Speakers's Bio

Mahmoud Hisham Al Burai

CEO
Dubai Real Estate Institute
UAE


Mahmoud AlBurai is currently serving as Managing Director of Dubai Real estate Institute. In addition to his government position in Dubai, Mahmoud is the Vice President of International real estate federation, FIABCI ,UK, since Jan 2011 and sits on the board of Association of Real estate License Law officials(ARELLO), International Real estate Society (IRES) and Middle East North Africa Real estate Society(MENARES). Mahmoud has been FIABCI representative at the United Nations Economic Commission for West Asia(UNESCWA) since Jan 2012. Recently, Mahmoud was selected to be the only member from the MENA region in UNGC/RICS steering committee mandated to apply Global Compact Principles to the real estate industry.


Prior to his position in Dubai Real estate Institute, Mahmoud worked for 3 years as Senior Director of Real estate Sector development at Real estate Regulatory Authority of Dubai and few years as a Development Associate Manager at Dubai holding. Mahmoud completed his bachelor's degree in engineering at the American University before continuing on to earn his Master's in Real Estate from National University of Singapore .Mahmoud completed his MBA in Finance from his alma mater, American University of Dubai in 2010. In Jan 2014, Mahmoud was selected to join Sheikh Mohamad Bin Rashid Leadership Program designed to train top government decision makers.



Gerry McFadden

BIM Manager
WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff
Dubai, UAE


Gerry McFadden is BIM Manager at WSP. He has over 25 years’ experience of delivering major global multi-discipline projects. Gerry relocated to Dubai in 1998 and is proud to have contributed to the growth of Dubai from the small town of 1998 to the mega city it has become today. He is currently pioneering the use of BIM to enhance some of the most iconic projects in the UAE such as the Dubai ‘I’ and Zayed National Museum. Gerry has been involved in the delivery of BIM projects since 2008 and is passionate about the benefits BIM can bring to all phases of the design, construction and operation lifecycle. He has been published in the regional press regarding the benefits of BIM and is keen to drive BIM adoption in all sectors. Gerry truly believes BIM will transform our industry forever.


Abstract

The presentation will cover some of the most important aspects of how to plan and approach BIM on projects to ensure that the correct path is taken from the earliest stages



Richard Budden

Business Development Manager
Transportation and Infrastructure


Richard studied at the University of Reading in the UK and in 2001 he received a Bachelor of Science in Human and Physical Geography. In 2002 he joined Atkins, the UK design and engineering firm, providing GIS consultancy and advice to clients including the London Borough of Islington and Crossrail, where he achieved the UK Association for Geographic Information Award for innovation and best practice in the private sector.


In 2011 Richard relocated to the Gulf to lead the Atkins Middle East geospatial team, working on complex multidisciplinary projects for clients including the UAE Ministry of Public Works, Kuwait Municipality, Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council and the Qatar Ministry of Municipality and Urban Planning. Richard has engaged with government clients and offered strategic advice that has contributed towards the development and implementation of national visions and smart cities.


In 2014, Richard joined Esri as Business Development Manager for transportation and infrastructure for the West Asia, Middle East and Africa regions. He is based in Dubai, UAE.


Abstract

Geodesign: Design for a Complex World
Urban and regional planners use geodesign to envision better futures for communities and drive powerful decision making. Bringing geography into the planning process provides context for anticipating trends and helps people make highly informed choices about their communities. By combining the scientific power of GIS with smart 3D city modelling, we can facilitate data visualization, scenario impact simulations, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and storytelling.


Scott Lambert

CEO
Dubai Real Estate Institute
UAE


Scott is a leading construction and infrastructure lawyer with over 25 years’ experience. He was previously a partner in one of the leading construction firms in Australia. He has assisted developers, contractors and consultants to manage and overcome all legal issues that they encounter in the industry. Scott advises all on the best way to structure and document a project, incorporating the latest legal developments and practices and providing practical, effective advice from request for tenders through to project completion. He also provides guidance on managing and resolving disputes. Scott is internationally recognised as a leading lawyer and thought-leader on the legal aspects of sustainable construction and Building Information Modelling


Abstract

Legal Issues on BIM and Rated Projects
The presentation will help you to learn why traditional contracts do not work. Apart from that, the presentation will also help you to better understand about the risks and pitfalls of not getting the contract right and what are the latest contracting strategies available!



