Outsourcing BIM Coordination Services for Improvement in Efficiency & Planning in Construction Projects

Current architectural and commercial buildings are very different from older buildings and older sketching practices. Current commercial building projects need intricate, multi-trade planning in structural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineering even before the start of the construction project. Present commercial building projects demand good clash detection, multi-disciplinary coordination, and superb visualization ability in order to avoid any sort of delay or financial problems. In view of the mounting pressure on AEC companies to finish projects in a short span of time and with a limited budget, outsourcing of digital design experts has become a viable option.

The Modern Revolution in Architecture & Engineering Design Verification

There is a huge shift that is taking place in the realm of digital architecture and engineering design validation because of the demand for precision and waste-free work processes. Traditionally, coordination of the design process took place through functional silos in which the structural engineer, architect, and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) contractor functioned separately. This separate way of doing things was often riddled with coordination problems that were found out during the course of actual construction projects, BIM Modeling Services leading to change orders and wastage of both time and materials.

To tackle the above-mentioned challenges, industry experts have shifted towards using digital modeling environments. However, hiring an entire team of multi-disciplinary experts can become a burden on the company’s pocket, especially when the market goes through a cycle of ups and downs. Using external digital modelers will enable companies to overcome the above-stated challenge.

Bottlenecks in the Operational Process Using Conventional Project Management Approach

Prior to exploring the option of cooperation with a third party, it is crucial to discuss the reasons why conventional approaches to project management are ineffective in the case of high-density construction projects. This approach involves linear communication, which leads to a reduction in the feedback rate and to an increased risk of misinterpretation of messages between the on-site workers and designers working in the office.

• Communication Problem: Structural engineers and MEP groups use outdated revision sheets, which cause on-site physical conflicts.
• Resources Problem: The in-house team faces modeling overload, thus producing poor-quality clash detection reports.
• Problem with Software: The expense of licensing the collaboration software for enterprises is very high.
• Problem with Deadline: No time to manually check for possible errors.

Utilizing Expertise From the Outside World for Improved Digital Modeling

Collaborating with the right remote partners with technical expertise will allow construction companies to benefit from a pool of talent that specializes in conflict detection, point cloud management, and parametric family creation. The external partners will function as an extension of the internal teams, using state-of-the-art digital platforms to detect any conflicts even before moving on-site.

Streamlining Collaboration Across Multi-Disciplinary Teams

The success of any construction project involves clear communication among different trades that should be involved during the pre-construction phase. Visibility of any project increases tremendously whenever a number of different engineering disciplines work together under one digital platform. This is made possible by the external technical team via the establishment of a common data environment within the cloud.

The benefits of centralization are realized when site managers, subcontractors, and the project owner are always in agreement, Shop Drawing Services hence eliminating communication issues which normally result from lack of consensus among stakeholders.

Efficiency Enhancement by Means of Technology Integration

Integration of modern modeling technologies into current workflow demands a special skillset and investment. The outside modelers have vast experience using the industry-standard software systems to generate models following the required LOD standards from LOD 100 to LOD 500.

Minimizing and Mitigating the Problem of Rework in Complex Construction Projects

Rework is one of the key factors that have an impact on the financial outcome of any commercial construction project. Mistakes made on-site after pouring the concrete or installing the main duct are very costly to identify and involve costly destructive actions as well as the ordering of additional materials. The employment of external spatial coordination helps to identify and correct geometric mistakes in the virtual model.

• Proactive Clash Hard, Soft, Clearance Detection and Mitigation in Advance: Clash hard, soft, and clearance detection and mitigation in advance in the virtual model before mobilization of the site.
• Material Take-offs: Accurate material take-offs help to avoid ordering mistakes and over- and under-ordering of materials.
• Safety Planning: Logistics planning of the virtual site helps to determine the right placement of cranes, materials, and paths for people.
• Regulations Compliance: Models meet all international building codes and zoning requirements.

Conclusion

To deal with all the questions arising around the construction of commercial buildings nowadays, one has to take a multifaceted approach including both technology and flexibility. By utilizing external services for coordinating space, you can ensure that there will be no expensive disagreements at the construction site. Commercial Estimating Services coordinate the work of many trades and make the implementation process highly predictable. Not only will you be able to protect your margins; you will always get outstanding results.

FAQS

1. In what way would the cooperation with external digital modelers influence your data security and IP protection?

Reliable external vendors stick to the policy regarding strict NDA and encrypted cloud storage. The international cybersecurity policy is applied in order to provide your proprietary design files and project data confidentiality.

2. At what stage of the construction project lifecycle do you need to collaborate with external coordination services?

External specialists should be involved in the project at the very early stages of the lifecycle – at the Schematic Design or early DD (LOD 100-200).

3. Would external coordination professionals be able to follow the requirements concerning CAD/BIM standards and naming conventions of our company?

Yes, reliable specialists get through onboarding and get acquainted with CAD/BIM standards and templates, and the naming conventions of your company.

4. How do remote technical teams handle time differences?

Usually, time differences are considered during task scheduling with outsourcing companies. Tasks submitted in the evenings will be handled at night by outsourcing specialists.

5. What ROI can one hope for with the use of external spatial coordination services?

Also read: Combine Structural Analysis and Detailed Documentation to Create Safer, More Efficient Building Solutions

The overwhelming majority of companies can count on positive ROI due to savings in case of rework, decreased project cycle time, and reduced costs connected with the use of special software, licenses for the equipment, and hiring of experienced people.