How Virtual Design and Construction Enhances Efficiency and Collaboration

At the junction when technologies change traditional methods in most industries, in the construction field, it is no different. The advent and development of Virtual Design and Construction have served as a cornerstone in the construction approach. VDC is not just software; it is a method that “combines computer visualizations of both the work site and the tools to be used in constructing the facility ”. The integration of building information modeling and construction planning creates a means to make construction more efficient. That is why VDC has become one of the central methods to deliver complex building projects.

Virtual design and construction is the meeting of advanced digital technologies with the planning, design, and construction of buildings. It is important as it devises a comprehensive model that includes all building components — physical, functional, behavioural. VDC describes a building in its entirety, for the entire building lifecycle. Its components are the building model, typically 3D, of the building itself that mentions BIM. This also includes the building site model, detailed schedule of construction, and simulations that let everyone see the building and its development before it is even built. In addition, VDC is a process of cross-discipline with architects, engineers, contractors, and project owners, who work together on the same platform with the same enterprise management. Together they spot problems the project might face, coordinate the efforts, and raise the efficiency of the construction before the first stone is turned. 

Virtual design and construction has a number of benefits, and one of the most applicable to a situation where a general contractor is responsible for the construction process is that it streamlines project planning and design. Through the use of Building Information Modeling, the team that will actually build a construction project can create comprehensive digital models that detail every conceivable aspect of the planned construction, from the materials that will be used to the individual beams and supports that will be required to build it, as well as the mechanical setups that will be required and the actual construction process. 

This level of detail allows the construction workers to plan ahead, as all potential design clashes, material requirements, and scheduling issues become apparent at the very early stage of work. The result is greater accuracy in budgeting and scheduling of work due to the minimal amount of possible on-site rework and any resulting delays. 

VDC involves all stakeholders to work on a single platform, in real-time. The project partners can explore the building information model, interact with the objects and make necessary changes on the spot. The entire workforce works and understands the latest changes, and the likelihood of misunderstandings reduces. This gives all the engineers, architects, and construction managers the access to the same data and help them see the visual implications of the changes. VDC also allows the models to be cloud-based, meaning that the information in the models can be accessed over the internet, remotely. This makes it easier for the project participants or stakeholders in different locations to perform their tasks from wherever they are. It makes the coordination and cooperation between the project participants better increase the speed and the accuracy of the decisions, and hence the efficiency of the project.

Traditional construction methods often have an increasingly high error rate. The main reason for these errors is the deviation of the real-world situation from the initial drawings, many of which become outdated before the construction kicks off. Errors in designing, in their turn, should result in rework that is expensive and time-consuming in multiple ways. Staying on the topic of the general inadequacy of planning processes, VDC directly addresses this aspect of construction. VDC gives virtually perfect digital models of the build. These models reflect the reality of the site, and as such, offer a possibility to predict potential collisions within the design. For example, plumbing can pass through an air duct, which is impossible in the real world. The clash detection tool that VDC provides picks up on such issues. As was expected, predicting problems at the designing stage allows for the opportunity to prevent these problems. Consequently, simulations can be effectively run on the details of VDC models regarding the sequence of build. Here, hidden inefficiencies of said buildings are detected. For instance, one may realize at an early stage that on the third floor, the space would simply not accumulate the required number of materials to finish the job. In doing so, the teams can introduce rather swift revisions to the plan and/or the design.

First, by improving the precision of construction plans and schedules, VDC allows teams to better allocate resources. Planning resources means determining the amount of labor, materials, and time required for each phase of construction. Using VDC, project managers can improve the sequence of construction activities and ensure that resources are where they should be. Thus, the performance of tasks is less hampered by a lack of equipment, materials, or labor. At the same time, the precise modeling of material volume allows reducing waste – that gained by accurate planning is just enough. In this way, there are fewer supplies to be disposed of and semifinished items produced. 

One of the greatest benefits of VDC is that it creates a platform for architects, engineers, contractors, and owners to work in as seamless a manner as possible. Since their data and models reside on an integrated platform, these different fields all get to interact in real-time. This approach generates value as the different fields are able to make decisions. In their collaboration, they are also able to reach a common understanding with regards to the project’s goals, deadlines, and expectations. With the ability to share the data and models in real-time and instantaneously, the different teams can also coordinate their efforts in a more effective manner. For example, engineers can determine how changes in design created by architects will affect the building’s systems. Similarly, contractors can also schedule their activities based on the new design. In essence VDC helps eliminate the silos that the different parties were used to working in.

Moreover, VDC facilitates the collaboration between construction teams and external stakeholders, such as project owners, regulatory bodies, and even end-users. The stakeholders, most of whom may not have experience in construction, can see accurate digital models, simulations and schedules of the whole project, and contribute towards the process. VDC enhances the level of involvement of each stakeholder, and the final product meets the expectations of the stakeholders. Therefore, fewer adjustments and changes are made during the construction process, which implies that VDC should be incorporated in construction projects.

What is more, by ensuring that all the parties are included in the process in the early stages and by making people consider planning and execution before anything is actually done on site, VDC can be used to identify risks that might not be immediately obvious. Even though sometimes, the risks are identified while working on site, most of the potential problems and discrepancies can be dealt with in the virtual environment. Due to the fact that VDC creates premises for better trust arguments between consortium members.

It seems beyond doubt that a significant transformation occurred in the construction industry because of Virtual Design and Construction . Owing to detailed digital models, real-time communication protocols, and various simulation tools, this approach allows for planning better, reducing errors, and implementing more efficient resource use. Moreover, it also ensures time and budgetary preservation as well as meets the expectations of both sides involved. Since modern constructions are becoming more and more complicated, it should be expected that the role and effect of VDC will only increase in the future by stimulating innovation implementation. 

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