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.

Approaching MEP BIM Projects Using Coordination Specialists

The MEP (M&E) design and contracting industry across the globe faces renewed challenges with the advent of BIM which is increasingly used by AEC firms. Firstly, of all the major stakeholders involved in an AEC project, building systems design and engineering historically formed the last phase of design, however BIM dictates a more synchronised approach by all disciplines, requiring them to work in parallel from the early stages of AEC design. Secondly, the facility owners and investors always demand increased efficiency, waste reduction and on-time/in-budget completion.

As a result, progressive MEP engineering firms are increasingly adopting MEP (M&E) BIM practices to, a) work in parallel with other disciplines; and, b) meet complex project demands from project stakeholders.

Implementing BIM can pose a challenge as its adoption requires significant investment in equipment and training as well as changes to overall workflow and internal processes. With this in mind, many MEP engineering firm’s partner with 3D BIM modelling and building services coordination specialists, such firms possess expertise of parametric modelling and BIM development. As well as immediate expertise offered by such coordination support firms, transitioning to a BIM-based MEP workflow from a conventional CAD-based design workflow requires the type of planning and workflow streamlining that many firms are only just implementing and therefore the skills to handle such projects immediately are not in place.

Once the specialist MEP coordination firms are on board, they face the challenge of handling BIM projects and in particular maintaining a version controlled model. When using BIM for pre-construction planning and construction documentation effective communication and the use of modern collaboration platforms, usually hosted in the cloud, help to maintain a version controlled model. 

The BIM managers representing key project teams: architectural, structural, and MEP (M&E) engineering must collaborate and communicate to ensure the integrity of design data as well as adherence to project deliverables. For his/her part, the MEP (M&E) BIM manager will need to gain an insight into the architectural and structural BIM models prepared by the respective teams and use that data for his own inputs. As well as a detailed review of the current BIM standards of the project, knowing the specific components that will be used and then planning the coordination efficiently to include bracketing, lagging, access and maintenance will be taken into account. This insight can then be used to prepare an MEP central file that serves as a reference point to the downstream MEP design team.

The emerging standard of LOD (level of detail) means that the BIM manager representing the MEP (M&P) team must work to the specified LOD for the project, this will influence the detail within the drawings whether it is at the schematic design (SD), detailed design (DD) and then  construction documentation (CD) phase of the project. This ensures the model does not contain elements that are not required or will not be of any use to the trade subcontractors. Another key decision before the MEP design team starts modeling is how much custom content (parametric families) will need to be created within the BIM application in addition to the information that will need to be developed in a CAD package and linked to the BIM application.

If the above aspects are considered before initiating upon a new BIM-enabled MEP (M&E) design project, the MEP (M&E) BIM manager will serve as a primary link between the in-house design team and the architectural / structural BIM managers (who represent their respective teams). As a result, any update on the architectural or structural models will be communicated to the MEP BIM manager who can then update the MEP central file which in turn acts a point of reference for the downstream MEP design team to model upon. This sets the stage for streamlined and coordinated MEP designs using smart parametric models.

 

For more information about our dedicated MEP (M&E) BIM modelling support and coordination service for MEP (M&P) designers, consultants and contractors contact us.

As-Built Construction Assets: Key to Future Planning and Facilities Management

Preparing ‘as-built’ drawings and models is certainly one of the most crucial requirements of any design-build project. These final set of construction assets validates how the contractor built the structure including all the changes and modifications that were made in the process. The finalised drawings and models are passed on from the contractors to the building owners and property managers.

The set of as-built drawings and models, though underestimated and neglected, broadly serve a dual purpose. Firstly, the as-built drawings and models act as a guidebook to the AEC (architecture, engineering, and construction) firms that are contracted for renovation and refurbishment of an existing structure. So, the time, cost, and resources that would have been utilised during pre-renovation survey are saved. Secondly, they help owners and facilities managers to conveniently undertake maintenance and refurbishment activities besides helping them during emergency situations e.g. for rapid evacuation.

Whereas data-rich as-built 3D building information models have obvious benefits over 2D drawing sets, the decision to choose one over the other mainly involves factors, such as the scale of the project, owner’s preference, and the design-build teaming structure. The owners of relatively small building projects may prefer 2D as-built drawings of an existing building, prepared by a technician after collecting accurate data on site. On the contrary, large-scale design-build and renovation projects may require BIM-driven as-built 3D models.

