Archive for November, 2009
Industry Commentary
Last week, Laura Handler, Q5′s Director of Operations, posted this commentary about a New York Times business blog article, on her (bim)x blog:
One of the many non-BIM blogs that I read/skim is “You’re the Boss“, a NY Times blog about running a small business. Specifically, the author, Bruce Buschel, is starting a restaurant, which I have found fascinating.
Yesterday, he wrote a post about the progress of construction on his new restaurant and had a few interesting things to say, which I think reflect the state of our industry. The overall theme of his post is truly about planning and expresses the need for the transformation we are working to make, through VDC. A few great quotes:
“…So the plumber is at work, playing Twister with the HVAC guy as the electricians dance around the carpenters…”“…There are drawings upon drawings, and then changes upon changes upon those drawings. Everywhere you look, rubber bands contain the drawings, 24 inches by 35 inches, rolled up like parchment-paper communiqués between Jefferson and Adams…”
Buschel is impressed with the ability of architects to visualize and understand design using 2D plans, because he has no ability to do so – like so many other people in the industry. Only as he stands in the partially completed space, he starts to see “this materialization of a thousand decisions made so long ago in the abstract”.
I think this is a struggle for so many, who cannot visualize the end space. Once they finally see it,
I would have loved to show Buschel a BIM of his project, sometime during design. As a contractor, we suffer from indecision, late decision, or change of mind. All three are costly and time-consuming, and as Buschel points out, test the paitence of the team. We don’t like to see owners struggle to make decisions, and honestly, much of the indecision comes from lack of information. What do the options look like? Cost? What is their impact of schedule?
VDC clearly cannot solve all of these issues, but can help good teams extract and position information to move forward with design and construction.
Q5 Consults with Payette Associates
Q5 was recently brought on by Payette Associates, inc. to provide VDC consultation services on the 252,000 SF Children’s Hospital at Hershey Medical Center, in Hershey PA. Q5 will provide a model review to Payette, analyzing for the ability to collaborate in the future using models.
The graphic below identifies some of the parts and pieces of the model Q5 will be reviewing.
Q5 Featured
After speaking on panel with Laura Handler, Q5′s Director of Operations, Gene Roe Ph.D, PE, PLS of Spar Point credits Handler, along with Q5 and Tocci Building Corporation, an affiliate to Q5, as leaders in the transformation of the industry. In his article, Roe describes the connection between Laser Scanning and Built Environment:
The VDC movement is where laser scanning comes in. Identifying firms that are pushing VDC and IPD will lead to laser scanning opportunity. These people think 3D and understand the importance of using the only active 3D survey instrument.
He also references Q5 as being a “really valuable” resource.
Read the full article here.
Business Case of Laser Scanning
Last week, Laura Handler, Q5 Director of Operations, presented on the business case for laser scanning to the local chapter of the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC). Other presenters included: Gene Roe Ph.D, PE, PLS of Spar Point; Mike Clifford of DGT Survey Group; and Greg Lawes of Meridian.
All of the presenters shared interesting case studies and thoughts; however, there were a few great soundbites that merit attention:
Gene Roe echoed many others when comparing the current transformation in the AECO industry to the internet. “This changes everything.”
After reviewing some of the technical specs of laser scanning, Greg Lawes switched gears and explained the single reason why anyone would use laser scanning to document existing conditions: to reduce risk.
Unlike the other presenters, Laura Handler isn’t in the laser scanning business, so was able to support the business case. She agreed with Lawes that the reason to laser scan is to reduce risk, and reviewed specific projects where laser scanning facilitate exactly that (including this project).
After the presentation, all four presenters met to discuss the state of the laser scanning industry and pinch points. The group intends to put together a position paper on laser scanning. More details on that to come.