3 Top Benefits of Integrating BIM in Construction Planning

BIM is usually seen as a 3D modeling software, but is much more than that. BIM also allows error correction, cost control, planning efficiency and better operations management of a project. This means that BIM plays a key role in defining a sustainable and competitive construction strategy as well.

Here’s a look at some of the most significant benefits of integrating BIM into the construction strategy.

Coordination and Efficiency

The lack of effective communication amongst the various teams can cause errors that can increase costs and delay the project. Without BIM, the team will not be able to coordinate and keep working independently. BIM allows all the teams to work in an integrated manner. The collaboration helps them work more efficiently towards the common goal, right from beginning.

Estimating Cost and time

Time and cost are two vital factors in the success of the construction project. The BIM model helps in estimating costs and time required during the planning phase. The model-based reliable estimation helps in eliminating any human error, thereby improving the effectiveness of planning.

Eliminating on-site corrections

Every design goes through several changes during construction. A digital prototype of the facility allows a real-time view of the building, even before construction begins. This helps to avoid making any changes during the construction phase, and time lost to rework the design. To learn more about Phoenix or Los Angeles as-builts, drawings and surveys or to request a quote, call Precision Property Measurements at 855-272-8458. Whether you own a house, or a complex commercial project with multiple locations, PPM’s highly-trained team of As-Built surveyors, drafters, project managers, and quality assurance staff are experts in both residential and commercial buildings.

How can BIM prove beneficial in my Construction Project?

BIM or Building Information Modeling has been a great shift in the construction industry. BIM has revolutionized how construction projects were executed, by reducing the time and cost involved in the building process.

If you are wondering how BIM may prove beneficial in your construction project, read on.

BIM can integrate all the inputs at various stages – right from design and cost estimations to the building process to building maintenance.

Here are 3 aspects of a construction project where BIM proves extremely beneficial.

Project conceptualization

A building is only as good as its design, and the design is as good as the idea. The 3D BIM model helps in building the concepts that provide a preview of the building. The 3D model also helps in identifying design clashes. BIM allows all parties involved – the contractors, builders, architects, engineers, electricians, the access to the complete information. This seamless integration of data for the involved parties helps in better planning and avoiding delays in the construction.

Raw material estimations

BIM allows a seamless collaboration between the essential parameters of the project. The detailed model helps in accurately estimating the right quantities of all the materials required for the construction. The BIM modeling helps in identifying the impact of every little change made in the design of the overall project. For example, if a single wall is changed in the original model, the quantities of all raw materials required, will change. Any change the raw materials required will have implications for the costs involved.

Construction Scheduling

Sticking to the schedule is vital in any construction project. The BIM model offers a single understanding for all teams involved in construction. This promotes better collaboration between them and allows better scheduling and the time required for completing each phase can be estimated accurately.

To learn more about Denver and Las Vegas as-builts, drawings and surveys or to request a quote, call Precision Property Measurements at 855-272-8458. Whether you own a house, or a complex commercial project with multiple locations, PPM’s highly-trained team of As-Built surveyors, drafters, project managers, and quality assurance staff are experts in both residential and commercial buildings. 

Why Architects don’t use 3D Surveys?

Change is often hard. Even when we know that the new way of doing things will provide better outcome, it’s common to be unsure. However, at some point, we must adopt the modern and the innovative.

Many architects feel like this about 3D surveying, despite obvious benefits. Here are 4 common reasons why.

Lack of awareness of the value

Many architects assume 3D surveying will be an extra expense. However, the fact is that using a 3D scan and hiring a 3D surveying company to scan and document the existing conditions of a building adds more value to a project. The scan produces a large amount of data that can help you make decisions about design and construction. This data can also be used by architects, their clients, and consultants for creating a virtual replication of the building. This can later be used for reference.

Another great benefit of using 3D surveying is the 3D Building Information Model. Your 3D surveying company will develop this model to provide you with a starting point for developing your proposed design.

Lack of awareness of the High-Quality

Many professionals, including architects, don’t want to give up control of their projects. They try to manage a project from beginning to end because they think it will allow them to control the quality and details. But many architectural firms don’t actually have a process for developing accurate as-builts or for documenting the existing conditions.

