Integrating Technology

A key theme of the day centered on integrating technology early in the construction life cycle. Speakers emphasized the importance of establishing a coordinated digital workflow from the outset so technology can most effectively support field execution. When processes, people and technology are aligned early, project teams see measurable benefits including reduced rework, improved safety and fewer conflicts. Real-time collaboration and streamlined digital coordination were highlighted as essential components of this integrated approach.

The Future of Construction Technology

Looking toward the future of construction technology, Jeremy Horne of Building Point explained that while physical devices already push the limits of data capture, software platforms will continue to evolve, becoming more intelligent, efficient and impactful over time. The continued advancement of software will further enhance the industry���s ability to translate field data into actionable insights.

Collaboration Beyond the Software

The symposium concluded with a panel discussion featuring VDC professionals Jeni Blood (Owen Electric), Jason Clifton (S.I. Goldman), Dolly Carwile (MacGillivray Surveying and Mapping), Michael Walters (CES) and Maurice Clarke (27腦瞳厙). 

Panelists reinforced that while technology is important, a collaborative culture and clear communication are equally critical to success. BIM execution plans, defined standards and early trade partner involvement were cited as foundational elements that drive strong project outcomes, often carrying as much weight as the software itself.

Collaboration Leads to Better Outcomes

The discussions throughout the day highlighted 27腦瞳厙’ commitment to a coordinated, people-focused approach to project success. By aligning teams, processes, and technology early and intentionally, the company seeks to strengthen collaboration and deliver better outcomes for clients and communities.  

27腦瞳厙 consistently raises the bar for VDC deliverables. The adjustments we make to grow to their standard create a ripple effect across all our projects. Their expectations push us to develop installation-ready models with a high level of constructability and data discipline that directly support field execution. They���re always striving for the next level, and while that can come with growing pains, their commitment to driving project success through technology ultimately benefits everyone involved.

– JENNI BLOOD, DIRECTOR OF CONSTRUCTION, OWEN ELECTRICAL COMPANY, INC.

Our trade partners��� success in VDC is the project���s success. Creating an event allows our trade and vendor partners to showcase their work and share insights that continue pushing the VDC industry forward.

– CRYSTIAN CEPEDA, VDC MANAGER, HENSEL PHELPS

The inaugural VDC Trade Symposium reinforced more than best practices and emerging technologies; it strengthened the construction industry���s shared commitment to building smarter, safer and more collaboratively. By bringing together trade partners, vendors and fellow general contractors, 27腦瞳厙 helped foster meaningful conversations that extend beyond a single event and into future projects.

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Laser scanning is a core capability within that effort, capturing millions of data points per second to create a highly detailed, three-dimensional view of existing conditions. Supported by complementary tools such as ground-penetrating radar, x-ray imaging, geospatial mapping and visual surveys, this approach allows teams to move forward with confidence, knowing decisions are grounded in accurate, real-world data.

When 27腦瞳厙 began work on the Nashville International Airport (BNA) Terminal Lobby and International Arrivals Facility, the design was still in its earliest stages. To give the project a strong start, the team conducted more than 1,200 laser scans of the existing terminal, creating a highly accurate virtual model of the building. The scans revealed what was possible, giving the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority (MNAA) and the project team the confidence to pursue bold design solutions, such as reducing 88 support columns to 32, bringing MNAA���s vision for a brighter, more open terminal to life.

On the Eagle County Regional Airport Expansion and Remodel Project, 27腦瞳厙 demonstrated how laser scanning can bridge the gap between design intent and field execution. Before construction began, our team conducted comprehensive scans of the existing airport to document the exact locations and dimensions of all existing systems. This data became the foundation for a fully coordinated model, one that evolved alongside the design and guided decisions throughout construction.

The coordinated model allowed the team to perform continuous clash detection and maintain alignment between disciplines as the design developed. One of the model���s most critical benefits came from the ability to identify and precisely locate structural steel penetrations during the design and fabrication process. By knowing exactly where every penetration needed to occur, the team achieved significant efficiencies in system installation and field execution.

