Set out to be Accurate
The use of Building Information Modelling, or BIM as it is commonly known, has many benefits. Conflict detection, project visualisation, accurate cost estimates as well as providing dynamic and accurate as-built models are just a few of the commonly acknowledged.
BIM use is accelerating rapidly in Australia and when used in conjunction with Robotic Total Stations (RTS) is fast becoming the standard layout process across the construction industry. BIM eradicates the need for line, string and tape measures and offers the Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (MEP) industry many valuable advantages over traditional methods.
The United States and Europe have been finding great merit in the use of BIM over the past few years and countries like Singapore are actually mandating the use of the technology. By 2015 any project over 5000m2 will require plans to be submitted in a BIM format. Will Australia follow in a similar direction?
David Grant, Managing Director of SurePoint Australia believes so. SurePoint is a construction services company that specialises in helping businesses, whether start-ups, mid-tiers or multinationals, to replicate the accuracy of a CAD or BIM model from the office to the construction site.
David started SurePoint in response to an opportunity he saw forming around BIM combined with the use of RTS Technology. It was well entrenched in the United States, Asia and parts of Europe so he wanted to tap into what he saw coming three years ago.
Like any new technology, there are always early adopters and then there are the conservatives who need a bit longer to get their head around it all. Large projects across Australia have now adopted BIM combined with RTS layout and MEP trades are experiencing great results in fast and accurate layout.
“I like to meet with head contractors early on to deliver the message that they stand to benefit greatly out of the digital technology. The message of minimising re-work is always well received and we are now well-recognised by a lot of the larger MEP trades. Re-work is a huge cost to the industry and can often make or break companies.
“Our products and services are currently being used in Australia on high profile projects and are proving to revolutionise the way architectural and construction measurements are performed. The digital technology replaces paper plans, strings and tape measures with state-of-the-art, laser-accurate and computer-controlled equipment that seamlessly integrates CAD or BIM designs with construction job-sites and workers,” David says.
“Mechanical, electrical and plumbing contractors are key ingredients to service intensive projects, such as hospitals, more than ever now. Contractors have to get their set out correct as the onus is on them to send their as-built back in an electronic format that is compatible with the BIM. That’s where we are finding a lot of benefit to MEP trades now because we can show them how they can capture their as-built electronically which is important on these large jobs and on mid-tier projects in the future.
“A lot of the large construction sites in Australia, particularly hospitals, are all BIM projects from start to finish now so clients from each respective state are putting consultants on notice from the beginning. Building owners want an intelligent model that they can use to manage the facility throughout its lifespan.”
CAD INTERACTION
SurePoint’s Layout solutions integrate with the most common ACAD and BIM packages on the market. Whether it’s Tekla, Bentley, ArchiCAD, MAP or the Autodesk suite including Revit, AutoCAD, or Navisworks, SurePoint’s Layout solutions can replicate the BIM accuracy achieved in the office to the construction site.
It has developed and implemented the ‘technology bridge’ between the design software and the physical environment to perform the following:
– Construction Layout: Transfer any CAD design or shop drawing directly from a computer into the physical space with the latest robotic total station technology. In real-time, SurePoint’s products will navigate a user from any point in a CAD design to the corresponding location in or on construction sites with precision accuracy for facade, structural steel and MEP set out and co-ordination.
– As-Built Study: Capture the physical space with a combination of scanners and robotic total stations while generating the line work to CAD drawing with precision accuracy. Drawings can be created as two dimensional plan views and elevations or three-dimensional models.
– Dynamic As-Built Services: Utilising the interface between the Digital Construction tools and any preferred BIM application for model-based communication and management for all stakeholders electronically.
MEP BENEFITS
With the Trimble MEP layout solution, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing contractors can increase productivity and simplify the layout of sleeves and hangers. One person can accurately lay out hundreds of points in a single day – even when the design is complex. Trimble MEP utilises the Trimble RTS Series Robotic Total Stations, a Trimble Nomad and Trimble MEP layout software to provide precise location of pipe; duct and cable tray hangers; pipe and electrical conduit sleeves for floor and wall penetrations.
“From a sub-contractor’s point of view, if they can have their constructible model ready to set out on a deck prior to concrete – from the top down – it speeds up their work and promotes better accuracy. When the form work is stripped, all of the threaded ferrules and penetrations are ready to go. A minimise in re-work also ensures that they are only doing things once rather than two or three times,” David says.
With specific language and workflows inherent to trade applications, Trimble MEP maximises the existing skill sets of field personnel. It also offers additional benefits, including:
– Trimble MEP enables one person to handle layout faster and more accurately than two people using traditional methods. This efficiency results in both a reduction in labour costs and elimination of mistakes that can result in costly re-work
– Trimble MEP enables mechanical, electrical and plumbing contractors to take 3D positional data to the field digitally, increasing productivity and accuracy by improving layout processes
– As-built point data is collected as points are laid out in the field and can be imported back into office CAD/MEP software applications for progress reports or to communicate design updates and as-builts
– Trimble MEP also introduces the Trimble Connected Site™ to the mechanical, electrical and plumbing trades.
TRAINING
David explains that training plays a big role in the process and unless users have been educated, they won’t get the best out of the technology.
“My main focus is on the MEP trade and ensuring they get the most benefit out of the technology. It is all good and well to develop a perfect model in the office but if it isn’t translated into the field then there is no gain to the contractor or facility owner. Whenever we sell a kit we provide three days of training by qualified surveyors. Day one focuses on the office side of things where we make sure the contractors get the data right – from a plumbing perspective – to align the hydraulic drawing with the architectural. We teach them how to extract the information from a digital model to take into the handheld unit to use on site,” David says.
Day two and three of the training are based on site where users learn about positioning, levelling and how to read the instrument.
The instruments can be hired directly from SurePoint but only by trained operators. SurePoint provides trained users with a certificate at the end of their three day course to recognise that they are an approved SurePoint operator.
In order for the industry to continually benefit and reap the rewards of what BIM has to offer, education and training will need to continue across the board.
A BRIGHT FUTURE
Until now, BIM has been mostly utilised on large projects across Australia but the technology can be just as effective on smaller projects too. In the United States they are using total stations on houses and small blocks of units and David believes that we will adopt a similar approach in the future. As more head contractors see the advantages of using the technology, the more applications they will find to use it.
SurePoint
www.surepoint.com.au
PICAC TRAINING
The Plumbing Industry Climate Action Centre (PICAC) training facility in Brunswick, Melbourne has recently received a grant to purchase a Trimble unit with the long term goal of providing BIM and Robotic Total Station training to contractors from around the country. SurePoint recently sent a surveyor out to bring members of PICAC up-to-date with the technology and how it could be integrated into future training programs.
Lucas Blyth, CEO, Fire Industry Training attended the training course and explained that the Trimble BIM unit and Robotic Total Station was extremely fast and accurate.
“We simulated the installation of pipe work and duct work as well as penetrations. Once we set up control point for the Total Station it was quite straight forward. The technology has certainly come a long way from spirit levels and tape measures and to know that a model is actually being replicated in real-life to an exact millimetre is impressive.”
Plumbing Connection will keep you up-to-date on future training courses offered by PICAC.