With a background in architecture and Building Information Modelling (BIM), Pinar Kabaoglu is at the forefront of Kirby’s efforts to advance industry practices through the adoption of the latest techniques and technologies.
She joined Kirby in 2023 and, in her role as Information Manager, is responsible for creating consistency and standardisation in how construction information is produced, managed and controlled across the company.
Pinar’s role is key to ensuring that project teams have a single, reliable and structured source of information to work from. By managing our common data environment and aligning how information is created and controlled, teams have consistent and timely access to the correct information – with the appropriate permission levels – regardless of their location or discipline.
“Standardised information not only improves day-to-day collaboration, but it also increases the long-term value of our data. When information is produced in a consistent way, it can be analysed more effectively, turning project experience into insight that can be shared across the business and applied on future projects,” she explains.
Journey to Kirby
Pinar initially studied to be an architect and practised for a number of years in her home country of Turkey. Seeing the rapid technical advancements in the sector, she took the decision to take a year out and complete a master’s degree in Global BIM Management in Barcelona, Spain, in 2019. It was after graduation that she moved into the engineering and construction sector, working as a BIM Manager in Istanbul on a large data centre project.
Moving to Ireland and working for Kirby, she’s now supporting teams across the world to maintain our lead in information management, while also spearheading the adoption of new technology, creating structured data systems, and rolling out advancements after testing and validation.
“We recently advanced our digital delivery capabilities by introducing custom commissioning tools,” she explains.
Co-developed by Pinar and our technology solutions provider Symetri, the tools work with Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC) to streamline asset workflows by automating checklist generation, enabling one-click test pack creation and providing real-time progress reporting to project management teams.
“By removing manual data handling, the tools have made our processes significantly more efficient, as well as supporting consistent, audit-ready handovers. We’re now moving toward the next automation phase, where engineering schedule data will automatically populate checklist fields, further enhancing accuracy and efficiency,” she explains.
Data management: Leading, training and maintaining
“Everything we do in this space is tested, measured and rolled out in a controlled way,” says Pinar, who works closely with Document Controllers and site teams. “New processes and technology launches often fail without a dedicated training plan and a consistent drumbeat of guidance and support.”
We ask Pinar what sets Kirby apart in this space. “Investment,” she says. “Our leadership has been preparing for this point for a number of years and has invested consistently in the right technologies to support quality, safety, delivery and value for our clients.
“Here, digitalisation initiatives – with information management as a core component – are viewed as value drivers rather than compliance requirements. That mindset is important, and it’s what sets us apart.
“Every single one of our projects is delivered in line with international industry standards, often exceeding baseline requirements to provide long-term benefits for both our clients and our people. As part of this continuous improvement, emerging technologies also play an important role in how we support delivery across our projects.”
Driving the industry forward
Pinar is not sitting still, and with a thirst for learning – she has two master’s degrees – she’s committed to staying ahead of industry innovations. “I have always been driven by knowledge, and in this industry in particular you have to stay ahead and maintain your drive to improve. Robotics, for example, is a particularly interesting area of advancement, especially where millimetre‑critical environments demand absolute precision. These technologies, when applied in the right way, directly support our goals around safety, quality and predictable delivery.”
“An increased use of off-site manufacturing is another area we are seeing significant gains for our clients, with many aspects of our work already analysed for efficiencies. Off-site manufacturing is not only safer, but can improve quality, sustainability and programme certainty. We will always work with clients to evaluate the benefits across all projects at pre-construction stage. Often people are surprised by the capabilities that already exist in this space,” she ends.
To find out more about our digital construction capabilities, go to www.kirbygroup.com.
