A Virtual Site Visit
Carillion & Built Environment Skills in Schools working in partnership
When students were struggling to attend an Open Doors site visit in person at Paradise Circus in Birmingham due to flooding in the area, Carillion and Built Environment Skills in Schools teamed up to come up with an innovative solution – they brought the site to the students, and broadcast a ‘virtual’ site visit via using the Periscope app.
Students, teachers and people interested from all around the world were able to tune into the site visit from the comfort of their own home and classrooms via their phone, tablet or the Periscope site.
The virtual site visit involved the Community Regeneration Manager, Neil Rudge giving the virtual visitors a low down on the Paradise development, what it will bring to the city including its lasting legacy, and the impact and opportunities that are being created in jobs and skills.
Visitors found out more about some of the challenges faced by construction developments including safety, finance, quality, transport, infrastructure, protecting the communities we work within through monitoring air quality and acoustic noise levels.
The live broadcast had 72 viewers at its highest point and the video of the visit was then posted on social media and resulted in over 200 views to date.
Kathryn Lennon Johnson from Built Environment Skills in Schools commented:
“Technology will play an increasingly significant part in the future of construction, and it’s so important to encourage young people to explore construction using tools and technologies they’re already comfortable with”
Neil Rudge at Carillion commented:
‘The Open Doors initiative is something that Carillion has long engaged with and find it a great way to interact with the communities in which we work. The opportunity to speak to the public and explain what we are doing on the landmark development at Paradise Birmingham was hugely enjoyable for us and hopefully those who watched the broadcast!”
This is a great example of Open Doors, contractors and partners coming together to provide an alternative and innovative Open Doors experience.
Please see social media links You Tube and Facebook for more information:
Paradise Circus Project Facts
- Contractor: Carillion
- Value: £40 million
- Location: Birmingham
- Start date: January 2015
- Completion date: March 2018
- Project Type: Enabling works including Demolition, Groundworks and Civil Engineering