BIM and digital twins | Cadalyst

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August 5, 2021

By: Andrew G. Roe



A new way of doing business – or a fad? Cadalyst discovers how architects, designers and contractors are leveraging this technology.

Since 3D modeling became available to the AEC industry, designers and builders have sought new ways to deliver value through CAD data. Simplistic 3D modeling has evolved to allow the preparation of photo-realistic renderings, flyover simulations, 4D models loaded in schedule, 5D models loaded in costs, etc.

Meanwhile, the concept of Building Information Modeling (BIM) has also gained traction, as designers, builders and homeowners have recognized the value of associating more than geometric information with CAD models. By associating part numbers, specifications and other data with CAD objects, models have become “smarter”. More recently, the concept of digital twins has gained attention, where BIM data is used to create digital replicas of projects, helping owners and construction teams perform real-time updates and make decisions. operation and maintenance (O&M).

To take the industry pulse of the BIM / digital twin activity, Cadalyst checked with designers, contractors and software companies active in these fields. While widespread adoption remains an elusive goal, companies are making progress in applying BIM and digital twins to a growing number of projects.

Entrepreneurs weigh

General contractor DPR Construction has been using BIM in various forms for over a decade. Dustin Ridley, manager of virtual design and construction (VDC) at DPR in Arizona, found that the BIM / digital twin concept was most successful when implemented early in a project. Early engagement with the owner and the design team “provides opportunities to organize and leverage BIM data,” Ridley said.

On a healthcare project in Arizona, DPR linked multiple design models together to deliver a unified Autodesk Revit model, accurately modeling every stud, duct part, and other components to essentially “build parts in advance,” according to Ridley. “This allows the owner to do another iteration of the review” beyond the conventional pre-construction reviews, he said. During construction, DPR overlaid the design model with location data in the field, using an augmented reality process to verify the locations of key devices in the field. The team used MobiLive from Tempe, Ariz., VisualLive to display the overlay on iPads.

DPR overlaid a design template with field data to verify the installation of the devices. Image source: DPR Construction.

BIM concepts also find use outside buildings. On the West Caloosahatchee Basin (C-43) storage tank in LaBelle, Fla., Contractor Lane Construction Corporation uses a 4D modeling process to facilitate the construction of a 10,500 acre water tank. The project includes a dam, 18 water control structures, drainage pipes, a peripheral canal, a bridge and approximately 18 million cubic meters of earthworks. The size and complexity of the project required that the quantities be “segregated to better quantify and identify an as-built offer, schedule, work plan and model,” said Matt Blake, VDC / BIM director for Lane .

Lane was not supplied with a 3D model, so they created a shape-based model in Bentley OpenRoads based on construction plans and a previously created surface model in Autodesk Civil 3D for automated machine leveling. The team used Bentley’s SYNCRHO Field and SYNCHRO Control to provide more detailed analysis of the calculation of quantities and schedule management, helping to identify the critical path and sequence the project accordingly.

The digital process provided a virtual file cabinet, including blueprints, photos and material details, accessible via iPads and cellphones. “In the past, we had notebooks and binders in the trailer and binders full of documents,” Blake said. “Having an electronic repository that is easily searchable and labeled with the right information is huge. “

BIM and digital twins

Lane Construction used 4D modeling to manage the construction of a water storage project in Florida. Image source: Lane Construction Corporation.

BIM and digital twins

Track workers had real-time access to project data via mobile devices. Image source: Lane Construction Corporation.

Designers Guide

Designers usually get involved earlier in the BIM process than subcontractors, which has opened new doors for some companies. Cuningham, designers of education, healthcare, living and hospitality projects, saw BIM put his company at the forefront of projects and allowed him to work with owners on more comprehensive planning, said Aaron Barrette, BIM Director at Cuningham. “We can provide complete construction models that become a portfolio for the customer. “

In a recent Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) project, Cuningham orchestrated the creation of a Revit model using Autodesk’s BIM 360, now known as Autodesk Build, as the platform common. They incorporated models from several disciplines and made up much of the building, including a very thematic conference room. To coordinate the design of curved and multiplanar elements, Cuningham turned to Radius Track, a Minneapolis-based contractor, for modeling and fabrication. While Cuningham has used BIM for over 20 years, Barrette sees new opportunities with digital twins, where operation and maintenance data can be linked to models and guide the replacement of mechanical and other equipment. building components. “We’re just starting to scratch the surface” with the concepts of digital twins, he said.

BIM and digital twins

The render and photo of the built conference room show how modeling helped with complex design elements. Image source: Cuningham.

In Australia, architect Johnson Pilton Walker used BIM and digital twins to optimize the design of the Parramatta Square redevelopment project in Sydney, including a 55-story office tower. JPW used Bentley OpenBuildings Designer to model the basement, podium, and core. The team used the GenerativeComponents feature of OpenBuildings to integrate IT design into the design process, speeding up design iterations.

“Typically, IT design is built into the project right from the design phase. However, there are still huge efficiencies remaining by introducing GenerativeComponents later in the documentation process, ”said Sarah Yap, computer design expert at JPW.

BIM and digital twins

Architect JPW used BIM and digital twin concepts to optimize the design of the Parramatta Square redevelopment project in Sydney, Australia. Image source: Bentley Systems.

Challenges ahead

While AEC companies have found success with BIM and digital twins, various barriers stand between early and widespread adoption. The need for more direct and open collaboration seems to be a common theme for success. Contractors “need to build relationships with the design teams,” said DPR’s Ridley, noting that the owner’s cooperation is also essential. Small projects – with construction budgets under $ 5 million and tight schedules – can also be difficult, but the same initial collaboration opportunities exist, he added.

Collaboration can also depend on method of supply, noted Lane’s Blake. “Design-build projects are more suitable [to BIM collaboration], “he said. On design-bid-build projects such as the Florida Water Reservoir, design information is often not shared as freely.

To advance the BIM and digital twin process, software companies are updating products and introducing new tools. In July, Autodesk officially launched Autodesk Tandem, a cloud-based platform that helps AEC companies create and deliver digital twins to their customers. Tandem can collect information about building systems in tabular and 3D representations, helping building operators and facility managers find specific operations and maintenance information.

A key objective of Tandem is to “take a digital representation of a design and connect it to operational data [in a unified platform]Said Bob Bray, Senior Director of Autodesk and General Manager of Tandem. In the past he has noted: “Lots of duct tape and chewing gum [has been used to produce digital twins]. “

Bentley’s iTwin, also a cloud-based service, was developed on a native technology stack to allow products like SYNCHRO to be built directly on that stack. Legacy products such as MicroStation can also be connected to iTwin data in the cloud. “A lot of the technology is there, but it’s really up to the industry to drive adoption,” he added.

Many other software companies are also adapting products for BIM and digital twins. Regardless of the platform, the extent of adoption by AEC companies always seems to depend heavily on collaboration throughout the design and build process. The extent of the collaboration could determine whether BIM and digital twins are seen as optional tools or the primary way AEC companies will conduct their business in the future.

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