The technology also proved invaluable during the renovation of the TSA security checkpoint and adjacent office spaces. Using the coordinated model, 27腦瞳厙 could visualize and communicate complex design decisions to project stakeholders, particularly in the tight ceiling and roof spaces where systems competed for limited clearance. This proactive approach enabled the team to streamline coordination efforts and deliver the renovated TSA checkpoint quickly, minimizing impacts to airport operations.

27腦瞳厙��� ability to perform laser scanning in-house gives teams and clients greater confidence in accuracy, frequency, and quick turnaround times.

27腦瞳厙 continues to redefine what���s possible with reality capture technology. By meticulously documenting existing conditions, we enable project teams to virtually explore, coordinate and solve challenges before a single beam is set in place.

To learn more about reducing risk and unlocking smarter solutions before construction begins, contact us today and connect with our team of experts.

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Design Delays Requiring Post-Installed Anchors

Design challenges required the coordination of the basement mechanical room for the Building 40A project to be finalized after the installation of the first-floor concrete slab. As a result, over 3,000 hangers for mechanical and plumbing pipes, ductwork, electrical systems and other trades needed to be post-installed into the overhead concrete deck.

Post-installation requires overhead drilling, which is physically demanding and poses significant safety risks, including musculoskeletal and eye injuries. Traditional methods for this work are also time-consuming, requiring significantly more work hours than the originally planned concrete inserts.

Piloting the Hilti Jaibot 

The project team collaborated with Diverge’s internal resources, MEP trade partners and Hilti to designate Building 40A as a pilot project for the deployment of Jaibot. Jaibot is fully integrated with a total station for precise hole placement and uses an onboard vacuum to prevent silica exposure to workers during drilling.

Additionally, Jaibot marks each hole with a dot pattern, allowing trades to easily identify their designated holes without using lifts or ladders to transfer layouts from the floor.

Jaibot is being contracted and operated by Welch & Rushe on our Building 40A project. 27腦瞳厙��� Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) team pulls data from coordinated BIM models and provides it to Welch & Rushe to determine drilling locations.

Benefits of the Jaibot

By significantly reducing the amount of manual overhead drilling, Jaibot prevents musculoskeletal and eye injuries. Since the Jaibot sucks up dust as it is drilling, safety hazards relating to dust and fallout are eliminated. Additionally, Jaibot operates much faster than a crew performing layout and drilling manually, enhancing the project schedule and safety.

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Solves Critical Problems Early

One of the primary reasons 27腦瞳厙 produces 3D printed models is to add value to the jobsite team, which not only includes 27腦瞳厙 employees, but trade partners, clients and designers. Unlike a digital 3D model viewed on a screen, a printed model���s physicality allows you to touch and pick up objects. This encourages a higher level of scrutiny and problem-solving from the team, resulting in increased collaboration and earlier detection of any discrepancies in the project.

27腦瞳厙��� 3D printed models are based on the actual construction plans. For example, the model shown is a 32-story skyscraper in which all the steel concrete decks and skin were made to reflect the superintendent���s construction schedule. The model allowed for easier planning and tracking of the 1900 Lawrence project���s construction on a tight site in Denver, Colorado, and solved critical problems early on, from changing the fa癟ade penetration details to efficiently coordinating the trades and materials. Furthermore, the project team used the model to show the construction process to stakeholders during meetings to make timely decisions.

“There are many ways to experience a design through visualizations like virtual reality and augmented reality, but the physical use of a 3D print allows multiple people to understand and interact on a much deeper level,��� stated Senior Virtual Design and Construction Manager Jim Park. ���It’s easier to understand what a project will look like physically; our models are also meant to be taken apart and snapped together with magnets to communicate phasing plans while highlighting safety and site logistics.���

Provides a Visual and Hands-On Tool

3D printing turns a vision into reality while providing a visual and hands-on tool that engages our clients by effectively communicating the construction process. As a general contractor, 27腦瞳厙��� project teams are accustomed to reading 2D design plans and understanding them in 3D, but this is not as easy for others. By 3D printing complex designs with interchangeable parts, 27腦瞳厙 and clients can discuss and change the model to show the best options from phasing plans, location of laydown space, public safety surrounding the jobsite and much more.

