PlanRadar research reveals technology investment influences construction staff retention

by AI & Deep LearningConstructionFeatured NewsIndustry CommentResearch

PlanRadar research identifies technology as a factor in staff retention

Research from PlanRadar indicates that over half of construction professionals are more likely to remain with their current organisation if it increases investment in AI and technology.

One in four respondents reported they would be significantly more likely to stay with an employer that prioritises digital tools.

The study found that nearly half of participants have no current plans to invest in digital tools with AI capabilities despite the potential impact on talent retention.

Attracting and retaining experienced project management talent is currently a critical priority for the construction industry.

UK professionals prioritise data security and accuracy

Data from the UK market shows that 57% of professionals cite accuracy and trust as their primary concern when using AI tools for project management.

Data privacy and security represent a top-tier concern for 29% of UK respondents.

Fear of job displacement ranks last among global concerns and was cited by only 6% of participants.

Nearly half of the respondents spend more than 11 hours per week on tasks they believe AI could streamline.

Among those already using AI-integrated tools, two-thirds report saving at least two hours per week on each project.

Rob Norton, UK Director at PlanRadar, commented: “We’ve reached a point in UK construction where a pay rise alone just isn’t enough to keep hold of your best people.

“Project managers are exhausted by administrative tasks that effectively wipe out a full day of their week.

“They don’t want AI to do their jobs for them; they want it to clear the paperwork off their desks so they can focus on high-value project delivery.

“If firms keep ignoring that, they’re going to lose their most experienced leaders to the competitors who are actually willing to modernise these outdated manual processes.”

Growth in project management demand shapes technology adoption

Ibrahim Imam, Co-Founder and CEO of PlanRadar, said: “Construction professionals are spending more than a full working day every week on tasks that AI is already proving it can dramatically reduce.

“This is an unnecessary drain on some of the most experienced people in the industry.

“Our research shows that professionals are not fearful of AI, quite the opposite, more than half say investment in AI tools would make them more likely to stay with their employer.

“In a market where experienced project management talent is increasingly difficult to attract and retain, organisations that fail to invest in the tools their people need are taking a risk they may not fully appreciate.”

The Project Management Institute (PMI) estimates the construction industry will require nearly 2.5 million additional project professionals by 2035.

Sander van de Rijdt, Co-Founder and CEO of PlanRadar, added: “Construction professionals are not resistant to AI, they are asking for something very reasonable: tools they can trust, with outputs they can rely on and confidence that their project data stays protected.

“At PlanRadar we believe that trust in AI cannot be an afterthought.

“Construction professionals manage sensitive project data every day, so any AI working with that information must meet the highest standards for protection, compliance and user control.

“That expectation is shaping how we are developing AI, with these principles built in from the outset.”

The Deloitte 2026 Engineering and Construction Industry Outlook notes that construction wages have risen 4.2% year-on-year as firms compete for talent.

Wildfire modelling project links fire spread with smoke impact

by Featured NewsResearchWildland Fire

Wildfire modelling and evacuation planning

George Mason University is developing a wildfire digital twin designed to simulate fire behaviour in real time and forecast air pollution impacts during fast-moving incidents in Southern California.

The work is being led by Chaowei “Phil” Yang, professor in the Geography and Geoinformation Science Department in the College of Science, in partnership with researchers from California State University—Los Angeles, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the City of Los Angeles.

The project was framed against the Palisades and Eaton Fires, which killed 28 people, destroyed more than 16,000 structures and displaced tens of thousands of residents.

Wildfires are difficult to predict because many factors affect their growth, spread and speed.

That uncertainty can slow evacuation decisions and make it harder for response teams to judge who should be moved away from flames or hazardous air pollution.

Yang said: “The goal is to develop an artificial intelligence (AI)-based system that can provide real-time, high-resolution simulation and forecasting of wildfire behavior and model the resulting air pollution and air quality impacts for better informed public health responses.”

