569d81/HVAC__Mid_1.jpg"></picture><div>▲ A central HVAC system. The report says they cost more, take up more space and are less energy efficient.</div><div> </div></div>“What we found was that every aspect of that can be challenged and when challenged, it has gone the other way.”Arup’s research showed a central system, or Packaged Air Conditioning (PAC), needs 100mm more space between the ceiling of an apartment and the floor above it.&nbsp;Smith estimates in a tower scenario, over 31 floors, that 100mm would allow for another full floor of apartments.“It depends on how big the floorplan is, but if it’s 10 additional apartments for no increase in height, no increase in structure or facade, then it’s a huge uplift to the project,” he says.&nbsp;“When you're looking at a more campus style development like we have a Kensington, you don’t have the number of floors to be able to gain a floor back. But over just 10 floors you’ve got a metre less structure, you’ve got a metre less facade, which is inherently less material that you’re putting into the project.”PAC units need more roof space—about 240sq m for a campus building and 160sq m for tower scenarios—for cooling towers, air-source heat pumps and other ancillaries, the report found.Arup found split units had no water consumption and saved tenants between $140 and $190 a year on energy bills.<div id="3FbLRLtUoGhn7JpNi8gavb"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/7fwiuv5YxHYOKVlRO7pIDs/84df7e3c7b29e7bc760a03e8c0495959/carrier.jpg" alt="Willis Carrier and his “apparatus for treating air.” He eventually left Buffalo Forge Company to set up Carrier Engineering Corporation, today a multi-billion-dollar enterprise with 52,000 employees." data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/7fwiuv5YxHYOKVlRO7pIDs/84df7e3c7b29e7bc760a03e8c0495959/carrier.jpg"></picture><div>▲ Willis Carrier and his “apparatus for treating air.”&nbsp;</div><div> </div></div>PAC units used roughly three times the embodied carbon of split systems.“This is explained by the fact that PAC units plus centralised air-source heat pumps have a larger total refrigerant charge than split systems, provided that split system indoor and condenser units are kept close together,” the authors of the report wrote.Critically for Local, the report says the total cost of ownership over 30 years of a PAC unit is between $700 and $800 a square metre, compared to $250 to $300 a square metre for a split system.Berg estimates using a split HVAC system in their Kensington build-to-rent project will save up to $10 million on the development.“That is a cost that ultimately the tenant would have to bear,” he says.&nbsp;&nbsp;“It’s obviously a really easy decision for us regarding which is the right choice here.”David Mahony is a mechanical engineer and head of better buildings at property developer Hip v Hype.&nbsp;&nbsp;He has not read Arup’s report.“I guess, I'll probably take a little bit more of a non-definitive view in that it would heavily rely on the scale and type of project, how the building is laid out…whether it’s fairly centralised and tall or fairly distributed, sort of flat and wide in its massing,”&nbsp; he says.“I would definitely say from a cost perspective, split systems are going to win every day of the week.”&nbsp;<div id="60bf0Ch5S3jCRFX2AQpchG"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/7lIFkJWaT7Oxtmdj7OnsFP/26de4e67a40d2ebbb4eec89a80724999/4.jpg" alt="null" data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/7lIFkJWaT7Oxtmdj7OnsFP/26de4e67a40d2ebbb4eec89a80724999/4.jpg"></picture><div>▲ The Arup report has turned conventional thinking on HVAC on its head. </div></div>Mahoney points out Hip v Hype is a build-to-sell developer, so the initial capital is probably more important than any foreseeable lifecycle cost in the built environment.“Access for maintenance is another big one, which again, kind of tweaked my interest as to why you would preference a decentralised split system, where you would have been to enter individual apartment” he says.“The lifecycle carbon impact is an interesting one for me as well.&nbsp;“Split systems in the current technology use refrigerants that are, I guess, not as good as what you can get in some more centralised systems in terms of their carbon impact, or their global warming potential.”Energy costs and green credentials being what they are and where they are, the debate over HVAC is unlikely to end with Arup’s report, although it does have significant implications for the build-to-rent and residential sector, says Berg.“We haven’t put this in front of any government body yet or any council but it’s certainly something that we’ll be talking to them about if it ever comes up, because there is that bias in the industry—whether it’s driven by architects or in-house town planners—that somehow central is the only option.”It’s a far cry from Willis Carrier’s “apparatus for treating air” the machine he invented which blew air over cold coils to control room temperature.Carrier left Buffalo Forge Company in 1915 and founded the Carrier Engineering Corporation in New York.Today Carrier is traded on the New York Stock Exchange, has 52,000 employees in 160 countries on six continents. As of last year, it was valued at about $30.9 billion. <hr> You are currently experiencing The Urban Developer Plus (TUD+), our premium membership for property professionals. <a href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/membership-plans" data-mce-href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/membership-plans">Click here to learn more.</a><div id="2GhuueZl01Zwo2aFfjNVi2"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/12UMq5eMSEOh0QxJVBYaDt/d7507cf4ceb1365cc9ce7eaff84d06cc/tud___banner.jpg" alt="TUD + Banner" data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/12UMq5eMSEOh0QxJVBYaDt/d7507cf4ceb1365cc9ce7eaff84d06cc/tud___banner.jpg"></picture></div>

The cost—financially and to the planet—of warming and cooling our buildings is in the spotlight as research suggests what’s long been considered best practice may not be…

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Plans to develop a “vertiport in a box”—an affordable, turn-key solution for smaller properties to join the air taxi space—have been revealed.&nbsp;The project is be the aim of a partnership between Australia companies Skyportz and Electro Aero which was announced at the Revolution Aero Conference in Dublin, Ireland.The concept is to create “tiny” modular vertiport buildings that are delivered in a shipping container, complete with a high-powered battery bank and charger with solar panels.&nbsp;Skyportz chief executive Clem Newton-Brown said the partners were focusing on affordable options for property developers to incoporate into new builds or retrofit into existing buildings.&nbsp;“Skyportz will be getting our network of vertiports and battery packs established now with enthusiastic property owners who will come back later for an aviation--use permit,” Newton-Brown said.“In the meantime, they will have developed sustainable power storage and a vertiport building that could be used as a cafe or meeting room.<div id="1m5XxRiAdsH2Spf84WKs0x"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/3MQr1ZsUd8yKCKG2vldO1f/68ff8c8857c9dae62b1dca75d91da4ce/Skyportz_and_Pelligra_partnership..png" alt="Skyportz and Pelligra planned to develop vertiport sites in Australia." data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/3MQr1ZsUd8yKCKG2vldO1f/68ff8c8857c9dae62b1dca75d91da4ce/Skyportz_and_Pelligra_partnership..png"></picture><div>▲ Skyportz and Pelligra plan to develop vertiport sites in Australia. </div></div>“We need to develop a network of new vertiport sites if the industry is to reach its potential and Skyportz is readying the landscape to partner with infrastructure investors.”&nbsp;Electro Aero specialises in battery charging and power storage to support electric aviation, including air taxis.&nbsp;Skyportz has indicated it will announce further partners once the modular design is released later this year.In March, it was revealed property developer Ross Pelligra would team with Skyportz to <a data-mce-href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/skyportz-pelligra-partnership-vertiport-networks" href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/skyportz-pelligra-partnership-vertiport-networks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">develop vertiport networks in Australia</a>.The partnership will focus on finding a region or city to set up what will be the world’s first vertiport network. <iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/q6YTXmpJvvs" width="560" height="314" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/q6YTXmpJvvs"></iframe>

