Most residential developers have a pattern book of apartments, which are best suited for their needs.

In addition, we’ve devised a similar, digital framework for Network Rail.This variety of uses demonstrates the broad capabilities of these digital design tools, which are beneficial not only for buildings, but also for linear infrastructure on a greater, geospatial, country-wide level.. Our experience here tells us that rather than designing things from scratch in the future, more and more work will be done using algorithmic design.

For example, PRiSM allows us to generate a design very quickly.We can then use a range of simulation tools to optimise and refine the design, in order to deliver the best possible solution for a specific site.We are able to consider a variety of architectural and environmental factors: energy balance, people movements, overshadowing, architectural aesthetics, and placemaking.

This gives us much better, and much more considered, designs at site level.. Additionally, our work on REM teaches us that if the algorithm creates an unusual outcome, the solution is to fix the ruleset, not the algorithmic model.Over time, this creates vastly improved results, as the rules and algorithmic designs get better and better.

These results have allowed us to visualise and assess both the risks and opportunities of a smart motorway at the earliest planning stages.

Consequently, it now takes a few days to do what used to take months..(Read more about DfMA.

M&E systems fit naturally with DfMA.Many processes and components are already standard.

No-one would think of designing a sprinkler valve from scratch for every project, for example, and the use of pre-fabricated modules in risers for vertical service distribution in buildings is a technique widely in use.DfMA is not, therefore, a revolutionary concept for M&E services.