Construcciones Yamaro: Spatial capture gives John Holland a new lens on site
Spatial capture is being integrated into John Holland’s site workflows to verify works, coordinate trades and document site conditions during delivery.
John Holland’s portfolio, built over more than seven decades, stands out for its concentration of large, technically challenging projects. In recent years, the contractor has ramped up its digital engineering strategy in line with the rising complexity of the works it takes on, supported by a suite of technologies including spatial intelligence.
One such platform is Cupix, an AI-powered spatial intelligence platform that captures and visualises construction sites in a virtual environment. Using artificial intelligence (AI) and 360-degree cameras, it enables remote site monitoring, progress tracking and as-built documentation.
Historically, these tasks relied on manual, paper-based processes dispersed across different teams and functions. That fragmentation delayed decision-making and limited visibility across fast-moving construction environments.
Mitchell Erickson, group manager of digital engineering at John Holland, says the initial catalyst emerged during COVID lockdowns, when the business needed to track site progress remotely while maintaining accountability across multiple functions. The objective was not to replace established project roles, but to automate the manual processes between teams and streamline discussions so decisions remain with those responsible, without information stalling across layers of review.
The focus has been most acute across building projects, where design, engineering, services and subcontractor teams interact continuously from concept through to commissioning. Early use cases centred on capturing services in concealed spaces prior to enclosure, establishing a chronological spatial record that could later be referenced during coordination, verification and handover.
“The process started with the ability to capture medical services in walls before they were sheeted up,” explains Erickson. “On hospital builds, you have mechanical, hydraulic, medical gas and HVAC services in ceilings and walls. Cupix allows our teams to capture when walls are constructed and when services are installed prior to on-site completion tasks.”
The approach replaces static documentation with a time-sequenced visual record of installation. Instead of relying on retrospective reporting, project teams are able to reference an auditable timeline of site activity, supporting more accurate verification of installed works and alignment between design intent and site conditions. The temporal nature of captures also introduces a strong commercial dimension. Timestamped records enable clearer assessment of subcontractor progress, support claims discussions between trades, and reduce ambiguity when reconciling sequencing, access or installation disputes.
Unlike key traditional survey-based documentation, which captures conditions at isolated points in time, continuous spatial capture enables teams to compare progress across stages, overlay previous site states and assess how installation has evolved. Cupix provides a dynamic reference point for coordination and issue resolution, particularly where multiple trade packages are operating concurrently.
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Accessibility and on-site adoption
Accessibility has been instrumental in driving adoption, with the platform embedded into routine workflows instead of confined to specialist digital engineering roles. Services engineers, document controllers and site administrators can conduct captures as part of their day-to-day responsibilities, increasing frequency without diverting critical project resources. This aligns with the digital fluency of newer site teams entering through graduate and engineering pipelines, who are increasingly comfortable working within spatial and model-based environments.
“The process is easier and does not take team members away from critical activities,” says Erickson. “When we bring the captures back into the site office, we can compare the model with the site capture and assess design versus actual. That gives a strong tool for managing trade output and mapping progress across the site.”
Implementation has been supported through direct engagement with project teams, with Cupix providing on-site training and capture setup assistance, contributing to smooth early-stage rollout across pilot projects.
At the same time, Erickson acknowledges that adoption has involved a learning curve. Capture quality, internal awareness and back-of-house processes have required refinement to ensure consistent value across different project environments, particularly as usage expands across varied asset classes.
Integration with John Holland’s common data environment anchors the platform within established digital workflows. Where deployed, Cupix connects directly into Autodesk Construction Cloud environments hosted across projects spanning healthcare, water infrastructure, commercial and industrial works. Site capture can be reviewed alongside design models, trade-phase development and as-built conditions within a unified data ecosystem, supporting quality and compliance.
“One of the key use cases for us has been on hospital projects. A major risk item on those projects is the coordination of services on site,” says Erickson.
“You typically have a detailed design that is then handed over to trade teams for further development prior to installation, and the issue we often face, especially in ceilings, is the tolerance between the floor above and the hung ceiling space.
“Verifying what has been installed before the ceiling is panelled, and to make changes on the run, is critical because there is a hierarchy in how those services are installed. The ability to spatially review that is a key capability for a business like ours.”
