AI Driven Digital Construction Set to be a Reality for Roofing Contractor

Sohrab Jafarpour

Hodgson Sayers has appointed Sohrab Jafarpour on a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) agreement with Teesside University.

With Sohrab’s expertise, the County Durham-based roofing company will make a step-change in digital construction by embedding a novel AI-driven Digital Twin platform into its design and manufacturing operations. A web-based interface will further allow non-technical staff to interact with the system.

The KTP builds on an ongoing collaboration between Hodgson Sayers and Teesside University. In 2014 graduate Kin Ma joined the company, focused on digital systems integration and the early adoption of Building Information Modelling. Kin remains a key part of the team, demonstrating the long-term success these partnerships can deliver.

AI Driven Digital Construction

John Sayers, Managing Director of Hodgson Sayers, said: “Sohrab has excellent credentials specific to our need and will enable us to achieve our vision to transform the company into a dynamic, intelligent contractor capable of delivering smarter, faster and more efficient construction solutions in high-value sectors including utilities, security infrastructure, heritage and renewables.

“This project is highly innovative because it fuses advanced parametric modelling, physics-based simulations and AI into a fully synchronised, cloud-enabled Digital Twin tailored specifically to the needs of an SME contractor. We believe this level of real time integration and automation is unprecedented in the UK construction SME sector.”

Academic Input

Sohrab, who has a PhD in Mechanical Engineering at Northumbria University, said: “While Hodgson Sayers has made great progress in Building Information Modelling, its processes remain largely manual, hindering its ability to automate and scale design, structural validation and manufacturing. To address this, I bring knowledge in AI-driven design optimisation, Digital Twin system architecture, parametric CAD-CAE integration, cloud-based collaboration and construction feedback integration.

“These capabilities are not present in-house and require specialist academic input in multi-physics simulation, machine learning and systems engineering. Through this KTP, Hodgson Sayers will embed a real-time, scalable Digital Twin platform tailored to its product lines – security doors, frames, roofing systems. This will enable dynamic, automated updates across the full design, manufacture and construction lifecycle.”

Hodgson Sayers is primarily a specialist roofing, building maintenance and security products company that operates across the UK from its headquarters in Stanley and a base in Nottingham. It employs a mix of skilled operatives, including contracts managers, joiners, roofers and bricklayers. The majority of its client base operates within the public sector and utilities.

>> Read more about Hodgson Sayers in the news