It’s time to pay attention

This is an exciting time for the architecture, engineering, and construction industry. Projects are being designed faster and more accurately than ever before. Much of this success is because of technological improvements we’ve seen during the past decade. General understanding of technologies and new process, as well as adoption of these, occur on varying schedules, depending on the culture of a firm or organization and the personalities of its leaders. However, recent survey results indicate that the A/E/C industry is moving quickly toward an integrated, digital environment soundly based on 3-D information.

Civil engineers should be watching the exciting developments in how complex buildings are being designed today: a powerful process called building information modeling (BIM). Why? Because this process is being paralleled in the planning, design, construction, and asset management of civil engineering projects. Yet, a surprisingly low number of civil engineers are familiar with the term BIM (see Figure 1) or the process it defines. It’s time for that to change. The future of data collection, collaborative design, and digital data sharing is being adopted in the civil engineering industry right before our eyes.

What is BIM?
BIM is the process of creating an intelligent and computable 3-D data set and sharing the data among the various types of professionals within the design and construction team. The goal of this process is to improve collaboration among project participants. BIM is not defined by simply creating a 3-D data set for internal analysis—which has been commonplace within the design industry for many years.

Today, BIM is most commonly used on complex projects such as high-rise buildings, museum/performing arts centers, stadiums, and medical facilities. The term is most commonly applied to this process for a building, rather than a site or road.

You need to know these terms! Given the technological progress anticipated within the civil engineering and construction industries during the next five years, you should be familiar with the following technologies and processes. 3-D model—3-D model means civil engineering 3-D model. 3-D model is defined as a digital 3-D data set that contains existing and proposed terrain and facilities (utilities, buildings, parking areas, etc.) in an environment that can be used for analysis, design, computation, collaboration, and construction. Additionally, a 2-D CAD drawing with elevation data attached to known points or contours does not constitute a 3-D model; this is considered 3-D drafting. 3-D laser scanning—3-D laser scanning is defined as tripod-based, high-definition, reflectorless surveying that captures surface points (point cloud) by making distance and angle measurements in both horizontal and vertical planes. Using terrestrial 3-D laser scanners, a detailed image of a site or structure is developed with X, Y, and Z coordinates for each scan point. Scan data is then processed into 2-D drawings, 3-D models, and other deliverables. Uses include topographic and site surveys, engineering surveys, roadway surveys, and as-builts of bridges, buildings, or plants; structural and terrain monitoring; quantity surveys; and forensic investigations. 3-D laser scanning is also known as high definition surveying. BIM—BIM is the process of creating an intelligent and computable 3-D data set and sharing the data among the various types of professionals within the design and construction team. The goal of this process is to improve collaboration among project participants. BIM is not defined by simply creating a 3-D data set for internal analysis. GIS in civil engineering—A geographic information system is a computerized database management system used to capture, store, retrieve, analyze, and display spatial data in map and overlay form. It contains spatial information, object descriptions, and characteristics. It is being applied to civil engineering in a variety of ways, including for site selection for land development; site design; roadway layout and design; and hydrologic and hydraulic analysis and design. GPS machine control—GPS machine control is defined as the use of GPS to automatically control the operation of construction equipment machinery, including positioning or controlling its tools (such as the blade of a bulldozer). Digital 3-D model data is imported into the construction equipment’s system to accomplish these tasks. Typically, physical stakeout surveys aren’t necessary for this type of automated construction, but onsite GPS survey controls and verifications are required.

In most cases, architects and engineers create a 3-D model of a building or structure that is used for analysis and design. The model is shared among the various disciplines to improve design and avoid conflicts. For example, the mechanical engineer can use the model to design the HVAC system and avoid interference with the structural system, and the architect and interior designer can use the model to adhere to LEED standards for daylight.

According to the results of a May 2006 Structural Engineer survey, experienced BIM users report that since one model is shared among the project team, conflicts are identified early in the design process and resolution is expedited. Additionally, schedule and workflow improvements are realized and production costs are reduced. By not relying on paper plans and written specifications, data and details about a project are shared more easily, frequently, and accurately.

Contractors benefit as well. Using the same model during construction, the contractor can better conduct project and construction management efforts. With highly detailed data about the design easily accessible, contractors are less likely to make request-for-information submittals to architects or engineers, according to the Structural Engineer survey respondents. Project and construction management and scheduling is improved. Additionally, contractors can accomplish more accurate quantities assessments and expedite change orders. The contractor can also share the model with suppliers such as steel fabricators. Again, working off the same, detailed data set that every other project participant has used, errors are reduced and efficiency is gained during this time-sensitive and expensive stage of a building’s development.

Owners benefit during design and construction, but also throughout the life of the building. Structural Engineer survey respondents reported that, during design, owners can visualize the 3-D design easily, again improving collaboration. They realize the cost and schedule advantages gained by the architects, engineers, and contractors. And finally, owners can use the model as the basis for its operations and facilities management system. When rehabilitation is required further along the lifecycle of the project, the model will be relied upon again.

Why is this of interest to civil engineers?
In civil engineering, 3-D data is being shared and applied to various stages of a project’s lifecycle, professionals are collaborating more, and project data and information is being used in new ways.

