Design HVAC for Modern Office Facility

Much like office practices and workflows, modern offices are changing. They are designed to be more open than in the past, which consisted of a ring of private cabins or offices surrounding clusters of cubicles in the centre of the office floor. The open plan design calls for alternative considerations for heating, ventilation and air conditioning, or HVAC duct design.

Cubicles are increasingly replaced with workspaces created for specific activities, such as team lounges, fitness centres and large work tables for discussions and collaboration on team projects. The HVAC system consumes a significant portion of all energy needs in a building, and changes in the office layout will impact the HVAC design. Thinking and planning for HVAC design in an office space needs to begin as early as possible when considering renovation or a new project to save energy costs.

Design goals for office buildings are based on the fundamental principle of ensuring health and safety to those occupying those buildings. Ventilation, therefore, is required at all times and must eliminate or minimise pollutants. The measure of air flowing in or out of a space is cubic feet per minute or cfm. Generally, a person needs up to 30 cfm of outdoor air, and an ideal comfortable temperature is between 20 and 24ºC with 20-60% relative humidity. The efficiency of HVAC systems design makes these conditions possible.

Some of the key strategies for efficient HVAC systems design in modern offices include:

Reduction of Cooling Loads

Well insulated walls, floors and windows are a must. The use of natural light for a healthier workplace is becoming increasingly accepted as the norm and for the reduction of heating loads during the winter season. For warmer climates, tinted low-e glass can help avoid solar gain (solar heat gain or passive solar gain), which is the increase in thermal energy resulting from the absorption of solar radiation, and reduce cooling loads. Low emissivity glass, or low-e glass has a super-thin transparent coating that reflects infrared energy or heat. This glass minimises both ultraviolet and infrared light passing through it without affecting the visible light that is transmitted.
Lights that automatically switch off during sufficient daylight conditions are a useful energy-saving idea, which can work as a complement to cooler lighting options and will generate less heat, thus reducing cooling loads on the HVAC system.

HVAC System Size

It’s important not to install an HVAC system that is too big for the energy needs of the office concerned. Oversized air conditioning systems typically create discomfort during the day. Such systems generally switch on and off continuously and are not efficient in removing humidity, resulting in an office area that is predominantly humid and dotted with hot and cold spots. More than just square footage needs to be considered in calculating HVAC load requirements. Computer simulation can accurately analyse building materials, daylight, lighting design and space activities affecting HVAC loads.

Zones

Multiple zones with independent temperature controls within a large open space translates to greater efficiency and comfort. Different areas in open spaces have different temperature requirements, such as:

• Perimeter areas, which need separate controls, as they are more susceptible to weather
• Computer rooms, which have special temperature needs and controls
• Conference rooms and other areas that host large gatherings of employees, which need more cooling while in use and less when empty 

Modern offices with fewer internal walls make these design details tricky.

Sensors
Smart buildings use sensor technology, mainly with two types of sensors – light sensors and occupancy sensors. These can be incorporated with HVAC design early in the design stages. Light sensors sense the amount of daylight available and adjust lighting accordingly. They can be connected to the HVAC system to maintain heating and cooling. Occupancy sensors track the number of people in a given space at a given time. They communicate with HVAC controls to regulate temperatures. During a large meeting, for example, occupancy sensors help increase cooling for the area concerned.


A ‘Sensible’ Option
Environmental sensors lead to cleaner, healthier air. Sophisticated sensors provide real-time data on air quality, revealing the surprisingly unhealthy current conditions of most offices worldwide and a related reduction in productivity. Studies show that a 670-sq ft office with 15 employees can generate CO2 levels of 1,000 parts per million (ppm) in under 8 hours. This is equivalent to 2.5 times atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and at a level that may cause 15% decrease in cognitive performance in employees. Meeting and conference rooms, naturally, are even worse, with 3,000 ppm, significantly decreasing productivity.
Organic compounds from furniture and carpets combine with these high levels of carbon dioxide to increase fatigue in employees and decrease productivity. In some cities, windows cannot be opened due to the toxicity of the smog outside. Indoor air quality could be improved with HVAC systems that react to carbon dioxide and airborne particles. This could be achieved by pulling in fresh air and filtering out pollutants.


Under-floor Air Distribution
Typically, air conditioning cools a space using overhead air distribution. This method may not be ideal and less energy efficient in open spaces with high ceilings. Use of under-floor air distribution is a popular trend today. Diffusers are installed under a raised floor, transmitting cool, air-conditioned air throughout the space. Stratification moves warm air upwards to the ceiling and cooler air-conditioned air replaces it at ground level. This method has been found effective in providing continuously comfortable conditions and maintaining better air quality.

Ventilation
An effective HVAC design must control humidity, eliminate odours and remove dust, carbon dioxide, bacteria and viruses that may contaminate the space and spread illness. In an open-plan office, this is critically important. The correct indoor air quality must be regulated and maintained for the well-being of employees and their productivity. Sufficient intake and distribution of outside air and the controlled circulation of conditioned air is a mandatory requirement of efficient HVAC design.

Experts’ Design
Whether renovating or creating from scratch, professionals from the field, such a HVAC mechanical engineering consultants, must be taken on board right from the early stages to avoid costly errors at later stages. Consultants will utilise their professional HVAC design and drafting skills to produce high quality HVAC shop drawings, which can then be coordinated with other trades.

Open Windows
Decades ago, offices had windows that could be opened. Currently, most offices worldwide are air conditioned and air tight. Windows that can be opened help control energy consumption and give people greater control over their work environments. But skyscrapers with offices don’t have windows that open or have access to fresh air during a work day. Why? Well, some of the reasons for permanently closed windows are:

1. To prevent cooled, air-conditioned air from escaping and unfiltered air, noise, rain and insects from entering
2. That offices are wary that people may fall out or jump out, resulting in the offices and management being held responsible
3. That some employees may open windows on a hot day, making the air conditioner work harder
4. That in keeping with modern architecture, open windows are unfashionable and they disturb the lines of the building
5. That with many employees on any floor, natural ventilation is near impossible
6. That energy is saved, increasing productivity

Facts show that these concerns are no longer concerns. A naturally ventilated, intelligently designed office building can halve the energy consumption of constantly air-conditioned buildings. A naturally ventilated building need not support intense and constant HVAC system needs. Ventilation that is natural and access to fresh air contributes to an increase in productivity. A connection to the outdoors, a perception of control and better overall health are beneficial side effects of natural ventilation. The design of HVAC systems in an office facility thus has a direct bearing on the productivity of the office’s inhabitants.