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Office precincts of the future will centre on amenity and sustainability in the flight to quality, according to Urban Land Institute Australia chair Leonie Wilkinson.Speaking ahead of the ULI Australia Summit next week, Wilkinson said while the office market was subdued, she believed repositioning assets to improve their offerings would lure tenants and employees.&nbsp;Wilkinson is senior vice president at Brookfield Asset Management and brings her strong background in investment banking and capital markets to the ULI.Wilkinson said there were three mega trends influencing property markets—demographics, digitisation and decarbonisation.&nbsp;Increased pressure on building performance is causing a further bifurcation in the office market and Wilkinson warned asset owners to be on the front foot on ESG.&nbsp;“We’re starting to see the bifurcation of office assets play out more clearly,” Wilkinson said.&nbsp;“There’s a lot of study to show occupancy is higher in green star energy rated buildings, you can point to higher premiums in terms of occupiers and rents.<div id="1OoaPfPCyU8pXAyZU9gt9r"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/3LgOuED3bIWhGBns9bF1DJ/6288b2e6268e0584b9bace635e47e742/Mid_article_resizes__20_.jpg" alt="null" data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/3LgOuED3bIWhGBns9bF1DJ/6288b2e6268e0584b9bace635e47e742/Mid_article_resizes__20_.jpg"></picture><div>▲ Urban Land Institute Australia chair Leonie Wilkinson is senior vice president at Brookfield Asset Management. </div></div>“If you’re not on that decarbonisation journey there’s a brown discount that’s going to play out, it will become a story of obsolescence of buildings.&nbsp;“There will be tenant and capital demand for the very best office buildings. It will be hard to lease anything less than A-grade.”Wilkinson said the digitisation of the property sector was driving better outcomes in terms of creating value for tenants and driving more efficient buildings.&nbsp;Brookfield is also using demographics and digitisation to drive its move into purpose built student accommodation and self storage markets, which Wilkinson said were significant alternative asset classes that were starting to mature in the Australian market.&nbsp;Wilknson said the ULI presented an opportunity to learn from best practice globally and network with other property professionals around the world.&nbsp;“It aligned with my values on the reason I was attracted to real estate. It’s tangible, and there’s an openness and transparency,” she said.&nbsp;“The more I learned about underlying assets and the way so much of that value is underpinned by what you can do at an asset level, ULI gave me great insight into how that is done and how you can bring best practice. It’s genuinely been about openly sharing what you have learned and what you could have done better.”&nbsp; <hr> The Urban Developer is proud to be a ULI Australia Summit Partner. The summit will be held May 3 to 4 in Sydney. For more details <a data-mce-href="https://australia.uli.org/events/detail/9E30A4E3-8DB4-4135-99BC-0BBE5795D0EB/" href="https://australia.uli.org/events/detail/9E30A4E3-8DB4-4135-99BC-0BBE5795D0EB/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">visit ULI Australia</a>.&nbsp;

Office precincts of the future will centre on amenity and sustainability in the flight to quality according to Urban Land Institute Australia chair Leonie Wilkinson…

