For a long time, the construction industry has solely relied on traditional practices such as using 2D flat drawings when planning for a construction project. This process is prone to a high risk of misinterpretations that might lead to project delays.
Today, virtual construction is transforming the way general contractors plan, design, and execute projects, offering new opportunities for enhanced precision, collaboration, and efficiency in the industry
This article will provide an overview of virtual construction and its applicability, particularly as it relates to general contractors
What Is Virtual Construction?
Virtual construction involves using advanced technology tools to create virtual models of construction projects before they are physically constructed.
This framework leverages digital technologies such as Building Information Modeling (BIM) to create computer-based virtual descriptions of the project. It also integrates design, construction, and operation and creates a virtual environment where stakeholders can collaborate in real-time.
This framework helps general contractors and other stakeholders simulate all aspects of a project in a 3D virtual environment before working on it in the real world.
The concept of virtual construction (also known as virtual design and construction or VDC) was introduced by Stanford University’s Center for Integrated Facility Engineering (ICE) in 2001 to solve the lack of integration in construction.
Before the introduction of the VDC framework, the construction industry suffered from inefficient exchange of information and poor collaboration among different stakeholders in construction projects. Additionally, general contractors (GC) rely on flat 2D drawings when planning a construction project which offers limited visualization and is prone to misinterpretation.
Unlike the traditional design method that relies on blueprints, VDC offers a better visual representation of your construction project and streamlines collaboration among stakeholders.
What’s the Difference Between Virtual Construction and BIM?
In most cases, the terms Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Virtual Design Construction are used interchangeably. But while these two concepts are similar, they also have different attributes.
Building Information Modelling (BIM):
This process involves generating the virtual model of the physical and functional attributes of an infrastructure or building project. It’s heavily used in the design phase of a construction project to either create a digital twin of an existing project or an infrastructure that’s yet to be built.
BIM primarily focuses on creating a comprehensive data-rich 3D model that includes detailed information about project designs, construction processes, and operations. It also provides a virtual environment for architects, general contractors, engineers, and other stakeholders to collaborate and manage project-related information through the project’s lifecycle.
Virtual Design Construction (VDC):
This framework extends beyond just creating a virtual representation of your construction projects. It includes the overall process of using digital technology to make the construction process efficient. Although VDC utilizes BIM to create virtual designs, it leverages other advanced technologies such as 4D scheduling, 5D cost estimation, and 6D facility management.
Virtual construction's primary focus is to enhance and streamline construction project planning, coordination, logistics, and execution while significantly reducing errors during construction due to insufficient planning.
The Benefits of Virtual Construction for General Contractors
There are many ways General Contractors can benefit from implementing virtual design and construction. This section will outline some of the major benefits:
1. Streamlines Communication and Collaboration
Virtual construction streamlines communication by providing a single platform for interacting with stakeholders. This reinforces the concept of teamwork allowing each team member to work hand-in-hand with each other to achieve a common goal. Stakeholders can track each other’s responsibilities and progress in real-time. This helps in reducing misunderstandings or errors that may occur due to not fragmented communication.
2. Enhances Visualization
Virtual design and construction provide a clear picture of your project design and scope using BIM and other technologies. This helps project owners and other important stakeholders to understand what the project would look like even before construction, thereby minimizing the likelihood of misinterpretation that could happen even if they are only working with blueprints.
By visualizing a construction project, stakeholders can anticipate bottlenecks that could lead to expensive rework during the construction phase. Additionally, stakeholders can make better informed decisions upfront to avoid any costly modifications during construction.
3. Risk Mitigation
VDC helps general contractors mitigate construction risks in many ways. Creating 3D models of your construction designs for instance allows you to spot potential costly design conflicts that you might encounter before the start of your construction. By implementing virtual construction, you can address challenges with your construction design in the virtual environment instead of dealing with them at the construction site.
4. Transparency
With the VDC framework, you can provide your customers real-time visualizations of their construction projects. This way, clients can monitor how projects are progressing in real-time. They can monitor milestones, budgets, schedules, and other KPIs.
This framework also provides a centralized communication platform for you and other stakeholders to communicate with project owners. This makes it easy to communicate with customers effectively, all while reducing the chances of miscommunication.
5. Forecasting and Cost Control
Virtual construction provides data about aspects of your projects in the BMI model. With this data, you can calculate the required materials, labor, and other expenses needed to execute your project.
Additionally, this framework helps you reduce construction waste. With visualization, you can determine the materials you’ll need for the project before it begins. This prevents the likelihood of overbuying materials which can compound construction waste. Virtual design and construction can also prevent cost overruns associated with reworks and errors because of insufficient planning.
6. Construction Sequencing
BIM allows you to simulate each phase of a construction project. This gives you a clear view of your project’s construction sequences allowing you to plan and schedule each phase of the project in the right order.
Having a construct sequence model means that you can detect possible conflicts between different components of your project before construction begins. Resolving these conflicts helps you minimize reworks and lets you have a smoother construction process.
7. Sustainability and Energy Efficiency
Virtual construction allows you to examine the impact of your construction projects on the environment. During the simulation, you and your team can decide which design option is more energy-sufficient. Additionally, VDC helps you to efficiently use materials and resources to reduce construction waste.
Looking Ahead
It can be safely concluded that the application of virtual construction presents a transformative opportunity for general contractors to enhance project planning, improve collaboration, and streamline operations. By leveraging advanced technologies such as Building Information Modeling (BIM), augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR), general contractors can visualize projects in their entirety before breaking ground, minimizing errors and reducing costs. Virtual construction not only boosts efficiency but also fosters a more sustainable approach by optimizing resource usage and minimizing waste. As these technologies continue to evolve, the role of virtual construction will become increasingly vital in shaping the future of the construction industry, helping general contractors deliver high-quality projects on time and within budget. Embracing these innovations is key to staying competitive and ensuring long-term success in a rapidly changing market.