AI Builds a British Hospital

Buildots helped design the new Royal Bournemouth Hospital

Helen Hwang, Contributor

January 26, 2023

2 Min Read

In a potential first, AI is being used as a tool to build a National Health Service (NHS) building in the U.K.

A new hospital in Bournemouth was designed with Buildots, a software platform that evaluated data captured at the building site with 360-degree cameras mounted on helmets.

The model created progress reports generated by the visual data points. Managers could use the information to accumulate accurate data and in-depth analysis. The process led to overall savings in construction costs.

“The new Royal Bournemouth Hospital building is incredibly complex, with purpose-built facilities for maternity and children’s units, as well as emergency and critical care,” said Aviv Leibovici, chief product officer at Buildots.

The Royal Bournemouth Hospital’s new Births, Emergency and Critical, Children’s Health (BEACH) building will have a new maternity ward, pediatric unit, critical care unit with 30 beds and an upgraded emergency room department. The 243,000-sq foot expansion should open in early 2025.

Steve Killen, transformation director at University Hospitals Dorset, said, “The NHS is committed to efficient use of public funds, and Buildots technology is a great example of how we’re using cutting-edge technology to help provide the best value for money for the taxpayer.”

The new hospital is being built as part of the $310 million investment to upgrade UHD’s hospitals. The construction is also rated as a 'BREEAM Excellent' standard building, ranking it in the top 10% of sustainable U.K. buildings. BREEAM is a validation and certification system for sustainable environments.

A new pathology center is also being constructed to provide laboratory services. A multistory parking structure will be expanded to accommodate more vehicles.

“This construction project is part of a wider Dorset health strategy, with Royal Bournemouth Hospital incorporating some of the most modern healthcare facilities in the U.K. as the major emergency hospital for Dorset,” added Killen.

The use of Buildots is part of the increasing importance of technology in the U.K.’s health sector. Last November, the NHL AI Lab and Health Education England recommended that all health care staff receive AI training. And Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has repeatedly called for AI tools to be used to reduce growing wait times to access national health care services.

About the Author

Helen Hwang

Contributor, AI Business

Helen Hwang is an award-winning journalist, author, and mechanical engineer. She writes about technology, health care, travel, and food. She's based in California.

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