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Robot apprentices strapping on tool belts might seem a futuristic fairytale but the reality is momentum is building for AI and wearable technology in the construction industry.Boston Dynamics, a leading US engineering and robotic design company, has this year released a series of videos unveiling the latest improved capabilities of its humanoid robot, Atlas.&nbsp;A handy helper made from lightweight 3D-printed parts, Atlas can manoeuvre around obstacles, correct its own balance, climb stairs, grip items and effortlessly lift heavy objects.Autonomous robots throwing their weight around construction sites is one way AI can assist the industry, while wearable tech is also helping take the load off busy builders.&nbsp;Companies including the Australasian-based Exxovantage are providing solutions including exoskeletons, worn by construction workers to provide superhuman strength, increase safety and improve productivity.According to SafeWork Australia, the construction industry’s on-the-job fatality rate was 2.1 per 100,000 workers in 2021, the fourth-most-affected industry in the country.&nbsp;And for the 2020 to 2021 financial year, despite Covid-related lockdowns, construction accounted for 16,088 (or 12 per cent) of all serious injury worker’s compensation claims.&nbsp;A world where robots clock on and take the place of workers on site may still be several lifetimes away, however, the technology already exists to make a day on the tools a lot easier.<h2>Construction reaping what others sowed</h2> Research into autonomous robots and exoskeletons began in the military, mining and medical fields, but the business of building is also benefitting.Professor Ian Manchester, director of the Australian Centre for Field Robotics at the University of Sydney, says there are many traits being developed in today’s robotics that lend themselves to the construction sector.&nbsp;<div id="POC2rvG9cRyErBacaESFi"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/3imLqvPBpJjwem2mZ8hsgv/d08bf0ddb04b93f7a8c6003f1536f4d4/7.jpg" alt="null" data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/3imLqvPBpJjwem2mZ8hsgv/d08bf0ddb04b93f7a8c6003f1536f4d4/7.jpg"></picture><div>▲ Professor Ian Manchester with Cassie. </div></div>“If you look at the history of robotics, the kinds of problems being solved in the earliest days were ones with a very regular and repeating sequence of actions, like production line management or car manufacturing where you’re making thousands of identical objects and it is exactly the same process every time,” he says.“For decades these machines were kept separate from people; kept in cages and if humans came near they were programmed to shut down for safety reasons.&nbsp;“That’s all changing because today there’s a lot of research happening in areas where you have robots or automated machines interacting quite closely with people.”Prof Manchester says Australian-based research is making significant headway in field robotics, where robots operate in primarily outdoor, or less structured scenarios.&nbsp;His team is working on marine robotics, mining automation and on autonomous technology that can even fight bushfires. As a result, today’s tech is learning to coexist with people.“Where a machine or a robot needs to operate quite close with somebody, then safety becomes a more significant factor. We need to ask the question, ‘How does a robot and a human collaborate? How can they actually work together towards a common goal?’,” he says.Whether it’s military, mining or construction robotics, Prof Manchester said there is crossover.“Technologies are converging. Construction isn’t an easy area to automate, but we’re moving in that direction,” he says.&nbsp;“A robot operating in a complex environment needs to have some kind of situational awareness.&nbsp;“It needs to know where it is and where other objects are, and this would be vital on a building site.<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-e1_QhJ1EhQ" width="560" height="314" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-e1_QhJ1EhQ"></iframe> “Imagine a site where 10 people are working together—it’d be very important that the robot had some perception of where people are around it so it was able to operate safely alongside them and even collaborate.”Prof Manchester says workplace robotics are inevitable for industries seeking better safety and efficiency.“We’re a long way from having robots take our jobs—that’s not going to happen in any of our lifetimes,” he says.&nbsp;“However, to some extent, almost every area of the economy is embracing robotics and similar technology or at least sees the potential.”<h2>Workers suit up for the future</h2> Exoskeletons—frameworks fitted with assisted or motorised “muscles” to multiply the wearer’s strength and extend their productivity—can make objects feel much lighter, assist workers’ posture and help them avoid strain or more serious injuries by literally doing all the heavy lifting.Exxovantage supplies exoskeletons and workplace wearables along with data analytics and AI fit-for-purpose solutions.&nbsp;Exxovantage global chief executive Arnaud Daurat says that although the uptake of wearables for construction workers is in its infancy, the technology is a no-brainer for building-related businesses.“The mindsets and stigmas around getting help, especially in construction, are still quite raw,” he says.&nbsp;“It’s a macho environment with a ‘she’ll be right’ attitude. Many workers know the job is hard but consider it’s all just part of the work.&nbsp;“But now we’re saying you don’t have to feel pain while doing your job.<div id="3U14F8DSNfYzJvAPagerLx"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/6nXf6qez2npDY5S3srOVxE/085c6de3029647d0df8c68114fa13fc6/8.jpg" alt="null" data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/6nXf6qez2npDY5S3srOVxE/085c6de3029647d0df8c68114fa13fc6/8.jpg"></picture><div>▲ A worker wearing an exoskeleton designed for the construction industry. </div></div>“Today’s younger section of the workforce is more aware of work-life balance, wants to travel the world, eat salad and do yoga so they aren’t willing to go through the same things their older peers have.&nbsp;“The feedback we’re getting from organisations is that the desire is there; they’re more inclined to adopt new technologies to see them through to a safe retirement.”Daurat says wearable technology will become part of the industry’s safety gear.“I believe when you enter a site and you see a sign asking for your helmet, glasses and boots that exoskeletons will be there as part of your PPE gear,” he says.&nbsp;“It’s not a question of if, it’s a question of when.&nbsp;“I think the construction industry has a good two to three years to go before really starting to mass adopt the technology and in seven to 10 years the majority of these workforces will be suited.”Aides are available now as passive and active devices. While lightweight passive exoskeletons (some of which are less than 800g) don’t need an energy supply, heavier active suits have sensors and motors to provide more support.&nbsp;Partial passive exoskeletons can retail in Australia for about $3000 while powered suits can sell in excess of $8000, however retail prices are declining each year.&nbsp;The alternative is hiring wearable technology much like any other building tool.&nbsp;Exxovantage estimates the support of a back exoskeleton reduces the load on the lower back by 30 per cent with a 15kg assistance for eight hours.&nbsp;The mid-height exoskeleton reduces muscle activity in the biceps and deltoids with the arm at mid-height by 33 per cent and 16 per cent respectively with a 7kg assistance for eight hours.<div id="3rurN6kYxlDiSDPGg5SzfS"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/4m1sUPK8PD5lguaHmp2Edn/6b41f132c036e1b2205df459e0d16a59/3.jpg" alt="null" data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/4m1sUPK8PD5lguaHmp2Edn/6b41f132c036e1b2205df459e0d16a59/3.jpg"></picture><div>▲ Exxovantage estimates the support of a back exoskeleton reduces the load on the lower back by 30 per cent with a 15kg assistance for eight hours.&nbsp; </div></div>Productivity and safety are key but Daurat says there are three more keywords industry leaders should focus on—engagement, attraction and retention.“The only way to achieve that is through technology. You cannot achieve that through mentoring alone, we’ve been doing that for decades already,” he says.&nbsp;“You want a worker to feel empowered and supported. If a worker has the choice of going to two companies and one says, ‘We have the technology to support you while you’re with us’ and the other company has nothing, who will the worker go to?”&nbsp;<h2>Investing in tomorrow</h2> Construction companies and builders taking up technology aren’t only investing in their people but are also ripe for financial rewards, according to Salvest managing director Anthony Ferraro.The non-bank lender, which provides financial solutions for developers, has begun paying attention to businesses who think outside the box.“One of the biggest things we’ve considered when raising capital during the past 12 months has been a company’s environmental, social, and governance, or ESG,” he says.&nbsp;“We always ask, ‘Are they the right builder to deliver a certain development?’ but also, ‘What are their ESG compliance criteria?’.”Ferraro says that despite construction costs skyrocketing in recent years, savvy companies need to spend money to make money.&nbsp;While productivity and staff retention is great for business, so is reducing expenditure such as insurances.“By taking on these new technologies like exoskeletons you reduce your overall costs, of course, but you also showcase to your insurer what preventative measures have been put in place, even if they’re not necessarily outlined under the building code or implemented by the union,” Ferraro says.&nbsp;“You’re proving that you’re doing this as an overarching prevention for your workers, because you value their safety and are very conscious of health and wellbeing.“At the end of the day, if you don’t evolve, you dissolve and to date that’s what’s largely happened in the construction industry.&nbsp;“Being more open-minded as to how tech can assist you design and construct more developments in a more efficient manner assists overall productivity, protects workers, and ultimately the insurer will reward you by giving you lower premiums.” <hr> You are currently experiencing The Urban Developer Plus (TUD+), our premium membership for property professionals. <a href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/membership-plans" data-mce-href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/membership-plans">Click here to learn more.</a><div id="1JP9GWVU6VGuJg5J8bgSMn"><div id="2GhuueZl01Zwo2aFfjNVi2"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/12UMq5eMSEOh0QxJVBYaDt/d7507cf4ceb1365cc9ce7eaff84d06cc/tud___banner.jpg" alt="TUD + Banner" data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/12UMq5eMSEOh0QxJVBYaDt/d7507cf4ceb1365cc9ce7eaff84d06cc/tud___banner.jpg"></picture></div><div> </div></div>

Robot apprentices strapping on tool belts might seem a futuristic fairytale but the reality is momentum is building for AI and wearable technology in the building industry…