Consider this scenario: A highway is being expanded from four lanes to eight, including an extremely busy interchange. A GIS is used for site planning and preliminary design, providing information such as soil classifications, power line locations, nearby businesses, traffic flows, and more. Additionally, to acquire accurate data with the least interference to traffic, 3-D laser scanning is used to locate existing topography of the right-of-way, roadway features, and the current interchange structure. The laser scan data, which includes highly detailed X, Y, and Z information, is processed and shared with the civil engineer for more planning and preliminary design. Various scenarios are visualized easily in the 3-D model the civil engineer creates, improving collaboration among the client and designers.

Once a final design is agreed upon, the 3-D model is used for detailed design, including the modeling of all proposed topography and features of the expanded roadway—from pavement layer thicknesses to light pole placement to utility crossings.

The 3-D model is shared with the contractor for GPS machine control, improving the speed and accuracy, and therefore cost, of construction.

An as-built laser scan or the 3-D model is shared with the owner for inclusion into its GIS, where the data will be integrated into its system, where more data will be applied to it. Now a part of a comprehensive GIS, the digital data will be used for asset management and as data for planning future projects nearby, among various uses by others with access to the GIS. Eventually, the 3-D model and the rich GIS will be used for future rehabilitation planning and design.

As you see, the integrated, 3-D digital workflow that is the cornerstone of BIM is being paralleled in the civil engineering industry. True, not all of the steps in the civil engineering scenario are applied to all projects and the process of data sharing is not as simple. However, projects increasingly are applying some of the elements of this scenario, and eventually, more projects will apply all. If it hasn’t happened already, it’s just a matter of time before you will be asked by a client, contractor, or another design consultant to engage in one of these steps. One of your co-workers or organization leaders is going to start discussing the merits of engaging in some—or more—of these new technologies or workflows soon.

Firms and organizations have an opportunity to provide value-added services, or even new services, to existing and new clients as projects become more connected. While it won’t be easy to engage in the new technologies and processes—namely educating and training yourself and your colleagues, establishing new processes, educating clients, managing new risks and liabilities, and more—some of your competitors already are working toward this goal.

CE News is a valuable resource for you as you work through the complexities of the business of civil engineering. Besides providing articles, webcasts, conferences, and newsletters with targeted information about these topics, it is an unbiased forum for information exchange. Log on to www.cenews.com and participate in a new forum on the homepage titled, "BIM and civil engineering." Or write to me to share your comments about BIM and civil engineering now and in the future at sfauerbach@zweigwhite.com. We may publish your comments in a special feature in the April issue of CE News.

Also, check out the following, previously published articles to learn more about 3-D design, GPS machine control, BIM:

• Project Case Study: Municipal Mapping
• E-engineering
• High-definition surveying services
• Not just a pretty picture
• Empowered with maps and data
• A GIS perspective
• Project Case Study: High-definition surveying
• Project Case Study: Engineering a stakeless environment
• Managing data from 3-D laser scanners
• An eye toward the future of civil engineering
• Project Case Study: Engineering art
• Transitioning to 3-D Design
• Balancing the costs and value of changing technology
• Project Case Study: Adding another dimension
• Project Case Study: GPS data is used to understand bridge motion
• GIS for site planning
• Information Technology: The virtual team
• Project Case Study: Firms use 3-D visualization technology to improve client and public understanding of projects
• High-accuracy, survey-grade GIS
• The case for 3-D design
• Project Case Study: Combining CAD and GIS data before and after design
• Integrated technologies connect project participants
• Gateway to better decisions
• Special Report: Civil engineering technology
  

What’s in a name?
During a recent CE News survey, we asked subscribers who were familiar with the term BIM if the term should apply to non-building projects such as roadway or site development projects. Most respondents (49 percent) said no.

If a respondent believed a new term should be used for the civil engineering industry, we asked the significant question: What should it be called? Ninety-eight people shared suggestions, one of whom changed his or her mind and decided BIM was the best after all. The most popular free answer response was site information modeling (about 19 percent). Other popular suggestions were infrastructure information modeling (about 10 percent), project information modeling (about 9 percent), and civil information modeling (about 8 percent), or similar term. Other suggestions were plays on the above, but incorporating other key words such as engineering, integrated, building, and/or inter-discipline within the term.

One person’s response was particularly insightful: "Maybe a more inclusive name, like AEC information modeling. Otherwise, we get into too many sub-divisions, e.g., RoadIM, BridgeIM, SiteIM, UtilityIM, et cetera ... In the end it’s all about the entire connected project, not the individual disciplines."

The truth is, industry experts and thought leaders give this issue much thought—and there isn’t consensus among them either. Some professionals are using some of the terms listed above, without concern for universal acceptance or definition. While it would be convenient to have industry-wide standardization on this terminology, We are far from that stage in the learning curve. And that’s okay.

What’s more important is that civil engineers think about these big picture ideas, learn about new and alternative technologies and processes, figure out how their firms or organization will participate in the future of design and construction, and what they need to do to stay competitive, and, if they are ambitious, excel.

Share your comments by logging on to the CE News BIM and civil engineering forum or write to sfauerbach@zweigwhite.com. Your ideas may be included in a special feature in the April issue of CE News.