Yang added: “Inhaling wildfire smoke can cause serious and long-lasting damage to the breathing system.

“We need to get those people impacted to safety as well as those in direct line of the spreading flames.”

Data sources and system development

George Mason University said the digital twin will combine data from satellites, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), ground observations and citizen reports to simulate wildfire progress and the effect of potential interventions.

The system draws in information on fuel sources, moisture, load and consumption, along with wind speeds, temperatures and real-time fire sensors.

George Mason’s high-performance computing (HPC) cluster is used to automate data interpretation, and machine learning modelling is used to calibrate data sets to improve accuracy.

Model accuracy is expected to improve as more data sets become available.

Yang explained: “When we eventually provide information to firefighters and local agencies, we will give them a range of possibilities and a confidence level in those possibilities, such as ‘the fire will move in this direction with about 90% confidence, or 20% confidence,’

“That’s important for them when they’re trying to make these quick decisions about where to put fire fighters.

“It makes the information actionable instead of just data sets.”

The project also includes student participation from high school level through to post-doctoral research, with work focused on cloud computing and digital transformation.

Anusha Srirenganathan said: “Working closely with researchers from different disciplines helped me grow as a collaborator, and my work on the project strengthened my abilities in large-scale satellite data processing, spatial cloud computing, and AI/ML modeling for environmental applications,”

Yang said the team is also working on a Chesapeake Bay digital twin for flood forecasting and a conflict resolution digital twin with an alert system.

Qwake and webAI set emergency response focus on fire departments

by AI & Deep LearningFeatured News

Emergency response partnership begins with fire departments

webAI has announced a strategic collaboration with Qwake Technologies to assess predictive AI capabilities for emergency response, starting with fire departments.

The company said the work is intended to combine webAI’s edge intelligence infrastructure with Qwake’s critical operations platform to give incident commanders better information during incidents.

The collaboration is centred on moving AI into field use by bringing intelligence to where data originates.

The companies said this could create a practical tool for the fireground and could help operators, command staff and city leaders manage risk and improve operational effectiveness without additional resources.

How the companies described the work

webAI said Qwake currently embeds sensors and AI into emergency environments, including on people and vehicles, and that the two companies are examining how a predictive edge intelligence system could support the modern fireground.

David Stout, founder and CEO of webAI, said: “AI shouldn’t live in a distant cloud.

“It should be a practical tool that helps people in their own communities.

“Through our collaboration with Qwake, we see an opportunity to bring edge intelligence to the fireground in a way that could give first responders more real-time, mission-critical technology to stay safe and stay ahead of crisis.”

Sam Cossman, CEO of Qwake, added: “Today, C-THRU puts sensors on the people and vehicles closest to the crisis.

“That gives us real-time data from inside the most dangerous environments on earth.

“webAI’s edge intelligence has the potential to accelerate our roadmap from rapid response to prediction, and that could meaningfully expand how cities protect their communities.”

webAI said the escalation prediction tool is the first step in a wider shared vision for intelligent infrastructure across cities.

Zutec launches Building AI in Building Document Management platform

by Breaking NewsBuilding Management

Building AI launch and Zutec’s Building Document Management platform

Zutec has launched Building AI – Powered by Zutec, an artificial intelligence capability embedded into its Building Document Management (BDM) solution.

The company announced the launch in a press release, describing Building AI as a secure intelligence layer designed to enable asset owners to retrieve cited answers and operational insights from building documentation already held in BDM.

The tool is currently in beta and is intended to allow users to ask questions and receive responses grounded in validated building documents.

Asset owners can query information held in records such as O&M manuals, drawings, certificates, asset registers and compliance documentation.

Responses are generated within Zutec’s platform and remain inside its secure governed environment.

The system returns answers alongside citations showing the source document and location of the information.

How Building AI retrieves cited building information

Zutec said Building AI allows users to search for documents, search within a document or retrieve information across an asset register or building.

