Demand and usefulness of 3D for construction project management through CDE

The article will discuss some of the advantages and capabilities that 3D models provide at each stage of construction projects, as well as the role of this technology in improving design and construction processes.

Definition of terms

There are many definitions in the literature that describe 3D models from different perspectives. Simply put, 3D models are those that have width, height, and depth, unlike 2D models, which consist only of width and height.

3D modeling in construction is the creation of three-dimensional virtual models of buildings, structures, or infrastructure objects using specialized software tools. Models can include detailed representations of architectural elements, engineering systems, landscapes, and other parameters related to a specific project.

Information modeling technologies are a way of transforming information about a capital construction object into an information model/models of the capital construction object (CCO) by building relationships within and between various informational parts using a common data environment.

The Common Data Environment (CDE) is a unified software and hardware complex for the joint work of project participants with information models at all stages of the life cycle.

Stages of development and implementation of construction projects

In the development and implementation of construction projects, there are a number of key stages, each of which has its own characteristics. These stages require careful planning and control for the successful implementation of the project. Before determining the usefulness of 3D at these stages, let's consider each of them in more detail:

1. Pre-project preparation and construction planning

At this stage, the initial study of the technical and economic feasibility of the project is carried out. Various studies are conducted, including market conditions analysis, project efficiency and profitability assessment. Possible risks and obstacles that may arise during construction are analyzed. Its goals, objectives, technical requirements are determined, as well as a preliminary budget and action plan are drawn up.

Conventionally, this stage can be divided into three sub-stages:

• Organizational and technical preparation. Includes the collection of all important technical conditions of the future object, preparation of all necessary data and documents for the issuance of the urban planning plan of the land plot (GPZU).

• Sketch project preparation. Search for the concept of the future building construction, selection of its orientation on the site, calculation of the basic technical and economic characteristics of the object.

• Engineering and technical surveys. The project development includes mandatory soil research, geological and topological works. If reconstruction or demolition of existing buildings is planned, their engineering inspection is carried out.

2. Provision of project documentation

After preparing the main conceptual aspects of the project, it is necessary to develop detailed project documentation.

This stage includes the preparation and approval of all necessary documents, from the technical assignment to obtaining permits from the expert commission. The prepared documents go through the process of coordination and examination to confirm their compliance with standards and requirements, as well as approval with the contractor and customer of the stages, volumes, and costs of all proposed works, selection of the contractor (one or more) for the upcoming works, execution of working and project documentation, examination, etc. Obtaining all necessary permits and licenses for construction from the relevant authorities and institutions. These sub-stages are necessary to ensure the transparency and legality of construction.

3. Construction organization

If the main phases of project development were carried out correctly, construction moves to the stage of direct project implementation.

• Preparatory work: Preparation of the construction site, delivery of materials, mobilization of necessary equipment and labor.

• Main construction work: Erection of structures, installation of engineering systems, finishing work, etc.

• Quality and safety control: Continuous monitoring of the quality of work and compliance with safety requirements at the construction site.

As soon as the construction process is completed, the acceptance of the finished object takes place. If everything is successful, KS-11 (Act of completed construction object) is signed. The building is put into operation, and the process of property rights registration gradually takes place.

4. Acceptance into operation of the completed construction object

After the completion of construction, the object is handed over to the customer, all necessary documents and keys are transferred, and the object is put into operation. At this stage, the following types of work are expected: inspection of the object by the customer or experts to ensure that the work performed complies with the project documentation and standards, if necessary, commissioning and adjustment of engineering systems and equipment are carried out.

After successful acceptance and preparation, the object is handed over to the customer for operation, contracts are signed for the acceptance of the real estate object for maintenance and the provision of services in the field of engineering network maintenance and energy resource provision; maintaining the structure of the property in accordance with the norms of current regulations; planning preventive measures, current maintenance and repair of the object; budget allocation in accordance with planned expenses necessary for the maintenance of the object.