With the help of qualified and experienced HVAC mechanical engineering consultants, a comfortable, safe and secure office building may be constructed with the right HVAC shop drawings. In the global environment of outsourcing MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) design services, the quality, expertise and experience required can be found overseas, resulting in cost-effective, precise HVAC design and drafting.

The Challenges of Coordinating Risers

For modern buildings, risers carry the very life blood of a comfortable space. Much like an arterial system, different kinds of risers perform various necessary functions for the health of a building. They are conduits or carriers of fluids, fuel or air. Coordinating risers is critically important within the workflow of MEP coordination and clash detection, and this can be challenging at times. Challenges generally occur with hydraulic services design during renovation of older buildings. Let’s look at how that may happen.

Well, first off, what is a riser?

Also known as a vertical riser, a riser is a void that contains a duct, pipe or conduit or a combination of all services that rises through a building to carry or transport gases, fluids or electrical signals in the form of piping. In general, a dry riser is an empty, or dry, pipe used to carry water for firefighting systems, and a riser cable can deliver electricity or communications between several floors. Looking at risers in more detail, they can be:

1. Vertical Riser Ducts
As mechanical pipes and electric cables are aesthetically unappealing, typically they are hidden away in vertical riser ducts. These ducts must be strategically placed to minimise pipe lengths and cable runs, thus cutting costs. Pipes must run unhindered vertically in ducts, especially sanitary waste pipes, so that this waste water need not navigate bends in pipes. Since vertical risers cut through floors and can be vulnerable for the spread of fire, they must adhere to strict guidelines.

2. Vertical Riser Cables and Pipes
Sometimes, it is practical to have risers exposed. Servicing becomes easier. Cables connect to sockets and light fittings to riser conduits mounted on walls and columns. Cables and pipes that travel through floors are covered with fire-protected collars, to prevent the spread of fire through them. Increasingly, services pipes are becoming part of the décor.

3. Wet and Dry Risers
Vertical pipes, that are both wet and dry risers, run the full height of a building and are built near stairs to provide a direct water feed to each floor in case of fire. Dry risers have ground coupling pipes outside the building that can be connected to an external water source in case of emergency. Wet risers are connected to the building’s water supply.

4. Dry Risers in Fire Fighting
A dry riser usually includes the following:
Inlet Box

1. Made of galvanised sheet steel, for recessed mounting, with architrave
2. Has a hinged, lockable door with a panel glazed with wired glass, so that the lock can be opened after breaking the glass. 
3. Hoses can be connected to inlets without opening the door.
4. Large enough to access for maintenance and operate the drain valve

Inlet Breeching

1. A two-inlet breeching, with instantaneous male coupling, back pressure valve, blank cap and chain
2. Has a gunmetal gate valve for drain purposes, with plug and chain

Landing Valves

1. Straight or oblique gunmetal gate pattern valves, with flanged inlet, instantaneous female outlet with blank cap and chain, fixed with a leather strap and padlock
2. Lined and coated with woven synthetic fibre hose and diffuser branch pipe nozzle
3. Valve, hose and nozzle in a box, on purpose-made hangers

Air Release Valves

1. Brass automatic air release valve, with a rubber ball inside

For a tall building with the same floor layouts (e.g. apartments), the riser equipment/elements will change size as they move down or up the building. As such, a section of each riser will show slightly different sizes, especially for ductwork, which is why a drawing is created for every floor, even when the rest of the floor is the same.

With a variety of risers to deal with in the MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing) sector, it is crucial that the MEP systems coordination workflow, especially with regard to hydraulic design of liquid or water piping systems, is efficient. Technological advances and the innovations they enable have been a prime factor in fuelling this efficiency. In the construction industry, BIM (Building Information Modelling) has been driving immense change in the MEP coordination process and the delivery of MEP coordination drawings.

The use of BIM technology has made equipment tracking and task monitoring easier. Covering almost every aspect of a construction project, the BIM process involves project managers, subcontractors, designers, architects and other construction professionals participating in controlling individual processes and project phases, with a smooth exchange of information during the larger MEP coordination process.

Increasingly, the trend in the AEC (architecture, engineering, construction) sector is to design 3D models for 2D construction documentation and 3D trade coordination. Generally, the trade design or MEP design follows the architectural design stage. Trade professionals, such as HVAC mechanical engineering consultants and others, collaborate with architects to design mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire prevention and fire protection services. A consultant or MEP contractor ensures that the MEP design is efficient, clash-free and installation-ready. At this point, fabricators who create ductwork or pipework components, electrical ladders or module sprinklers share their input. Thus, a fully coordinated 3D model is developed that can be used for clash detection.

Subcontractors (for the different trades) can virtually place systems as shown on detailed design drawings with individual elements, which include risers, offsets, hangers, conduits with required radius bends and cable trays. Other elements to consider include data communication lines, fire protection system controls and process piping.

At this point, challenges may arise, especially during the renovation of an existing structure. Some of the circumstances that may contribute to challenges in installation of risers include:

• Riser replacement in an existing building – opening up walls creates a mess, dust and debris throughout the premises and destroys expensive decorative finishes that were lovingly installed. In older buildings, asbestos can be destroyed, as well as lead-based paint that has peeled off.
• Existing plumbing risers may be difficult to handle after years of corrosion, because rust makes steel pipes brittle.
• As hot and cold risers behind kitchens and bathrooms are replaced, tiles, cabinets and walls must be removed.
• Risers must be replaced entirely or not at all, since new risers attached to old risers can break.
• Accessing risers takes time and money.

Signs that risers need replacement are hard to miss. Upper floors will experience low water pressure. Debris will appear in the water – bits of corroded pipe in sinks, showers and bathtubs. Time is an indicator. Galvanised steel pipes last for about 50 years, accumulating scale and rust inside, while brass lasts for nearly 70 years. Copper pipes last even longer. Coloured water is a definite indication of rust and scale accumulation. Also, excessively hot showers are a result of clogged plumbing risers that reduce the flow. The need to replace existing risers during renovation introduces different kinds of challenges for coordination.

- For example, during the renovation of an existing building, one of the chase walls was opened, and a large conduit was installed inside a duct chase against an exhaust duct riser, causing a clash in the planned duct connection. A coordinated model showed ductwork and risers in the limited space and how their placement could be manoeuvred to avoid the clash, guiding the fitting of components to meet the design requirements.

