Mixed reality, connected objects: the digital transition aims to improve the productivity of all those involved in construction.
For several years now, the construction sector has been massively adopting other means of improving its overall activities. The result: digital building. This transformation, most commonly known as BIM ( Building Information Modeling ), is a continuation of the digital transformation that began in the early 90s. At that time, architects, design offices and construction companies had understood the benefits of using design software to effectively manage their projects. Symbolized by the transition from the drawing board to the computer screen, this evolution was only the first brick in the transformation of a business still relatively untouched by the change in its modus operandi.
Mixed reality and connected objects: the digital transformation that led to digital building began in the early 90s.
To understand the reasons behind this digital craze, it's worth noting that almost all other sectors of activity - services, industry and agriculture - have seen their operating tools radically modernized over the last few decades. The main effect has been to improve business performance, both in terms of volume of activity and quality of production or use of products and services. Their digital transition has essentially been based, on the one hand, on the use of digital tools for all company tasks to improve them and, on the other, on the exploitation of digital communication and collaboration resources to ensure the coherent transmission of information between stakeholders.
Mastering digital building quality
It's often said that the construction sector needs to break with working methods that are claimed to be efficient, but which in reality are based on habits that still generate too many defects or overruns in terms of budget and/or deadlines. This assertion is backed up by the fact that the industry is now focused on achieving high production quality and volume targets, as well as meeting highly restrictive standards in terms of structures, technical equipment and environmental performance. It cannot withstand the usual uncertainties if productivity and profitability targets are to be met.
The digital transformation of the construction sector and the creation of the digital building is therefore really a revolution in the overall organization of site activities, and not just a change in technology.
This movement concerns all parties involved in construction projects: principals, designers - architects and engineering offices -, contractors and their site workers. It also involves product suppliers, who are preparing their references and data sheets for the new methods of worksite management. It also involves building operators, who rely on the mass of information gathered in site plan files to ensure operation, maintenance and upkeep. It goes without saying that users will also benefit from these advances, and in turn participate in them.
An example of digital building is the use of technical equipment - probes, sensors - by service companies to control building consumption and optimize occupancy. Another example: in smart districts or smart cities, residents can decide to allocate the renewable energies they produce - heat, electricity - to different daily uses, such as heating and mobility.
A global vision of projects: the rise of digital building
Over the past fifteen years, a multitude of innovations have been developed to meet this objective of digital transition in construction. Digital mock-ups have become the backbone of this transformation process. Their ability to present a digital twin enabling projects to be worked on in great depth in three dimensions, or even in virtual reality, has the main effect of making all the details of a project appear with great precision in a federated and comprehensible way.
In this way, all companies share files that inform them of product nomenclature, as well as installation constraints for structures and technical equipment. What's more, this mode of communication simplifies exchanges and speeds up modifications. The result is a reduction in errors - particularly with mixed reality on site - control of material consumption, site planning in near real time, and final quality of service.
From digital building design to operation
The digital transformation of construction is also supported by the regular development of tools that participate in its ecosystem. The most common are laser measuring devices and scanners, which provide essential data for working on existing buildings, producing plans from point clouds and validating constructions. The exploitation of images has been multiplied by the association of scanners with drones or a robot dog, such as the one offered by Trimble.
To meet the needs of construction sites, start-ups are regularly developing ways of visualizing plans, graphical tools for progressing tasks and displaying teams' daily schedules, mobile applications for communication between players, and site management - whether for the supply of construction products, personnel management or tool availability.
More recently, connected objects and data-capture equipment have been developed to operate these structures, with information sent to building management applications via the Internet. The growing use of "IoT" - Internet of Things - equipment is having a considerable impact on digital building. By recording impressive quantities of information on temperatures, air quality (humidity, CO₂, VOCs) and occupancy of premises over a short time-span, they make it possible, by cross-referencing them with predictive data addressed by local weather stations, to fine-tune comfort and load control parameters using artificial intelligence tools.
Thanks to their algorithms, which make dynamic use of updated sensor databases, these systems have developed a learning capacity that is particularly useful for preventing drifts in plant operation and optimizing surface use.
A strategic approach focused on digital buildings
The construction industry faces major challenges in making the digital transition widespread. While the major players understand the stakes and have been adopting the principles for many years, the challenge is to support the very large number of medium-sized and small structures. They are confronted with this revolution in terms of both its technological aspects and the overall management of their teams.
In parallel with the technical development of this subject, a large number of digital transformation consultants provide these players with the methods and approaches they need to adopt to integrate these essential tools. They can be summed up in three steps.
First of all, we need to find the window of opportunity to break away from traditional practices - 2D digital tools, paper-based exchanges - and successfully access these technologies. What is the level of customer demand? How mature are the products available? What are the competitive advantages of going all-digital? These are the questions to be addressed.
Secondly, new technologies will have to be retained to meet demand in an adapted and compatible way. Trimble offers subscriptions for its software under Revit and AutoCAD, Stabicad, or specifically, Trimble Nova. It also offers the Trimble Connect file exchange and communication tool, as well as the MEPcontent bimetric product file library for the HVAC industry.
Thirdly, digitization requires the training of company managers and staff in the development of the specific work culture required. This investment is vital to the success of the transformation, as it will have a profound effect on company life. This movement will lead staff to practice their trade essentially through a digital prism: plans will have to be followed to the letter, products chosen in strict conformity with the chosen nomenclature, and work will create milestone reports. It's all about the quality of the finished work, meeting deadlines and ensuring the smooth running of the project.
These requirements apply even to those involved in the digital transition.
Trimble works with other IT developers and jointly develops its products. It's the same with heating, air conditioning and ventilation manufacturers, who are developing their ranges and enriching the BIM library with their data files, essential for thermal engineers working with digital mock-ups. We're all part of this movement.
