Costain's Matt Blackwell has picked up an award from COMIT Projects Ltd for the Company’s contribution to utilising mobile information technology in the UK construction workplace.

Matt accepted the Investment in New Solutions Award in recognition of Costain's use of Augmented Reality (AR) technology on the London Bridge Redevelopment Project for Network Rail.

COMIT Projects Ltd promotes the use of mobile technology in the UK construction industry by spreading best practice, promoting new developments and facilitating understanding between technology providers and construction companies.

"We are delighted to have won this award which recognises Costain's ongoing commitment to delivering innovative solutions to construction operatives. Harnessing the best available technology, like Augmented Reality, helps us to gather the best information in order to get the job done as effectively as possible," said Matt, Costain's Group BIM Manager.


Augmented Reality takes a real-world environment, such as a construction project, and augments it with computer-generated sensory input such as sound, video, graphics or GPS data. Construction data from the project can be rendered onto a screen to build up an image of the finished project while also highlighting any potential problems in the construction process.

AR is a component of Building Information Modelling (BIM) and a process for managing construction data which enables engineers to co-ordinate 3D models, analyse geometry, spatial relationships and geographic information, like major utilities, which can potentially impede the construction process.

Costain has worked closely with COMIT Projects Ltd to refine the use of mobile technology in the construction work place and has used BIM on its projects for a number of years, most notably on Junction 12 of the M1, the Bond Street Underground Station Upgrade, Liverpool Wastewater Treatment Works and various Crossrail projects.

(CD/GK)