Example queries include asking about warranty information on specific building systems or requesting lists of architectural drawings.

Emily Hopson-Hill, Managing Director and Chief Operating and Strategy Officer at Zutec, said: “Building AI – Powered by Zutec, delivers practical, usable intelligence where it matters most – from the building information our asset owner customers already rely on within their current Building Document Management solution.

“With this solution we’ve focused on immediate, practical value, providing AI specifically built and trained on building data to support decision-making, maintenance, compliance, safety and overall day-to-day operations.

“By providing instant access to information normally buried deep within documents, we can help asset owners manage complex property portfolios while significantly increasing productivity and reducing risk.”

The company said responses are grounded in validated documents unique to each customer’s building and include full citations.

Existing BDM customers can use the capability with validated building data and without disruption to existing workflows.

Use cases, customers and Zutec’s stated direction

Zutec said the system is intended for compliance-related use cases including maintenance queries, regulatory information retrieval, handover validation and portfolio-wide data access.

It said the capability supports the management and accessibility of building information as part of the golden thread for Higher Risk Residential Buildings (HRRBs).

Steve Holtum, Head of Maintenance at Keble College, University of Oxford, said: “Managing a large, college estate is simpler with Zutec’s Building AI.

“It delivers fast, accurate access to drawings, manufacturer information, and commissioning data quickly and with confidence.”

The company said Building AI is the first intelligence solution in its portfolio and forms part of its plans to expand AI-enabled capabilities across compliance, safety and operational insight.

Intersec panel discussion spotlights AI use in frontline risk decisions

by AI & Deep LearningBreaking NewsHealth and Safety

Intersec discussion examines AI in safety-critical operations

Senior government and industry leaders at Intersec discussed how artificial intelligence is moving into everyday frontline operations in safety-critical environments.

The session, titled “AI & Safety 4.0: Rethinking Human Risk,” focused on how AI is being used in safety practices, ethical decision-making and risk management culture.

Panellists said AI tools should enhance human responsibility and leadership in safety-critical settings.

Accountability, trust and risks from reduced manual checks

Panellists described current uses of AI including predictive analytics, identifying risk patterns and triggering early warnings in complex operations.

Dr Waddah S. Ghanem Al Hashmi said: “We delegate responsibility, but we do not delegate accountability.

“So, the employer, anybody who engages with AI or uses AI, continues to carry the accountability.”

Speakers referenced refinery cases where AI-based predictive tools were followed by a drop in manual inspections, raising concerns about over-reliance on technology and new blind spots in safety systems.

Dr Islam Adra said: “When you put ‘trust’ and ‘AI’ in the same sentence, it’s kind of an oxymoron.

“There’s a contradiction there, because AI has done a very good job building a [very] bad reputation.

“When we think of AI, especially in the workplace, we think of surveillance, we think of control, we think of monitoring, and even the replacement of workers.”

The panel was moderated by Isaac Ochulor and also included Hari Kumar Polavarapu.

The speakers urged boards and executives across the region to integrate AI into their safety strategy, treating it as part of wider safety management.

The session formed part of the Intersec Health & Safety Conference 2026, powered by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH).

IFSJ Exclusive: Rethinking fire prevention in high-risk sites, with viAct

by Breaking NewsConstructionFire DetectionSafety

viAct examines the limits of reactive fire protection, fire prevention and argues for continuous monitoring of fire precursors across complex worksites

Industrial fires are often treated as sudden events.

In practice, they are usually the final outcome of conditions that have been developing for hours or days.

Across heavy industry, fire safety has traditionally relied on response mechanisms.

Alarms, suppression systems and evacuation procedures are designed to activate once smoke or heat reaches a defined threshold.

These systems remain essential for compliance and life safety, but they are triggered late in the sequence of events.

From viAct’s perspective, this reactive model leaves a gap between hazard formation and ignition.

Recent incidents have illustrated how quickly that gap can close.