Site visibility at scale
John Holland is not seeking to replace existing site processes. Instead, Cupix operates as a spatial reference that allows teams to locate themselves within the physical environment while coordinating in real time. When site constraints, material availability or sequencing changes require deviation from design models, captures provide a current record of conditions that can be used to coordinate with trade teams.
“It is difficult to put a dollar value on the impact of that,” says Erickson. “Instead of relying on a single digital engineering resource to manage outcomes, site managers and site teams can assess conditions directly and make informed decisions from a spatial set-out, and then coordinate accordingly in the field.”
Some project teams have begun testing the use of captures to document material laydown areas and access conditions, creating an evidentiary record where blocked work fronts become points of contention. The captures reduce ambiguity and support informed contract management discussions with suppliers and subcontractors.
Client and stakeholder communication is also evolving through spatial capture, replacing periodic walkthroughs and bulk documentation at milestone gates. Teams can step through coordinated issues within a spatial interface, demonstrating room layouts, service relocations and sequencing changes in a visual context. This has proven valuable on healthcare projects, where standardised room types and late-stage service adjustments need to be communicated clearly to multiple stakeholder groups.
“Being able to show, from the model and the progressive site capture, exactly where things sit gives clients greater clarity,” says Erickson. “It moves the conversation away from a simple walkthrough and into transparent evidence-based discussion.”
Feedback from project teams has been positive, he says, especially across vertical construction and contained environments where capture implementation is straightforward. Expansion into civil and linear projects is now underway, although the scale of capturing larger project footprints introduces complexity in data management and capture logistics.
John Holland is advancing a measured adoption strategy grounded in proof-of-concept deployment and direct project feedback, not top-down mandates. Projects increasingly request the platform during planning and budgeting phases, signalling organic integration into delivery workflows and a growing internal groundswell for spatial capture capability.
As Erickson notes, “Cupix is starting to become a staple within the business”.
The applicability of the technology is also being explored across brownfield projects, where reliable as-built information is often limited. Early-stage capture in these environments can establish a clearer baseline understanding of existing conditions, enabling faster verification and informed decision-making during delivery.
John Holland is simultaneously assessing applications across tunnels, linear infrastructure and its operations and maintenance business, where documentation of completed works and maintenance activities can provide long-term asset value. The intent is to extend usage progressively across the project lifecycle, beginning with services and quality workflows before expanding into safety, site operations and maintenance contexts.
“Cupix is going to become more prevalent for John Holland on some of the tunnel projects currently in flight,” says Erickson. “There is a strong appetite for that in the business, and it is something we want to progress further.”
Across current use cases, while precise dollar metrics remain project-specific, teams are already observing many hours saved on site through reduced manual verification, faster issue resolution and efficient coordination between functions. With a portfolio of more than 50 live projects, even incremental time savings at project level translate into operational value.
Aligning with digital strategy
The platform’s alignment with John Holland’s digital construction strategy is reinforced by internal demand. A recent survey indicated that more than 1,200 site-based engineering staff expressed a desire for greater access to digital tools, with adaptable, low-barrier platforms receiving the strongest support.
“Cupix aligns closely with where we are heading, particularly as we push more into construction-phase works. It sits in a strong position for us because it is adaptable for site teams and can provide operational benefit,” says Erickson.
“There are many use cases we can apply Cupix to, but it is about where we can implement it sustainably for teams to manage.
“The implementation process has been seamless to date. The next step is determining where we invest further time and resources, because the potential areas of benefit across the business are substantial.”
This approach also informs the working relationship with Cupix. Deployment is not treated as a one-off implementation. John Holland maintains an active feedback loop with the vendor, providing structured input on functionality, limitations and field performance. The collaborative engagement, including training support and direct interaction with project teams, has been well received internally and is considered important to sustainable scaling.
“Cupix wants the feedback loop and is willing to work with us to refine what works in a live construction environment. That willingness to collaborate is a refreshing approach,” says Erickson. “We look for partners that care about project outcomes, rather than simply deploying a tool and expecting the business to figure it out. Cupix has been strong in that regard.”
As spatial capture capability matures, Cupix is becoming part of John Holland’s longer-term digital toolset, with the focus on integrating the platform into everyday site operations as the business moves towards enterprise-wide adoption.
Current John Holland projects using Cupix
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