Construction projects have always been regarded as adventurous activities. In addition, the inherent nature of building structure, location, and processes make automation a challenge. However, persistent cost overruns and delays should not become the norm. The use of 3D modelling and BIM provides effective solutions to common problems in the project. Here is how 3D modelling and BIM are making the complicated construction projects a bit simpler.
Enhanced Design Efficiency
3D modelling and BIM help streamline the design process by automating manual tasks and making data sharing easily accessible and more efficient to all the stakeholders. The increased efficiency is the result of the automation offered by 3D modelling.
With 3D models, it is no longer needed to create a large number of reports, schedules, etc. manually. These once time-consuming tasks can now be automated using 3D modelling tools, saving valuable design time.
With 3D modelling and BIM:
- Reinforcement design and detailing can be done in the modelling software.
- Quantities are automatically calculated from the 3D model
- Labelling and dimensioning of the objects is automatic
- Analyses and structural calculations are carried out by the software using the information already created for the model
- Automatic updating of changes throughout the design, reducing the effect of scope changes
- Easy sharing of data between teams that keeps everyone updated with the latest designs
Coordination between different teams becomes easier, require fewer meetings and consistency checks. Using common software interface, external parties such as the contractor can also access the latest design to provide feedback to the design team.
Data exchange between teams is also more efficient, because each team can have its own working model, which is integrated into the central model so that all teams can access the latest developments. With the sharing centre model, no one will miss current polls or searches for the last set of drawings. This reduces time the team spends on reviewing and confirming which information should be used, and greatly reduces rework caused by outdated information.
Streamline Reinforcement Design
Many designers worry that learning how to design and refine reinforcement in 3D will be difficult and will affect the quality of the final result. However, 3D reinforcement can be designed from the 2D views and sections that many engineers are accustomed to when they switch to 3D. The software also generates 3D models to keep them up-to-date and to ensure the accuracy and detail of 2D engineering drawings.
Being able to switch between designing in 2D and 3D while keeping the 3D model current is a powerful ability that makes converting to 3D modelling effortless.
With the help of 3D modelling software, you can complete the design of concrete reinforcement in the time required to refine the 2D reinforcement. By specifying the rebar spacing or the number of rebars, rebars can be quickly added to the component. Intelligent modelling software can automatically detect the edges of components, automatically stop the steel bars with a certain coverage, and then bend them to the surrounding edges or other steel bars.
The benefits are even more apparent when modelling sophisticated shapes. Reinforcement can be fashioned along a horizontal alignment, even at the locations where the cross-section varies, such as in bridges where the centre of the span is deeper than the ends.
Quality is greatly improved by using 3D reinforcement modelling, and not just the removal of potential errors when manually preparing bar schedules. Collisions within the reinforcement can be easily detected with clash reports, which highlight any areas that need attention. This allows clashes to be quickly rectified before drawings are sent to manufacturers and work begins on site.
3D views can also be generated to give a clearer picture of how reinforcement cages fir together, to make checking and installation easier. Moving from 2D to 3D reinforcement modelling gives engineers a competitive edge in terms of design times, costs, accuracy and quality.
Increased Accuracy of Deliverables
The automation of the repetitive, time-consuming, or manual tasks – such as generating a bill of quantities – eliminates human errors. By removing the potential for mistakes to be made within the created drawings or documents, the accuracy of deliverables is significantly increased.
The more engineers participate in the design, the more difficult the independent review work becomes. This is especially true for long-term projects, complex projects, many volume changes, design changes or iterations. By updating drawings, schedules and documents, even in small projects, despite independent audits, information can still be easily lost or entered incorrectly.
3D modelling and the BIM working method help ensure that these errors are not introduced into the design by automating processes and sharing are not introduced into the design by automating processes and sharing current design models between the project teams.
Reduced Impact from Scope Changes
Scope changes kill programs and budgets. Despite this, scope changes are present on the vast ma¬jority of projects for a range of reasons. However, when using 3D modelling, the impact of the chan¬ges on the design schedule and costs can be minimized.
Many changes can be made directly in the model and new reports, analyses, or auto-ge¬nerated documents. This automation of tasks that would need to be manually updated when using 2D drawing methods is a significant time-saver.
Updating the drawings, specifications, schedules, and bill of quantities for a seemingly minor revision can take several days or longer, depending on the size and complexity of the project.