The November 2025 fire in a high-rise housing and renovation complex in Hong Kong spread rapidly through combustible bamboo scaffolding and construction mesh materials.

Once ignition occurred, the speed of fire spread left little margin for intervention.

In environments such as construction, logistics, manufacturing and energy, viAct argues that fire safety effectiveness depends less on response speed and more on how early risk conditions are identified.

Why Traditional Fire Safety Still Leaves a Gap

Industrial workplaces remain among the higher-risk environments for fire.

According to a recent survey of workplace fires, industrial premises accounted for 24.85 percent of all workplace fires in the UK in 2024–25.

The National Safety Council reports that in the United States, fire departments respond to a fire incident every 23 seconds.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) estimated an average of 4,300 construction fires each year, resulting in around 62 civilian injuries, five civilian fatalities and property damage worth $375 million.

Many established fire safety measures, including periodic inspections, manual audits and alarm-based detection systems, are designed to respond once defined thresholds are reached.

As a result, they primarily capture lagging indicators, recording events after ignition has occurred.

Earlier conditions that can contribute to ignition, such as gradual temperature increases, smouldering equipment, undetected gas leaks or the accumulation of combustible dust, may fall outside routine reporting and monitoring processes.

These conditions are often addressed informally or remain undocumented, despite their potential role in later incidents.

This interval between the presence of a hazard and the onset of a fire represents an area where additional monitoring and analysis methods are increasingly being explored.

Real-time fire intelligence in practice

Advances in computer vision, sensor integration and edge analytics now allow risk conditions to be monitored continuously rather than intermittently.

In practical terms, this can involve identifying unsafe states such as blocked fire exits, combustible materials positioned near heat sources, sparks in restricted zones or early smoke particles that fall below alarm thresholds.

By analysing visual data, air quality, temperature change and historical patterns together, fire risk can be treated as a dynamic condition rather than a binary event.

Manufacturing plants have used machine vision systems to alert supervisors when debris blocks heat vents hours before temperatures reach critical levels.

Large logistics hubs have deployed particle-level smoke analytics to identify smouldering pallets long before sprinklers activate.

“Real-time fire intelligence isn’t about replacing fire marshals or safety officers — it’s about expanding their field of vision,” says Gary Ng, CEO of viAct. “When hidden thermal build-up or risky worker routines surface early, safety teams can intervene before danger turns irrecoverable.”

From detection to foresight

In complex industrial environments, risk is rarely static.

Equipment heats gradually, layouts shift and temporary works introduce new ignition sources.

When data from cameras, sensors, maintenance logs and environmental conditions is analysed together, patterns can emerge that are difficult to detect through manual checks alone.

A motor running slightly hotter than its baseline or debris repeatedly accumulating near a vent may appear insignificant in isolation, but can become more meaningful when tracked over time.

viAct views this as a shift from detection to foresight.

A complementary approach

Real-time fire intelligence does not remove responsibility from duty holders.

It also does not replace alarms, suppression systems or trained personnel.

It requires governance, defined thresholds and integration with existing safety management systems.

Industrial sites are becoming larger, denser and more automated, so continuous monitoring approaches are gaining attention as a way to supplement scheduled checks and conventional detection.

From viAct’s perspective, established protections and continuous risk awareness can work together to support earlier intervention.

Fires are sometimes preceded by signals that can be detected, but identifying them in time depends on what is monitored, how consistently it is tracked and how findings are acted on.

HEN Technologies raises $22M to develop an operating system for fire defence

by Breaking NewsFire Suppression

Financing targets faster extinguishment and lower water use

HEN Technologies has closed an oversubscribed $20 million Series A round plus $2 million in venture debt to accelerate deployment of its Fluid-IQ predictive AI platform built on advanced fluid dynamics hardware.

The company said the financing was announced on Thursday 18 December 2025 and takes its total capital raised to over $30 million.