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Drones are already shaping the face of our cities, used for building planning, heritage, construction and safety enhancement.But, as studies by the UK’s Department of Transport have found, swathes of the public have a limited understanding of how drones might be practically applied.It’s crucial that the ways drones are affecting our future are understood by most people.As experts in design futures and mobility, we hope this short overview of five ways drones will affect building design offers some knowledge of how things are likely to change.1. Creating digital models of buildingsDrones can take photographs of buildings, which are then used to build 3D models of buildings in computer-aided design software.These models have accuracy to within a centimetre, and can be combined with other data, such as 3D scans of interiors using drones or laser scanners, to provide a completely accurate picture of the structure for surveyors, architects and clients.Using these digital models saves time and money in the construction process by providing a single source that architects and planners can view.2. Heritage simulationsStudio Drift are a multidisciplinary team of Dutch artists who have used drones to construct images through theatrical outdoor drone performances at damaged national heritage sites such as the Notre Dame in Paris, Colosseum in Rome and Gaudí’s Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.<div id="carousel-root" data-reactroot=""><image-carousel-remove-button><div class="rm-carousel-wrapper"><button id="rm-carousel" class="rm-carousel-btn">Delete</button></div></image-carousel-remove-button><div class="slider-wrap"><image-carousel><div class="slider-el"><img style="height: 100%;" title="domus-studio-drift-drone-4.jpeg.jpg" src="http://images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/5rOx5XYb9qW0gX4oVtgFxD/573589d350dfb4c4fb4f413e2987830c/domus-studio-drift-drone-4.jpeg.jpg" data-mce-src="http://images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/5rOx5XYb9qW0gX4oVtgFxD/573589d350dfb4c4fb4f413e2987830c/domus-studio-drift-drone-4.jpeg.jpg" data-mce-style="height: 100%;"></div><div class="slider-el"><img style="height: 100%;" title="1.jpg" src="http://images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/6rKNnRqWXhfEB4D4FFYdKj/ffbebefd529b2b5f65a9ff743dbc6f38/1.jpg" data-mce-src="http://images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/6rKNnRqWXhfEB4D4FFYdKj/ffbebefd529b2b5f65a9ff743dbc6f38/1.jpg" data-mce-style="height: 100%;"></div><div class="slider-el"><img style="height: 100%;" title="domus-studio-drift-drone-5.jpg.f.jpg" src="http://images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/1r7XVNH0C6qTva44BXxxJ2/b2f45763d92847c9ab7d1072312a7718/domus-studio-drift-drone-5.jpg.f.jpg" data-mce-src="http://images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/1r7XVNH0C6qTva44BXxxJ2/b2f45763d92847c9ab7d1072312a7718/domus-studio-drift-drone-5.jpg.f.jpg" data-mce-style="height: 100%;"></div></image-carousel></div></div> Drones could be used in the near future in a similar way to help planners to visualise the final impact of restoration or construction work on a damaged or partially finished building.3. Drone deliveryThe arrival of drone delivery services will see significant changes to buildings in our communities, which will need to provide for docking stations at community hubs, shops and pick-up points.There are likely to be landing pads installed on the roofs of residential homes and dedicated drone-delivery hubs. Research has shown that drones can help with the last mile of any delivery in the UK, Germany, France and Italy.Architects of the future will need to add these facilities into their building designs.4. Drones mounted with 3D printersTwo research projects from architecture, design, planning, and consulting firm Gensler and another from a consortium led by Imperial College London (comprising University College London, University of Bath, University of Pennsylvania, Queen Mary University of London, and Technical University of Munich) named Empa have been experimenting with drones with mounted 3D printers.<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pDKNEO0gDuE" width="560" height="314" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> These drones would work at speed to construct emergency shelters or repair buildings at significant heights, without the need for scaffolding, or in difficult to reach locations, providing safety benefits.Gensler have already used drones for wind turbine repair and researchers at Imperial College are exploring bee-like drone swarms that work together to construct blueprints.The drones coordinate with each other to follow a pre-defined path in a project called Aerial Additive Manufacturing. For now, the work is merely a demonstration of the technology, and not working on a specific building.In the future, drones with mounted 3D printers could help create highly customised buildings at speed, but how this could change the workforce and the potential consequences for manual labour jobs is yet to be understood.5. Agile surveillanceDrones offer new possibilities for surveillance away from the static, fixed nature of current systems such as closed-circuit television.Drones with cameras and sensors relying on complex software systems such as biometric indicators and “face recognition” will probably be the next level of surveillance applied by governments and police forces, as well as providing security monitoring for homeowners.<div id="73ofElEltVtNHVYiCV3IWi"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/5rvhF8iKdj8evyPz43407I/ac15f27e49709387ffa4c1153b4de9c3/2.jpg" alt="null" data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/5rvhF8iKdj8evyPz43407I/ac15f27e49709387ffa4c1153b4de9c3/2.jpg"></picture><div>▲ The role of drones in security at all levels will increase. </div></div>Drones would likely be fitted with monitoring devices, which could communicate with security or police forces.Drones used in this way could help our buildings become more responsive to intrusions, and adaptable to changing climates. Drones may move parts of the building such as shade-creating devices, following the path of the sun to stop buildings overheating, for example. <hr> AuthorsPaul Cureton Senior lecturer in Design (People, Places, Products), Lancaster UniversityOle B Jensen Professor of Urban Theory and Urban Design, Aalborg University&nbsp;This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the&nbsp;<a href="https://theconversation.com/five-ways-drones-will-change-the-way-buildings-are-designed-195611" data-mce-href="https://theconversation.com/five-ways-drones-will-change-the-way-buildings-are-designed-195611">original article</a>.

Drones are already shaping the face of our cities, used for building planning, heritage, construction and safety enhancement, but how it will their use disrupt the status quo?

