The construction industry is changing. The topic of Building Information Modeling (BIM) is increasingly becoming the focus of modern planning offices. The Kiel-based engineering team Trebes has also taken the step from 2D to 3D. As one of the pioneers in the industry, the company is breaking new ground with BIM-based planning.
The Trebes engineering team is one of the long-established planning offices in the German construction industry. For more than 45 years, the office has covered the entire structural design of buildings for its clients, including implementation planning for in-situ concrete, prefabricated construction and steel construction. The company employs over 80 people at its headquarters in Kiel and its two branches in Rendsburg and Flensburg. The projects range from industrial and commercial buildings to larger residential construction projects, bridges and other engineering structures.
From 2D to 3D in solid construction
Innovative solutions are realized through close collaboration between engineers and designers in a modern working environment. This company philosophy also played an important role for the team when selecting the BIM software Tekla Structures, with which the engineering team is now also making the transition from 2D to 3D in solid construction.
For Managing Director Wigand Grawe, the advantages of 3D planning are obvious, especially the potential efficiency gains. "Changes in the ongoing planning process always hurt. While I have to redraw every line in 2D, I can make the change in the 3D model and the plans are updated automatically." Communicating and checking changes to plans is also much easier with 3D software. While a note on the drawing is easily overlooked, a collision caused by a change can be recognized immediately in the 3D model.
One solution for all applications
As a company that covers the entire spectrum of structural engineering, from design to execution planning, it was important for Trebes to choose a solution that would meet these requirements. "We didn't want lots of different systems, but a comprehensive software solution that would keep us in good hands in all areas," explains the Managing Director. In steel construction, the company was already working in 3D. The aim was to find software that could cover all service areas.
After comparing different software solutions, Tekla Structures was chosen. In addition to the ability to process steel, in-situ concrete and precast construction in one solution, the software's high level of interoperability played a key role. "With Tekla Structures, we have very good options for data exchange," says Wigand Grawe. The company works with structural analysis solutions from Dlubal. Tekla Structures has a direct interface to the structural analysis software, enabling a smooth work process. The good options for exchanging planning data from Revit were also of interest to the engineering office.
"There is no way around BIM"
In addition to the desire to switch from 2D to 3D planning in solid construction, the introduction of Tekla Structures was also a logical step in the decision to handle planning processes using Building Information Modeling (BIM) in the future. Model-based planning is increasingly becoming the focus of the German construction industry. The Trebes engineering team has also been working on this topic for several years and is a member of the Kiel BIM cluster. "The more we looked into the topic of BIM, the clearer it became to us that there was no way around it. Now is the right time to get involved," emphasizes Wigand Grawe. The fact that many companies are still reluctant to get involved has not deterred the company. "We don't want to wait until BIM is mandatory in a few years' time, we want to be at the forefront."
I want everyone in the team to only think and work in 3D. We don't want to wait until BIM is mandatory in a few years' time, we want to be at the forefront.
Wigand Grawe, Managing Director, Ingenieurteam Trebes
Project example: Residential and commercial building Bad Bramstedt
The new construction of a residential and commercial building in Bad Bramstedt was one of the first projects in which the Trebes engineering team was able to test formwork and reinforcement planning and the BIM process with Tekla Structures. The Kiel-based office was responsible for the execution planning of the technically and geometrically demanding building.
By adopting the architect's IFC reference model, the team was able to gain a quick insight into the complex geometry, quickly capture it in Tekla Structures and generate the formwork views. The use of the software also proved to be particularly advantageous when considering the joint plates in the waterproof concrete construction. In complex geometries, the course of the metal waterstops could be easily displayed. This was particularly helpful during construction meetings. As a result, even project participants who were not involved in the details were able to quickly understand the situation.
Coordination with the building services was significantly simplified by the 3D model. The partners also relied on an open BIM process and exchange via the open IFC format. The 3D representation made it immediately clear at what height recesses run through beams, for example. The laborious calculation of the recess position in relation to the lower edge of the joist is no longer necessary, as the dimensions can be taken directly from the model. When laying cables, it was immediately clear what effects this would have on the other trades.
Trebes was also able to create significant added value for the team on the construction site by using the BIM software. Small 3D views of the most difficult corners of the project helped the construction workers on site to maintain an overview. A new visualization option that was very well received by the construction team.
Motivated for the future
After their initial experiences, the Trebes engineering team is looking to the future with motivation. The new way of planning is already showing positive effects. The aim is to completely digitize the work processes of all designers and engineers in the long term. "I want everyone in the team to only think and work in 3D," explains Managing Director Wigand Grawe. He is convinced that his company has found the right tool in Tekla Structures.