O’Neil Strategic Capital led the round, with participation from NSFO, Tanas Capital and z21 Ventures.

Silicon Valley Bank provided the venture debt.

Fluid-IQ and HEN Technologies data approach

HEN Technologies said the capital will fund expansion of its IoT-enabled hardware infrastructure as it works to capture what it described as the industry’s first comprehensive operational fire dataset.

Alex Garden, Managing Partner of O’Neil Strategic Capital, said: “We’re proud to lead this round and back HEN’s vision to create an entirely new category: the intelligent operating system for fire defense.”

“Their hardware-first approach has already proven transformative in the field with more than 1,000 organizations globally.

“By building the data infrastructure that enables predictive AI, HEN is positioned to become the essential platform for how the world fights fires.

“This is how category-defining companies are built.”

Wildfire context and technical claims

HEN Technologies linked the announcement to increasing wildfire costs and fire behaviour, including a claim that the Palisades fire in Los Angeles caused over $50 billion in damages.

Dr. Sunny Sethi, CEO of HEN Technologies, said: “Wildfires are more frequent, and modern structures burn eight times faster than legacy structures.

“Incremental changes cannot keep up.

“That’s why we are building transformational technology using Physics-Informed Neural Networks (PINNs) and AI-powered decision support.

“We are moving beyond optimizing tools to optimizing strategy.

“This is essential infrastructure for climate resilience and national security.”

The company said its IoT-enabled systems deliver three-times faster extinguishment and reduce water usage by 67% while capturing data on flow, pressure and pattern performance.

Partner network and scaling priorities

Akshay Thakor, COO of HEN Technologies, said: “We are capitalizing on our momentum by scaling three critical areas: partner enablement, customer experience and technical operations.

“We are investing heavily in our distributor platform to empower our partners and increase our field presence to ensure agencies can experience our products in action.

“To sustain this growth, we are scaling our sales, operations and technical teams to maintain the highest level of execution as we deploy worldwide.”

HEN Technologies said its footprint includes over 100 distributors operating in 20 countries.

The company said it is scaling a team of more than 100 product demonstration specialists to support hands-on evaluation of its technology.

Raj Singh, Managing Partner at z21 Ventures, said: “Their proprietary fluid dynamics and AI platform don’t just improve efficiency; they deliver a paradigm shift in firefighting capabilities.

“This investment reflects our strong conviction in their technology, their exceptional team and the profound impact they will have on public safety globally.”

The Role of AI and Digital Transformation in Advanced Fire and Safety Management

by Breaking NewsSafety

One of the biggest advantages of AI is its predictive analytics capabilities. Modern AI models can analyse current and historical data and use machine learning and statistical algorithms to predict what is likely to happen next. That’s predictive analytics, and it can be instrumental in creating proactive measures that enhance fire and safety management. 

But that’s only one use case of AI in fire and safety management. 

Below is a quick breakdown of how AI and digital transformation can support advanced fire and safety management. 

Provides predictive analytics that support proactive safety measures

AI can process vast amounts of data to identify patterns and trends. It can analyse historical data on fires and safety incidents, for example. It can also analyse building layouts, tenant behaviour, material flammability, electrical load patterns, and even weather conditions. 

Advanced machine learning algorithms use the insights from that analysis to predict potential fire and safety hazards. These algorithms can even pinpoint specific rooms within buildings that are most at risk. 

That means fire and safety managers can move from reactive to proactive measures. Key decision-makers will have the valuable insights they need to make the necessary changes and allocate resources correctly to prevent fire and safety hazards before they happen. 

Supports real-time fire and safety monitoring 

Several tech startups are building AI-powered tools to tackle the wildfire problem. In one story covered by Newsweek, a teenager created an AI-powered app that’s currently monitoring over 200 million hectares across 19 countries. 

The app uses satellites owned by NASA, NOAA, and the European Space Agency. It has enhanced response capabilities because it gives firefighters the exact coordinates of the wildfires.