This is showcased on the 3D print model that was scaled to a 1:30 scale model of the entire 50-acre Sand Island Wastewater Treatment Facility in Honolulu, Hawaii. The model was designed to be an educational and interactive tool, showing all the buildings and process systems in the plant facility. This model incorporates the two new projects currently under construction. Each printed structure is magnetically attached to the base, allowing the full four-foot-by-six-foot print to hang on a wall and save space. The Phase 1 portion of the model utilizes a series of buttons and lights to highlight the different phases of water treatment, from primary effluent intake to thickener separating wastewater from sludge. Leaving the space open on the 3D model allows future facilities on the site to be printed for new work at the Sand Island Wastewater Treatment Facility.

Saves Time and Money

In the past, traditional model methods only involved the architect and would be a very manual and tedious process. A team of designers would hand cut, glue and color entire models out of balsawood, which could take months and thousands of dollars to produce. As with any design, changes are a normal part of the process, but they are hard to implement in a timely manner for traditional models. By leveraging the power of virtual design and the capabilities of a 3D printer in-house, 27腦瞳厙 reduces the inefficiencies of traditional models to save time and money for all stakeholders. Their 3D print experts quickly create 3D models from scratch and print them the same day at an accurate scale. The equipment and material cost in 3D printing has progressed to a point where the costs are manageable, especially when depicting an owner’s vision combined with 27腦瞳厙’ experience.

The Future of 3D Printing

For now, 27腦瞳厙 uses mass 3D printing at a model scale, and their growing team of experts is already looking toward the future, where they can advance their in-house 3D printing. They are exploring new materials such as metal or concrete to leverage the benefits of systems where automation will make 27腦瞳厙’ projects safer and more sustainable.

To learn more about how 27腦瞳厙 is investing in the future of building innovation, .

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The University of Washington Interdisciplinary Engineering Building (UW IEB) project is located in the center of the Seattle campus. It sits on a high-profile site across from the student union building and adjacent to central campus facilities operations. To ensure project team and public safety and to build trust with campus operations, the project team needed an unrestricted information-sharing solution for both personnel on the jobsite and to meet neighbors’ demands.

To achieve this, the project team identified their main obstacle of getting project-specific safety documentation into the hands of the craft workforce while proactively informing the curious public.

The team needed a technology solution that didn���t require log-in permissions, could push real-time notifications whenever site conditions change all while maintaining compliance with 27腦瞳厙’ cybersecurity requirements. They desired a solution that established the expectation for a supportive and safe jobsite environment while prioritizing client-customer service. Additionally, the solution needed to be highly efficient, requiring a minimal time commitment to create and maintain in consideration of the small project staff.

Piloting and Developing the Solution

In addition to testing other cutting-edge industry solutions, the team piloted webpage development using Microsoft SWAY. SWAY is a software program that is part of the Microsoft suite, which is available to all 27腦瞳厙 employees. The SWAY webpage can be easily created and modified by anyone on the 27腦瞳厙 project team. Additionally, the content can be customized to the project���s needs and can be shared widely via a common web link that is formatted for mobile devices.

Refining the Communication Process

To build consistent communication around jobsite safety expectations and emphasize the team’s commitment to information sharing and productivity, the UW IEB team added a QR code to their jobsite safety orientation sticker. The QR code brings viewers to the Jobsite Resources SWAY website that gives all craft and field personnel real-time access to the latest safety and project documentation, including:

• Activity Hazard Analyses (AHAs)
• Client-Specific Utility Access Protocols
• 27腦瞳厙 and Trade Partner Competent Personnel Certifications
• Site Utilization Plans
• Campus Haul Routes
• Shortcuts to the Project���s Virtual Delivery Boards and Daily Reporting Applications
• Key Project and Emergency Contact Information
• Project-Specific CARES Feedback Form

Resulting in Project Success

The UW IEB���s project site is located among a constant flow of more than 40,000 students, neighboring research facilities and shared staging areas with campus facilities operations. Due to the complexity of the project and location, the UW IEB project needed a single location for the facilities group and the campus members to learn about potential campus impacts and have visibility into the project���s progress. The team���s��Public Information��web page was also created on the SWAY platform and supports their need to quickly update project details or changing conditions to address local concerns. It is an essential part of the project team���s voluntary, neighborhood outreach efforts. Posters with the public webpage���s QR code are distributed throughout campus and reside on the project���s site fence.

