René Schumann digitizes the construction industry with ViCon.
René Schumann's hobby is the future. As a budding civil engineer, he was already involved with digitization in the 1990s, writing a database-based construction site manager as a working student at HOCHTIEF. In 2001, he turned his hobby into a profession at the company and introduced Internet-based document management at HOCHTIEF. In 2004, he joined the "virtual construction site" project. With the help of models, the entire life cycle of a building, from planning to operation, is to be digitally controlled and documented, construction machines are to work autonomously, or roads are to enter into dialog with vehicles.
Just under 20 years ago, this was pie in the sky for many in the industry. "Some saw it as an interesting research project, but for the vast majority it was just Toys for Boys," Schumann recalls. He not only believes in the vision, but also in a business model for "Virtual Design and Construction" and gets the necessary legroom. In 2007, he and four other comrades-in-arms founded the HOCHTIEF subsidiary ViCon. The company aims to advise clients and the public sector on virtual construction. The concept of Building Information Modeling (BIM) can reduce project risks, costs and construction times. The idea is good, the timing wasn't quite right.
Where there is money to dig, you should dig“
At this time, the global economic crisis is having a full impact on the construction industry. Particularly in Europe and the USA, investment comes to a virtual standstill. Where there are no projects, there are no risks that could be reduced. There is a lack of understanding and money for the idea of creating digital twins and building digitally first. But the founders don't resign, they start up again right away: a subsidiary in the Middle East, where the economy is not weakening. Schumann takes over as Managing Director and positions ViCon there, in a market that calls for innovation. In 2010, the company generates almost 90 percent of its sales in international markets – "where there's money to dig, you should dig." Today, conditions are different, but what has remained is the multicultural, international. Around 500 projects around the globe have now been realized, the employees come from 15 countries and yet speak one language: "Digitization knows no national borders."
"The construction industry must change" Schumann also wants to break down barriers in his own industry. "The construction industry will change. New technologies such as artificial intelligence and augmented reality require openness and networked action – also in dealing with data and models – and future cooperation. But also a new self-confidence in future topics. In autonomous driving, for example, it is not just the vehicle that plays a role, but also the road. It needs an intelligent infrastructure on which to move. And that has yet to be built."
For others it was just a toy, for us it was a business model“
