Speaking Concretely: How Construction Can Benefit from 3D Modeling and its Automation

From the Tekla Website: 3D modeling not only helps contractors to visualize shapes, components, and spatial needs, it also centralizes critical information and automates essential processes.

In a construction project, 3D modeling is used to simulate designs, estimate costs, and identify any potential flaws. This means architects, engineers, and concrete contractors need not spend time looking for the mistakes or miscalculations typical of 2D drawings. By centralizing everything about the design process, 3D modeling provides an accurate picture that leaves little room for error, so construction can start and finish on time – keeping costs well within budget.

Reduce hassle by automating processes

Automating processes means reducing manual and repetitive work. You not only free up your team from doing a tedious job, but you also significantly reduce human error. By automating tasks, you can do more in less time and with fewer resources. By reducing all the hassles and mistakes, you can deliver on time, on budget, and flawlessly to all your customers.

Get accurate quantity takeoffs by automating your calculations

One of the most significant risks of using traditional methods to calculate your quantity takeoffs is that the result may be inaccurate. This could mean you end up ordering the wrong amount of concrete, for example, or miscalculating the space you need to store your material and machinery.

A 3D model is a fully-detailed representation of the building that includes the correct component types, geometrical information, and dimensions. Each object contains descriptive information, so when you bring the object into the model, that information is also brought into the project. This reduces the time needed for preparing cost estimates and allows you to forecast quantities more accurately. This in turn reduces costs and waste material quantities.

Improve your communication by automating information sharing

Using a 3D model through the entire construction process helps to eliminate any obstacles to effective communication and collaboration. By allowing for opinions and insights to be exchanged, it’s easier to figure out what each member of the project needs in order to do their job properly, and how each person’s work affects that of others. In this way, you can together create a constructible model that works best for everyone.

The 3D model is also handy when making changes, which happens frequently in construction. For example, if different members of the team evaluate and make changes to the 3D model, all the changes are automatically updated. The right information will be instantly available for all the people working on your project. A dynamic 3D model allows you to create, get, change, and share information easily and efficiently with different stakeholders. This is simply not possible with a 2D drawing.

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