However, a 3D surveying company exactly focuses on that. They use proven processes for documentation and development of architectural as-builts. Reputed 3D surveying companies follow strict guidelines outlining the standards for documenting the existing conditions, including the LOD (levels of detail) and LOA (level of accuracy) for project development.

When you have tight deadlines, you obviously want more time. As an architect, you are paid for the time you spend designing and not documenting the existing conditions. It makes sense that you would want that part of the project to be done quickly and efficiently by professionals. Hiring a 3D surveying company with the resources and ability to get the job done, can allow you to spend your resources and manpower on the design phase.

Lack of awareness of the Time Saving

Hiring a 3D surveying company will also save the architectural team time on the project at hand. While the 3D surveying company is scanning the building and developing a Building Information Model, the architectural team can focus on other tasks.

To learn more about San Francisco and Las Vegas as-builts, drawings and surveys or to request a quote, call Precision Property Measurements at 855-272-8458. Whether you own a house, or a complex commercial project with multiple locations, PPM’s highly-trained team of As-Built surveyors, drafters, project managers, and quality assurance staff are experts in both residential and commercial buildings. 

Benefits of Photogrammetry in AEC Industry

Photogrammetry refers to the process of using photographs to take measurements. You can combine 2D photographs with geometry in photogrammetry to create a 3D model, map, or drawing. This promises immense benefits for several industries, especially architecture and engineering.

How is photogrammetry useful?

Photogrammetry has proven beneficial for various purposes. Here are a few examples.

• Large Structures 3D Replication – It can be challenging to create a 3D replication of a large structure or building. Photogrammetry can help the AEC industry by capturing detailed and accurate measurements and allowing easy creation of a 3D model to represent a large building to scale.

• VR and AR – Both virtual and augmented reality are based on real life environments. Photogrammetry allows designers to document existing conditions so that they can be incorporated into the enhancements. By capturing an accurate representation of an existing reality allows VR and AR to appear more authentic to users.

• Aerial Mapping – Aerial mapping can be done with the help of drones. Drones or UAVs let you access locations that would earlier have been hard to access. The imagery obtained can be used with photogrammetry to create maps or for uses, like geological interpretation.

To learn more about Berkeley and Denver as-builts, drawings and surveys or to request a quote, call Precision Property Measurements at 855-272-8458. Whether you own a house, or a complex commercial project with multiple locations, PPM’s highly-trained team of As-Built surveyors, drafters, project managers, and quality assurance staff are experts in both residential and commercial buildings. 

How is a 3D Floor Plan More Beneficial than a 2D Floor Plan?

A house floor plan presents a view of the house, giving you a better idea of the connections between spaces, the traffic pattern through the home and other several other features, like details of fixtures such as cupboards and light fittings, etc.

House Floor plans may be created in a 2D or 3D format.

2D House Floor Plan

A 2D house floor plan provides only a basic, top view of the rooms and spaces, the way they would look, once the house is ready. These plans can provide information about –

• sizes of different rooms
• location of doors and windows
• how furniture can be placed to ensure optimal usage of space

2D house floor can be made in color, with the help of tools like Photoshop, CorelDRAW, etc.

3D House Floor Plan

A 3D house floor plan provides a much more realistic view of the rooms and spaces in a house. 3D floor plans can incorporate many more intricate details and help architects share the design intent to the builders, in a better way.

Builders can also use the 3D floor plan as a sales tool. 3D plans can offer potential buyers a precise idea of how the house will look after construction is complete. This helps customers make decisions quickly.

3D house floor plans also help builders recommend modifications and finalize designs quickly.

What makes 3D House Floor Plans better than 2D House Floor Plans?

#1: More Impact

A 3D floor plan is definitely more visually appealing, compared to the 2D floor plan. This is because you can incorporate color schemes and models of furniture and fixtures in 3D plans.

#2: Easy Presentation

A 3D floor plan can be saved as an image. It can then be emailed to a client or you can send it using smartphone chat apps.