Arsen Safaryan

Process Manager – BIM, VDC
DMCC
UAE


Arsen has recently been appointed as the Process Manager, BIM VDC of Dubai Multi Commodities Centre – the largest free zone in the Middle East and the master developer of Jumeirah Lakes Towers. He is championing the BIM implementation internally on the organisational level and externally on the supply chain to deliver the Burj 2020 District project for DMCC. Arsen has worked as a BIM Manager on both the contractor and consultant side of the building industry in Dubai, so he understands the capabilities and constraints on all levels of the supply chain in this market.


Abstract

The Value of BIM for Infrastructure
The presentation will discuss the current BIM uses in the infrastructure and projects with large infrastructure -focusing on typical large building projects with significant infrastructure scope that is often left out of the BIM ship. The value of Infrastructure in BIM is that it is often ignored when planning for major projects. It will also discuss the potential of the infrastructure BIM and the integration of it with GIS technology, the possibilities of these to assist to support initiatives like Dubai Government’s Smart city and the perspectives and benefits of managing the infrastructure assets in a virtual environment.



Oliver Bürkler

Senior Product Manager 3D Documentation
FARO


Senior Product Manager, 3D Documentation Software & Innovation with FARO Europe GmbH & Co. KG
Master in Precision Engineering at the University of Applied Science, Munich Master in Business Administration and Engineering at the University of Applied Science, Munich
2001 to 2005 Business Development and Sales Manager at iQvolution AG, Germany Managing 3D documentation projects, mainly for factory layout and remodeling projects. iQvolution focused on creating as-built CAD models based on 3D laser scan data within the automotive industry. In parallel to the professional services iQvolution developed its own 3D laser scanners. In 2005 the company was acquired by FARO. 2005 to 2006 Account Manager for 3D Laser Scanner at FARO Europe GmbH & Co. KG After the acquisition of iQvolution, Oliver Bürkler started in sales with FARO responsible for 3D laser scanners in Southern Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Since 2006 Senior Product Manager, 3D Documentation Software & Innovation at FARO Europe GmbH & Co. KG As part of the FARO 3D laser scanner product manager team, Oliver Bürkler is focusing on the development of FARO´s 3D documentation software and new innovations as well as managing the relationships with FAROs 3rd party development partners.


Abstract

3D Documentation combines the latest laser scanning technologies to capture as-built environment. 3D Documentation can be used along the BIM workflow and at all stages of the building lifecycle to increase the efficiency of constructions. Knowing the exact status of building activities helps to significantly save construction cost and reduces the potential risk coming along with such projects.



Salah Abdulatif Al Dilimi

Section Manager
Rail Infrastructure Maintenance
Roads and Transport Authority
UAE


Salah Abdulatif Al Dilimi is a Professional Geotechnical Engineer with MSc degree and Higher Diploma from Auckland University, New Zealand. He is currently the Rail Infrastructure Maintenance Manager in the Rail Agency within the Roads and Transport Authority, Dubai, UAE. He was in the design Team at Atkins for Dubai Metro Project. He has over 27 years of international work experience in design, construction and management of geotechnical and civil projects including diaphragm walls, concrete piles, driven piles, micro piles and screw piles. He worked in the UK, Australia, New Zealand and the Middle East. Salah has contributed in publishing a book titled Geology of Dubai. Salah is a member of technical advisory committee in the American University in Dubai and Sharjah and is the treasurer of the MENA Deep Foundation Institute. Salah is a member of BIM committee to establish BIM strategy and frame work within RTA.