The University rewarded the project team for this outreach effort with contract bonuses and has referenced the weekly public impact bulletins as a communication standard for other construction projects on campus. The project’s��Jobsite Resources��web page has been acknowledged as being innovative and highly effective during Zurich audits. It has also been announced at 27腦瞳厙’ corporate safety and superintendents��� meetings as a unique way to influence project and jobsite safety culture and promote real-time access to safety documentation. According to SWAY platform analytics, the IEB web pages have been accessed more than 1,400 times in the last year of use.

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In the 27腦瞳厙 Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) department, AI is used in a few different ways to make their processes more efficient. The department specifically uses a program called Construct.N that allows for extensive surveying of the project site using AI technologies.

���We���re able to walk the site with a 360-degree camera and can track the progress of construction. As we���re walking the site, we���re able to record the current state of construction. With that, we can go ahead and automate the progress and tie that in with the schedule,��� said Angelo Lago, Director of Virtual Design and Construction for 27腦瞳厙.

Along with streamlining building information and scheduling, the program also conducts deviation detection, where the team can compare the model they created with what was installed. Based on the information gathered, teams can then report that information to the individuals actively working on the jobsite. The use of this program helps teams understand how things are going in the field and provides an efficient way to determine deviations from the original model.

In the future, AI might also have the capability to speed up the MEPF (mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection) routing process. Currently, the VDC team brings trade partners together who have created their own 3D models and compares–or clashes–them with the architectural model. This process is called clash detection and can be very time-consuming. Lago sees a future where this process could be faster and more efficient.

���With AI, where I think it���s heading in the future is automating a lot of that routing. It���s going to find the best possible route so that we have the best possible design,��� said Lago.

While AI can help with efficiency in the construction process, it can also be extremely beneficial for safety on the jobsite. 27腦瞳厙 Corporate Director of Safety Jerry Shupe is optimistic about AI���s capabilities to recognize unsafe circumstances on the jobsite while assisting project teams in preventing accidents and injuries.

���Right now, we���re seeing it on jobsites around the country where AI is being deployed to film jobsites and identify potential unsafe actions,��� said Shupe. ���It���s sending alerts to people out on the jobsite so we can actually see what���s going on in the project and take action to rectify the problems.���

AI also has the ability to process vast amounts of data about a jobsite regarding safety in a faster and more efficient way than humans can. While project teams are capable of recognizing potential hazards on their own, AI can assist in rapidly processing the information and providing effective solutions.

���If we receive indicators saying that conditions are right for an accident, we are able to be proactive and take additional steps on the jobsite to prevent those accidents.��� said Shupe. ���AI would allow us to get ahead of accidents by seeing things that a normal person wouldn���t be able to see just by looking at all that data.���

Although AI has immense capabilities that can benefit project teams, Shupe recognizes that the idea of AI surveilling a jobsite can be unsettling to some workers.

���I think it���s really important for us to keep in mind that we need to keep safety personal. We need to make sure we���re having conversations with people, so they understand that we really do care about them and we���re not just utilizing technology to keep our workplace safe.���

Lago has the same perspective in the VDC department and doesn���t want people to feel like they could be replaced by this technology.

���We need to focus on being builders first. A computer is not going to be more valuable than our people. Our people are our biggest asset, so it���s important for them to continue to feel valued,��� said Lago.

Looking to the future, Thai Nguyen, 27腦瞳厙 Director of Innovation, is excited about AI���s capabilities but also stresses the importance of human involvement.