Urban areas are also benefiting from AI-powered fire-detection tools. Consider thermal CCTV as an example. These cameras use smart analytics for enhanced threat detection and to prevent false alarms. Besides detecting fire and safety threats, they can also classify objects, which gives response teams complete situational awareness. 

Modern digital fire-detection tools also support thermal imaging and acoustic signatures that speed up detection. Unlike traditional smoke sensors that only raise an alarm when there’s smoke, these systems can detect sparks or abnormal heat from equipment. They then trigger an alert to the response team since these tools also integrate with other safety and security systems, including communication tools.

Improves the training of fire and safety personnel 

AI and other technologies like augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are improving how firefighters train for safety incidents. The tech helps response teams train based on actual building layouts that exist. 

For example, a hospital building can be recreated through AR/VR simulations. Firefighters use these simulations to train on how they can respond to different emergency scenarios. This improves the preparedness of the teams. Plus, the tools provide detailed analytics that allow team members to see how their individual decisions affect the overall outcome. 

Besides training, AI enhances the safety of firefighters when they’re responding to fires. AI-powered tools like the app and the thermal cameras discussed above enhance the situational awareness of firefighters. They know exactly where the fires are, the presence and condition of the people there, whether the exits are blocked or not, and so on. 

These details allow firefighters to approach situations with a clear understanding of what threats lie ahead and what they should do to stay safe while containing the threat. 

Improves decision-making

There’s only so much data you can consume and use for decision-making as a human. It’s even harder to make a sound decision in a high-pressure environment when responding to a fire or safety threat. 

Thankfully, decision-making is one area where AI and modern digital tools thrive. These tools can ingest massive amounts of data and use it to suggest practical ways forward. 

The result? Better decision-making for the humans who make the final call. 

AI systems analyse historical data to help you make informed decisions on how to allocate resources. They can analyse real-time data during an ongoing emergency to help you create a smart response strategy. Lastly, they can analyse data from a fire and safety incident that has just happened, so you can know what went wrong and how you can prevent a similar incident in future. 

AI and digital transformation can totally transform fire and safety management. Still, you must be careful how you use these systems. Remember that AI’s predictive analytics are based on the data you feed the system. So, if there’s something off with the data, then the output will also be incorrect. 

Follow the best practices for safe AI adoption to ensure these systems support your human team.

Intersec 2026 to focus on AI risk governance and cybersecurity strategy

by Breaking NewsEventsFeatured NewsMiddle East - Events

Intersec 2026 to host InCyber Briefing on AI

Intersec has announced that the InCyber Briefing at Intersec 2026 in Dubai will focus on artificial intelligence governance and cyber resilience for senior security leaders.

The briefing will run as part of the 27th edition of Intersec, taking place from 12–14 January 2026 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

According to Intersec, the programme is tailored for chief information security officers, cybersecurity strategists and digital risk leaders dealing with rapid technological change.

The event will address practical tools and real-world frameworks for AI governance, post-quantum readiness, supply chain resilience and cyber risk reporting.

Intersec noted that the UAE cybersecurity market is expanding from US$620 million in 2024 to a projected US$1.29 billion by 2030.

The company linked this growth to AI security analytics, Zero Trust architecture and government initiatives that are reshaping how organisations approach cyber defence.

UAE cybersecurity market growth and policy context

Intersec said ResearchAndMarkets data shows the UAE cybersecurity sector is growing at a compound annual growth rate of 12.8% until 2030.

The research attributes this expansion to national digital transformation programmes and rising cyber threats across public and private sectors.

According to the research, strong government backing for digital infrastructure has been a major driver of market demand.

Examples cited include the UAE National Cybersecurity Strategy and the creation of entities such as the Cybersecurity Council.

These initiatives are described as providing a policy and coordination framework that supports long-term investment in cyber capabilities.