Abstract

Strategy and frame work of implementing BIM within the construction and infrastructure industry is a task should be led by the government in partnership with the supply chain. To implement an effective BIM strategy all parties involved should be in line with the same goad and to reach similar maturity to be able to ultise the benefit of BIM. The industry needs to focus on the 3Ps (People, Processes and Platform) in order to cover the full scale of effective BIM adaptation.



Bill Thomson

Project Delivery Director
AECOM Middle East


As AECOM’s Project Delivery Director for the Middle East region, Bill leads the integration of innovation and technology with project delivery systems as well as project manager training and certification. Current efforts involve innovation ‘pipelines’, integrating BIM/GIS services, immersive tech (AR/VR) and major project collaboration systems. He has previously established and led a multi-region BIM Implementation Taskforce and grown geospatial (GIS) businesses and services for clients. Prior to joining AECOM, Bill was a senior Australian Army officer serving a wide variety of engineering and geospatial leadership, project and operational roles involving construction, geospatial, intelligence, counter-terrorism, training, disaster recovery, advanced technologies plus capability development. He has worked with UAVs/UAS, automation, sensor networks, knowledge systems, analytics, big data and visualisation, plus space operations/concepts. With a solid foundation in engineering and geospatial operations; Bill is passionate and proactive about ‘doing things better’ through leadership, innovation and technology.


Abstract

Leading the fusion of GIS and BIM
Modern projects and organisations are often at risk of being overwhelmed by large amounts of data from a variety of sources. At the same time we are seeing a convergence of technologies such as GIS and BIM. The key to making sense of it all is to focus on workflows and decision making. This will lead to the fusion of technologies that work together to improve information management. In this presentation Bill will draw upon military and engineering lessons to provide a framework approach to integrate various technologies in order to make better use of all that data and improve decision making across an organisation or project.



Donya Mehran

BIM Engineer
Arabtec Construction LLC
UAE


Donya Mehran is currently working as BIM Engineer in the BIM Department with Arabtec Construction since 2013. She has completed her BSc in Civil Engineering in 2009 between American University of Sharjah, UAE and Brigham Young University, USA. She also got her MSc degree in the Construction Project Management with concentration in BIM in 2015. Donya is currently working with the Research and development team in the BIM Department where they manage the adoption and implementation of the international BIM standards used for standardization of the BIM workflow. She also monitors the development of project’s BIM Execution Plan and directly supervise the BIM QC process with continuous auditing. She also supports, monitors and collaborates with the System Development team to ensure standardised automation of BIM workflow implementation with engineering efforts to enable information integration internally and externally. Furthermore, she is responsible for supervision of the organizational training and development in the BIM department.


Abstract

BIM Challenges to Overcome
The construction sector in the UAE represents one of the fast growing sectors in the world. Also it is known for its flexibility in adopting technology due to the sophistication and high demand of client expectation besides environmental challenges. Currently the definition of BIM has left from being a “buzz word” to the attraction of the construction industry. According to the gradually increasing word trend towards BIM, this presentation aims on introducing and analyzing the wide range of obstacles generated by the government, clients, and industry, absence of BIM Standards and BIM Contracts to pinpoint solutions to enhance the efficiency gains by the AEC industry to a point where buildings can be amended digitally.


Hitham EL-Hussaieny

Regional Sales Manager
Topcon Positioning Middle East and Africa FZE
UAE


Hitham EL-Hussaieny, an Egyptian National, is currently working as a Regional Sales Manager with Topcon Positioning Middle East and Africa FZE, at the regional office of Topcon. Mr. Hitham completed his Master’s degree in Business Administration from a reputed Australian university and has B.Sc. in Engineering completed in 1998 from Ain Shams University, one of the foremost universities in Egypt. Hitham has about 17 years of work experience in the positioning industry. His role in Topcon was expanded to include a number of geographic regions and emerging business divisions. Hitham has a good understanding of the business opportunities regionally to develop the emerging business segments. He has worked in various positions including surveying chief engineer in the oil industry, prior to joining Topcon.