���AI will create a lot of efficiencies in what we do–things that are mundane, redundant–things that don���t provide a lot of value,��� said Nguyen. ���The reality is AI isn���t going to replace the human. You still need humans to make those decisions based on the best information they can get. That���s what AI is giving us today is those insights and giving us better information, allowing our people to make those decisions in the field faster and better.���

On the Innovation side, generative AI technologies are continuing to evolve and be implemented on jobsites. Nguyen sees a bright future involving AI in many aspects of construction but is particularly interested in how robotics can be paired with AI to create a more efficient and happier project team.

���At some point, you can have a robotic dog on a jobsite that can not only perform a task at night, giving humans a better quality of life, but then the AI and the machine are able to do things that are more predictive.��� Said Nguyen. With generative AI, it is always learning and improving so as an AI-powered robot continues to learn, it can build upon its capabilities and predict what information project teams need to be successful.

The future of AI in the construction industry is promising, with significant development in the VDC, Safety and Innovation sectors. AI continues to advance the industry by providing efficient solutions and proactive information that contribute to a safe, successful jobsite.

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A heat map is a graphical representation of point cloud��differential��data where values are represented by colors, which��can be��used to help the��team��plan their work and identify areas that may require additional excavation or grading to achieve the desired elevation.

Prior to procuring concrete for the shotcrete foundation wall, the superintendents wanted to quickly capture the as-built condition of the shoring wall by laser scanning the area. This would confirm whether the shoring wall was installed within the specified tolerance to achieve the designed thickness of the foundation wall, and identify any areas installed beyond the thickness of the design where additional concrete might be needed.

Once��the shoring wall was laser scanned, the information shown above was brought into the virtual model to identify areas where lagging in the point cloud encroached into the foundation wall model. Fortunately, no such areas were identified, indicating that the designed structural thickness of the shotcrete foundation wall could be achieved. Next, the VDC department used CloudWorx to apply a heat map to each face of the wall. Using the colors of the heat map as guidance, spot dimensions were pulled at various points along the foundation wall to approximate the new volume thicknesses. With this information in hand, the project team made final adjustments to the quantities of concrete ordered for each shotcrete placement and relayed the information to the rebar detailer to make the required adjustments to the dobie heights.

By using innovative heat map technology, the project team validated the volume and cost of concrete needed for the shoring wall, which provided full transparency to all stakeholders constructing the 1900 Lawrence Office Tower. 27腦瞳厙 plans to use heat map technology to compare the structural design to construction installation tolerances on future projects.

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Emerging construction building methods and technologies in the ConTech space have the potential to transform the building process. Technologies from small startups continually push the envelope, making complex processes intuitive with easy-to-use systems that improve communication and make building more efficient. Diverge provides a platform for 27腦瞳厙 to engage with these technology companies and assist in developing new solutions.

���Over the past decade, we have seen continual advancement in prefabrication, robotics, drones, and many other technology platforms that are having a profound impact on how we deliver projects. Diverge provides 27腦瞳厙 a structured approach to evaluate and implement innovation in our business,��� said Brad Jeanneret, executive vice president. ���We are investing in the future of our industry.���

By investing in these startups and their products in the early stages of development, 27腦瞳厙 can help influence construction technology in a positive way, creating success for both companies as well as the AEC industry. Technology firms working with 27腦瞳厙 benefit equally by leveraging the broad capabilities and multifaceted expertise of 27腦瞳厙��� business, allowing their products to be tested in real-life scenarios and evaluated directly by the target audience���the construction professional.

���The greatest benefit in our relationship with 27腦瞳厙 has been the acceleration in learning,��� said N K Chaitanya with technology company, ConstructN.ai. ���The interactions with various domain experts across different offices and different types of projects has helped us immensely in prioritizing our roadmap and accelerate product market fit. This level of discovery and support helps us understand the problems, along with the severity and complexity in the way it is being solved. We now have a well-defined roadmap, and as we start working on the pilot projects, we believe will be well placed to deliver better value faster.���

27腦瞳厙 employees are eager to give constructive feedback about the products they are using, knowing they are contributing to the end result, a technology that will help make their day-to-day more efficient and effective.