- In another building, the floor-to-floor height was 20 feet, generally enough for ductwork and piping from air handlers to central core chases. In this case, a chilled water piping that was routed only 10 feet above the floor and close to the AHUs (air handling units) and supply and return ducts, next to the shafts, made for difficult coordination. Ductwork from 2 AHUs had to pass above the chilled water piping and between hanger rods. Coordinated design drawings showed a more efficient duct placement.

- Yet another example involved duct and pipe routing between an existing main electrical room and adjacent AHUs. The electrical room had floor-mounted AHUs right outside, and the adjacent AHUs had disconnect switches and variable frequency drives (VFDs). Coordinated MEP drawings and 3D modelling showed that the chilled water piping to the electrical room AHUs had to be moved, as did the larger AHUs and VFDs, allowing the ductwork and piping to be placed with the correct amount of clearance.

Easing MEP Coordination
Forming a key part in setting up and laying out design, MEP coordination is a key means to connect building elements and make the structure functional. Earlier during MEP coordination, drawings were overlaid and compared and spatial and functionals interferences, or clashes, were dealt with by multi-trade professionals. This method needed countless revisions before the finalisation of the coordinated drawings, but BIM processes changed all that. The BIM workflow involves a 3D approach and data-based reasoning to help MEP contractors plan, design and install equipment, including risers, efficiently.

Using BIM technology, a once-prolonged and tedious process fraught with delays, insufficient data and miscommunication, is now smooth and efficient. A building’s MEP systems are seamlessly integrated and coordinated with architectural and structural systems, creating clash-free models.

The placement of elements of MEP design, such as risers, can be intelligently designed and laid out. Tools, such as Navisworks, enable clash-free designs, with multi-disciplinary integration in one work environment. Flawless MEP coordination drawings are produced.

The Revit Solution
Creating a 3D model with Revit software enables easy coordination during design, and clash detection can be performed with Navisworks. So, early on in the design process, the model can be coordinated with architectural design and MEP design that includes risers. The models of new buildings and those of existing buildings will have differing degrees of efficiency, since existing buildings contain unknown elements, spaces and conditions which may not be represented in models.

The good news is that with BIM-enabled MEP coordination, most of the challenges concerning the design, layout and clashes of risers in MEP systems is eliminated and smooth coordination results. Those firms that find it difficult to provide hydraulics and plumbing design services and MEP coordination services may consider online collaboration and outsourcing, which is efficient, accurate and cost-effective, for the delivery of precise MEP coordinated drawings as part of the hydraulics and plumbing design services and MEP coordination services. Managers can retain full control of the project, resulting in faster delivery.

Advantages of Revit Family Creation in BIM Technology

Similar to biological families, Revit families follow a certain order. For instance, a door is a ‘category’ of different components. There are different kinds of doors, and these different kinds of doors are different ‘families’. An example of a ‘family’ name would be a ‘flush door’. Within the family of the flush door, there are options for the flush door, based on dimension, material, etc. A flush door of a particular dimension is a ‘type’ of flush door. All the elements in a project’s design are created using families, including walls, roofs, doors, columns, beams, trusses, windows, fixtures, annotation, mechanical components, plumbing fixtures, lighting fixtures and other detailed components, and they can be created using Revit for BIM (Building Information Modelling) requirements in architectural design drafting.

Revit family modelling within the BIM context provides a range of advantages, namely:

• Improved layout plans
• Increased communication of plans
• Impressive Revit 3D modelling for marketing
• Detailed scheduling
• Customisation of projects

The creation of BIM models requires the extensive use of families. Walls, doors, windows, stairs, etc. may be of multiple types in the same project. A prime advantage of Revit families is that any change to a type will be updated in every instance of that type throughout the project design. For example, when the height of a window type is changed in one place, all windows of the same type will be modified instantly and automatically throughout the entire design.

The intelligent model-based process of BIM technology helps plan, design, construct and manage buildings and infrastructure and results in delivering specific outcomes with time and cost savings. Revit families and BIM content can be created for architectural, structural, mechanical, electrical and plumbing design. The process to deliver Revit families with high standards includes:
 

1. Selection of the family template
2. Planning the parameters
3. Creation of the model geometry
4. Assigning of the object subcategories according to requirements
5. Setting up visibility rules
6. Creation of family type

Revit allows created families of components to be stored and reused in other projects. They can be used as reference material by architectural designers to show prospective clients.

Builders, manufacturers, designers, engineers and other stakeholders in a project are dependent on model creation services for intelligent and parametric models that can host a complete group of components or equipment for BIM construction. Besides displaying the parameters of actual equipment and geometric components of windows, boilers, columns, etc. through graphics, Revit family modelling has other advantages, such as:

• Formula and imported data result in effective component design
• Regardless of size and design, the models created are accurate
• Resizing of models is both possible and economical
• Relationships and coordination between various elements of a unit are maintained
• Enabling building analysis and estimating

Revit modelling can create additional items like curtain wall panels, furniture, plumbing fixtures, electrical fixtures, machine parts, elevators and HVAC pumps. Family creation services include the following types:

• Structural
• Architectural
• MEP
• Building systems
• BIM
• Related custom and supporting content

Revit family creation, like real-life families, provides many benefits due to the inter-relationships they provide in a model. They are the driving force behind the success of BIM projects. With skilled Revit BIM practitioners available globally, accurate, cost-effective and viable project design services can be ensured.  

Scan to BIM Technology for Sports Stadia

Scan to BIM Role in Sports Stadia Design

Sports spectators typically consist of loud crowds, with high adrenaline, indulging in copious consumption of food and drink and enjoying great views to thrilling sports matches. The venues for these spectacles require careful planning and intelligent design and usually improvement or scaling up to cater for greater numbers with more comfort. As the BIM (Building Information Modelling) process becomes more popular in the AEC (architecture, engineering, construction) industry, the Scan to BIM course of action plays an important role in the update and re-design of sports stadia across the world.

So, what is Scan to BIM?

Scan to BIM is a process which uses the latest technology to convert point cloud data to detailed 3D BIM models. It begins with the scanning of a physical space or site by a 3D laser scanner. The resulting scan(s) are used to develop a precise digital representation of the space, which can then be utilised to plan, design, assess or evaluate the space. Scan to BIM is also widely known as point cloud to BIM.

