Software developer wants to simplify documentation
Reducing CO₂ footprint with digital tools
Article published in the Allgemeine Bauzeitung – issue 47/2023
In addition to the economically challenging times and the shortage of skilled workers, the construction industry is confronted with increasing legal requirements. The obligation to document CO2 emissions in accordance with the ESG is drawing ever closer and is causing uncertainty due to fears of the enormous effort involved in preparing the data, as software developer SEQUELLO reports.
According to the company, data quality in particular is a decisive factor for efficient and correct reporting. With the right software solution, the basis for CO₂ optimisation of the materials used can be created in addition to the database for corresponding evaluations.
“In our view, a concrete type register (BSV) can play a central role here. It not only enriches the delivery notes and thus also the CO₂ values with additional data points, but also helps to define CO₂-optimised concretes at component level, where there is still a lot of potential,” explains SEQUELLO Managing Director Michael Pum. In addition to the material and quantity used, the exact composition of the concrete, as well as the construction section and part, are documented for the analyses. This data can be used to analyse the CO₂ footprint of a structure in varying degrees of detail. This is also helpful for the dismantling of buildings. The data can help to plan the recycling of building materials more efficiently and strengthen the circular economy.
In order to reduce CO₂ emissions as early as the construction phase, concrete technologists or suppliers can adapt the composition of the concrete precisely to the requirements of the building component.
“In principle, you could continue to use the BSV as a PDF or Excel list and enter the additional data manually. However, the digital BSV, as we have developed it at SEQUELLO, offers three key advantages for practical use,” emphasizes Michael Pum.
Firstly, it avoids system breaks and sources of error. Unlike PDF or Excel, the information in SEQUELLO is centrally available to all parties involved. If you adjust a recipe for a component is adjusted online, it is updated for everyone. If this is done in a PDF, it has to be sent to all participants individually. If the information chain is interrupted at any point, the worst-case scenario is that the wrong grade is used.
Secondly, the foreman can send the order to the supplier directly from the concrete type catalogue. The dispatcher transfers the digital order to his dispatching system. Automated feedback regarding the order and delivery status is shared between the supplier and the construction company via SEQUELLO. This ensures planning reliability and faster communication.
Thirdly, SEQUELLO claims to offer “documentation on the go”. This means that the data basis for evaluations and documentation is already created during the ordering process. This means that construction managers and other specialists are not occupied with repetitive administrative tasks, but can use their time more specifically for value-adding activities.
“The digital concrete type catalogue is one of many building blocks that we are using with SEQUELLO to replace inefficient processes with modern and economical digital processes. In this way, we want to bring construction back into focus, emphasizes Michael Pum.