Over the last decade or so, it’s become clear that any reputation the AEC industry has around being averse to technology is just that – reputation. The reality is that the industry is now teeming with innovative solutions on both the hardware and software side and firms of all sizes are recognizing the value that technology can bring their businesses. As a result, things like reality capture, BIM, and digitization are table stakes for much of the industry. That being said, many firms are still in the early stages of this adoption, and taking that step from ideation to implementation is one that can bring troubles in the early days.
This represents one of the great values of attending a conference like Geo Week, whose program features a number of sessions and speakers who can speak to exactly this problem. This year’s conference, which takes place February 10-12 in Denver, Colorado, for example, features a session entitled Bridging the Gaps: Challenges in BIM, Digital Twins, and Autonomy. Being held on Wednesday at 2:00 PM Mountain Time, the session features four presentations from people in the AEC industry who can speak to the practical applications, benefits, and obstacles that arise as digital methodologies transition from theory to real-world use. The presenters for the panel are:
Eric Bergholz, CEO, Laserscanning Europe
Karina Delcourt, Strategic Initiatives Manager, ETRO Construction Ltd.
David Lestani, Principal Solution Architect, COSOL
George Perrett, Operational Excellence Director, Peri
The first presentation is going to be given by Lestani, who will focus on BIM. Of course, in the context of construction technology BIM has been around for what seems like ages, but there are still plenty of issues to discuss around the tool. Specifically, this presentation is going to focus on bringing it from the design and construction phase of a lifecycle into asset operations and maintenance. Traditionally, this transition can either be clunky or just not exist, which takes away what could be extremely valuable insights from those in roles like maintenance planners, reliability engineers, and technicians. Lestani will discuss both the barriers that have prevented the extension of BIM into these post-construction phases as well as the benefits of taking that step.
Following Lestani will be a presentation from Delcourt, who will talk about some of these common terms and tools in the industry – BIM, digital twins, and virtual design and construction, otherwise known as VDC. Each of these tools brings distinct value, but they also are often conflated with one another, a problem that can often cloud the value firms can derive from them. In her presentation, Delcourt will discuss how she thinks about and defines each of these different tools, how they each individually can positively impact a firm’s operations, and how to leverage their combined potential.
After that, Bergholz will shift gears a bit and focus on another emerging technology in this space – robotics. His presentation will focus on robotic monitoring of construction sites using lidar scanners. Bergholz will discuss a collaborative research project that focused on this area, and give attendees an idea of how complex this kind of work can be, and compare the results with IFC models to identify potential workflow efficiencies and challenges.
Finally, the session will finish with a presentation from Perrett featuring some real-world examples of implementing digital twins for industrial construction projects, specifically within the oil and gas industries. While the particular case studies are focused on a specific industry, the takeaways can be applied to many other sectors within construction and AEC, highlighting disconnects between digital plans and real-world applications. Attendees can expect to come away with practical advice about how to effectively bridge these gaps.
Being able to hear from professionals who have dealt with the same issues that you are facing in your day-to-day work is one of the biggest values Geo Week can provide, particularly in an industry like AEC that is in the midst of massive changes around technology. If this session or others from Geo Week’s conference program sound interesting to you, don’t miss your chance to register for this year’s event using the link below.