Trimble Enhances Construction Project Coordination with Innovative Cloud-Based Collaboration Tools
In the latest LiveCol project workshop, AFRY’s structural engineer and building services engineer discussed improving coordination in construction projects using technology developed by Trimble. Structural engineers and building services engineers typically work closely together during projects.
One key aspect of this collaboration is the so-called “reikäkiertoprosessi (as discussed in Finnish)”. In this process, the building services engineer sends a proposal for making a hole in the structure to the structural engineer, who either approves, rejects, or suggests changes. This process can take a lot of time with current meeting practices. The LiveCol project aims to find solutions to this challenge through virtual collaboration.
Depending on the project, planning may be done extensively – sometimes even weekly with multiple designers working together. Successful coordination impacts the smooth progress of the construction phase.
“If coordination is done well during the planning phase, it may not be noticeable because construction goes smoothly. But if it’s done poorly, there can be a lot of extra work during construction, and poor coordination can be the reason why a project goes over budget for the design office”, says Trimble’s Business Development Manager Thomas Bagge.
The workshop aimed to explore whether small coordination challenges could be quickly addressed and solved ad hoc. Ad hoc, literally meaning “for this purpose,” refers to quick and flexible solutions made for specific purposes. Ad hoc solutions are not suitable for everything, so the workshop aimed to examine where these solutions could be applied. Quick solutions are beneficial because planning often has tight deadlines. In such cases, Trimble’s programs could help solve these challenges.
“Anyone who has participated in a Teams meeting where 3D models are rotated knows how challenging it is to follow one person’s screen. Often there are about ten people involved, and someone might ask to go back or look at the model from a different angle, which takes time. The Live Collaboration tool solves this problem, as everyone can rotate their own model, and others can follow or not follow. This makes collaboration smoother and more efficient”, says Bagge.
Trimble focuses on technology development in the LiveCol project (read more in Digital Construction Manager Jukka Suomi’s blog on the LiveCol website). In Finland, according to Bagge, structural engineers mainly use their Tekla Structures software, which is the market leader in building modeling.
“Tekla Structures is a desktop software for which we have developed technology in the project, such as cloud based Live Collaboration. Since it is a cloud service, software can be integrated with other software in the future if desired”, says Bagge.
During the workshop, the idea was reinforced that such technology would be beneficial in the planning process. Trimble is still collecting feedback, which will be used to further develop the technology. The next steps and improvements are already being planned, and new versions are in the works.
There are also new releases available: Trimble’s Live Collaboration was launched on Wednesday, March 12th, with a preview feature that allows testing real-time collaboration in a 3D virtual space, as discussed in this workshop. Trimble warmly welcomes feedback on Live Collaboration.
Test it out and get more information:
Thomas Bagge
Business Development Manager
Trimble
thomas.bagge@trimble.com