Industry Info and CAD Tips

  The concept of the Internet of Things (IoT) has been around for decades. Innovators have been waiting for technology to evolve far enough to put it into practice since its inception. While the construction business is evolving at a sluggish pace, organizations that use technology to effectively solve common workplace challenges and optimize operations gain from enhanced efficiency and improved responsiveness to the sector’s growing demands. Construction businesses are always seeking innovative methods to improve operations and make sites safer in an industry known for health and safety difficulties, cost overruns, theft, and a variety of other site issues. Answers can be found in digital tools, the Internet of Things (IoT), and data analytics. However, the industry is still reluctant to use IoT as many players are still not ready for technological change and are skeptical of its potential. What is Internet of Things (IoT)? The Internet of Things, or IoT, refers to the abundance of physical objects that surround us that are integrated with technological software and devices such as sensors, trackers, storage, and other devices to be able to interchange, generate, and operate data that is thus received and delivered. Each object is uniquely identifiable thanks to its embedded computing system, but it can still work with the existing Internet infrastructure. Experts had earlier predicted that by 2021, there will be around 40 billion active endpoints on the market. More than 70 billion active IoT connections are expected by 2025.  Internet of Things (IoT) is an evolution to transform industries, automate processes, and improve ROI. IoT and the Construction Industry The construction industry is presently evolving and expanding to fulfill the needs of the population, new strategies, procedures, and technologies are being adopted to increase efficiency and battle the current construction business issues and concerns. Construction projects are notorious for being late and missing deadlines and the AEC sector is one of the industries most primed for change. IoT can boost production, on-site safety, and operational efficiency. Managers can improve worksite visibility in real-time by deploying low-power sensors at every stage of a project, from planning to construction to post-construction operations. Another option is to use IoT-enabled management systems to track material deliveries to construction sites, allowing you to meet deadlines while also saving money. Construction is one of the industries most primed for change, and IoT can boost production, on-site safety, and operational efficiency. Managers can improve worksite visibility in real-time by deploying low-power sensors at every stage of a project, from planning to construction to post-construction operations. Connect with Technology

  Autodesk released the Autodesk Construction Cloud, a unified platform that aims to integrate workflows, teams, and data at every level of the construction process to decrease risk, enhance efficiency, and increase profits. As we approach the end of 2021, it’s a good opportunity to take a closer look at the construction industry’s economic prospects for 2022. From the challenges, we faced last year to the opportunities that await us this year. Connecting project stakeholders and data is important for the collaboration and insights teams need to maintain their competitive edge in today’s increasingly digitized construction sector. When mistakes in preconstruction are detected in the field, they become tenfold more expensive. Risk minimization during the preconstruction phase is one of the most important factors to success for any contractor, and bid leveling is a big part of that. Whether it’s reducing the total number of RFIs, increasing collaboration between the design and planning phases, or using machine learning and predictive insights during the bidding process, Autodesk Construction Cloud equips preconstruction teams with best-in-class solutions to help mitigate risk and reduce rework. Autodesk Construction Cloud Applications Today’s construction sites suffer from a lack of communication between teams, which results in missed deadlines, costly rework, and a project that becomes famous for all the wrong reasons. Autodesk Construction Cloud is a cloud-based construction management solution that provides an end-to-end platform for managing the entire building lifecycle, from design and planning to construction and operation. 1. Design Collaboration Multidisciplinary teams can collaborate on designs in the same area and at the same time. Teams will always be up to date with the newest design content thanks to restricted package sharing, team WIPs, issue detection, and design change notifications. 2. Clash Detection & Model Coordination Automatic clash detection, clash grouping, and tolerances, as well as the solution of an issue that connects tools like Navisworks and Revit to the cloud and an aggregated model that can be reviewed by discipline, relevant sections, or a first-person walkthrough, make model coordination simple for designers, engineers, BIM experts, and trades. 3. Easy Customization Teams can quickly add new data to a model as well as classify and organize project data, transforming a design into a construction-ready model that can be broken down into relevant scopes for downstream tasks. 4. Bid Management Bidding teams can access the world’s largest real-time construction network through an easy-to-use platform that streamlines the bid and risk management process while leveraging machine learning to identify, quantify, and deliver risk mitigation recommendations. 5. Quantity Takeoff Improve collaboration, speed, and accuracy during the estimation process. Estimating teams can perform 2D and 3D quantification operations from a unified data environment. 6. Connected Data Ecosystem Autodesk Construction Cloud delivers a common data environment that allows teams to organize, distribute, and share files on a single integrated document management system ensuring access to the information across all stakeholders. Think FUTURE Think BIG

