Past, Present and Future
The master builders of antiquity have given us many remarkable works of architecture. The Pyramids, the Colosseum, the Taj Mahal and other ancient landmarks remind us of the great ingenuity of past civilizations. We are left to wonder: How were these immense projects constructed? Who built them? What were their techniques and technologies? For the most part, answers to these questions remain a mystery.
Today’s Architecture, Engineering & Construction (AEC) trailblazers are likewise creating the landmarks of the future. Impressive structures, erected at lightning speed and using completely novel materials, are in the works all around the globe. But unlike the secrets of the past, we know exactly how these projects are able to produce such incredible outcomes. Their processes will soon become the standard procedures for the industry’s future.
The Invention of New Delivery Methods
Frank Gehry and other avant-garde architects have pushed the envelope, designing unconventional structures that required new systems and processes for communicating and coordinating with fabricators, builders and owners. Such unique structures couldn’t have been built using traditional AEC means. Their techniques and technologies, adapted from manufacturing industries, offer a solution to the rampant waste and inefficiencies found in the AEC industry today.
Through an integrated 3D model, all stakeholders clearly understand the alignment between design and engineering for the façade, Mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) systems and overall structure. An online collaborative environment enables project stakeholders to reduce project risks, increase productivity and maintain design quality, through manufacturing precision and efficient delivery mechanism. Even unique building materials can be optimized and standardized to reduce costs. Prefabrication and offsite construction methods make onsite installation processes easier, safer and faster.
Design for Manufacture & Assembly
Richard Kelly, Operations Director for buildingSMART International, shared his take on the Design for Manufacture & Assembly (DfMA) trend in AEC. The concept of DfMA was developed in the 1970s as a structured way of making product development more efficient. Today, however, DfMA is transforming the efficiency with which buildings are brought to market and is gaining greater acceptance as new technology allows for improved communication among AEC practitioners.
When applying this concept to the AEC industry, DfMA is about taking a holistic view of a building to determine the best way of making it. Its goal is the efficient production of a high-quality, cost-effective facility that, despite the mass production of certain processes, still provides the variety the client desires.
The benefits of DfMA are:
- More predictable installation. A DfMA approach looks to eliminate components, because more parts means greater potential for assembly problems. It also requires tolerances among various trades to be agreed upon in the early design stage. Therefore, when components arrive at the job site, they all interface correctly.
- Higher quality components. Because much of the project assembly is done in a clean factory environment, the end product can be of higher quality than what is produced onsite. Also, there is opportunity for better quality materials which, as a piece part might be more expensive, but costs are saved overall through less construction time and reduced lifetime maintenance.
- Improved worksite safety. This prefabrication focus means that fewer trades are required onsite, the site aspects are better illustrated and the workspace is more predictable, which leads to improvements in both safety and logistics.
Unleash Innovation through Collaboration
Today, the systems that enable the design and delivery of showpiece museums or stadiums are available to everyday dwellings. We can now make ordinary projects achieve the most extraordinary outcomes with:
- astonishing speed
- sustainable materials
- revolutionary efficiency
When design and construction teams centralize on a single, cloud-based, integrated data model, they overcome cultural and geographical boundaries, and unleash the power of cross-disciplinary collaboration. Simulations enables builders to optimize sequences and flag issues before construction even begins. What used to be considered design risks are now engineered and tested in a virtual world, before they are implemented in the real world. Even the smallest firm can make a big impact on project outcomes. All this is possible today with the 3DEXPERIENCE® platform.