Intersec positioned the InCyber Briefing within this context as a forum for examining how governance of emerging technologies such as AI is evolving in the UAE and beyond.

Village parable frames AI governance challenges

A keynote session by Luqman Kondeth, Director of Cybersecurity at New York University Abu Dhabi, will headline the InCyber Briefing.

Intersec stated that his session, titled “The Oracle in the System: A Village Parable for Governing AI”, will translate AI governance concepts into an accessible narrative.

Luqman Kondeth, Director of Cybersecurity at New York University Abu Dhabi, said: “In the story, the Village Head must keep his people alive through uncertainty, balancing resources, risk, and innovation.

“When he introduces an Oracle, a brilliant but unpredictable tool, he faces the same dilemma we face with AI: how to benefit from its intelligence without surrendering judgment.

“By watching how the Head sets rules, validates predictions, and keeps humans in the loop, audiences see governance not as compliance paperwork, but as collective wisdom made systematic,”

Intersec indicated that the keynote will focus on how leaders can set boundaries for AI systems while maintaining human oversight.

Addressing concerns around AI predictions and hallucinations, Kondeth is expected to emphasise the role of governance in clarifying accountability.

Kondeth said: “We must build systems, or ‘three lines of defence’: operations teams who test AI in controlled conditions, risk and compliance teams who measure accuracy and bias, and internal auditors who verify the rules were followed.”

Future-facing view of AI governance practice

Intersec reported that Kondeth will also outline how AI governance could operate inside organisations over the coming years.

Kondeth added: “AI governance needs to be continuous, integrated, and human-centred.

“We’re moving toward AI control rooms that constantly monitor model behaviour, supported by ongoing risk assessments rather than periodic reviews.

“Because AI will operate as both a tool and a service across the enterprise, close alignment with Enterprise Architecture is essential.

“Ultimately, governance must remain adaptive – measuring not just performance, but trust, accountability, and societal impact,”

Intersec linked this perspective to wider discussions at the briefing on embedding AI oversight into design and decision-making pipelines.

The event will examine how control mechanisms can be built into enterprise processes, rather than handled through occasional audits alone.

Briefing content to cover post-quantum and crisis simulation

According to Intersec, the InCyber Briefing will run as a one-day stream within the wider exhibition.

The session programme will address AI, post-quantum readiness, data sovereignty and crisis simulation.

Intersec stated that the goal is to provide leaders with practical frameworks they can use to assess and manage digital risk.

The agenda will also examine supply chain resilience and the reporting of cyber risk at board and executive level.

Intersec indicated that the content is designed to connect strategic governance with operational practice for those overseeing complex digital environments.

Kearney roundtable to examine national infrastructure cyber defence

In addition to the InCyber Briefing, Intersec confirmed that management consulting firm Kearney will host a closed-door roundtable during the event.

The session is titled “Defending the Digital Backbone: Securing National Infrastructure in the Era of AI and Hybrid Threats.”

Intersec said the roundtable will focus on how governments can move from reactive defence to more proactive, intelligence-driven resilience.

The discussion will look at ways to integrate policy, technology and collaboration across ecosystems to protect critical assets.

Kearney will produce a white paper based on the roundtable, outlining key points from the session for use by public and private stakeholders.

Intersec 2026 set to be largest edition

Intersec stated that the 2026 edition will feature more than 1,400 exhibitors from over 60 countries.

Visitor numbers are expected to reach 50,000, making it the largest Intersec edition to date.

The event will span 67,000 sqm of exhibition space at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

Intersec confirmed that the show will be held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansoor Bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

The event is supported by the General Command of Dubai Civil Defense and the Security Industry Regulatory Agency.

Dishan Isaac, Show Director of Intersec at Messe Frankfurt Middle East, said: “AI, automation, and digitisation are reshaping the cybersecurity landscape.

“The InCyber Briefing equips decision-makers with the foresight, frameworks, and leadership strategies needed to govern AI ethically and effectively while securing their organisations against emerging threats.”

