Construction verification - the missing link When it comes to addressing gaps in the BIM chain, it’s time to take a look at construction verification as a way to add long-term project value, says Michael Johnson, a senior BIM consultant with chartered surveyors Plowman Craven
F
Using this new workflow while workrom the introduction of CAD in cial, providing a great new data tool to the late 1970s to the latest inno- validate the accuracy of recently complet- ing on some of London’s landmark buildings has enabled the team at Plowman vations in BIM, I’ve spent the ed work against the construction PIM. last 35 years following the As hardware, software and processes Craven to identify the critical stages development curve and uptake of digital become more advanced and better under- where construction verification adds workflows. stood, construction verification will long-term project value. Our conclusion And as senior BIM consultant at lead- become a vital tool in delivering against is that it really does have the potential to ing chartered surveyors Plowman increasingly stringent client requirements. change the way projects large and small Craven, one of the most technically innoWith large construction projects are executed, reducing risk and potentialvative companies in the field, I have a increasingly using a PAS 1192-specified ly saving millions of pounds in change personal interest in ensuring that invest- BIM that demands LOD500 or an ‘as- orders and costly reworks. In addition to clients viewing construcments in BIM made by clients and their built model’ of the completed facility, the delivery teams have real-world value use of laser scanning in construction is tion certification as a kind of ‘insurance throughout the design, build and manage already exploding. We see construction policy’ against potential variation claims, stages of an asset’s lifecycle. verification as a great opportunity to con- we are witnessing an increase in the It strikes me that, despite the great tribute to an industry-wide improvement number of developer and end-user clients who see it as a method of proving conforadvances that are being made in the use in standards, efficiencies and cost savings. mance to contractual tolerance of PAS-1192, federated models set by the design teams. It’s also and LOD/LOI, the fact remains a way to avoid duplication of that, in most cases, BIM could Many still see BIM as existing only work caused by multiple subbe said to stop when the first inside a computer or, at best, as a contractors commissioning sursteel is erected. The reason for that, I feel, is federated model supporting 4D and 5D veys to validate the work, produce as-builts or check defined that many still see BIM as existprocesses. This needs to change tolerances. ing only inside a computer or, at As BIM Level 3 moves from best, as a federated model supits current embryonic form to a porting 4D and 5D processes. This needs to change. As the industry In addition to monitoring construction better developed, more clearly defined continues to improve its understanding of progress against programme milestones, tool, data and verification will play an where and how BIM can help to improve construction verification – if carried out increasingly important part in our future design coordination and identify poten- at pre-planned construction stages – deliveries. Dr Ioannis Brilakis, a lecturer tial issues before construction starts, the could assist the supply chain in discharg- at the Laing O’Rourke Centre for real challenge we now face lies in auditing ing some of its responsibilities surround- Construction Engineering at Cambridge University, has aptly described the next and recording exactly what has been con- ing ‘as-installed’ model data. structed against what was designed. I’m convinced, in fact, that construc- level of BIM as ‘as-is BIM’. From a contractor’s perspective, the But that raises an important question. tion verification can play a significant In addition to demonstrating that con- role in the early recognition and subse- not-too-distant future may involve checktractual obligations have been met, what quent mitigation of some of the ever- ing construction methodology using realmight be the other commercial advantag- present and costly delays, re-works, time information, supported by active es of having documented, independent package creep and legal and financial monitoring systems feeding data back certification of the positional accuracy issues that blight our current processes. into live models. Being a technically-led company, we are and content of installations? It might bean obvious question, but what For VDC [Virtual Design Construction] impact might a reduction in contingency constantly looking to improve on accuracy and BIM managers, a construction verifi- have on work-won ratios and tender and automate processes where possible. In line with these goals, we are currently cation workflow could be hugely benefi- return prices?
‘‘
’’
26
Summer 2017 special edition
www.AECmag.com
