Every year, hundreds of submissions are submitted for the opportunity to speak at Digital Construction Week.  After the success of his original presentation ‘Trouble at Tracy Island’ Dan Rossiter FCIAT, built environment sector lead at BSI, opted to reprise this format.

Through the medium of Thunderbirds Dan’s presentation, presented below, focused on Parker and his use of the golden thread to keep Tracy Island safe.

Dan Rossiter on-stage at Digital Construction Week 2023

Frustrated, after multiple failed attempts to discover the location of International Rescue’s Base, The Hood came up with his most devious idea yet.  Just as Muhammad must go to the mountain, disaster must go to International Rescue.  By hypnotizing an innocent bystander, The Hood was able to sneak a nefarious package onto Thunderbird 2.  In doing so the package would be safely carried back to Tracy Island.

After, once again, saving the day with his siblings Virgil unsuspectingly flew home.  Back at base, being the diligent son he is, Virgil fully unloaded and cleaned Thunderbird 2 on their return; leaving the nefarious package within a nearby loading bay.  Too tired from moving all these heavy boxes, Virgil cancelled his afternoon plans with lady Penelope.

Whilst driving Lady Penelope around, Parker noticed she seemed down.  Lady Penelope mentioned that Virgil was too tired after unloading extra large package which wasn’t on the inventory list.

“An extra package, M’lady?”

Suspicious by nature, Parker decided he would investigate on their return.  Parker devised a plan, he knew that he needed to:

  • Access the Tracy Island records;
  • Find the as-built information;
  • Locate the hanger storage; and
  • Investigate package.

Accessing records:  Aware that Tracy Island followed good practice, Parker recalled the island being built with a ‘golden thread’: The information needed to understand Tracy Island as well as the steps needed to keep both the building and people safe, now and in the future.  He also recalled technical standards such as BS 8644-1 being used to ensure the consistent exchange of fire safety information throughout the design and construction of Tracy Island, as well as The ISO 19650 Series to establish a Common Data Environment.  Knowing that this golden thread would include the as-built information, Parker proceeded to access the system to look for the files he needed.

Finding the as-built information:  Unfortunately, this is where Parker encountered an issue.  As opposed to following the file naming and metadata conventions within BS EN ISO 19650-2, Parker discovered several conflicting site layouts on the system:  Site-FINALv2 and Site-FINAL-FINAL.  Without clear naming or metadata to indicate which was the latest version, Parker could potentially end up in the wrong part of the island!  Wasting time, Parker checked the rooms in the vicinity and determined that Site-FINAL-FINAL must be the correct version.  With the current as-built information in hand, Parker proceeded with haste to locate the hanger storage.

Locating the hanger:  Thankfully, once he found the correct drawing, locating the hanger was easy.  The layout drawing had used the BS EN ISO 4157-2 room numbering convention, meaning Parker was able to easily locate the corresponding room and ascertain the quickest route.

Investigating the package:  On arrival, Parker quickly discovered that the nefarious package was indeed an explosive: An Auto-bomb.

“Stand by for disarming.  5, 4, 3, 2, 1…”.

Relying on his array of skills, Parker was able to disarm the explosive and thwart disaster.  However, keen to ensure such a problem didn’t occur again, Parker had one final ask to do.

So that Virgil, or any other member of International Rescue, didn’t make the same mistake Parker updated the Safety Case Report.  As a document which demonstrates how safety risks have been identified and assessed, Parker included a new risk ‘exploding packages’ and the action required to mitigate it.  In this instance Parker suggested that packages should be checked before they are unloaded.

After a hectic day Parker reflected on the value that the ‘golden thread’, a digital record of the information needed to understand Tracy Island as well as the steps needed to keep both the building and people safe, now and in the future, had in ensuring that Tracy island was kept safe.  Thanks to the ‘Golden Thread’, and the consistency provided by standards such as BS 8644-1 and The ISO 19650 Series, Parker was able to ensure that good practices relating to fire and structural safety are go!