#3: Walkthrough

Once the design of the house has been finalized, a 3D walkthrough can be created to provide a realistic feel of the proposed building to the potential buyers.

The development of a 3D floor plan takes the same time as is needed to create a 2D floor plan. 3D plans makes change incorporation easier and reduces the need for post-construction design changes.

To learn more about Santa Monica and Berkeley as-builts, drawings and surveys or to request a quote, call Precision Property Measurements at 855-272-8458.

Top 3 Advantages of Outsourcing Architectural CAD Drafting

CAD or Computer Aided Design is an advanced technique for designing complex designs. Architectural CAD helps in creating designs for buildings etc. Architectural CAD drafting services provide you many benefits that you probably might not be that aware of.

If you have to decide about AutoCAD tasks and drafting duties, here are some important factors to help you understand the many benefits of AutoCAD services.

Accuracy and Quality

While working on drawings, you need to focus on their quality. You can hire someone or outsource your CAD work. But the designs should be perfect, without any issues. When you outsource the drafting to a CAD professional, you can rest assured about the quality and accuracy of drawings, as CAD experts will take care of everything.

Quickly Accessible Templates

Any project needs a rough draft first. This draft may consume a lot of time. This becomes even more complex when you have to work on bigger projects. But, when you outsource this task to professional architectural CAD Drafting services, you are saved the burden. In addition, you can access the templates and draft database quickly.

Workflow Convenience

Outsourcing CAD drafting makes your tasks and CAD jobs, in short, your workflow becomes easy and simple. You can focus more on other departments and tasks related to the project.

The bottom line is that architectural CAD Drafting services can prove extremely useful and cost effective for your projects and your company.

To learn more about Torrance and San Francisco as-builts, drawings and surveys or to request a quote, call Precision Property Measurements at 855-272-8458.

Construction Documents and Elements

Creating construction documents is an important section of project planning. Construction documents, a.k.a. working drawings or project blueprints, are the documents that tell you all technical aspects of a building or a project in the form of drawings and specifications.

Drawings represent the entire structure of the building with respect to –

• what and how exactly it is to be built
• the material and technology required
• installation details
• quality standards and compliances to be met

The drawings can be created using computer software tools like AutoCAD.

Construction specifications include a detail list of deliverables describing working methodology and specifications. The elements involved include –

• Project Information Sheet

This contains complete details about the project like the cover page, list of drawings, and property details like – building type, phases, city pin, location of map, code matrix, zonal details and applicable regulations etc.

• Plans

Plans include site plans, floor plans, accessible egress path, demolition plans for existing construction at the project site, landscape plans, life safety plan and slab edge plan etc.

• Elevations

Elevations refer to the appearance of the fully constructed building, how it would look on the outside. These are shown using flat images along with heights, elements, external materials to be used etc.

• Sections

Section drawings are like hypothetical slices of building elements from the center of building or from specific viewpoints. Usually, elements like wall, foundation, floor to floor height etc. are shown using section drawings.

• Unit Plans

Unit plans are created to indicate are the phase, units or different sections of entire project.

• Wall Assemblies

This document carries wall assembly details and requirements of materials, quality code compliance etc.

• Interior Elevations

Interior elevations you a flat view of vertical surface of interior walls, furniture, floor, power outlets, different elements in house and its height and size. Interior elevation plan and elements may change with the type of the project. Residential, commercial and industrial projects have different interior elevations.

• Callout Details

Callout details refer to keynotes or tags for different elements like doors and windows.

• Finish Plans

Finish plans show the materials that will be used to build various elements, floor, walls, doors, windows etc. The Finish schedule will also contain details of quality, material supplies used, product names and manufacturer etc.

To learn more about Irvine built services and surveys, call Precision Property Measurements at 855-272-8458.

What are As-Built Drawings and how are they relevant?

As-built drawings refer to the final set of drawings produced when a construction project is completed. These drawings include all changes or revisions made to the original construction plans, and include notes, modifications, and any other information that the builder decides to include. The original drawings may have been made using CAD or computer-aided design software, the as-built drawings may contain handwritten notes, changes and sketches.