Assuming that the project in question has not had a BIM model for the design process which is then updated during the as-built stage of the project, there are two typical ways of preparing as-built BIM models. Firstly, using the as-built drawings and other construction drawing sets as the starting point, 3D BIM models can be prepared using applications such as Autodesk Revit. The second method involves the Scan to BIM technique where   point cloud data of the structures. This point cloud data is then converted into an intelligent BIM model using tools such as Cloudworx and Scan to BIM applications such as Revit.

The as-built drawings and BIM models serve as a comprehensive reference tool for owners and property managers. They benefit from these as-built drawings and models in the following ways:-

·     The finalised as-built construction assets make future project planning, including renovations, extensions, and redevelopments, convenient and cost effective for the owners.

·     Since the as-built drawings and BIM models contain complete details related to dimensions, fabrication, erection, elevations, sizing, materials, location, and mechanical/electrical/plumbing utilities, the owners can use this data and conveniently manage facilities within budget.

·     The owners can use these as-built assets to resolve disputes regarding insurance claims. In case of a massive loss due to extreme disasters, the insurance company will require extensive documentation, including the as-built drawings and models to support your claims.

As the as-built drawings and models are prepared by combining the drawings/models of all the building services, the owners and property managers can schedule maintenance operations of the building’s MEP (M&E) systems in a timely manner.

Issues Affecting The Adoption of 3D BIM Modelling

Issues including cost and time overruns, material wastage, and process inefficiency have marred the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry worldwide. Whilst the reasons behind this may differ from project to project, lack of interdisciplinary coordination amongst the designers, the building services engineers, and the contractors is the most common of all. Considering these unfavourable project outcomes, there is a significant push from the governments, mainly in developed nations, to accelerate or mandate the adoption of 3D BIM modelling in varying levels for government-funded projects.

Whilst parametric modeling tools such as BIM technology is being increasingly used for government projects private construction projects are also seeing the benefits with many employing  forward-looking AEC firms that have already transitioned to using information-embedded Revit 3D models for design as well as construction stages. Although moving from traditional CAD-based design processes to modern BIM-enabled workflows is essential to eliminate design/coordination clashes and maximise project efficiency, there are some key inhibitions and apprehensions to what is a paradigm shift for the industry.

Firstly, many AEC firms have long been using the traditional 2D as well as non-BIM 3D CAD workflow for pre-construction 3D planning and are highly resistant to change their current conventional processes. More often than not, such firms are completely apprehensive of embracing new technology or are slow adopters of new technology and decide to change only if requested by clients or if they are part of a framework agreement requiring adoption of such technology.

 Another factor that pushes potential BIM implementers back is the steep learning curve of its tools and their real-life applications specific to disciplines, such as architecture, MEP engineering, and structural engineering. One common concern is training CAD technicians, who are familiar with drafting tools such as AutoCAD, and BIM and clash detection applications, such as Autodesk Revit and Navisworks.

The biggest impeding factor to BIM implementation is the perception amongst certain groups that current projects during the BIM transition period, will suffer. As BIM adoption is much more than just software training, it requires an overall change in the way a building project is conceptualised, designed, constructed, and maintained. Whilst the traditional design methods required CAD managers with a team of CAD technicians, the modern BIM-based projects require BIM managers who liaise with discipline-specific representatives to map out the level of details (LOD) or BIM Phases required by the client, worksharing protocols/processes, and assess the adherence to interoperability and information-exchange standards.

Furthermore, there is a widespread opinion amongst the AEC fraternity that whilst adopting a full-fledged 3D BIM modelling for the entire lifecycle of a building drives cost, time, and energy performance efficiencies, tremendous effort goes into preparing custom detailed content to client’s specifications. This group believes that whilst the generic libraries can be used for design and clash detection, accurately detailed models are needed to optimally use BIM for aspects, such as cost estimation, time scheduling, and quantity take-offs.

The requirement for BIM adoption also requires a level of interaction along the design and contracting teams that is not usual and has certainly been accelerated with the use of BIM practices.  Clearly defining BIM scope and requirements between the parties involved is already becoming a challenge, especially for the MEP sector where designers and trade contractors have traditionally handled conceptual design and detailed design individually.  The overlap in conceptual design and detailed design is becoming the type of challenge that MEP trades and MEP designers are getting used to resolving as part of BIM adoption.

Collectively these issues pose a challenge and sometimes cause the apprehension involved for BIM project take up, something that we observe will change with continued demand for intelligent building design.

