Discussion Thread

  • 1.  3D BIM (BrIM) Model as Project Documents

    Posted 07-21-2020 08:52 AM
    Hey Everyone,
    My organization is in the process of transitioning from 2D drafting of projects, to 3D model creation for upcoming projects. The goal is to one day move from advertising 2D PDF contract plans, to having the 3D project model becoming the advertisement deliverable.

    My team is helping create the 3D drafting environment to create these 3D project models. I have learned a lot over the last few months, but there is still a long way to go, as we will be changing to a different process for creating projects in a 3D environment.

    I can see a lot of benefits to this new process once it is fully implemented and have worked through the growing pains. 3D models will be more accurate compared to 2D project plans, material quantities can be generated automatically, and design and construction changes can be modeled to see their impacts on the rest of the project.

    I want to see if others here in the ASCE community have had experience with using 3D models as the contract deliverable, and to share their experiences here, so we can learn more about an upcoming technology shift that can impact many in the civil engineering field.

    Here are some questions that I am trying to find some answers for:
    • What program or software are using to create the 3D project models?
    • Did you use this same program or software (or a different one) to share your 3D project model with clients, bidders, or contractors?
    • How did you add project specific notes to the 3D model?
    • What was your QA/QC process with a 3D model deliverable?
    • What have you learned from your experience that could help others who are transitioning to 3D model deliverables?


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    Doug Cantrell P.E., PMP, M.ASCE
    Professional Engineer
    Durham NC
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  • 2.  RE: 3D BIM (BrIM) Model as Project Documents

    Posted 08-05-2020 10:25 AM

    Hi,

    In my previous organization I worked on a completely Paper Less project which had no drawings and just the model as a deliverable. We used to call it Steel DMT "Direct Model Transfer"

    The Model was our Main deliverable with Material Handling plans and every other detail also added to it. It was used not only by the fabricator but also by the Construction company to detail their Temporary supports and scaffolding, The Heavy haul contractor to plan heavy lifting and crane/SPMT movement and also by the Client.

    Getting the building officials to use the model as a approval document was tough, but they agreed and we would print the cover drawing that is the isometric view of the model and stamp it as approval document. The drawings were available with the fabricator anyways for fabrication (they can directly extract through Tekla),  Incase we need them, just that we did not need to develop engineering IFC Drawings and we only IFC'd the model.

    We used SP3D as the main software and everything was input in the model as attribute. Since we did not have drawings available for making small changes, We froze our standard drawings and standard connection details with the fabricator to smoothen the whole process. The good thing was that connection design was in the scope of the fabricator as well and we Just had to review his connection design. Connection tags were marked on the member ends and we would furnish excel sheets with the force markups.

    Fabrication model review came in multiple cycles with first one just having the main members cut to Fabrication length With connection details marked in 4 weeks  and the second model with Grating, handrail and all other details at 6 Weeks. Comments and responses to comments were also recorded through BiMSight and it proved to be a very handy tool in maintaining records. Multiple modules could be viewed singly or together as per needs.

    Inter departmental reviews and Squad checks were also done by sharing SP3D sessions or 3D PDF.

    The whole effort greatly increased the detailing and modeling efforts since we had to model even gussets and everything in the model, but it reduced errors at the end by a big margin and also allowed us to always be in control of model and materials from the very start. It is definitely gonna be the desired way of execution in the future.

    There were lots of challenges but it was an all new way of doing things and a great learning experience.
    Let me know if you have some specific queries in this regard would be glad to answer.



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    Mandeep Singh Kohli CP, M.ASCE
    Senior Engineer
    India
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