Abstract

Creating a finished product from paper plans has incorporated a wide variety of job site methods and tools – from measuring tapes, levels, lasers, advanced surveying total stations and even GNSS receivers. No matter what tools have been used, construction layout is always a critical point to any project. As a leader in the precision measurement and positioning industry for more than 85 years, Topcon is leading the way with innovative, productive BIM solutions. Whether your jobs are underground utilities, buildings, infrastructure, foundations and footings, landscaping, electrical, mechanical, or simply digging a swimming pool, Topcon has advanced 3D layout and BIM solutions for you.


Laszlo STEKL

Project Manager – International Business Division
GEODEZIA
Hungary


Highly motivated personality with 20 years experience in top management position both in multinational and private companies of the CEE region. Special focus and expertise on change management, crisis management, international business development and company reorganization. Skilled strategist who transforms strategic plan into workable solutions and results. High level of analytical skills and strong ability to work in highly competitive environment, under high pressure with energy to deliver result.


Abstract

The future has started: How 3D point cloud technology can support GEOBIM
By this time no doubt, the Middle-East is one of the most developing region of the World. Almost 90 percent of the population already lives in cities and modernization, infrastructural development and smart cities are getting more in the focus. However, in case of every fast changes and improvements there are always the questions: how to do it in shortest time, with the highest quality and the best cost efficiency. One of the answers -and maybe the best answer- for these questions is to use 3D point cloud technology which gives the opportunity to measure everything in our surrounding with even 1 cm accuracy, ensuring the highest quality and the best value for money ratio in large projects. Furthermore, collecting GIS data by mobile laser scanner technology, creating measureable 3D point cloud from collected data and extracting these data afterwards based on client needs have added value on several industries like construction, land management, transportation, railways, electric-water-gas public utility, oil industry, ocean & coastal, asset management, mining and also environment management. Having the proper technical instruments, professional knowledge and experience and of course highly qualified engineers, there are no limits for how to collect GIS data and create 3D point cloud: from the air, on road or railroad, on and under the sea, under the ground or even inside any buildings. And even more, all GIS information could be combined into one complete, measurable, 3D point cloud which may be a measurable 3D model of cities or even countries as a solid basis of BIM in all over the World. Taking into consideration all the above fields where 3D point cloud creation and data management could be used efficiently and also the almost unlimited opportunities of this technology for problem solving, it is easy to conclude that 3D point cloud technology definetly has significant added value for BIM concept as well in every country which uses properly the opportunities offered by this technology."



Vivek C. Kale, B. Arch. PG Dip UD

Solutions Director
Bentley
UAE


As a qualified Architect and Urban Designer, Vivek Kale practiced four years of Urban Design in Middle East with Parsons HBA, including “Structure Plan For Dubai Emirate – 2012” for the Dubai Municipality, before joining Bentley Systems in 1998. He was the founder member of the regional MicroStation User Group, and a technology enthusiast for the ‘built environment’ for the past 17 years. He has been evangelizing Bentleys BIM (Building Information Modeling) applications for 10 years. Now working from Dubai and covering the region, his responsibilities include educating, proposing and deploying Bentleys solutions that add values to Designers, consultants Contractors and Owner operators.


Abstract

BIG BIM: Information Modelling for Infrastructure
Building Information Modelling (BIM) is at the heart of infrastructure. Delivering better performing assets through increasing depth of Information Modeling; and better performing projects through increasing breadth of Information Mobility



Hadeel Akram Fadda

Buildings Department
Dubai Municipality
UAE


Hadeel Akram Fadda is a bilingual Architectural Engineer with over 16 years of experience joining Building Permit Department in Dubai Municipality as a Principal Architectural Design Engineer Since 2005 Master’s degree in “construction project management” Researcher about BIM applications



Eng. Abdullah Mohd Al Khaddeim

Director – Project Management Department
Fujairah Municipality Fujairah
UAE


Abdulla Al Khaddiem graduated from Towson State University (U.S.A) in Environmental Planning in the year 1996. He started working in Fujairah Municipality since 1997. Presentably he is Director of Projects which is being implemented in Fujairah Municipality. He has attended many conferences (including Geospatial conference, ESRI User conference) and technical meetings in and outside U.A.E. Presently he is looking after the Rail Project in the Fujairah Emirate, Mohamed Bin Zayed City in Fujairah and Geospatial Technology projects in Fujairah Municipality.