A point cloud is a large group (sometimes millions) of data points in space, or a 3D coordinate system, typically created by 3D scanners. The scanners measure many points on objects’ surfaces or building surfaces, creating a cloud of points or a point cloud. Point clouds record surfaces in great detail, reducing the need for repeated site visits. Point clouds can help create 3D CAD models of manufactured parts in Revit and can be used for quality checks, visualisation, animation and rendering. Using point clouds, BIM models can be created, hence the term ‘point cloud to BIM’ or Scan to BIM.

Scan to BIM can be used by MEP designers, MEP contractors, consulting engineers and architects. The data in a Scan to BIM model can be exported or imported by surveying equipment in a format that it understands. The data can then be used to create as-built conditions or used for field verifications.

When Scan to BIM is used in sports stadia, minute details are extracted from point clouds. The interior and exterior of a football stadium can be scanned, allowing section cuts of seating areas and conference centres. The precise details gathered have a significant impact on the resulting efficiency and accuracy of the subsequently generated BIM model, contributing to an efficient stadium design. A brief look at the Scan to BIM process shows how.

Scan to BIM Process

The Scan to BIM procedure typically follows five steps:

1. Survey
2. Scan
3. Process
4. Model
5. Additional Information

Survey:
The stadium site sets up 3D survey control markers, which are coordinated before the scanning takes place. These markers allow accurate tracking of the site data.

Scan:
During this step, 3D laser scanners connect to 3D survey control markers. Point cloud data is developed with detailed stadium site data from scanners, aerial imagery, drones, etc. and fed into the BIM environment for stadium designers.

Process:
Collected point cloud data is downloaded and processed at different intervals, then checked against the survey control data at the stadium site for inconsistencies.

Model:
Stadium site data is relayed to modelers, who create a 3D model to represent the data of the stadium site. This model is shared between all project stakeholders to minimise or eliminate rework, as it contains large amounts of data and can be updated easily.

Additional Information:
All additional necessary information is added to the BIM model.

Scan to BIM Benefits

The practice of Scan to BIM has several benefits, such as:

• Speed - 3D laser scanning enables fast collection of data at stadia sites
• Accuracy - amassing millions of measurable data points enables pinpoint accuracy of stadia site information
• Consistency – laser scanners ensure fast, accurate data, every time, at any stadium location
• Shareable Data – collected data can be measured, shared between the stadium project stakeholders
• Easy Retrofitting – complex MEP installations in retrofitting projects of old stadia are made easy due to data captured over the full measured range
• Transparency, Communication, Collaboration – stadium project stakeholders can access, use, modify, communicate and collaborate easily
• Reliability, Quality Assurance – the BIM model facilitates clash detection and elimination
• Visualisation - designers can visualise more details in BIM, such as sunlight on different parts of a stadium, during different seasons and different hours
• Sustainability – stadia with sustainable design can be designed through this method, calculating stadium energy requirements and performance
• Saving Costs – early detection and rectification of errors helps save rework and overall costs

Software Benefits
Generally, Revit is a preferred software platform to create BIM models. As well as the advantages of the Scan to BIM process mentioned above, software benefits include:

1. Creating 2D drawings from 3D point cloud data
2. Inbuilt tools to create elements such as walls, columns, pipes, etc.
3. Easy renovation of older stadia
4. Created BIM models have high accuracy levels from point cloud data feeds
5. Efficient clash detection and clash eradication

Stadia Design Stages
Design stages for stadia generally follow the stages of architectural design. They include:

Pre-Concept
Surveys of the stadium site are taken, and ground conditions are studied and analysed.

Concept
Design changes and details, such as materials, the room types, ceiling heights, stairs and elevators, are determined.

Schematic Design
The stadium structure is reviewed, with initial calculations, and systems are integrated. Design criteria, such as mechanical systems design and crowd modelling, are tested.

Design Development
Detailed calculations are completed, equipment is selected, including lights, cooling units, fans, sanitaryware, kitchen equipment. Interior designers, kitchen operators, fire engineers, ICT specialists and broadcast specialists provide input and ensure local codes and standards are met.

Issue for Construction
Specification of materials, equipment and finishes are determined. Detailed drawings are completed.

Once stadia are re-designed through Scan to BIM, it is worth knowing how the process is applied. The main applications of Scan to BIM services in the construction of sports stadia are:

• Creation of as-built BIM models for retrofit, refurbishment and renovation of existing sports stadia
• Creation of as-built BIM models for stadia MEP services that alert stakeholders to clash detection early on, to avoid costly rework
• Improved BIM models due to accurate point cloud data
• Fast determination of true dimensions

So, how successful has this process been in the real world?

Sports Stadia Designed with Scan to BIM

The following stadium projects used Scan to BIM technology to improve speed, quality, efficiency and reduce the cost of construction:

Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles - laser scanning was used to determine current seating and aisle ways for new seating requirements, to show existing structural elements and MEP services for the 56,000-seat baseball stadium

Camp Nou Stadium, Barcelona - 3D camera scans were used to help renovate a 60-year-old stadium, with an upgrade of Wi-Fi technology, improvements in VIP hospitality services and a projected increase of 6,000 seats. An underground parking area to improve access for fans and a roof are to be installed at the stadium.

College Football Stadium, South Bend, Indiana - 3D laser scans located underground utilities over 160,000 square feet at a college football stadium, showing active conduit, water and sanitary sewer lines inside the stadium concourse. CAD engineers used the point cloud data to bolster the 2D utility site plans. Additional structural and architectural features gathered in the scan data can be used for other projects in the same space.

As more stadia globally are changing their design for growth or comfort or new uses, moving in the direction of a Scan to BIM construction process is becoming popular. With the wealth of affordable, experienced technical talent available overseas, outsourcing Scan to BIM services presents several advantages, namely:

• Well-qualified technicians easily convert point cloud data into data-rich BIM models from surveyed data images and point clouds.
• Licensed architects and certified scan technicians deliver high-quality as-built surveys.
• Delivery of accurate Scan to BIM services help design teams make quick decisions.
• Delivery of precise build-cost estimates reduce errors and results in significant cost savings.

Before the evolution of BIM processes and BIM modelling, the design and construction of sports stadia required much cumbersome documentation, was lengthy and involved high costs. Using the Scan to BIM process, every aspect of a stadium can be represented in a single digital view, allowing project teams to communicate and collaborate with significantly greater effect and efficiency, resulting in the construction of beautiful and technically sound sports stadia that stay within budget, especially with the attractive option of outsourcing these services.