AI governance and cyber resilience for safety-critical sectors

The InCyber Briefing at Intersec 2026 brings together content on AI governance, post-quantum readiness and crisis simulation that is directly relevant to leaders managing safety-critical operations.

For emergency and disaster response managers, the focus on crisis simulation provides insight into how cyber incidents are being modelled alongside wider organisational risks.

For government departments and policy teams, the Kearney roundtable and follow-up white paper could inform discussions on how to harden national infrastructure against hybrid threats that combine digital and physical pressure points.

For facility managers across industrial, commercial and public sectors, the emphasis on supply chain resilience and cyber risk reporting offers examples of how digital oversight is being integrated into operational risk management.

For mechanical and electrical engineers and fire engineering consultants involved in connected building systems, the attention given to AI control rooms and continuous monitoring shows how cybersecurity responsibilities are being embedded into ongoing system design and maintenance.

Does UK construction’s AI ambitions face a reality gap?

by AI & Deep LearningBreaking NewsConstructionResearch

Managers and workers divided on AI readiness

Rapid Global has published new findings showing a major disconnect between managers and frontline workers in the UK Building and Construction sector over the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for workplace safety.

According to the company, 51% of managers believe their business is fully ready to adopt AI to improve workplace safety, compared with only 20% of frontline workers.

The research shows that 77% of managers think a unified safety system would make compliance easier, while 22% of workers believe old habits are holding back new technology.

Paper-based processes remain in use, with 18% of frontline workers and 14% of managers reporting that key safety tasks such as inductions, sign-in and incident reporting are still completed manually.

Differences in training and visibility across sites

The study highlights discrepancies in how safety visibility and training are perceived.

While 86% of workers believe managers have good visibility of safety trends and incidents, only 56% of managers agree.

On training, 50% of managers say their sites provide comprehensive onboarding, but just 24% of workers share that view.

Rapid Global said this points to inconsistency in how safety information is communicated and applied across construction sites.

Paul Rapuano, Global Strategic Partnerships Manager at Rapid Global, commented: “Construction leaders are ready to digitise, consolidate systems, and explore AI, but too often workers remain unconvinced or stuck with outdated processes.

“To reap the full rewards of new technologies like AI, the way forward for the sector has to be visible proof that technology makes safety easier, training more consistent, and worksites safer.

“That will be the ideal on-ramp for companies in the sector to see digital transformation deliver on its promise.”

Broader trends in safety technology adoption

The Rapid Global Workplace Safety 2025 Report also found that 75% of managers believe adopting new technology would reduce risk and improve safety, compared with 44% of workers.

When it comes to AI implementation, 28% of managers said the process has been slower than expected, while 25% of workers agreed.

The study found that 73% of managers think staff understand incident response protocols, compared with 59% of workers.

Rapid Global reported that 30% of managers admit to fast-tracking safety training to speed up site entry, while 14% of workers said the same.

Nearly one in five workers said safety processes cause them anxiety, and 60% do not believe their business supports positive mental health care.

Rapuano added: “UK Building & Construction firms that move to modernise safety systems, replacing paper with digital-first tools to show how AI can support, not replace, frontline expertise, will strengthen compliance, cut risks, and build the resilient worksites the sector needs.”

Relevance for fire and safety professionals

For health and safety managers, compliance officers and risk assessors in the construction sector, the findings indicate persistent operational gaps in digital safety practices.

The data shows that many construction sites still rely on paper-based processes for critical safety tasks, which may limit transparency and accuracy in incident reporting.

Differences between managerial perception and frontline experience also highlight the challenge of maintaining consistent safety communication across multiple sites.

For those responsible for implementing workplace safety systems, the research provides insight into how digital tools, including AI, could be used to standardise training and improve oversight.

The results may also inform fire-safety planning in complex construction environments where multiple contractors and reporting systems are in use.