Accelerating Project Schedules With Preconstruction 3D Modeling

In construction, seeing the big picture is critical for illustrating the overall vision and detecting issues. Starting this process early helps prevent project rework and delays. Achieving this overall vision is simple with the use of preconstruction 3D modeling.

Unlike 2D blueprints, 3D models capture the entirety of a project, helping all involved visualize the real-world result. With a clear understanding of the vision and its impact, stakeholders can pinpoint areas for improvement before construction, allowing you to implement design changes and avoid project downtime later.

What Is Preconstruction 3D Modeling?

Preconstruction 3D modeling is the process of using software to digitally represent a design in three dimensions. It demonstrates how all components fit together, streamlining visualization, planning, coordination and communication before breaking ground.

Three-dimensional models are easier to understand than 2D plans, which often require technical knowledge to interpret. They enable stakeholders to make informed decisions, improving a project’s speed and efficiency while eliminating the costs of revisions during the construction phase.

Preconstruction 3D modeling is ideal for informing decisions in site work and civil construction projects.

What Are the Steps of 3D Modeling in Construction?

Our Data Engineers create reliable models using these steps:

1. Understanding the Project’s Scope

Discuss project requirements and goals to develop models that meet your expectations. The Data Engineer will also review CAD files, PDF plans and other documents to understand the project more effectively.

2. Collecting Data

Data is critical in creating accurate models. The Data Engineer will pull information from the provided files to capture current conditions. This may include GPS data, utility mapping, topography, boundary lines, drone photogrammetry, and laser scans.

They will also collect proposed elements like grading and earthwork, site features, buildings, and utilities.

3. Integrating Collected Data

Our team will integrate the data into a central file for easy access during the modeling phase. This information is appropriately organized and labelled to streamline modeling.

4. Developing Accurate 3D Models

Using the collected data and relevant software, a Data Engineer will create a detailed project model to facilitate informed decision-making. The model captures existing components like topography, utilities, soil conditions, structures, and vegetation. It also represents proposed elements like grading and earthwork, paving, landscaping, building pads and utilities.

5. Validating Model Accuracy

To ensure its accuracy, our experts will compare the 3D model to the original survey data, CAD drawings and other documents. The validation includes performing a visual inspection, running a compliance check and verifying that all the necessary elements are present.

6. Delivering the Model

After verification, our team will submit the model via your preferred method, allowing you and other stakeholders to view and approve it.

How 3D Modeling Accelerates Project Schedules

Three-dimensional models are visual aids that put all stakeholders on the same page. Everyone can reference these single sources of truth when performing different tasks. Additionally, multiple teams can work cohesively together, enhancing project accuracy and efficiency when the goal is clear.
Three-dimensional modeling lays the foundation for an optimized construction process that ultimately accelerates project completion by:

Visualizing Site Conditions and Potential Challenges

Three-dimensional models display detailed representations of sites, allowing you to visualize the entire project and identify potential conflicts between existing and proposed components. They can illustrate various details to streamline effective decision-making:

• Existing terrain, slope, and elevation across the site, and potentially unstable slopes
• Natural drainage patterns and locations that could possibly flood
• The location of underground utilities like sewer, gas, and water lines, and how proposed changes could affect them
• Buffer zones around the site and sensitive areas, such as wetlands and floodplains, that construction activities could affect
• A simulation of construction processes like excavation,  grading and the potential safety, access, and equipment use challenges your team could face

Enhancing Communication and Collaboration Among Project Teams

Construction projects often involve multiple teams, which can hinder communication, collaboration, and efficiency. Two-dimensional plans may also be open to interpretation, causing project errors, revisions and delays. By referencing a single, unambiguous source, all stakeholders can understand the project’s intent and discuss tasks using a common reference point. A 3D model provides the same information across teams and ensuring everyone works with the same up-to-date data. This improved communication and coordination minimizes errors and eliminates revisions, thereby accelerating project completion.

Identifying Clashes and Constructability Issues Early

Three-dimensional modeling software includes tools for automatically detecting clashes that a manual inspection may miss. Identifying these challenges early informs proactive action before construction starts. Three-dimensional models can simulate the entire construction process, enabling a virtual walk-through to pinpoint potential issues, such as safety concerns and environmental risks.

Once you recognize the challenges, you can address them in the design phase, reducing errors and omissions that could have otherwise led to requests for information, change orders, and project delays.

Improving Scheduling and Resource Allocation

A preconstruction 3D model can be linked to scheduling software to develop 4D simulations which visualize the sequence of activities over time, allowing more accurate estimation of the project timeline. The software connects the visual representation of the site and the timeline of activities, linking space to the fourth dimension — time. 

These simulations also illustrate critical path activities and potential hindrances so you can prioritize complex and/or essential tasks. By visualizing the critical path and the specific tasks in the schedule, you can optimize resource allocation and utilization to enhance efficiency and achieve cost savings.

Enabling Faster Permitting and Approvals

Agencies may reject permit applications due to concerns about the end product and its impact, which can delay a project’s schedule. By submitting a 3D model with your application, you can help the permitting agency visualize the whole project and run automated checks for zoning regulations and other compliance requirements. 

A 3D model provides comprehensive and accurate information about the construction project, eliminating uncertainties and the need for agencies to issue RFIs. It speeds up the review process and maximizes your potential for receiving approval.

Enhancing Fast, Accurate Quantity Takeoffs

Our 3D modeling software can also calculate eathwork and site improvement takeoffs, eliminating the need to manually measure 2D drawings . This automated calculation provides accuracy and precision, streamlining takeoff activities and allowing your team to focus on other tasks. It also minimizes errors and maximizes your potential for winning project bids.

The software provides consistent results and updates calculations automatically when you revise the 3D model. It also breaks down the quantities by material type, area and other traits, enabling you to create more accurate cost estimates.

Optimizing Site Logistics and Planning

Proper logistics and planning are essential, since construction sites often involve multiple activities running simultaneously. To streamline workflows and increase efficiency, utilize a 3D model to identify the ideal areas for setting up temporary facilities, such as laydown yards, site offices, and storage spaces. 

The digital representation is also suitable for:

• Simulating traffic flows to identify potential congestion points and determine ideal areas for creating access roads.
• Coordinating material and equipment deliveries.
• Separating vehicular and pedestrian traffic to improve site safety.
• Analyzing crane reach to help you select the right equipment for the project. 
• Identifying the optimal locations for placing heavy machinery.
• Optimizing travel distances to reduce material and equipment movement.
• Identifying safe evacuation routes during emergencies.
• Planning waste removal routes.

Contact Take-off Professionals Today for Expert Data Prep Services

Regardless of the construction project you are planning, Take-off Professionals can help you with 3D modeling and earthwork takeoffs. Send us the civil PDF plan set and CAD drawings if available, and we will process your data accordingly.

Since 1988, we have successfully prepared accurate data to help construction projects avoid delays. Our experienced,full-time  team of 3D technicians are ready to meet all your 3D modeling and data preparation needs. We’ve completed projects in nearly every U.S. state, and several other countries, so our team is well versed in local standards and practices. Contact us online today to learn more.