Advantages of MEP Consultants from India

Having a single source for MEP (M&E) design and coordination – that mainly sums up the main advantage of MEP consultants from India for Western construction. MEP design and MEP coordination effectively being delivered in the shortest time is best served by a single source. Finding that single source will either be with the designer, who also executes coordination, or with a contractor, who also executes design. A single source, therefore, must have additional skills to perform both functions and thus complete the workflow in its entirety. MEP consultants in India can help in this regard by providing the complete design and contracting service required, such as MEP design engineering, BIM modelling, 3D BIM coordination and MEP shop drawing services, for example.

MEP Design

MEP design outputs generally include providing mechanical, electrical, public health and fire protection building services design information (also known as building engineering and architectural engineering) by building services designers and consultants. This design data and information is provided in a comprehensive manner for all design stages, from concept design, design development, tender and construction. The design is typically delivered in BIM format and include spatially coordinated models that contractor and installation teams can install from or use to progress their detailed design and coordination.

MEP Coordination

The above individual designs are incorporated and spatially organised to be install ready in the process known as MEP coordination. Once an intelligent model is sent to the MEP engineers, they can begin working, using the building envelope, rooms and volumes as reference points. With Revit MEP, MEP engineers can determine spaces and zones and can use intelligent data which provides greater detail. The parametric tools will update automatically, and calculations can be more quickly and easily analysed when building designs change. The results are reported and shared across the entire project team. MEP engineers can calculate sizing and pressure loss. Simulation and visualisation tools can predict system behaviour, appearance and connectivity.

MEP coordination thus includes providing spatially coordinated building services drawings for construction and engineering projects, which can be utilised by MEP building services contractors. All building services (HVAC, pipework, public health and electrical systems) are also coordinated with other disciplines contributing to the building fabric and structure (steel, concrete, false ceilings, etc.). This multiservice coordination work is created in a 3D environment for all the disciplines, resulting in several benefits, namely:

• No clashes (validated using clash-detection software tools)
• Models are generated, through BIM modelling, with precise representations of all mechanical components/kits
• Prevention of site-based delays and disputes, as all services have been proven to work
• Ease of communication, since the 3D model can be viewed and enables easy walk-throughs for demos, reviews or value engineering
• Faster approval/sign-off (3D BIM modelling allows clients to view detailed areas in 3D).

Verification of 3D MEP coordinated drawings is possible with the help of the latest MEP modelling software Revit MEP, and clash detection in Navisworks has been found to be effective for 3D building services coordination. 

Benefits of Single Source for MEP Design and Coordination

When MEP design and MEP collaboration were provided by different sources, several challenges ensued. The adoption of a specific workflow – one where MEP design and MEP coordination are delivered by one designer or one contractor – solved virtually all of these issues, combining design and coordination, aiding installation, commission and fabrication. The end products include models and drawings which are coordinated and ready to install. 

Particular advantages with this workflow process are:

• The BIM model is started and finished by the same team or firm, saving time and minimising confusion.
• The layout strategy (plant and main distribution) is usually adopted first, keeping changes to a minimum.
• The designer can consider procurement information, incorporating this data early in the design stage.  
• The designer/contractor can then issue a coordinated model.

Additional support for design and coordination is a constant requirement for both designers and contractors. Essentially, India is a vast source of technically qualified MEP professionals, and growing collaboration online with overseas customers over the past decades has groomed a generation of well-qualified, well-experienced, low-cost MEP design human resources now capable of seamless MEP coordination too. The major advantages India’s MEP outsourcing services provide are as follows:

• Thorough understanding of process and requirements
• Indian MEP professionals are well versed in delivering designs according to international building and construction standards, global best practices and quality control systems.
• Expertise in MEP
• India produces high quantities of technically qualified engineers and designers.
• Most MEP consultancy firms in India house technical personnel of different disciplines under one roof. 
• Technical personnel work with the latest CAD technology for drawings and calculations and use BIM 360 Team with Collaboration for Revit (C4R) to create coordinated BIM models.
• Experience in MEP 
• MEP design and coordination professionals have spent several years learning MEP technologies and systems, and they have spent even longer moulding custom-designed MEP solutions, specifically for each client.

• Track records for successful solutions and projects by a particular MEP consulting expert can be viewed online.
• These firms have a history of delivering 3D BIM and 2D CAD solutions to general contractors, design build contractors, real estate developers, architecture and engineering (AEC) firms with high quality, on time and cost-effectively.
• Indian MEP consultancy firms conduct peer reviews, have a customised quality checklist or have automated software-based model checking.
• Infrastructure
• Overseas MEP consultancy firms house relevant hardware, software, printers, plotters, etc., thus saving this expenditure for Western firms.

The benefits for outsourcing 3D MEP coordinated drawings ultimately result in saving time and cost for Western construction firms. Skilled external partners, especially MEP consultants from India, as a single source can efficiently deliver MEP design and MEP coordination drawings, additional design, BIM activities and responsibilities, including MEP shop drawing services.

Benefits of Outsourcing VDC Services

Modern high-quality buildings require highly effective planning and execution. Virtual Design and Construction, or VDC, is an application or process which involves a plethora of digital tools of emerging technologies to help plan and effectively execute virtual building design. The VDC process may or may not include BIM modeling, but using BIM virtual construction technology and BIM models enables architects, engineers, clients and contractors to work collaboratively on a single model — at the same time within the gambit of VDC. Outsourcing VDC and BIM services produces cost-effective, accurate output on time using the right people and the right technology.

Why outsource VDC services?

Overseas BIM services professionals are adept at working with teams of project planners during the phases of concept design, analysis of proposal requests and during construction. Ultimately, outsourcing VDC services using BIM processes increases efficiency and profitability. Here’s how:

• Specific knowledge or expertise required by certain projects may not be available with the in-house team. Overseas BIM services firms can bring a varied and experienced talent pool into the project quickly and at minimal cost.
• Experienced and technically qualified outsourced partners may be able to train in-house staff on relevant emerging technologies.
• During tight delivery schedules, overseas firms can assign skilled BIM services experts to key project needs. More professionals are available and some can be dedicated to one client at a time, while others tackle emergency troubleshooting for other projects.
• Outsourcing frees up in-house personnel to focus on other projects.

Other Benefits of VDC Outsourcing through BIM Services

Typically, BIM services firms provide field drawings and visualisations before construction begins. Expertise with Revit tools within a BIM workflow helps streamline design documentation, leading to greater productivity. Design changes in one system will automatically be updated throughout the model, cutting costs and reducing delays.

