Digital technology at the service of the general interest: "BatiSolid" or how to build better in the Antilles with adapted standards

CERC Martinique (Cellule Économique Régionale de la Construction: Construction Regional Economic Unit ) a regional observatory for the construction industry.

Created in 2018, the Martinique CERC’s  main mission is to ensure better knowledge of the construction sector. As a regional observatory, this association is intended to become a forum for consultation, bringing together professionals in the sector and public authorities around specific issues. The studies carried out by Martinique CERC gather all the economic and statistical information specific to the construction sector, which it uses to inform the strategies and decisions of professionals, elected officials and administrations.

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The project: adapting the existing and co-creating new construction standards 

These are the facts: French technical standards very rarely take into account the specific climatic conditions and vulnerability of overseas territories. These standards were developed by national offices, yet they are cited as a reference in construction projects in the overseas territories, particularly during disasters. This is why CERC Martinique has been entrusted with this adaptation project in 2019. Renamed "BatiSolid" since then, it is estimated at 1.6 million euros. 

Launched in July 2021 for a 30 month period, the second phase of the project, co-led with CERC Guadeloupe, involves 14 working groups, i.e. nearly a hundred local volunteer experts from various trades in the construction sector. The next stage, initiated in November, marks the operational launch of the project, again with the help of contributing experts from Martinique and Guadeloupe. 

Financed by the CTM, the DEAL and Action Logement through the Ministry of Ecological Transition and the two mechanisms that are the Overseas Housing Plan and the Convergence and Transformation Contract, this project, set up by the members of the Bureau of the Unit led by Gwladys BAUDEL and Yann HONORÉ, President of the CERC Martinique, is piloted by Jean-Yves BONNAIRE, President of the Contact-Entreprises association and Secretary General of the Syndicat des Entrepreneurs en Bâtiment et Travaux Publics de Martinique (SEBTPAM), himself accompanied by a team of experts from the firms Advici Conseil and EYE Consulting. 

Digital technology at the service of a large-scale project

The main challenge here is the scale of the project, which involves various subjects, mobile players and a large volume of information. EYE Consulting's involvement in this project, which will last until 2023, will be based on consulting and the implementation of a "Digital Workplace", a digital and collaborative work environment aimed at tracking, centralising information and making exchanges more fluid. The proposed solution should eventually become the reference channel for unifying and facilitating this large community in the making. It is also set to become a foundation for the continuation of the project. In keeping with the work initiated by the CERC Martinique, this "Digital Workplace" will be a precious source of information to be used by local and more widely European population. This is definitely a programme which is fitting with the ambition carried by EYE Consulting since its creation, namely to support the development of the local economic fabric by working with and for the collective, as Élodie EUGÉNIA-CHARLOTTE, co-founder, testifies:

 "CERC and the sector's social and economic players were able to activate the local and national relays necessary to generate enthusiasm and create a favourable ground for the commitment of construction professionals in Martinique. Strengthened by this first success, it was important to offer relevant means that would facilitate collaboration and support a genuine improvement process. This challenge, which we have taken up with great commitment, gives us the opportunity to contribute to a project of great scope in terms of the issues at stake, the stakeholders and the expected results for the territory, a project which will ultimately benefit people of Martinique and Guadeloupe, as well as the wider Caribbean population”.