���27腦瞳厙 is always looking for technology that will take our safety program to the next level,��� said 27腦瞳厙 Corporate Director of Safety and Health Jerry Shupe. ���Often times, we experience products that were built with construction as an afterthought or a solution that only addresses a portion of our needs. By working with these technology companies in the early stages of development, we are able to deliver results that not only enhance our existing programs, but also allow for flexibility in our dynamic industry. We are able to create products our people want to use and integrate safety into a variety of solutions that result in overall efficiency and a safer job site.

The construction industry is experiencing considerable digital disruption, robotics integration, prefabrication solutions and many more innovative solutions to advance the industry. The $1.6 trillion dollar US construction industry is the second least digitized among all industries. 27腦瞳厙 leverages their people, processes and partnerships as a catalyst for innovation.

Having already spent his tenure at 27腦瞳厙 working alongside construction technology startups, innovation leader Thai Nguyen, was eager to formalize an already successful program. ���For over a decade, we have been partnering with early startups and strategic partners with much success.  The unique journeys, transparency, symbiotic relationships and invaluable insights have been consistent pillars, allowing 27腦瞳厙 to push the boundaries of innovation,��� said Thai. ���Culturally, we no longer have to pull our people towards innovation and technology. Instead, our everyday innovators are pushing and not settling for the status quo.���

Diverge���s team and growing list of partners is focused on identifying and evaluating solutions that have the potential to break through and advance how the industry plans, builds and manages construction projects. Construction innovators are encouraged to pitch their industry-changing ideas to Diverge, which is currently accepting new submissions for evaluation.

To learn more about Diverge, their strategic approach to innovation and to view their current technology portfolio, visit .

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The Tacoma Public Schools Fawcett Elementary School Replacement project (Fawcett), located in Tacoma, Washington, is a 50,000 SF building with a $33.8 million progressive design-build contract. The project is delivered with BLRB Architects and is scheduled to complete in July of 2023.

Despite its relatively small size, the project provides many opportunities to utilize VDC tools ranging from laser scanning concrete slab-on-grade for the analyzation of floor flatness, to 3D BIM coordination of mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection.

Carlos Cardenas, a lead VDC engineer for 27腦瞳厙 in the Pacific Northwest region, leads the VDC effort at Fawcett. While his initial task was to implement standard VDC elements, he and the field team soon realized that VDC could greatly impact the project.

���The pace of a smaller project really lends itself to having the capacity to explore,��� said Cardenas.

From there, he took the initiative to create new tools for the team and understand which elements excited them and provided the most help.

���Like when you���re cooking spaghetti, you throw it at the wall to see if it sticks, and that���s what a smaller project allows me to do. I can throw something at the superintendents and see what their reaction is and what sticks,��� said Cardenas.

The combination of right timing and an excited on-site crew allowed Cardenas the opportunity to continue supporting the field team, and together they were able to turn Fawcett into a VDC playground.

Elevating the owner���s experience

Fawcett had no expectations of VDC involvement or requirements during the construction phase, but it was something that the 27腦瞳厙 team knew would benefit the project.

Ryan Weinrich, senior VDC manager in the Pacific Northwest, and project superintendent Seth Stenerodden sat down early on in preconstruction to discuss design coordination. Together, they knew that even though there wasn���t a requirement from the owner, they wanted to step in and lead the VDC process.

Stenerodden and area superintendent Thomas Browning spoke enthusiastically about how helpful VDC has been on the project and how it has allowed the project to run smoothly.

���VDC helps tremendously. It helps when coordinating with every single trade partner, and being able to see problems in the model before it���s built in the field and is a huge benefit to the project, both cost and coordination wise,��� said Stenerodden.

Tacoma Public Schools was impressed by the initiative taken by the the on-site team, seeing the first-hand benefits of incorporating VDC into their project.