• Overseas BIM services firms create 3D models and 4D views of clash-free coordinated models of architectural, structural and MEP disciplines. By using 5D BIM models, cost managers can decide the quantity of different components that are required.

• BIM outsourcing firms help Western AEC firms retain more in-house professionals on site and provide information on keeping projects on budget.
• BIM services firms provide 2D drafts, documents for review and building permits with minimal turnaround time. Use of Revit software allows changes to be made quickly, saving costs.
• Advanced BIM technology helps avoid scheduling conflicts and delays with reliable coordination services. Proper coordination of MEP systems and the time for MEP components to be installed can lead to smooth workflows between service providers and other stakeholders, saving time, rework and money.
• Visualising the installation of MEP systems in tight spaces and complex routes and identifying potential problem areas can be made easier with BIM software in a VDC environment, therefore keeping costs down.
• BIM services firms maintain project records, helping with operations and maintenance throughout the project lifecycle. Access, upgrades and repair of MEP systems takes minimal effort.
• Time management is a noticeable plus point to using overseas BIM service firms. While outsourcing BIM services, project managers can concentrate on logistics, costs and material flow, helping to make quick, sound decisions, saving extra costs and time.
• BIM services help collaboration and coordination with detailed BIM models.

With a host of significant advantages to support the practice, outsourcing VDC and BIM services to overseas VDC companies is soon becoming a preferred option for AEC firms in the West, helping to save time and cost.

Key Points of MEP Systems & Coordination for Sports Entertainment Venue

As long ago as 776 BC, the Greeks are believed to have participated in the first Olympics to honour Zeus in Olympia, a sanctuary site for Greek deities. The stadium of ancient days has progressed in leaps and bounds and the deities have changed, but the passions incited and contained in sporting stadia still remain. Stadia design today takes far more into consideration than contestants’ comfort and the impact of raucous spectators. Sports venues today strive to integrate sustainability, perfect lighting, ventilation and plumbing in their design. It is the coordination of MEP (M&E) systems and other disciplines that ultimately ensures a stable and comfortable sporting venue for the great celebration of sport and spectator facilities and hospitality arrangements, as well as a myriad additional uses for the venues, such as concerts and conferences. MEP coordination is critical for the success of sporting venues on various levels, and the use of Building Information Modelling (BIM) technology has been crucial for its success.

Sports venues play a special role in enhancing life as we know it. Therefore, MEP engineering designs for sporting venues must be developed and executed in a significantly different manner from other structures. We look at the key points of MEP systems and MEP coordination where these differences matter most. Lighting that is reliable, purposeful and aesthetically comfortable is a major consideration. Since sporting venues must cater to varied occupancy, open areas (including spaces with retractable roofs) and unusually shaped spaces (circular, oval, etc.), these venues experience near-constant fluctuation of temperature and illumination. Air flow must be adjusted to maintain varying temperature, and thermostats, light switches, etc. must not clash with wall coverings or the aesthetic theme. Once these individual concerns are addressed, challenges may lie in the precise coordination of mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems with architectural and structural constraints.

So, what is MEP coordination?

Essentially, MEP coordination is the clash-free integration of all building services within the context of architectural and structural disciplines of a building (steel, concrete, etc.). For sports venues, the MEP challenges are different than for other buildings.

MEP Challenges for Sports Entertainment Venues

• Facility layout with structural and architectural designs, spectator seats, requirements of playing turfs, etc. need to be perfected by industry professionals.
• HVAC equipment must be accommodated in general spaces and the power supply must be uninterrupted for multiple lighting systems across the venue.
• Effective plumbing design is essential for a sports venue where large numbers of spectators can be expected to use rest rooms at the same time. In fact, there is every likelihood that 50 percent of the occupants of a sports entertainment venue use the facilities within the same 30 minutes. Water supply and drainage must operate seamlessly.
• A venue’s geography is another consideration. A French, Spanish, Italian, Russian or English football stadium may vary in architecture and differences due to climate, traditions and national design features. Consequently, the MEP layout will also vary.
• Grandstands, VIP boxes and infield areas present unique fire safety challenges.

Some of the specific design challenges that must be considered during MEP coordination are found below.

Emergency power supply is of utmost importance at a sporting venue. Electrical components and switchgear equipment must be designed without a single faulty point and should handle varying electrical power demands. This could be an oil-powered generator, the grid supply or UPS power with batteries. Large venues would ideally benefit from a diesel generator to run emergency and standby loads. These options need to be integrated with both the other services of MEP and with the other disciplines of the structure.

• Large lobbies in sporting venues sometimes have wide curtain walls, which enable natural light variations. Light photocells can be used to measure ambient light and save energy. Sensors that detect occupancy levels can shut off unnecessary lights and save energy.
• Photovoltaic systems can be used for renewable energy systems and must be factored in to MEP coordination.
• Sports venues have started receiving requests for electric car charging stations. This demand is set to increase, and MEP engineers must consider how these stations work with the rest of the MEP design and the building’s structural and architectural elements.
• Cable trays are a preferred primary pathway due to accessibility and ease of maintenance, but access to cable trays can be tricky because of coordination with ductwork, piping, light fixtures, conduits, etc. 

One of the most vital issues in sporting venues is the size and placement of HVAC units. Extensive ductwork is required to supply and return air, depending on the placement of the units. Typical considerations consist of dehumidification and high latent loads. Vast and varied use of the premises may lead to air distribution challenges. Irregular swings in outside air need to be controlled. 

• Open areas can use passive shading methods and thermal energy storage (TES), so that during times of low demand, cooling can be generated.
• Areas with large occupancy numbers generate corresponding amounts of carbon dioxide. These areas can use carbon dioxide sensors, energy recovery systems and enthalpy economisers.
• Variable air volume (VAV) systems or single-zone VAV can be used in non-bowl systems.
• Large sports venues can integrate variable refrigerant flow (VRF) technology to provide effective condensing units and thereby reduce consumption.
• Smoke venting in stadia with closed roofs need roofs which can open when required. Smoke management can complicate HVAC design, as possible fire sizes must be considered along with whether the smoke should be directed above head height for evacuation safety.
• Due to large occupancy numbers, sports venues require well-ventilated spaces which also consider significant latent loads from all occupants. Humidification and dehumidification features are necessary for air handling systems, and energy can be saved through air side heat recovery. Typically, this is from exhaust air streams through run-around coils, air heat exchangers and heat pipes.
• Venues for hockey games require air to be maintained with low humidity. This may involve sub-cooling air to less than 50 F, eliminating moisture and ensuring comfort.
• In recent times, security is another factor to consider in HVAC design for sports venues. Exterior air intake locations must be secure from chemical threats.
• Rainwater reclamation systems can be used for irrigation and toilet flushing, integrating them with the structural and architectural features.
• Low-flow fixtures can reduce water usage and must be included in MEP design according to the nature of the structure.
• Excessive ceiling heights (anything more than 75 ft) in sporting venues makes automatic sprinkler protection insufficient. Venues have started to integrate deluge-type suppression systems.