Let us first look at how construction drawings are developed. The project developer or owner hires an architect or engineer to design the building. The design professionals create construction drawings for the project, based on owner’s ideas and needs. Once the owner approves these plans, they are sent to the local permitting agency to obtain building permits. This final set of plans may also be known as the ‘permit set’.

The permit set is sent to the building contractor, who begins working on the project. The builder uses the construction drawings to build the structure, install ductwork, run electrical wiring, and construct the building. During this process, some changes may have to be made from the original drawings. For any such changes, the builder or the contactor will make notes on their original set of building plans.

At the end of the project, all sets of as-builts are combined into a single comprehensive set and given to the project owner. As-built drawings are usually expected as part of the construction contract, but it is good practice to provide these plans even when they are not required.

As-built drawings serve many important functions, such as –

• Contain information about wiring, plumbing, and other hidden components to make repairs and maintenance easier
• Help in future renovations and remodeling plans

To learn more about San Diego as-built surveying or to request a quote for San Jose as-builts, call Precision Property Measurements at 855-272-8458.

From Scanning to Efficient Planning

From a single floor plan to a complete set of as-built documents, the latest in technology can be used to accurately document existing conditions. 

Modern technology, such as BIM, allows creation of an efficient workflow to complete drawings on-site and verify information faster. Documenting existing or current conditions can make the design process run more smoothly.

Contrary to a time when you wondered whether the information about the project is the most current information, project stakeholders can now feel confident having the most recent and the most accurate documents available with as-built surveys.

Why As-Built Survey?

Finished structures rarely correspond exactly to the original design and plans in every little detail. As-built surveys provide architects, designers and building owners with intelligence to make informed decisions about renovation and restoration projects, without falling behind schedule.

As-built surveys provide –

• updated documentation of the interior layout that may have changed over the years
• document alterations in the original design, and
• changes in previous construction

An updated base plan can give your design team has a huge head start in their work.

The upfront costs of the survey process are more than offset by the resulting reduction or elimination of costly re-work and change orders.

As-built surveys include information about –

• Floor Plans
• Elevations
• Cross Sections
• Reflected Ceiling Plans
• Furniture/Fixture Layouts
• MEP System Details
• Site Plans
• Above Ceiling Details
• Rooftop

If you are looking for Berkeley and Santa Monica as-built services, plans and surveys or to request a quote, call Precision Property Measurements at 855-272-8458.

BIM Services 101

The importance of planning is paramount in construction design. Inaccurate measurements, missed structural details, or incomplete follow-ups can render your building insecure.

Fortunately, BIM or Building Information Modeling, technology allows construction managers to work closely with architects and engineers throughout the development process, creating mock-ups of various elements. These representations can simulate the building’s true function and dimension with 3D representations. This allows overseers at every touchpoint to ensure the structure is sound.

Here are a few key facts you should know about BIM.

BIM enhance teamwork

At any time during a project’s cycle, various departments may need to work together. Whether it is sales and marketing or design and engineering, everyone needs to put their heads together to ensure efficient functionality.

Yet, projects may hit roadblocks simply because one department doesn’t know what the other is working on. Or, missing key details missing may prevent information from being shared between offices.

BIM services focus on a central set of drawings that contain data for every department. In simple terms, an overseer, a safety manager, and sales rep can all look at the same figures and use the individual facts they need.

As a result, there is better communication within and between teams, quicker project approvals, and on-time deliverables. You would want to shave a few weeks off of the project’s timeline, wouldn’t you?

BIM allows you to make critical changes

BIM technology is agile. It allows multiple viewing angles for the same image. This means managers are quickly able to spot errors, even before they’re built. This enables you to save time and resources required to fix those errors later.  

BIM facilitates smarter planning

Before starting a project, it’s important to get an understanding of the current infrastructure look like and the surrounding landscape. While photographs and notes about the site are helpful, they can’t capture the details required to create a good project plan.

BIM Services include advanced tools like 3D aerial captures and digital elevation measurements. This data can be utilized to create more detailed project preparations that for a successful build. If you are looking for Torrance and San Francisco as-built services, plans and surveys or to request a quote, call Precision Property Measurements at 855-272-8458.