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Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionising real estate, with tools such as 3D virtual tour software CAPTUR3D and automated value estimation tech Zestimate already transforming the nature of an agent’s work. The question is whether AI can replace real estate agents.The answer lies in AI’s potential to combine with human intelligence and skills. Computers and robots can be used right across the real estate value chain to improve processes by absorbing huge amounts of data and creating insights from it. Then it’s up to people to make the most of the value this creates.<h2>Exploring the options&nbsp;</h2> There’s an array of tech that agents can already use. Tools such as computer vision can analyse images such as aerial photographs to identify the condition of a building. Geographic information systems (GIS) can scrutinise geographical data such as maps and satellite imagery, to identify patterns and trends across an area. Predictive analytics can forecast future demand trends, to identify areas where house price growth is likely.&nbsp;Natural language processing (NLP) can be used to investigate social media and other online data sources to identify buyer preferences. The NLP tool that’s likely to get the most attention this year is called ChatGPT. This is a chatbot that responds to questions, queries and requests much like a human can, drawing on mammoth banks of data. Its ability to learn is exponential.“For real estate agents, tools like ChatGPT are able to generate more value from the extensive knowledge agents have of their portfolios. For example, it can rapidly create property descriptions from a simple prompt with basic parameters,” Melbourne tech studio Phoria chief executive Trent Clews-de Castella says. <hr><h2>Giving ChatGPT a task ... <picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/4Vo71ab5ueRL7L9PGTrY7f/a024c9e22467a9b0ef0c41a644f3d304/ChaptGPT_real_estate_description_prompt.jpg" alt="ChatGPT real estate description prompt" data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/4Vo71ab5ueRL7L9PGTrY7f/a024c9e22467a9b0ef0c41a644f3d304/ChaptGPT_real_estate_description_prompt.jpg"></picture></h2><div id="5JmT64algPUKiFmGlS3JqQ"><h2> And the AI’s response ... <img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/7v25ltnPU9f53HEgORBbRF/a4e2c8525e0aef357074aaa42d05c083/ChaptGPT_real_estate_description_response.jpg" alt="ChatGPT house for sale description" data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/7v25ltnPU9f53HEgORBbRF/a4e2c8525e0aef357074aaa42d05c083/ChaptGPT_real_estate_description_response.jpg" style="font-size: 18px;" data-mce-style="font-size: 18px;"></h2></div><div id="MgjdoE7PJ1JAhFEtlrHc3"><div><hr></div></div> Clews-de Castella says AI tools such as ChatGPT will be able to cut down the hours agents spend creating compelling listings. This is time that can be repurposed with potential and current vendors and buyers.“AI is capable of a lot more than just writing listings for agents. It can help prepare legal documents and monitor lead generation for property listings. It can digest big data sets and identify trends like demographics and crime rates; patterns that can impact the desirability of an area and marketing strategies.”&nbsp;For example, if AI can show a suburb is demographically skewed towards young families, then agents can make sure marketing for properties in that suburb showcases schools, parks and other family-friendly features.“All of this can be integrated with a web-based application and used by agents to make data-driven decisions. The beauty of these tools is that as their capabilities evolve, we’ll discover new and innovative ways to use them,” says Clews-de Castella.Aside from estimating house prices, commercial property development and finance firm Salvest managing director Anthony Ferraro expects AI to be used to estimate rental growth and consumers’ debt levels for home financing. He says tech will shake up the industry in a number of other ways.&nbsp;“Speech recognition can assist the sales process by gathering data to measure the stress and emotional levels of vendors and buyers. This can provide the agent with resources to close the sale. We will also see virtual agents emerge, where the vendor becomes the agent, drawing on machine learning to assist in the buyer qualification process.<h2>Should agents be worried?</h2> While agents reject the notion they will be replaced by AI, some of the tasks they are accustomed to performing will be done by machines in the future.&nbsp;Clews-de Castella acknowledges AI has the edge on agents in some respects. “AI is fast, cheap and accessible. It can help remove emotional biases from one of the most stressful decisions buyers make. But what agents bring is empathy. They understand your story, what matters to you, what motivates you and what they can do to support you. It’s that human interface for which an AI platform isn’t a substitute. Yet.”Similarly, BeKonstructive Marketing managing director Bek Drayton says there’s a lot more to being a real estate agent than creating basic property listings, which can be done by a robot.“Smart agents will use AI to create the base of their listings and present the facts. Then it’s up to the agent to edit and weave a story through the listing that builds an emotional connection with the reader. This will mean agents can spend more time building relationships with clients.”&nbsp;<div id="7cjJ8LWw5B0siq71skysey"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/XCbfYNz7HEic0gwn27aEo/6791a4925b98ae9e77984a741076e45e/Mid_article_resizes__7_.jpg" alt="null" data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/XCbfYNz7HEic0gwn27aEo/6791a4925b98ae9e77984a741076e45e/Mid_article_resizes__7_.jpg"></picture><div>▲ The age of the real estate agent is far from over. </div></div>Undercover Agent founder Chris Bellesini sees AI as a marketing tool that may shake up property sales, before becoming just another part of the property buying and selling process.“There’s been considerable advancement in technology in the real estate industry, but trends come and go.“Large portals such as realestate.com.au and domain.com.au know what we are looking for and are very clever in showing us properties that may suit our needs. What they don’t know is your emotional connection to a property or whether you want to buy it because you already own the block next door, so you would be prepared to pay more.&nbsp;“Also, people sell infrequently, so although they may not want to use an agent, they are comfortable with them. Let’s face it, agents don’t want to be replaced and whenever challenged they have been able to prove their worth.”&nbsp;He cites Purple Bricks, a UK online real estate agent with a flat fee rather than commission-based model, as an example of a business that wanted to shake up the sector, claiming traditional agents were overrated and overpaid. “In Australia they lasted about 18 months.”Bellesini believes there’s a range of reasons real estate agents still have a future.&nbsp;“AI will not have all the data needed to know what a buyer is prepared to spend on a property.“A skilled agent can also note conversations of importance to extract the best price and read body language and tone to pick the handful of potential buyers out of a group of, say, 30 acquirers pretty quickly.”Additionally, he notes vendors feel more confident having a professional on their team when dealing with their largest asset. “Selling is a stressful process and having a human to deliver information and know what to do next is important.”&nbsp;Ultimately, rather than thinking about how technology can replace agents, it’s probably better to look at how technology can enhance the work they do.AI can be an invaluable tool to streamline the journey to sell a property and to empower buyers to make the most informed decisions possible. So agents can rest easy; they are unlikely to be completely replaced by a machine.For the moment. <hr> You are currently experiencing&nbsp;The Urban Developer&nbsp;Plus (TUD+), our premium membership for property professionals.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/membership-plans" data-mce-href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/membership-plans">Click here to learn more.</a>&nbsp; <div id="2GhuueZl01Zwo2aFfjNVi2"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/12UMq5eMSEOh0QxJVBYaDt/d7507cf4ceb1365cc9ce7eaff84d06cc/tud___banner.jpg" alt="TUD + Banner" data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/12UMq5eMSEOh0QxJVBYaDt/d7507cf4ceb1365cc9ce7eaff84d06cc/tud___banner.jpg"></picture><div> </div></div>

Artificial intelligence is revolutionising the real estate landscape and providing big data opportunities. Cou virtual agents and AI unseat real estate agents? The Urban Developer investigates...