���VDC is new to the owner. They know about it but haven���t used it on many other projects, so they���ve mostly been an observer. We have really ‘wowed’ them with the stuff that we have done, especially when we brought in their maintenance team while we were still in the design phase,��� said Kate Westerlund, project manager of Fawcett.

From a VDC perspective, the tools that are developed and shared are typically project-specific and always with the end user in mind. Receiving input from both immediate field staff and those who would inevitably use and service the building was also an important step in the process.

To ensure that the maintenance team could do their job with ease once the school was finished, the team invited the Tacoma School District Maintenance and Sustainability Group after most of the systems had been coordinated. They were then able to use the HoloLens (mixed reality smart glasses) to guarantee that all necessary equipment and devices were accessible.

���Their head of maintenance was elated that we brought them in after it was coordinated. We used the HoloLens so they could walk around in virtual reality and physically see how they are going to be able to reach a piece of equipment that has frequent maintenance requirements,��� said Browning.

These steps were impactful not only for the functionality of the design, but to help make the maintenance team feel seen and prioritized.

���They said, ���This is the first time anybody has asked us, much less listened to a request that we���ve had,��� so they really liked that from a maintenance standpoint,��� said Browning.

Communicating with VDC

One of the greatest draws to utilizing VDC is its ability to reduce miscommunications.

���The benefits are endless when it comes to being able to communicate, it���s a communication tool essentially,��� said Stenerodden.

A creative way the team utilized VDC technology was by using the orthographic photos gathered during the weekly drone flights to visually communicate upcoming schedules. Browning shared that when schedules are presented in a spreadsheet, the information can sometimes be confusing. To reduce confusion, Browning started putting the schedule on weekly site maps to help visualize where each activity was happening and make the schedule more digestible. The owner found this helpful and it became a key system for sharing the schedule with the team, owner and trade partners.

���Once people have orthographic photos and see how they���re used, they don���t ever want to live life without them,��� said Browning.

Office engineer Mac Nisbet said that one of his favorite features of VDC is its ability to solve problems before they happen.

���It gives us the opportunity to coordinate between trades and solve a problem before it gets installed in the field,��� said Nisbet.

Using field iPads to access the 3D model while working in the field is also a shared favorite by the team. When solely referring to 2D models, there is more room for misinterpretations in the design, whereas 3D models make it easier to tell when, where and how each part is installed.

���It���s one thing to look at drawings, but it���s nice to be able to pull the model up in a 3D view on the iPad and show a subcontractor exactly what they���re doing,��� said Ashton Corcoran, field engineer at Fawcett.

Mitigating constructability issues through training and teamwork

The most common use of VDC on any given project is facilitating communication with and between trade partners during the construction phase. Teams utilize VDC for identifying design conflicts between all disciplines using Navisworks, a clash detection software that helps to mitigate constructibility issues in the field. This system works by analyzing the 3D model and identifying conditions that collide so the issues can be worked out before materials are ordered, fabricated and installed in the field. This technology also helps reduce delays and keeps the project on schedule by working out issues ahead of time.

���We are a 5.5-acre site, our overall building is 55,000 SF and we still have the same systems. If they aren���t coordinated, whether it is small or large, it slows the schedule down,��� said Browning.

VDC has proven to be a helpful and successful addition to the project, however, for a region with a VDC team of just three, it can be challenging to get each member fully immersed in each project. There is now a push to train the on-site teams to take over some of the responsibilities historically handled by VDC personnel such as running 3D coordination meetings with trade partners and recurring drone flights to help make some of the tasks independent within each project.

���Since Carlos was available, he came out, ran the operation and trained our younger people onsite to run the coordination. Due to Carlos��� availability, we now have office and field engineers who could go to the next job and run this,��� said Westerlund.

With the understanding that younger employees are eager to learn this new technology, Area Superintendent Thomas Browning stated that team is focused on training their field and office engineers to take over some of the VDC tasks.