Additional time is also needed to verify that all the changes are consistent and correct. With 3D modelling, the time needed for making and checking these revisions is significantly reduced. The time saved also means that the cost of making changes is less than that of 2D drawing methods.
Reduced Clashes on Site
It is a fact that changes during design cost far less than changes made on site. With 3D modelling, clas¬hes within the model can be detected and rectified before the project breaks ground, increasing the quality of the design.
During the design development, clash detection reports can be run on the 3D model to identify any collisions between components. The ability to find and rectify clashes quickly and easily is something that 2D drawing methods cannot offer.
In addition, the construction of the structure can be simulated using a 3D model, making it easy to visualize any clashes between temporary works or buildings, materials storage, accesses, and the new structure. Designs or construction methods can be altered, and the simulation re-ran to ensure, as far as reasonably practicable, that the design can be constructed with minimal changes on site.
Accurate Cost Estimates
When a client seeks feasibility before starting a project, it is very important to make an accurate budget estimate as early as possible. Accurate construction results, no errors or omissions, can predict construction costs more accurately.
The use of 3D modelling for automatic quantification is an important factor in ensuring that the settings are correct by eliminating human error. Identifying missing parts in a 3D model is much easier than finding missing items or incorrect quantities on invoices. If the quantity is accurate, the construction cost estimate is more reliable.
With the construction simulation and visualization tools offered by 3D modelling software, it is easier to get a true picture of the construction development and expenditures. Components can be linked to material costs and time, so a timeline of construction pro¬gress and costs can be created. For projects that have several phases, the completion of each stage can be envisaged and more accurately assessed
Improved Data Exchange
Exchanging project information, especially CAD data, is generally difficult and can lead to loss of information. When sharing designs, software that uses common data exchange interfaces provides an efficient way to pass information between the project team members and optimize data sharing workflows.
The Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) interface is an open standard for digital models, which ensures that BIM-compatible software can exchange data. This means that model data can be viewed by and trans-ferred to many different software programs with minimal loss of information and eliminates the need for all parties to have the same software packages.
By using BIM software with an IFC interface, the central model can be shared with everyone working on the project, ensuring access to the latest design information and optimizing data sharing workflows.
Improved Project Team Communication
When all project team members are working from the same design information, communication between parties is more effective. 3D modelling and BIM working method facilitate this by ensuring that up-to-date information can be shared easily amongst the team member from one central place. Everyone working from one source of design, more informed decisions can be made.
In addition, explaining complicated technical approa¬ches can be easier with a 3D visualization, parti¬cularly for any non-technical stakeholders such as the client. The 3D model and rendering possibilities make it easy to imagine what the end product will look like, as well as evaluate any potential options. This visual collaboration helps ensure that the cli¬ent’s needs for the structure are being met, before the project is on-site and changes become costly.
Having all the building component information in one place – instead of the traditionally fragmented approach of 2D drawings and specification documents – helps ensure that everyone is using the right information to base decisions on.
Workflow Optimization Opportunities
One of the main benefits of 3D modelling is the ability to streamline existing workflows. Steps that were necessary in 2D processes can be shortened or removed completely.
For example, the ability to auto-generate plan, elevation, and section views from the 3D model decreases the time needed to complete these drawings, as only the final layout and scale will need to be adjusted. Where previously there would be a program item for creating bar bending schedules or bills of quantities, these are now produced as a by-product of the 3D model.
Even the workflow to coordinate with other team members is affected, as many of the outputs they require are available in the model. This simplification of previous workflows allows projects to be completed more quickly, with more projects completed in the same amount of time or with fewer resources.
Future-Proofed Working Methods
With more and more clients across the world spe¬cifying BIM as a contractual requirement, there is no doubt that BIM is the future of construction. The benefits throughout the entire project lifecycle are too great to ignore: enhanced design efficiency, im¬proved project communication, better schedule, and cost control.
But BIM is still evolving. Using the BIM method to deliver your projects is easier to integrate during the early stages, than later, when the difficulty and expenses have significantly increased. The speed of development means that BIM is continually progressing and is starting to include other specialisms that typically sit outside the design.
BIM is increasingly being used in areas such as tendering, construction scheduling and cost monitoring, prefabricated component manu-facturing, and computer-aided facilities manage¬ment. The advances being made in digitization and artificial intelligence mean that many methods used currently may change significantly. In a few short years, the BIM method may be used for far more applications than it is today.