Usefulness of 3D modeling at various stages for managing construction projects through CSD

Let's consider what benefits can be obtained from the use of 3D models at each of the above stages:

1. Pre-project preparation and construction planning

3D modeling allows you to create a virtual model of the future object, which helps the customer and investors better understand the concept of the project and its potential appearance, thereby reducing the risk of "information gaps" and conflicts. At this stage, the issue of architectural consistency with the environment of the future object is well resolved. There are tasks of modeling the illumination of objects by the sun or blocking visibility from different important observation points. Virtual testing, or imagining the operation of an object in its environment, contributes to more informed decision-making and reduces the risk of misunderstandings at later stages.

At present, three-dimensional modeling at the pre-project stage has not become widespread, but gradually its implementation is becoming more in demand. For example, one of the most important sections for 3D modeling technology is engineering and geodetic surveys, as at this stage the initial data for the design of all construction components are prepared. The 3D model of engineering and geodetic surveys includes the following components:

• digital terrain model;

• digital relief model;

• digital model of engineering networks.

The digital surface model (DSM) is a three-dimensional graphical representation of elevation data of points on the earth's surface in the work area and the situation on it (Fig. 1). At the initial design stage, a digital relief model (DRM) is often required. Many companies designing linear construction objects use 3D relief models obtained at the stage of engineering and geodetic surveys, as their advantages and clarity are obvious.

Applicability of three-dimensional modeling at this stage:

• Visualization of the concept: Allows customers and stakeholders to better understand the intended appearance of the future object, which facilitates decision-making at the early stages of the project.

• Analysis of the terrain and conditions: 3D models help analyze the terrain, identify features of the relief and infrastructure, which contributes to more accurate planning and project development.

Pros:

• Improved understanding of the project.

• Ability to prevent errors and conflicts.

• Efficient use of resources.

Cons:

• High costs of creating and maintaining three-dimensional models.

• Need for staff training.

Conclusion:

3D modeling at the pre-project stage and the stage of engineering surveys may be in demand in the following cases:

• A 3D model is required for better visualization and project protection in front of investors. In this case, additional costs for creating the model should be justified by the increased likelihood that the project will be accepted.

• 3D models at the stage of engineering surveys need to be prepared when it is known that the development of project documentation will include the creation of digital information models. Budgets for the preparation of 3D models of the terrain and others should be included in the project budget.

2. Provision of project documentation

During the development of the technical project, 3D modeling provides the ability to visualize all aspects of construction: architectural solutions, location of communications, structural features, etc.

Analysis of 3D models of the OKS allows engineers to identify problems and collisions in the design documentation in advance, which allows them to eliminate them at the early stages of project development, reducing the cost of correcting errors. Visually, various kinds of collisions on the model can be tracked much faster than on drawings. Of course, not all collisions can be identified thanks to 3D, but some are eye-catching. If a common data environment is used in the development of design documentation, then by establishing frequent data exchange between project participants, the delivery of models from working groups to the general consolidated model, it is possible to significantly reduce the work of engineers on outdated data, the so-called "work in the basket". This significantly reduces the overall design time and increases the predictability of the project's development as a whole.

In addition, 3D models allow you to better imagine the final result of a construction project, which helps to interest potential clients and investors. Visualization of the project in 3D format makes it more attractive and understandable to a wide audience. This fact can be used in cases where it is necessary to involve external stakeholders in the discussion of the project, who may not have an engineering education.

Applicability of three-dimensional modeling at this stage:

• Documentation creation: Using three-dimensional models as a basis for creating drawings and specifications.

• Interaction with stakeholders: Allows for better presentation of the project to customers and regulatory authorities.

Pros:

• Improved documentation: 3D models can serve as a basis for developing project documentation, including drawings, specifications, and technical solutions, which improves the quality and understanding of the project.

• High level of project detail.

Cons:

• Increased labor intensity of the project documentation preparation process, and, consequently, increased cost of such work.

• In some cases, upgrading the computer equipment fleet is required.

Conclusion:

Since the development of project documentation, which includes the creation of digital information models of capital construction projects, is more expensive, the justification for the need to create such a project should be provided in the design assignment. It is necessary to specify the ways of further use (at the next stages of the life cycle) of the prepared 3D models and the requirements for them.