  Laser scanning technology isn’t new and is employed as a standard practice in the manufacturing industry for some time now. However, it’s now gaining traction in the construction business because of its precision. Drones, UAVs, terrestrial scanners, and digital photogrammetry, among other constantly expanding 3D scanning techniques, make it possible to map practically every area of a construction site at an unparalleled level of detail. Laser scanning in construction applications has seen a 57% increase in demand. The market, which was worth $3 billion in 2016, is predicted to increase to $10 billion by 2024. Is laser scanning being used on your building projects, or are you still researching its capabilities? What is Laser Scanning? The use of a laser to gather comprehensive data and obtain correct information for every detail on a construction site is known as laser scanning or high-definition surveying. With a line of laser light, the device captures the dimensions and spatial relationships of objects. The scanner creates a point cloud image that accurately copies the scanned items. Depending on the scanner, items can be scanned from a hundred meters away. Thereafter, the data is exported to BIM modeling, and CAD tools, which are used to create 2D CAD drawings or a 3D model. Laser Scanning in Construction Laser Scanning technology has progressed significantly since its first application in the construction and maintenance of industrial buildings. It is now used for infrastructure development and much more. Rework can account for up to 15% of the cost of construction on a typical building project. Frequent 3D scanning, on the other hand, can reveal any possible faults before they become change orders, lowering the main contractor’s risk. Scanning at predetermined intervals allows for the documentation of crucial milestones such as trade hand-offs and a comparison of work delivered to as-designed models and drawings for quality assurance. Laser scans can extract additional information on a specific aspect of construction in some cases, allowing corrective action to be taken. Here’s how laser scanning is used throughout the project lifecycle: I. Design Phase When it comes to site design, laser scanning is a good place to start, even before BIM. Many professionals are now using a scan-to-BIM design method to capture detailed information to start and control the design process at an early stage. II. Construction Phase Another significant benefit of laser scanning is in construction coordination, particularly in minimizing conflicts between several systems (i.e., HVAC, electrical, plumbing). Data can also be shared across parties to aid in further collaboration. Scanning isn’t just done at the start of a project; it may also be done at various stages during the timeline to better document milestones, eliminate the need for change orders, and delegate work to other trades. In the building industry, laser scanning can help document where mistakes were made and suggest a solution more quickly. III. Clash Detection Within a project, 3D laser scanning is used to mitigate clashes. This could include equipment that isn’t the right size or pipes that aren’t in the right spot. Laser scanning enables you to identify any potential problems. IV. Renovations, Retrofits & Demolition 3D building scanners capture a high level of information, this lets owners and facility managers generate a comprehensive as-built record. Finally, this information can assist with building operations, renovations, future additions, and even demolitions. SPEED | PRECISION | SAFETY

  The capabilities of experts in the domains of architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) to plan, deliver, and manage buildings or infrastructure projects have been transformed by the rising sophistication of digital technologies. Building information modeling (BIM) allows for a broader management process across the project life cycle, with the generation of and access to a wider array of data associated with the structure being built. Computer-aided design (CAD) is now an indispensable tool in the design process, but building information modeling (BIM) allows for a broader management process across the project life cycle, with the generation of and access to a wider array of data associated with the structure being built. Traditional design approaches were generally restricted to 2D technical drawings and schematics, whereas CAD enabled a fully 3D design process. BIM goes even further in some definitions, with time as the fourth “dimension” and cost as the fifth. BIM files are data-rich models that are sent down from the design team to contractors and construction engineers, and finally to the facility’s owners or managers. Each expert can add their layer of knowledge to the shared model, resulting in a dynamic smart object’ or parametric model that transforms in diverse ways depending on which input is changed. Another way of creating performance models for design and production projects is virtual design and construction (VDC), which employs an integrated interdisciplinary approach. Between CAD, BIM, and VDC and how each technique can be utilized to achieve specific outcomes, there is some overlap as well as some misunderstanding. To take a holistic approach to building and infrastructure design and management, many AEC teams will combine the tools and procedures made available by various disciplines. What is Virtual Design and Construction (VDC)? Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) is a collaborative process in which design and construction partners simulate all work on a construction project in a 3D virtual environment before undertaking any on-site, real-world work. VDC helps project partners handle all areas of a project more efficiently, from schedule to budget to material procurement, and so on, to reach the intended result. Different VDC technologies are being developed to enhance on-site safety. BIM, in particular, is gaining popularity because of its benefits across the project lifecycle. Since the integration of these technologies with BIM is seamless and consistent, stakeholders can easily include them in their existing workflows. BIM and VDC are quite similar, however, they are not the same. VDC begins with the implementation of BIM solutions, and this extends far beyond new technology adoption. It emphasizes data-driven project collaboration, in which all project stakeholders collaborate to deliver a project that is on time, on schedule, and exactly as the owner expects it. The VDC process is a technology-based approach that ensures that the BIM model is used in a practical and highly effective manner throughout the project’s life cycle. The BIM model, Level of development (LOD), Advanced digital tools, Collaboration space, and Collaborative mentality are the five aspects that enable VDC. Virtual Design and Construction enable project members to communicate in a shared language, with all necessary information visible and accessible at all times. Challenges are addressed proactively and cooperatively. Utilizing the abilities of all team members and seeking new solutions allows for innovation. Benefits of Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) Solutions for the AEC Industry Virtual Design and Construction is so comprehensive that it encompasses the entire construction process. It establishes a close linkage between virtual design and construction, making it easier to verify that a project’s physical construction is integrated into and reflective of its digital counterpart. The shift from digital to physical and back to digital is a big part of VDC. Here are some key advantages associated with adopting Virtual Design and Construction: 1. Coordination & Collaboration VDC facilitates collaboration by providing all team members with remote access to the most up-to-date information. Using technology to clearly express ideas that can be monitored and seen by key team members creates an open platform for quickly and cost-effectively resolving challenges. Multiple parties can communicate digitally during the design process, ensuring that everyone has the most up-to-date information. This enables efficient off-site cooperation, which is becoming increasingly vital in today’s global marketplace. It also enables the model to be moved from design to construction for layout purposes once work begins. 2. Project Planning & Scheduling Architects and engineers can collaborate on virtual design and construction to develop more precise visual project designs, resulting in better transparency and more accurate scheduling. During the design phase of a project, BIM software can be used to incorporate scheduling and cost forecasts. When project managers start scheduling early in the design phase, they have more opportunities to detect bottlenecks and other possible sources of delays and solve them before they become a problem. Long before construction begins, VDC technology allows a design and construction team to estimate, coordinate, plan, and build a project in virtual space. This provides a clear picture of the project to builders, partners, and other project team members, as well as the best method to proceed with construction, budgeting, scheduling, logistics, and safety. 3. Enhance Safety & Quality VDC can be used to generate visuals for the construction process. This method has proven to be useful in identifying site logistics barriers or potentially hazardous activities that would otherwise go unnoticed in standard planning and scheduling. VDC can also be used to coordinate building systems to the point where prefabrication or modularization in a controlled environment off-site is possible. When operating in a controlled setting, such as a warehouse bay, safety, quality, and productivity can all be considerably improved. Many projects have successfully used VDC to prefabricate hospital patient rooms, baths, and overhead MEP systems in congested corridors and controlled situations. Transform your Business with Global Collaboration