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Whichever direction property markets go in 2023, construction companies may keep toppling.Record-setting real estate prices and elevated construction and transaction activity hasn’t correlated to a healthy building sector in recent years.High-profile construction company busts have been headline fodder in 2022, with every week seemingly seeing another builder going under.Insiders and analysts have blamed trading conditions, the macroeconomic environment, and a broken business model for sending some of Australia’s biggest names to the wall.But beyond the anecdotes, data reveals that a significant acceleration in construction insolvencies is under way.ASIC figures for the 2021-2022 financial year ‘only’ record 1284 construction company collapses. But the first quarter of the 2022-23 financial year alone saw almost half that figure taken down in the span of three months, with 605 construction companies going under.While insolvencies in general are ticking upwards, construction is also claiming a larger share. In the the 2021-2022 financial year, construction represented 26 per cent of all insolvencies in the country; so far this financial year the sector is running at about 30 per cent. The nearest competitor, the beleaguered accommodation industry, is topping out at 13 per cent.<div id="6myST9y7KRBSIBkvYoueme"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/fWzFnLfvLxd9MvCfTwNrL/c312544984195f9818ca60dd679ae992/Hero_Image_Re-size__920x600___1_.jpg" alt="Metricon cuts 200" data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/fWzFnLfvLxd9MvCfTwNrL/c312544984195f9818ca60dd679ae992/Hero_Image_Re-size__920x600___1_.jpg"></picture><div>▲ It was a bumpy ride for Metricon this year. </div></div>Australia’s biggest home builder, Metricon, fended off an insolvency crisis in May with its owners tipping in a $30 million war chest to ride out the turbulence. Metricon also announced the doubling of a working capital credit facility from Commonwealth Bank, keeping its 2500 staff employed on a pipeline of about 4000 homes.But others weren’t fortunate enough to count on the foresight and financial backing of investors and bankers.&nbsp;<h2>Bad hand for the building game</h2> While construction has historically experienced higher levels of company churn than other industries, a combination of issues has created systemic threat for the sector in recent times.Labour shortages and hikes in material prices have pushed costs on some fixed-price projects over their razor-thin margins. Over the year to September, residential construction costs went up 11 per cent, according to the Cordell Construction Cost Index.Builders have been forced to choose between renegotiating contracts, delivering at a loss, or raising the white flag—and in some cases, the choice has been made for them.Elevated rainfall in the eastern states has also taken a toll, with stoppages shunting schedules—and budgets—out of whack. According to SafeWork NSW, unstable soil conditions caused by La Nina are also responsible for a rise in excavation and earthmoving accidents.Interest rate hikes, signaling the end of the era of easy money, will start bringing more pain to both mortgage holders and the property sector, in coming months. Housing Industry Association figures show that new home loans were down 0.9 per cent in October, to the lowest level in more than three years.<div id="6loP2KuF8I978TLW7EsI7i"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/5v1lJyeLlSKlqputdxPx9Y/2e5452fa8b3ae694a0b9b101096b26e1/1.jpg" alt="The full effect of recent interest rate hikes are unlikely to be fully felt until later next year." data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/5v1lJyeLlSKlqputdxPx9Y/2e5452fa8b3ae694a0b9b101096b26e1/1.jpg"></picture><div>▲ The full effect of recent interest rate hikes are unlikely to be fully felt until later next year. </div></div>HIA economist Tom Devitt said, “It is clear in the New Home Sales Survey that the RBA has brought the housing boom to an end”.“The effect of the latest hike in December will not be fully reflected in building activity until late-2023 … Further hikes will cause a deeper and more prolonged trough in home building activity.”Beyond home-building activity, the impacts of rate hikes on access to capital will be tested in 2023. <h2>Auld lang syne for Aussie builders&nbsp; </h2> A roll-call of construction companies reveals the breadth and depth of distress in the market, with the bell tolling this year for builders large and small, from Sydney to Perth, across all types of project.A Tasmanian franchisee of Hotondo Homes was placed into liquidation in January, with about 40 homes under construction. Tasmanian Constructions blamed <a data-mce-href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/hotondo-homes-tasmanian-constructions-voluntary-administration" href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/hotondo-homes-tasmanian-constructions-voluntary-administration" target="_blank" rel="noopener">access to materials and rising costs</a>, for making delivery on its fixed-price contracts untenable.Probuild’s February collapse really kicked things off, coming despite $180 million in support from its South African parent and a $5-billion workbook. The company was facing a $50-million loss on a <a data-mce-href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/probuild-administration" href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/probuild-administration" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$350 million Cbus project at 443 Queen Street</a>, Brisbane, and had been known for undercutting rivals by tens of millions to secure projects.Gold Coast giant Condev’s founder, Steve Marais, tried to <a data-mce-href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/crunch-time-inside-the-condev-crisis" href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/crunch-time-inside-the-condev-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">negotiate the firm’s way out of trouble</a> in March, but couldn’t reach an agreement with developers. The company downed tools with 18 projects under way, liquidating while it was still solvent.Early in 2022, Perth-based New Sensation Homes said that, in response to difficulties, “We’ve hired extra support staff, started our own brickie teams and even created our own concrete company to keep the show on the road”. But by April, it had been <a href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/wa-builders-collapse-but-whole-lot-worse-to-come" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-mce-href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/wa-builders-collapse-but-whole-lot-worse-to-come">put to the sword with 53 homes under way</a>, followed days later by another Perth-based company, Home Innovation Builders.<div id="7gPsHdF3dMUIv9mirFbAF7"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/5wsbgBiEOHDgU1AarLyyIf/761f4e1550c74838b58173eebf17da59/alegUntitled-9.jpg" alt="▲ Alegria, Palm Beach, another one of Condev’s slated projects.
" data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/5wsbgBiEOHDgU1AarLyyIf/761f4e1550c74838b58173eebf17da59/alegUntitled-9.jpg"></picture><div>▲ Alegria, planned for a site at Palm Beach on the Gold Coast—one of Condev’s slated projects. </div></div>Gold Coast developer Pivotal Homes <a data-mce-href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/construction-industry-pressure-builds-pivotal-collapses-metricon-cashes-up" href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/construction-industry-pressure-builds-pivotal-collapses-metricon-cashes-up" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shut its doors in May</a>, owing at least $5.4 million and with more than 100 homes under construction. The company reportedly suffered a ransomware hack in the weeks prior to liquidation that meant some financial records were lost.Also in May, the West Australian Pindan Group was forced to wrap up, <a data-mce-href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/wa-builders-collapse-but-whole-lot-worse-to-come" href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/wa-builders-collapse-but-whole-lot-worse-to-come" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dropping 68 projects behind it</a> and $80 million in debts. Receivers Ernst &amp; Young said that most of the debt would be uncollectible.Snowdon Developments went under in July with an order book of 550 homes, and $18 million owing. An emergency buyout from Mimosa Homes may mean some customers receive a share of value, although the deal did not include Snowdon’s debts.Oracle Platinum Homes <a data-mce-href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/oracle-homes-collapse-queensland" href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/oracle-homes-collapse-queensland" target="_blank" rel="noopener">went belly-up in August</a> with a pipeline of 300 homes, and debts somewhere in the order of $20 million.October saw Lanskey Constructions’ Queensland arm <a data-mce-href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/lanskey-constructions-queensland-liquidation-fti-consulting" href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/lanskey-constructions-queensland-liquidation-fti-consulting" target="_blank" rel="noopener">roll down the shutters</a>, owing $11 million including a $1.5-million debt to Wagstaff Piling. Lanskey’s other companies are unaffected.WA big fish FIRM Construction went into liquidation in November, with a number of school projects and a Metronet station still in its portfolio. Director Mark O’Gorman said, “It is unfortunate that five projects awarded by the state government between July 1 2021 and May 2022 did not qualify for any financial relief for the significant cost escalations they incurred”. And the December collapse of civil engineers Clough showed that construction woes aren’t ringfenced around residential and commercial. Clough has handled some of Western Australia’s biggest infrastructure projects, and its demise has left nation-building schemes <a data-mce-href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/clough-group-collapse-snowy-2.0-webuild" href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/clough-group-collapse-snowy-2.0-webuild" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Snowy Hydro 2.0 and the Inland Rail under clouds</a>. <hr> You are currently experiencing The Urban Developer Plus (TUD+), our premium membership for property professionals. <a href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/membership-plans" data-mce-href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/membership-plans">Click here to learn more.</a><div id="2GhuueZl01Zwo2aFfjNVi2"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/12UMq5eMSEOh0QxJVBYaDt/d7507cf4ceb1365cc9ce7eaff84d06cc/tud___banner.jpg" alt="TUD + Banner" data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/12UMq5eMSEOh0QxJVBYaDt/d7507cf4ceb1365cc9ce7eaff84d06cc/tud___banner.jpg"></picture></div>

As the year closes we take a look at the boom and bust of the construction sector in 2022, which claimed some big scalps across the country...

