Virtual design and construction by Trimble Sketchup

2. 3D Construction Modeling

This process is to use the finished project prototype to be verified by all stakeholders who are involving in the project and let them be able to exchange their ideas. I believe in this words " 90% of a construction project is to talk and exchange ideas". My teams are trained to have a quick hand skill so that in the meeting between owners,construction management teams and contractors, they can move, rotate and scale all components in the model in the way that all people want.The objective of the meeting is to get the project prototype in which when it goes to the construction phase it will not change!. To do this is easy, firstly show the owner the prototype and walk him through the model as if the owner playing game. The owner can change whatever he wants to....do not let him makes change when things in the real world are done..it is awful. The second step, is to do 4D. The construction management team and contractors will be responsible to simulate the construction project in the virtual environment. 4D is to link time with components, so I put components that are constructed in week 1 into the layer-week 1 and put components in the week 2 into the layer-week 2. After finishing planning in the virtual environment, then making seances of all layers starting from week 1 to the last week of the construction. Play the animation and see the animation of the 4D construction. If nothing wrong....then we are ready to move to the construction phase.

Before we are going to the construction phase, all required resources will be arranged by using 4D information which is reported directly from the project prototype. The reported information will allow the purchasing team to understand the need of the construction team so that the supply of all materials will be accurate so that it will not make the construction delay. Google Drive is also applied to promote the collaboration between the owner, consulting and construction team. This cloud technology along with the accurate 3D construction model will now change the way we manage the construction project forever.

All stakeholders come to share information in one of our 3D construction meeting.

The VDO shows what was going on in one of our meeting room. The owner, consulting team and contractors were in the meeting to discuss about electrical system problem.

4D model created in Sketchup is used for simulating the construction sequence. This process will help our construction team to eliminate all surprise which might be occured during the construction phase. Also it helps us to manage the supply chain so that the supply of construction materials will not make the project delay.

Visualization is the most powerful thing for all stakeholders to understand what are going to happen.

3D, 4D and 5D

3D Construction Model integrated with Google Earth

3D Construction Model of a construction project in one of our construction site. The model is used for managing the construction of a wastewater treatment.

Construction drawings

I went to the front line of a construction site to see if there were something must be changed.

We are planing to use Tablet PC to replace paper-based construction drawings.

Tablet PC was used to illustrate 2D plans and section of a 3D construction model.

This VDO illustrates how to use Tablet PC and Sketchup for construction projects.

This VDO shows how 3D modeling team communicate with construction team via 3G connection in real time.

Continued Read More Page 3