Extract
Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) is revolutionizing the way projects are designed, planned and managed in the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry. By integrating BIM models and other digital tools with project management methodologies, each aspect of the construction process can be visualized, analyzed and optimized to achieve successful and profitable projects.
Contents
The Need for Change in AEC Project Management
In any real estate development, it is common for teams to work in isolation, focusing only on resolving issues relevant to your discipline or the specific interests of your organization. This fragmented approach creates imbalances and disconnections that result in misunderstandings, misaligned objectives, and failure to meet key project goals.
Traditionally, the criteria for the construction project management have focused on indicators such as cost, time, quality and safety. However, these parameters usually leave aside critical expectations and needs of the client and the project, such as:
Financial sustainability, in terms of profitability throughout the useful life of the asset considering occupancy and tenant turnover.
Legal certainty, in terms of legal protection by having licenses, permits and contracts in order.
Social functionality, in terms of environment and community development with the increase in capital gains, social interaction and environmental sustainability.
Habitability, in terms of decent and safe conditions to use the asset, guaranteeing structural safety and protection against the environment.
Operability, in terms of availability of services by constantly maintaining the asset for its correct functioning.
In most cases, real estate development processes are not designed to effectively deliver these requirements, resulting in inefficiencies that lead to wasted resources and failure to meet customer expectations.
It is in this context where Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) emerges as a comprehensive and transformative solution developed at Stanford University as part of the CIFE (Center for Integrated Facility Engineering) methodologies that allows the integration of all disciplines in a collaborative digital environment where we ensure that the processes are designed to deliver results that truly meet client expectations and project needs.
What is Virtual Design and Construction (VDC)?
VDC is defined as a framework that uses detailed digital models to plan and simulate all aspects of a project. Unlike Building Information Modeling (BIM), which focuses on the creation of digital models; VDC encompasses both the use of BIM and other tools and methodologies in what is called the POP Model. to improve collaboration and decision making in projects.
Components of the POP Model
The POP (Product-Organization-Process) Model focuses on ensuring that all parts of the project are aligned and work in an integrated manner:
1. Product: What is going to be delivered
The “Product” to be built, represented in a BIM Model, refers to the final result of the project, that is, the asset that is to be built and delivered to the client, such as a building, road infrastructure or an industrial facility. This product is modeled, visualized and optimized before physical construction begins to ensure compliance with client requirements.
Through digital simulations of asset performance, we can clearly and detailedly visualize possible deficiencies in the design from early stages without having to pause or delay the execution of projects. This, in turn, reduces errors that lead to conflicts, delays, cost overruns and oversights that can put the success of the project at risk.
2. Organization: Who Delivered It and How They Collaborated.
The “Organization” of the people and teams involved in the project, based on Integrated Concurrent Engineering (ICE) Sessions seeks to guarantee the collaboration and commitment of all team members to achieve fluid execution aligned with the project objectives.
By defining who is responsible for each aspect of the design, construction and operation of the asset, and how they are integrated into decision making, you can have truly collaborative work sessions where you can review project progress, resolve misunderstandings, solve problems, and adjust the plan in advance without the need to fall into “urgencies” and other common phenomena of multidisciplinary work.
3. Process: How Work is Executed and Optimized.
The “Process” of work, managed in a centralized Project Production Management (PPM), encompasses the methodologies, tools, activities and workflows that team members follow to plan, design and build the product.
This is where Lean Construction stands out thanks to the incorporation of tools such as Last Planner System (LPS) or Takt Time Planning (TAKT) that allow us to work fluidly, efficiently and effectively through the timely release of restrictions and the constant elimination of waste that guarantee the achievement of the project objectives.
Integration of the POP Model and the Practical Application of VDC in AEC Projects
To achieve a holistic vision of the project, connecting the deliverables (Product), teamwork (Organization) and execution methods (Process), it is necessary:
Define the expected final result of the project, its specifications and deliverables (models and data) throughout the project life cycle. Some questions to consider at this stage are:
What do we hope to achieve?
What are our objectives?
What are we going to produce?
What valuable activities will be carried out in the building?
What spaces, systems and components make up the building and how are they distributed?
Designate specific roles for each team member, define the tasks and means for decision-making at each stage of the project. Some questions to consider at this stage are:
How are we going to organize ourselves?
What methods will the team use?
What steps will we follow?
What is the importance of these processes?
How will decisions be made?
Establish key indicators (KPIs) to monitor the progress of the process, the efficiency of teamwork and adjust the plan when necessary. Some questions to consider at this stage are:
What is the expected performance of the building?
How are we going to measure the performance of processes and production?
What metrics will be used to calculate its behavior?
What is the expected performance of the team?
How do we measure our performance?
Standardize tools, workflows and standards to guarantee fluidity in collaborative work and share information in real time. Some issues to consider at this stage are:
Information management (e.g. according to ISO 19650).
Protocols for interference detection (clash detection).
Planning methods (e.g. Lean-Agile, waterfall).
Schedule regular meetings where all those responsible for the design and execution of the project are present in order to resolve conflicts in a timely manner. Some characteristics that we must have in these meetings are:
Planning (You have a clear objective and prepare in advance).
Efficiency (There is a prior agenda of the topics to be discussed).
Effectiveness (The aim is to solve problems and not just notify about them).
Transcendence (A minute is generated with the agreements, dates and those responsible).
Use interoperable digital tools to evaluate the product from early stages efficiently.
Software BIM (Ej. Revit, ArchiCAD).
4D/5D visualization and simulation software (e.g. Navisworks, SYNCHRO).
Cloud collaboration platforms (e.g. ADSK Construction Cloud, PlanGrid)
With this, we can structure the project in an organized way, ensuring that every key aspect of the product, organization and process is aligned to maximize efficiency and quality in AEC projects.
Conclusion: The Future of Construction with VDC
Thanks to VDC, we can manage projects in an integrated way, aligning people and processes with the true expectations and needs of the client and the project in a quantifiable way. With this, more efficient and collaborative projects are achieved that lead the AEC industry, and all of us who participate in it, towards a new more digitalized and sustainable reality.
Although the adoption of VDC in projects may face challenges related to the implementation of new technologies, short-term needs and long-term benefits justify its need in our industry. Without a doubt, its prompt implementation will contribute to reducing costs and increasing customer satisfaction, which, ultimately, will be the key to achieving greater long-term resilience in an increasingly competitive market.
Do you want to know more? Visit our Blog: https://www.consultoriatacs.com/en/blog
Ready to transform your company? Write us at: contacto@consultoriatacs.com
Contact us today and find out how we can grow your business together!
About Pablo Tellaeche (Author):
Owner and main consultant of TACs Consultores, Lecturer and University Professor; seeks to bring a true and positive Culture Lean and Digital Transformation to any company with which you have the pleasure of collaborating.
Comments