BIM-Enabled IPD: A Win-Win for Owners and Project Stakeholders

The building and construction industry is faced with a multitude of challenges in areas, ranging from design planning, construction administration and budgeting, to scheduling and facilities management. To add to this, the demands from owners’ regards to timely completion, cost efficiency, constructability and energy performance are becoming increasingly stringent. As a result, multidisciplinary coordination between all the parties involved in an AEC project right from design planning through to on-site construction, administration is paramount to meet these demands.

Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) framework, if implemented appropriately, can ensure ongoing collaboration between diverse stakeholders, including the client, the architect, the main contractor, the MEP designer and the MEP contractor at all the stages of the project from conception to completion. As defined by the American Institute of Architects (AIA), Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) is a process that “collaboratively harnesses the talents and insights of all the participants to optimize project results, increase value to the owner, reduce waste and maximize efficiency through all phases of design, fabrication, and construction.”

A crucial element of the IPD approach is the adoption of building information modelling (BIM) technology. Unlike traditional project delivery methods, the essence of BIM technology is the central parametric model that is developed using 3D input, often times separate BIM models, from different parties involved in an AEC project. By enabling greater collaboration and information-sharing between different participants, data-rich BIM models drive the IPD framework and improve decision-making ability that can positively impact the project’s outcome. Following are the compelling reasons as to why AEC project teams must employ a combination of IPD and BIM and how this approach delivers positive value propositions for all stakeholders:

• The IPD contractual agreements establishes clarity and dismisses ambiguity amongst all the project stakeholders with regards to decision-making, detailed responsibilities of each party, and risk/reward-sharing mechanism for each task. As a result, major participants, including the architects, MEP engineers and main contractors are clear about their respective roles and timeframes.

• Employing parametric BIM models structures the project team in a way that encourages clear, open, and horizontal communication. This facilitates diverse disciplines to seamlessly coordinate during the pre-construction design planning and construction phases.

• IPD necessitates mapping out comprehensive workflows and protocols for developing, sharing and updating the digital BIM models. These plans clearly delineate procedures for intra-discipline as well as inter-discipline design data management and communication.

• Due to an integrated design management structure facilitated by BIM and IPD, the cost and time benefits experienced by the primary project team members spill over to secondary chain participants, including fabricators, installation experts and facility managers.

So, if your firm operates in the AEC industry and is looking for a highly recommended IPD support services provider to handle initial consultation to complete project management, contact us.

3D Building Information Modeling (BIM) | BIM Modelling

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Building Information Modelling (BIM): An Indispensable Decision-Making Tool for Contractors

General contractors, also referred to as main contractors in the UK, play an essential role in managing the cost and schedule of highly complex construction projects, particularly during the post-design phases. Professional contracting firms and professionals are involved in a list of crucial tasks. These include diligently studying construction drawing sets developed by architects, seeking local construction permits and licenses, examining day-to-day on-site activities, estimating project cost, monitoring schedules, and serving as a key bridge between key trades, including mechanical services, electrical services, plumbing services and fire protection services.

XS CAD’s 3D BIM modeling and 3D BIM coordination services assist general contractors (main contractors) by providing them with a high degree of predictability and enabling on-time completion of projects. Considering that general contractors (main contractors) bear significant risk of project implementation, they appreciate the advantage of our BIM services.

Owing to our extensive experience in pre-construction planning, multi-service BIM coordination, and BIM modeling for education, commercial, healthcare, leisure, and residential projects, XS CAD has served as a valuable partner to general contractors (main contractors) in the US, Canada, Australia, India, and the UK to support the design process for architectural, structural and MEP disciplines.   

Apart from helping contractors deliver time and cost efficiencies on their projects, our tailored BIM services and MEP spatially coordinated models enhance coordination and interoperability between general contractors (main contractors) and all the subcontractors responsible for each of the building services -- mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection. Since the parametric objects created within BIM models represent actual elements within a construction project, this information is valuable for designers, installers and cost consultants.

Whilst 3D BIM modeling services support contractors by offering them a thorough pre-construction visualisation with regards to structure, architectural elements, MEP spatial coordination, clash inspection, and interference analysis, 4D BIM allows them to create time-based virtual mock-ups, also known as sequence-based simulations to improve productivity on site. Additionally, 4D BIM services help them detect time and workflow-based clashes resulting in efficient materials and equipment planning, besides improving the flow of multidisciplinary personnel in a constrained space and time.

Furthermore, XS CAD’s 4D BIM Services help general contractors (main contractors) test several "what if" scenarios and make improvements if needed. As a result, the simulation of various project sequences relative to their planned timeframes enables quick and effective decision-making. This decision-making advantage and accurate predictability offered by our BIM modeling services leads to on-time and cost-effective project completion by contractors for their end customers.