The need to prepare digital information models should be determined by the specifics of the capital construction project itself. It is unacceptable to include requirements for the preparation of 3D models without working out the issues of their further use.

3. Construction organization

With the spread of distributed work technologies, 3D models play an important role in the exchange of information between remote participants in construction production. They allow for efficient data representation and collective discussion, facilitating group work and their understanding of the current state of the object. In addition, 3D models allow participants to better understand the spatial relationships and architectural details of the project, which improves construction quality.

Applicability of three-dimensional modeling at this stage:

• Construction planning: Allows optimizing the sequence of work and managing resources, reducing possible conflicts and errors.

• Quality control: Allows continuous monitoring of the compliance of the completed work with the project.

Pros:

• Improved coordination between different project participants.

• Reduced risk of conflicts and delays.

Cons:

• Limitations in use for complex engineering systems.

• Increased requirements for the qualifications of construction production participants and their equipment.

Conclusion:

Digital information models at the construction stage can be applied when each participant of this stage is ready to work using this technology. Otherwise, 3D models are conducted in parallel with traditional document management and are an additional burden. This way of working can only be considered as temporary during the transition period.

4. Commissioning of the completed construction project

3D models can be used to create detailed reports on the work performed and the condition of the object after the completion of construction. This facilitates the process of checking the compliance of the work performed with the customer's requirements and speeds up the process of delivery and commissioning of the object. However, over time, constant updating of 3D models will be required in accordance with the changes in the object.

The service life of buildings is decades, and for infrastructure objects, hundreds of years, which is tens and hundreds of times longer than the period of validity of not only the model itself but also one generation of information modeling tools. In other words, a three-dimensional model of a building, built during its construction and transferred to the operation service, will not last long in its original form.

In the article "Rosatom Analysts Assessed the IoT Market in Russia," Valentin Chubarov, head of the project office "Infrastructure IoT Platform" of RIR, notes: "The digital model of the object at the stage of its operation is not updated and after 3-5 years it ceases to correspond to the real object. The digital information model updated at the construction stage becomes an operational information model only if the operational service uses it, for example, for dispatching and managing engineering infrastructure. In this case, the operational information model is enriched with data from end devices, various sensors, and analyzers and begins to 'breathe.' As on a cardiomonitor in a hospital, the current status of the 'vital' functions of the object is visible on the monitors in the operational service. Moreover, engineers can adjust the operation of the equipment remotely using the operational digital information model."

Applicability of three-dimensional modeling at this stage:

Three-dimensional modeling can be used to create a virtual model of a completed object, which can be used for staff training, maintenance planning, and repair work.

Advantages:

• Documentation and maintenance: 3D models can serve as a basis for object documentation, simplifying subsequent maintenance and repair.

Disadvantages:

• Update and support: Constant updating of 3D models in accordance with real changes in the object is required, which can be a laborious process.

Conclusion

3D modeling provides a visual representation of the project, which improves communication between stakeholders and helps avoid misunderstandings. The accuracy and detail of the models help identify structural conflicts before construction begins, saving time and money. However, the high cost, the need for specialized software and trained specialists can be a barrier at the initial stages, especially for small companies. At later stages, there is a need to update the models to reflect changes in the building, facilitating building management and maintenance planning, thanks to access to detailed building models.

3D modeling undoubtedly improves the construction process, but requires significant investment in technology and staff training, as well as constant updating of data and software to maintain relevance and efficiency. The usefulness and applicability will largely depend on the specifics of the project, its scale and budget.

The use of 3D in the design of objects is an objective trend in IT-based development, but it is complex, long and expensive. It is important to move forward in order to increase the overall productivity throughout the life cycle of the construction project. This direction has a strategic future.

At the same time, it is important to note that to increase labor productivity at the tactical level, it is necessary to look for ways to reduce losses (costs) based on already established and stable 2D technologies. Organizing effective information exchange and management through CDE can have a significant impact on the construction industry much faster than just 3D modeling.