Avoiding costly rework: time to bridge the BIM-to-field gap in highways
4 minutes read
Once fully embraced, Building Information Modelling (BIM) has the potential to put an end to costly rework, which is good news in an industry so often faced with tight profit margins.
But how do contractors and subcontractors prepare themselves for capturing and exchanging the necessary data from the field?
BIM bringing a new era to highways
The hope is that initiatives like BIM represent a new way of doing business that will soon become the norm. Project stakeholders work from one centralised digital representation of an asset or site, allowing management, architects, designers, engineers, and field teams to all work from the same ever-evolving hymn sheet.
This in turn helps reduce errors and makes identifying ‘potential design, construction, or operational flaws’ much easier. Issues can be resolved before a project begins, improving planning and streamlining operations in a way that avoids costly pitfalls.
The impact of disconnected field operations
According to the Federal Highway Administration, collaboration through BIM can improve life for UK firms by helping them reduce their overheads and maximise profits:
- BIM leads to 40% fewer design errors
BIM helps teams identify issues before work begins – reducing the risk of unplanned costs and delays later in a project’s lifecycle.
Delays, rework, and inefficient planning can be the difference between a healthy profit, breaking even, or worse. Research from Navigant delves a little deeper:
- Rework can cost between 7.25% and 10.89% of a project’s total value.
- It can also delay a project by almost 10% of its planned timeline.
- Using BIM results in a 30% reduction in design changes during the build phase, helping teams stay on schedule.
- Contractors using BIM have reported savings of up to 20% on materials by integrating detailed digital models with cost data, allowing for more accurate budgeting.
These figures highlight just how transformative BIM can be on a day-to-day basis.
Field management software can help unify operations
Our field management software, Re-flow, bridges the gap between BIM and on-site teams by providing comprehensive data capture and a single, efficient solution for real-time updates to the field.
This transforms sites into live, interconnected networks of information and a central hub for all communication.
1. Live, version-controlled documents
- Field management software offers real-time access to the latest project documents, including drawings, specifications, and health and safety information. Updates can be instantly sent to sites, delivered through the cloud to the software’s phone app.
- Field teams can access up-to-date information directly on their mobile devices, ensuring that all team members are working from the same information, minimising errors and rework caused by outdated or incorrect data.
- Notifications can also alert teams about any changes.
2. Geotagged photos and site forms
- The platform allows for the capture of geotagged photos and completion of site forms directly from the field.
- This real-time data collection provides accurate and immediate feedback on site conditions and progress.The data can be integrated back into the BIM model, ensuring that the digital representation reflects the actual state of the scheme or project, facilitating better decision-making and planning.
3. Audit trails and digital sign-offs
- Software like Re-flow maintains comprehensive audit trails and supports digital sign-offs for tasks and inspections.
- This enhances accountability and traceability of actions taken on-site, and allows for more robust management.
4. Customisable workflows
- Re-flow offers customisable workflows tailored to specific project requirements and BIM maturity levels. Custom forms can be built to capture the specific data points a project might need. This allows firms to align their data to BIM model attributes – like installation status, material properties, and inspection outcomes.
- This flexibility allows teams to adapt the platform to their unique needs, enhancing efficiency. New demands for data or evidence can be immediately created, preventing frustrating delays.
The impact on project outcomes
By facilitating real-time communication and data sharing, field management software like Re-flow prevents data siloes and unifies BIM teams with the workers doing the actual work on the roads.
This reality then significantly reduces the likelihood of errors and rework, while the ability to integrate real-time field data into the BIM model helps create a living document, accurately reflecting the project’s status and facilitating better decision-making throughout the asset’s lifecycle.
A modern way of working
Bridging the gap between BIM and field operations is crucial for maximising the benefits of new technology transforming highways.
Platforms like Re-flow play a vital role in this integration, ensuring that the rich data generated during projects is effectively utilised, leading to improved outcomes and reduced costs.
Find out how highways companies are using Re-flow to transform field operations.
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