While creating lift drawings has slowly migrated from a field engineers responsibility to a VDC engineers responsibility, 27腦瞳厙 has made it a company-wide objective to put the effort back into the hands of field engineers. This is something Cardenas trained Ashton Corcoran to do early on, and Corcoran was able to successfully continue this effort throughout the project. Lift drawings are now independently created by the Fawcett team and are self-sustained within their project since Corcoran was able to take over and keep producing them.

Nisbet said the most helpful VDC tool for him was the lift drawings, which made a big difference in being able to do his job efficiently. ���The lift drawings were huge because it was the only way we could have been as successful in the field as we were with our self-performed concrete,��� said Nisbet.

Exploring VDC solutions through early involvement

Sitting down with the VDC team early to review their service menu at the beginning of each project can be a very important step. The VDC team can offer helpful solutions and ideas that not everyone may be aware of.

���For any project starting up, talk to VDC, sit down with us and go through our menu of services. Even if it���s not in the contract, just exploring the opportunities anyway, and exploring them early on, might allow our team to identify a possible solution that might not have been previously explored,��� said Cardenas.

The main takeaway that almost every team member had to share was to get started earlier. VDC was brought in during preconstruction at Fawcett, but the team could have done even more if they had just started conversations earlier.

Embracing VDC as a team

The Fawcett team boasted about all the ways VDC had helped them on their project, contributing their success to their drive to learn new skills and embracing new technologies.

���Going forward, I would like to see this level of innovation utilized on future projects,��� said Stenerodden. ���It���s a much better way to visualize and see the way something is going to be built.���

The Fawcett team is constantly getting involved in VDC projects and they stay open to learning new tools that will help them along the way. Not only does the onsite team want access to more VDC tools, but it is no longer as intimidating and expensive as it used to be. VDC is accessible and is something the onsite teams, trade partners and owners love and depend on.

���The success that I see on this job is driven by the staff���s engagement with the tools and their willingness to learn something new,��� said Weinrich. ���Even though they don���t have a big budget or a lot of time, they���ve taken these tools and ran with them.���

All things considered, VDC is still relatively new, and the tools are constantly developing along with the way they���re being used. Through collaboration of the VDC and onsite teams the tools and processes are able to be developed to better fit onsite needs.

The Fawcett and VDC team have exceeded expectations for this project by encouraging others to get involved and embracing everything that has been given to them. This team has learned firsthand how helpful VDC technologies can be and they���re excited to take this knowledge with them to their next project(s).

���It can be a little intimidating at first if you���re not familiar with it, but ask for help because there���s a lot of cool things it can do that you probably didn���t realize,��� said Nisbet. ���Embrace VDC, because this is where construction is going.���

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Laser scanning can be performed as the project progresses, and can be utilized for future projects. The periodic laser scans can be compared to the engineering model which in turn can be compared against the design. This process ensures that the construction is following the design documents, and the project is built according to the final design. Precision laser scanning instruments provide certainty that the actual location of all materials and equipment is according to specification.

The physical model benefits the owner by providing a tangible reproduction of the plant to use when dealing with sequencing issues, plant operations and during troubleshooting, as well as to plan for future shutoffs/tie-ins and expansions or renovations. Because the Bellvue model comprises various parts of piping, it can be physically disassembled to view and pinpoint specific components that would otherwise be hidden to the naked eye.

In addition, 27腦瞳厙 uses the physical 3D model during the design and planning phases as an excellent communication tool. The owner, team members and other stakeholders are able to sit down at a table together in real-time to share the same view of the project, thereby helping to build consensus and buy-in. Furthermore, this physical model provides high level team members with a more comprehensive framework for viewing the project in its entirety rather than walking the site and viewing it piecemeal. In general, this type of interaction can be particularly useful on water/wastewater projects with their complex mechanical and piping systems that are often hidden underground, or to ensure operations and maintenance objectives are met ��� all before any construction begins. Finally, on phased projects, the team is able to see each phase as it will later unfold in the field, thereby identifying any issues in project phasing during preconstruction.

These virtual construction tools are a very effective way to maximize coordination during preconstruction, minimize waste during construction and ensure all project stakeholders are aligned throughout all phases of the project.

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