Piece by piece: The road to Singapore’s first digital construction WorldSkills medal

Samuel Tan, a Ngee Ann Polytechnic design graduate, became Singapore's first digital construction WorldSkills medalist after an intensive five-month training period of over 1,000 hours. Competing in Shanghai, the 20-year-old secured a bronze medal in a category where Singapore achieved its best performance at the bi-annual event, which gathered young talents from around the globe to showcase vocational and technical skills.

Singapore's total of 27 awards, including four silver and four bronze, shattered its previous record of 22 medals set in 2019, with 34 participants from 31 skill areas. Digital construction, which involves using technology to create and manage information throughout a construction project, was the focus of Tan's efforts. Building Information Modelling (BIM), a core aspect of the discipline, allows for the creation of 3D models that integrate various building elements, each with embedded data.

This method enables better planning and coordination in construction projects. Tan's journey included training with architecture firms and one-on-one coaching sessions, with consistent improvement being his greatest challenge. He believes the industry's growing demand for digital skills and the integration of advanced technologies like computational design and artificial intelligence will lead to improved job prospects and working environments.

While Tan is proud of his achievement, his interest in digital construction remains strong, and he plans to further his education, possibly looking into smart city applications of BIM.