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Uncertainty surrounds the supermarket warehousing and logistics sector, as the pandemic-fuelled boom in home-delivered groceries cools and landlords weigh the risks of committing to ‘cold chain’ conversions.While the manic fads for toilet roll, rapid antigen tests, and at-home delivery may have faded, the industry is yet to normalise into post-pandemic operating models.Chris Coldrick, partner at Deloitte’s supply chain and procurement practice, says supermarkets are under more scrutiny than ever.“For the first time in my career, supply chain is considered newsworthy,” Coldrick tells The Urban Developer.Experts agree that cold chain logistics—the transporting and storing of temperature-sensitive goods in a controlled environment—will become a hot topic for property owners in the year ahead.“Delivery services, particularly online retailers, will typically outsource to cold chain warehousing operators,” IBISWorld industry team leader Darcy Gannon says.“Cold chain warehousing obviously comes with a lot of technical difficulties. The only way you’re going to make more money is if you benefit from economies of scale, or if you just provide more storage.”The big two supermarket chains, Coles and Woolworths, are largely buyers, but others are more likely to consider renting property, or outsourcing services.“Coles and Woolies benefit from being established and they benefit from their big store networks. So they’re not in the same market for commercial property, because they simply have such pools of capital that they just own their own locations,” Gannon says.“But at the moment, a lot of people have supply chain disruptions on their mind. And so demand for warehousing is relatively strong, especially considering the current macroeconomic factors.”<div id="6R6CKLIy9cP6gC0YUwnDjf"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/2WJGHZ4VGi5cfg1ljK1JN2/5eaecd4125183957f80047ba545b4119/3.jpg" alt="Deloitte’s Chris Coldrick: For the first time in my career, supply chain is considered newsworthy." data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/2WJGHZ4VGi5cfg1ljK1JN2/5eaecd4125183957f80047ba545b4119/3.jpg"></picture><div>▲ Deloitte’s Chris Coldrick: For the first time in my career, supply chain is considered newsworthy. </div></div>“However, there are certain parameters that prevent demand for properties suitable for fast-moving consumer goods from being as high. You have to take into account cold chain storage, you have to take into account shelf life, non-perishables and perishables,” Gannon says.<h2>Costly commitment</h2> Converting a warehouse to a cold chain asset is an expensive proposition for owners, who’ll need to be convinced of forward demand to stump up.“The fact that grocery delivery is projected to grow over the next five years is good for operators, and good for property owners. Because if you own a commercial site that’s really viable for a cold chain warehouse, then the more online grocery sales there are, the higher demand will be for your location,” Gannon says.Key operating metrics, however, continue to bounce about unpredictably, making it difficult for analysts to read the tea leaves. While growth is almost certain, its shape is yet to reveal itself.Coles’ latest results, from the July 2022 quarter, show revenue up 13.7 per cent over a three-year period, while Metcash (owner of IGA and Foodland, as well as liquor retailing brands) was up 31.7 per cent for the half, compared to three years ago.Woolworths quarterly results show that e-commerce was down 14.5 per cent year-on-year, reflecting a drop from the year of lockdowns.However, on a three-year compound annual growth rate, it’s still elevated by more than 43 per cent. And Woolworths B2B food segment is up a staggering 36.1 per cent.IBISWorld’s latest supermarket and grocery store research estimates the sector turns over $124.9 billion in revenue annually. According to Gannon, that volume of spending means even the smaller players have massive heft.“The supermarket grocery industry is huge,” Gannon says.“While it’s traditionally been viewed as a duopoly, based on the size of the industry, Aldi, Costco, IGA, they’re huge because there’s so much money flowing through them.”<div id="5b8zjYCd8kcB9AS9L6iH6M"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/3i37z3Cuc2FC2iXfZV2dTf/3cbcbcf7c0b4803e0c9f48d35f39144f/2.jpg" alt="Logistics play a vital part in customer satisfaction for all of Australia’s supermarket chains." data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/3i37z3Cuc2FC2iXfZV2dTf/3cbcbcf7c0b4803e0c9f48d35f39144f/2.jpg"></picture><div>▲ Logistics play a vital part in customer satisfaction for all of Australia’s supermarket chains. </div></div>Gannon says that the era of price-based groceries competition is coming to an end. Instead of $1 milk, supermarkets are putting more weight on factors such as customer experience. Location of stores (accessibility and convenience) and warehouses (logistics) are another part of the strategy.Kate Strickland, head of JLL’s NSW retail property and assets management team, says that “supermarket players are quite competitive”, and that their precinct strategy is responsive to local demographic changes and consumer demands.“The influences of Aldi, Harris Farm, IGA and polished grocers has only enhanced the quality or style of what consumers are expecting from those very individual players in this market.“That is to say there are very differing styles of quality, price, value propositions and varieties,” Strickland says.<h2>The rise and fall of on-demand</h2> Consumers may have come to expect delivery services, but the nature and scale of final demand is still in the discovery phase, experts say. In the meantime, distribution companies with skinny margins and fat rental bills are running out of time to make it work.Much ado was made in early 2022 about a pandemic-induced growth spurt of near-instant grocery delivery services. App-based Voly and Send promised 10-minute delivery, but rose and fell in almost the same timeframe. Competitor Milkrun is still solvent at time of writing.Ride-sharing platforms such as Uber and restaurant delivery services such as Menulog are also branching out into groceries, although Deliveroo’s Australian arm went into administration in November.While these companies were quick to bid up inner-city sites for distribution hubs, falling demand for delivery means some of those sites will be coming back on to the market.Experts also predict that supermarkets will continue to place their on-demand liquor deliveries with services such as Jimmy Brings, who’ll hold the thin margins and legal liabilities, and likely won’t need to adapt their bottleshop property strategies.“I think what we’re seeing is a retreat from the pandemic peak for 10-minute delivery,” Gannon says.<div id="45DEFyNZ4MvOYn6VixLDah"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/qZAUF86H6iyKYBpLreQBi/b7774d3517938fc813a6bf984f06da27/4.jpg" alt="Coles is betting on automation as it gears up for the future." data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/qZAUF86H6iyKYBpLreQBi/b7774d3517938fc813a6bf984f06da27/4.jpg"></picture><div>▲ Coles is betting on automation as it gears up for the future. </div></div>“That pandemic bubble, I wouldn’t say it’s burst but it’s subsiding.”“The operating model that they use needs a very specific set of circumstances, and a certain amount of distribution hubs, for it to be commercially viable.”“I think we’re seeing the real-time effects of not enough demand to sustain those kinds of operations.”<h2>Battle of the giants</h2> On the supermarket side, demand for delivery is also subdued compared to recent years, but it’s not going to disappear, according to Coldrick.“I’m not surprised by the way e-commerce has fallen but I think we can expect it to come back.“The quality of experience is currently not where supermarkets would want it to be. They’re struggling with the completeness and timeliness of the basket.”According to IBISWorld research, the big two are in an arms race with different distribution strategies. Coles has bet on centralised, automated distribution centres, while Woolworths is pushing last-mile optimisation using micro-fulfilment centres in existing locations inside the inner ring.The Coles strategy of automated packing centres will require significant investment in assets before it’s up to par, and even then will only be suitable for certain products.“Automated real estate, per square metre, is very, very expensive. So you want stuff to be flying through it,” Coldrick says.“You want products that are lovely and regular in shape, something that can afford to get a bit dented. Something that sells really fast but isn’t too bulky.”“There are some products with terrible sets of characteristics for automated facilities. Tim-Tams are OK, but they’re a bit damage-y.“Watermelon would have to be right up there. Watermelon’s an absolute menace.” <hr> You are currently experiencing The Urban Developer Plus (TUD+), our premium membership for property professionals. <a href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/membership-plans" data-mce-href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/membership-plans">Click here to learn more.</a><div id="2GhuueZl01Zwo2aFfjNVi2"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/12UMq5eMSEOh0QxJVBYaDt/d7507cf4ceb1365cc9ce7eaff84d06cc/tud___banner.jpg" alt="TUD + Banner" data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/12UMq5eMSEOh0QxJVBYaDt/d7507cf4ceb1365cc9ce7eaff84d06cc/tud___banner.jpg"></picture><div> </div></div>

Uncertainty surrounds the supermarket warehousing and logistics sector, as the pandemic-fuelled boom in home-delivered groceries cools and landlords weigh the risks of committing to ‘cold chain’ conversions…