Abstract

Geospatial Initiatives By Fujairah Municipality
As part of our continuous effort to keep pace with technological advances in the government sector, Fujairah has taken several initiatives to achieve Excellence in Municipal work. One such initiative is to use Geospatial Technology for municipal services and work. This presentation will describe various projects which has been carried out as part of Geospatial Initiatives so as to fulfill the mission towards the citizens of Fujairah.



Jitendra Deshpande

Associate VP
ADCC Infocad IT Services
UAE


Jitendra Deshpande is a Civil Engineer by Education and also holds a Masters in Business Administration. He has over 22 years of work experience, out of which last 17 years have been in the IT industry. His initial career days for about 6 years were in the Construction & Automobile Industries. The past 15 years have been primarily spent in addressing the GIS and BIM technologies, including a brief 1 ½ year stint in Enterprise Asset Management. Most of the IT Industry experience has been with Autodesk Channel Partners; as such he is quite familiar with the platform. He is presently serving as an Associate Vice President with ADCC Infocad IT Services, Dubai.

Abstract

Geographical Information System (GIS) and Building Information Modeling (BIM) are two technologies being used to address different sets of “Design & Build” needs. There are areas in which both complement each other; and we generally refer this to it as the concept of GeoBIM. Broadly speaking, GIS is being used to address design issues relating to large area spread of projects (eg; Infrastructure, City Planning); whilst BIM is generally used to design Buildings and components within that specific unit. However, these two are not exclusive to each other; BIM is also a key part of infrastructure design (Roads, Rail networks), the underlying core concept being use of 3D information. As such, there is a great need for these two technologies to be able to communicate with each other and provide mutual benefits. Both technologies use software platforms that have also evolved over the past few years; and more and more benefits are being realized by all the stakeholders, including the project owners. In this segment of presentation, we shall be talking about challenges faced by Township Developers, which are similar to Municipalities who manage cities, albeit on a much larger scale. From Infrastructure planning to project handover, there are several stakeholders involved in the design and execution process; and the need to have information about all aspects of design is very critical to the overall project lifecycle. Data, if exchanged properly, is of great importance to the owners for the Operations and maintenance of the project.



Prof Mustafa Alshawi

Director
IEC
UAE


Professor Alshawi is the Director of IEC (UAE) and the Director of the Institute of Sustainability and BIM (UAE). He has over 30 years of experience in introducing new technologies to improve the performance of industry. He was the Associate Dean at the College of Science and Technology at the University of Salford and before that he was the Director of the Build and Human Environment Research Institute at the University of Salford. He has held many international advisory posts in various countries and was a consultant on a number of projects for the World Bank, UN Agencies and OECD. He is also the Editor in Chief of the international journal of “Construction Innovation” and the author of over 130 publications. Professor Alshawi has first demonstrated the concept of “BIM” in 1996 in a fully working prototype. Recently, he has won RICS BIM4SME (2015) award for “Best Engagement and Support Programme for BIM implementation in client organizations” for his practice work to help client organizations to effectively use BIM to maximize its business benefits.

Abstract

BIM Best Practice to Cut Capital and Operational Expenditure: Maximising Business Value
In order for BIM to effectively contribute to reducing capital expenditure and deliver projects on time i.e. maximizing BIM benefits and return on investment to clients, strong client leadership is required. The presentation will provide answers to questions on how best the client organisations can benefits from BIM and what they need to do. The presentation will provide examples of BIM best practice from local projects in the UAE to realistically reflect the return of investment on BIM from a client’s perspective.