  Scan to BIM is a Game-Changer in Scanning Technology. Scan to BIM has revolutionized the construction industry especially when renovating or retrofitting old buildings. You can collect comprehensive information about the building using Scan to BIM instead of looking for old plans and blueprints. As a result, the service allows for exact and accurate data utilization. It aids in the project’s completion by removing the guesswork needed in determining an ancient structure’s construction. How can your team get accurate data that can be customized to suit a range of requirements and used across all three disciplines while staying on schedule?  The answer lies in BIM which stands for Building Information Modeling, a standardized planning process for creating digital 3D models that can be used by AEC professionals for design improvement, facilities management, and planning for maintenance costs over time. A single BIM model can contain an entire site’s physical and functional information, all contained in a single database. BIM enables efficient information transfer and coordination across teams and project stages. In the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry, efficiency is key. Therefore, The AEC industry is consistently adopting innovative techniques to enhance its productivity. One of the fastest-growing technologies in the AEC industry is Scan to BIM services. What is SCAN to BIM? The process of capturing and illustrating high-density point clouds of a landscape, structure, or site in order to produce a 3D BIM model is known as Scan to BIM. Point cloud data is a raw representation of data or focus points from laser scanners such as LiDAR or photogrammetry after it is generated. To generate a data-rich and exact 3D model, the point cloud must be transformed to mesh. The Point Cloud meshes are built-in comprehensive BIM models demonstrating how the components blend in the building system, utilizing a 3D solid modeling tool. Several construction projects in the restoration and augmentation stages are adopting the point cloud scan to the BIM process for accurate modeling, clash coordination, and quantity take-off (QTO) or Bill of Materials (BOQ). Laser scanners make it easier to create a flawless 3D BIM scan, which can subsequently be loaded into 3D BIM software. SCAN to BIM can be applied to various processes of a construction project such as construction area or site affirmation, design planning, design verification, design evaluation, MEP Coordination, As-built drawings, Remodeling/Renovation, quantity takeoffs, budget estimates, etc. As the demand for the Adoption of BIM develops in the AEC industry, so does the demand for BIM schematics for existing buildings. Scan to BIM is rapidly becoming a necessary component of the BIM process. When a project comprises of a pre-existing structure or site, reality capture of as-built conditions can give important model information even before a designer ever starts working. Benefits of SCAN to BIM Services 3D scanning systems provide a more efficient, accurate, and comprehensive method of constructing a model into which vital information may be registered. Here are a few of the most important benefits of employing 3D scanning to produce a comprehensive BIM model with end-user data. 1. Efficiency By incorporating 3D scanning into the BIM process, the risk of construction interruptions is minimized, and the design process can be sped up. Designers and other important participants will have direct collaborative access to the essential information and will be able to make decisions quickly and efficiently, owing to point cloud data obtained during a terrestrial 3D scan, rather than waiting on hand measurements or data from another team. 2. Accuracy The demand for quality assurance and reliability is driving progress in the AEC business, with 3D scanning to BIM and Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) being two examples. The accuracy of the final BIM model is substantially improved when 3D laser scanners are used instead of traditional hand measurement methods, which benefits VDC greatly. The BIM model is built from the scan data with scan-to-BIM, resulting in improved accuracy and smarter judgments. Construction interferences and modification orders, which have a direct impact on your job profitability, are almost eliminated with such precision. The FUTURE is BIM shaped