The UQ VisLab recently hosted representatives from the TAFE Centre of Excellence Construction Tech to explore digital twin adoption and digital upskilling for construction trades. Adam Shaw, Kaz Harris-Brown, Amrita Kambo and Michelle Battersby from TAFE Queensland joined Dr Jurij Karlovsek, Dr Qianbin Xu, James O'Kane, Associate Professor Fred Fialho Teixeira from UQ, alongside Liam Dixon and Aaron Cartridge from BuildingPoint Australia, connecting vocational education, university research and industry technology. Building on the Trade Digital Upskill Research grant, the visit connected the project's training focus with the VisLab's research in spatial data, immersive visualisation and digital twins for Modern Modes of Construction. This funded research milestone, investigates how digital engineering and model-based workflows can become practical tools for learning and workplace use.
BuildingPoint Australia showcased Trimble 3D scanning processes, bringing a practical industry perspective to the visit. Spatial capture provides a way to document physical conditions as digital data that can inform modelling, visualisation and comparison. These processes offer a tangible starting point for understanding how construction site information can support digital twin workflows. In training, that connection could help learners relate digital information to the physical spaces and tasks they encounter in practice.
For tradespeople and educators, the opportunity is to connect these technologies with tasks they can recognise and apply. Digital models could help learners interpret site conditions, understand spatial relationships and communicate work requirements. The grant's research will examine capability gaps and adoption barriers, informing pilot programs and training pathways suited to construction workplaces.
The VisLab thanks TAFE Queensland, UQ colleagues and BuildingPoint Australia for their contributions. By bringing educators, researchers and technology specialists together, the visit supports a shared ambition: turning digital construction capabilities into practical skills for Queensland's workforce. The exchange provides a foundation for further discussion about training needs and pathways for adoption.