The above MEP design requirements must be thoroughly considered and integrated in the process of MEP coordination, a prospect that requires detailed planning and the right tools. One such tool is Building Information Modelling (BIM).

The Role of BIM

Building Information Modelling (BIM) uses tools such as Revit to collaborate and coordinate MEP design on an integrated platform. As these projects are typically carried out by large muti-disciplinary teams, professionals can consult, edit and modify in a shared environment with an organised workflow. Contractors can use 3D BIM coordination software, such as Revit and Navisworks, to identify and prevent potential clashes in MEP design and then use tools, such as Autodesk BIM 360 or Collaboration for Revit (C4R), to work on and share models on the cloud.

Changes in MEP components and layouts may require changes in ductwork designs, fabrication and the process of laying out the systems. It is necessary to fully comprehend the design of each discipline. Hence, MEP components must be set according to the venue’s operations, and MEP engineers use BIM technology effectively to develop a fully coordinated system.

Employing MEP BIM coordination helps create accurate and precise MEP coordination drawings and final construction sets of drawings with vast volumes of data. 

BIM solutions can also help save energy consumption. For example, a sports venue in Germany used 380,000 LEDs for its circular façade using BIM technology, achieving 60 percent more efficiency than conventional lighting. 

Stadia require a flawless collaborative MEP design with the architectural and structural disciplines. BIM technology facilitates this collaborative approach, making it possible to develop impressive sports venues that are fully coordinated, keeping within budget and providing high levels of comfort and safety to all occupants. Tools used in BIM technology can check for clashes and energy consumption to help the building stay cost-effective and energy-efficient, contributing to overall sustainability.

So, what does the finished product achieve with its BIM-assisted MEP coordination? Sporting venues become all that they are meant to be, namely spaces that:

Host World-class Events

Providing spectators and players special experiences depends on interesting, comfortable and reliable structures. This can involve special lighting or retractable roofs that work seamlessly.

Showcase Innovation

Sporting venues cater to a range of different events, from world-class events to concerts to comedians or other events. Multi-use arenas must negotiate site constraints flawlessly, integrating function with aesthetics with effective coordination of MEP systems and architectural and structural features.

Are Cost-efficient and Sustainable

Construction challenges cannot delay opening matches. Imposing structures must be constructed on schedule and function cost-effectively and with efficiency in energy consumption. MEP BIM coordination enables timely and reliable construction.

So, even though effective MEP coordination for new or renovated sports venues may be challenging for MEP engineers and architects, meticulous collaboration, creativity and hard work can help coordinate large-scale building services with high-priced real estate and architectural elements for a comfortable, reliable and aesthetically attractive sports entertainment venue.

How Offshore Design Partners Save Time and Money

Despite several global challenges, the construction industry is still experiencing robust growth. Effective architectural and MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing) design holds the key. Cost-effective and high quality architectural and MEP design services can have a noticeable effect on the construction industry’s progress. Interestingly, outsourcing production support for drafting, Revit modelling, Revit MEP and MEP coordination presents an expedient opportunity to save time and money.

Just what services can offshore design partners offer? 

Although, offshore design support services abound, some of the most useful services that can be outsourced are MEP drafting, MEP modelling, MEP coordination, architectural drafting, architectural modelling and rendering. We look at what these services require and what they can deliver:

MEP Drafting:

Designs and marked images received as input are converted to MEP CAD drawings

MEP Modelling:

MEP CAD drawings used as input can generate MEP systems that define spaces and zones in mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire models for all stages of the MEP design process, such as concept, tender, contract, coordination, approval, construction and as-fitted stages.

MEP Coordination:

MEP models can be spatially coordinated with building services (HVAC, pipework, public health and electrical systems) with other disciplines making up the building structure, architectural elements, fabric and external envelope (steel, concrete, false ceilings, etc.) to ensure there are no clashes (validated using clash detection software tools), represent mechanical components accurately, help create views, sections and detailed drawings easily and quickly, provide easy communication, as the 3D model can be viewed and walked through for demo, review, value engineering or QC purposes by building services trades.

Architectural Drafting:

Architectural CAD drafting services can be provided for all stages of a project, including tender, planning, construction and facility management for industrial, commercial, retail and residential projects. Design partners can deliver complete construction drawing sets (incorporating space planning, interior design and construction). Sheets (plans, elevations and sections) can be created.

Architectural Modelling:

Architectural 3D modelling services increasingly use Collaboration for Revit (C4R) and BIM 360 Team, a cloud-based tool on Revit, so that teams from different locations can work on the same model. Different kinds of models that can be provided are Revit BIM 3D models, which can incorporate changes to schedules, plans, elevations, sections or the 3D model itself, resulting in coordinated updates to all corresponding areas, point cloud 3D BIM models, that take 3D laser scan data in the form of ‘point cloud’ data and use it to create accurate Revit BIM models, 3D CAD building models, created using Autodesk Revit, ArchiCAD and AutoCAD Architecture by using 2D layout plans and elevations as a starting point, SketchUp models, which have the flexibility of being used in a number of other applications, including Revit, AutoCAD and virtual software applications, 4D CAD models, which are 3D models with the added element of time-based scheduling.

Architectural Rendering:

Architectural 3D rendering is an efficient communication tool for internal design approvals and reviews during the conceptualisation and design phases. It helps construction teams view proposed layouts and is also used for effective marketing and presentation. Renderings are created from detailed 3D models (which could be in Revit or AutoCAD) using plans/elevations. The 3D model is then exported to 3ds Max where textures, materials, reflection, depth, lighting and other features are added. 

For many companies, these services can be expensive, time-consuming and require significant investment in software, hardware and training. Offshore design partners, especially in countries like India, offer these services at cost-effective rates, quicker turnaround times and of high quality. There are several reasons for this.