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Communal electric vehicles and state-of-the-art charging stations have emerged as a hot-ticket item in luxury developments.Developers including Top Spring Australia and Cedar Woods are incorporating charging equipment for electric vehicles (EVs) or communal EVs as a drawcard for residents as part of their projects. The move may also enable developers to cut down on the number of parking spaces in some developments, explains tech start-up Outbound chief executive Luke Rust. He confirmed the company is currently working with 40 developers on projects in Australia and the UK. “Councils in denser regions are using development application conditions to enforce the provision of carshare spaces in new developments, and developers are using this as an opportunity to enhance their resident experience with a more intelligent, sustainable and exclusive carshare offering,” Rust says. “The writing’s on the wall when it comes to electric vehicles, but owning one yourself is still very expensive. Longer term, we’re seeing a trajectory away from private car parking spaces altogether, with developments in Queensland and Victoria approaching us regarding exclusive mobility clubs that include more than 20 shared vehicles.” Beulah is introducing the Sth Bnk Auto Club, a first-of-its-kind fleet of luxury vehicles for residents to use. It has committed to a full EV fleet by 2030. Addenbrooke is also offering communal Teslas at its new Sydney workplace development, Merchant House. Construction is due for completion in 2024. <div id="6lkFRfuPDbZbzXDh8IlESh"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/4rq4Q2yoMOurNDD8rcVMgC/b07b8e4768ba783bf77e013f70bce405/4.jpg" alt="Top Spring Australia has teamed up with tech startup Outbound to roll out a fleet of communal Teslas in a new $500-million leafy residential development in Sydney, The Newlands in St Leonards." data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/4rq4Q2yoMOurNDD8rcVMgC/b07b8e4768ba783bf77e013f70bce405/4.jpg"></picture><div>▲ A render of Top Spring Australia’s $500-million The Newlands in St Leonards. </div></div>Top Spring Australia has teamed up with tech startup Outbound to roll out a fleet of communal Teslas in a new $500-million leafy residential development in Sydney, The Newlands in St Leonards. Top Spring managing director Sydney Ma hopes the addition of electric vehicles as a part of the development will be a key selling point as it hits the market. He says the cost of the service will likely be included in the owners’ body corporate fees along with a nominal usage charge. The shift to include communal electric vehicles comes after a meeting of state and federal building and energy ministers in October agreed to update the National Construction Code minimum energy efficiency requirements from 6 to 7 Star NatHERS ratings to ensure residential projects are equipped for the future. The reforms, which will commence from May next year, will include additional energy efficiency measures that extend to making new homes electric vehicle-ready to avoid the costly exercise of retrofitting chargers.Federal industry minister Ed Husic, who chaired the meeting, says new apartment buildings will also be required to incorporate infrastructure for future cabling and control-point installation to make them EV charger-ready. Despite relatively low uptake among Australian drivers, the ability for developers to tick the ESG box to show investors that they are part of the push to a greener future is part of the motivation to embrace electric vehicles. Access to a communal vehicle is also increasingly enticing amid rising cost of living pressures and a steady decline in car ownership in Australia.The Electric Vehicle Council has been speaking to developers about the lower costs involved in installing charging stations during the construction phase.<div id="1KbQjZSes93mChA1zBFi2Z"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/247yzLTtJCvSTPuqDmLW4r/f10d9fe40e0d1558a571263b29fef3d5/Mid_article_resizes__5_.jpg" alt="The inclusion of EV charging facilities from the earliest stages of a project can equal significant savings in time and money." data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/247yzLTtJCvSTPuqDmLW4r/f10d9fe40e0d1558a571263b29fef3d5/Mid_article_resizes__5_.jpg"></picture><div>▲ The inclusion of EV charging facilities from the earliest stages of a project can equal significant savings in time and money. </div></div>“If there’s one resident who has an EV after the apartments are developed, the cost to incorporate a charging point could weigh heavily on everyone else in the building, with upgrades potentially costing tens of thousands of dollars,” the council’s head of energy and infrastructure Ross De Rango says. If every car in the complex was charging at the same time, it would be costly, De Rango says. There’s also a need to incorporate costs in a way that doesn’t impact residents who are not using EVs. This could be done through strata fees or an external network provider, he says. “Developers need to include systems that will schedule the majority of EV charging to off-peak times, when electricity is cheaper, such as at night when residents are sleeping and there’s spare network capacity,” De Rango says. Lendlease is also rolling out around 80 electric vehicle charging stations nationwide across key retail and office precincts to meet growing customer demand. The charging stations will be available at 16 commercial and office precincts nationally including Barangaroo and Darling Square and Melbourne Quarter, as well as a range of shopping centres in NSW, Queensland and WA. Installing electric vehicle charging infrastructure and having the ability to adapt the technology as required is increasingly important for developers,&nbsp; Lendlease managing director, investment management, Vanessa Orth says. <div id="4YvFgowg7jCeaVEJ4pp52k"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/5bT61cJOQUEH691i42IUqP/f12327b217e049b1a4493470937226a6/5.jpg" alt="Lendlease is also rolling out around 80 electric vehicle charging stations nationwide across key retail and office precincts to meet growing customer demand.

The charging stations will be available at 16 commercial and office precincts nationally including Barangaroo and Darling Square and Melbourne Quarter, as well as a range of shopping centres in NSW, Queensland and WA." data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/5bT61cJOQUEH691i42IUqP/f12327b217e049b1a4493470937226a6/5.jpg"></picture><div>▲ Barangaroo in Sydney is among the Lendlease developments slated for EV charging facilities. </div></div><a href="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/5bT61cJOQUEH691i42IUqP/f12327b217e049b1a4493470937226a6/5.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-mce-href="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/5bT61cJOQUEH691i42IUqP/f12327b217e049b1a4493470937226a6/5.jpg"></a>“We remain forward-thinking on introducing key sustainability focused infrastructure within our developments to ensure our assets are adaptable now and into the future to meet our customer needs, while accelerating us on our pathway to achieving absolute zero carbon by 2040,” Orth says. &nbsp; &nbsp; EV chargers have been installed by developer Cedar Woods at its Huntington Apartments in Clayton South. A Tesla will also be available to hire by the hour for residents. “Our own new requirements mean EV infrastructure must be installed in a way that services all cars in the building. This includes switchboard sizing, off peak load management and cable trays for future EV charging installations by the purchasers,” Cedar Woods managing director Nathan Blackburne says. Typical budget is between $5000 and $10,000 per shared car for the set-up of the site including charging stations, signage, cameras, communications network and community activation. “The key variable cost is associated with access to and availability of power, which differs from building to building,” Rust says.&nbsp; For it to work for both developers and councils, properties also need to be well connected to public transport and located close to amenities such as supermarkets, gyms and shared workspaces, he says. <hr> You are currently experiencing The Urban Developer Plus (TUD+), our premium membership for property professionals. <a href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/membership-plans" data-mce-href="https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/membership-plans">Click here to learn more.</a><a href="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/12UMq5eMSEOh0QxJVBYaDt/d7507cf4ceb1365cc9ce7eaff84d06cc/tud___banner.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-mce-href="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/12UMq5eMSEOh0QxJVBYaDt/d7507cf4ceb1365cc9ce7eaff84d06cc/tud___banner.jpg"></a><div id="2GhuueZl01Zwo2aFfjNVi2"><picture><img src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/12UMq5eMSEOh0QxJVBYaDt/d7507cf4ceb1365cc9ce7eaff84d06cc/tud___banner.jpg" alt="TUD + Banner" data-mce-src="//images.ctfassets.net/8pr762qjocl3/12UMq5eMSEOh0QxJVBYaDt/d7507cf4ceb1365cc9ce7eaff84d06cc/tud___banner.jpg"></picture></div>

Australia's luxury developers are moving to include communal electric vehicles and charging infrastructure as part of their offerings. The Urban Developer looks at the dynamics driving this gear-shift...

TECHNOLOGY