Benefits of Outsourcing Design Services

Architects and engineers offshore are well qualified and have the experience to provide high quality design services. Companies in this industry have been providing these services for decades and are fully cognisant of diverse global business requirements. Other reasons include: 

1. Lower Costs - Design services are provided at affordable rates, resulting in Western companies saving designing costs, without compromising quality.
2. Infrastructure - Overseas design support teams have access to sound technical infrastructure, generally working on cloud-based storage and high-security data back-up solutions.
3. Quality Control - The quality checking processes ensure that the design projects delivered are accurate and error-free.
4. Latest Technology - Software, tools and technology used are the latest available, including AutoCAD, Revit, Inventor, SolidWorks, 3ds Max, etc.
5. Security - Confidentiality agreements and strictly monitored data security ensure intellectual safety.
6. Skilled Personnel - Architectural and engineering teams are put through many comprehensive sessions of hands-on work, making them well capable of dealing with even the most complex requirements.
7. Fast Delivery - Multiple teams, dedicated teams and global delivery centres follow an efficient process to complete projects on schedule.

So, offshore drafting, 3D modelling, MEP coordination with Revit MEP support and Revit MEP resources and rendering services provided by reputable offshore design partners may lead to an efficient business process that works out to be economic, fast and reliable for the long term.

Has BIM Changed MEP Design Workflow?

BIM Influence on MEP Design Workflow

Critical to effective construction, MEP (M&E or mechanical, electrical, plumbing) design is both one of the key features of a structure and also the one design feature that most people don’t want to deal with, unless something goes terribly wrong with any particular aspect of it. This makes it all the more important to make MEP design as precise as possible. Over time, MEP design has improved and evolved in many ways, but with the arrival of BIM (Building Information Modelling) technology, MEP design has seen modifications in its workflow as well. The workflow of MEP design has been significantly influenced by BIM technology, specifically the roles of the MEP designer and the MEP contractor. 

 

Currently, there are five different MEP design workflow scenarios that exist. They are as follows:

1. Traditional 2D design and 3D BIM coordination
2. 3D MEP design and 3D BIM coordination
3. Designers 3D BIM design and coordination
4. Contractor 3D BIM design and coordination
5. General contractor 3D model coordination

It is the third workflow that Is becoming increasingly popular. Let’s look at why that is so.

Designers 3D BIM MEP Design and Coordination

This MEP design workflow method is a direct consequence of BIM and promotes the benefit of BIM more significantly, as it gets closer to the ‘virtual design and construction’ aims of the industry. In this workflow, the approach of the design engineer is to create a BIM model that is spatially coordinated, using the actual specified components for the project. Typically, the consultant during this phase will have more time to create the model, allowing him to absorb the changes from structural and architectural disciplines as they progress through the detailing stages. Since the model is then coordinated with the structure and architecture as well as other MEP services, the consultant can create a model according to installation standards and which is more usable by an installer or fabricator.

When the model in this workflow method is passed on to a contractor, the contractor may still wish to make final changes and adjustments in a round of value engineering. Typically, the contractor will use the same model in this workflow and make changes to the model provided by the MEP design consultant. Additionally, it is probable that the consultant engineer will not have provided invert (height) levels or dimensions from gridlines and walls for the MEP services on his drawings. In such cases the contractor will therefore have to create more detail in the drawings, but again, the contractor could use the consultant’s drawings and progress them in more detail for his/her use. This design workflow will require competent BIM coordination and MEP modelling teams and resources. XS CAD, with its large MEP coordination team and MEP engineering design team, which consists of mechanical and electrical engineering professionals, is well placed to deal with such projects for companies based in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. As all are regions where BIM is now the preferred solution, XS CAD, with more than 16 years’ experience and a presence in each market is an ideal option for such companies.

Key to Success in Implementing VDC

The virtual building design industry is seeing an upward trend worldwide and one of the key components driving this trend is the successful implementation of VDC. Virtual design and construction (VDC) is a process that provides a single platform for all project stakeholders to collaborate and make changes in a project, while working to budgets and deadlines. One of the main features of VDC is that it uses models and data to encourage regular communication between all stakeholders right till completion. What optimises success with VDC is the contribution of qualified professionals who deliver services quickly and at lower cost.

One of the benefits clients enjoy from the VDC process is that they are provided with building information modelling (BIM) capabilities and information that help in design, project planning and construction. Collaboration between clients and contractors at earlier stages are enabled by the use of VDC. Thus, the need for rework is reduced, and project time and costs are saved.

Changes are managed, workflow is collaborated, and documents are monitored in VDC. By identifying key goals, technical concerns are addressed early on. A cloud-based working environment helps collaboration in VDC. BIM in the construction industry facilitates the creation of a single model from design specifications, RFIs and equipment data sheets, helping clients monitor the progression of the project.

Thus, VDC helps firms to:

• Envision, modify and improve a project without wasting time or materials
• Collaborate between contractors or subcontractors and clients
• Establish sustainable elements into design
• Track labour, materials and schedules for project completion
• Provide digital delivery of plans for fabrication

Consultants and MEP professionals must work effectively for the overall success of the VDC process. Consultants manage design, but coordination and installation are usually handled by separate trades – mechanical, electrical, plumbing, etc. Smooth implementation of VDC benefits all stakeholders concerned. By using BIM 360 Glue or Revit BIM software tools during design phase coordination, the model can be sent from design to construction. Also, coordination in VDC facilitates prefabrication. BIM modelling tools in VDC streamlines MEP coordination, identifying and resolving conflicts.

The results of successful and effective VDC implementation include:

• Complete fabrication of MEP elements
• Reduction of rework for mechanical subcontractors 
• Less conflicts at field installations
• Fewer RFIs occur in MEP coordination
• Significant savings in cost and time

Usually, coordination and installation are carried out by separate trades in the VDC process. Each may not have enough skills or resources to fully implement effective VDC, so profitable and timely delivery of projects could benefit from the right design partner. 

Advantage of Overseas VDC Experts

General contractors usually have their own teams, but they do not always have enough modelling resources or the required skillset. VDC implementation requires expertise in handling precise data with the right tools.

It is, therefore, preferable to employ a VDC expert from the relevant disciplines, who brings technical knowhow and experience in BIM virtual construction to the table. Western firms increasingly find that such experts are being located overseas, especially with experienced partners who have a large pool of qualified technical professionals and extensive experience working in the US, UK and other Western markets, leading to accurate design services, greater profits and on-time deliveries.