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Print articleManufacturing
Single project model 3D
Waterman exports its engineering technology to Dubai and Australia
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14 Cornhill, London - 6th Floor |
3D drawings have been used over the last 10 years or so to coordinate M&E and process services initially in the petrochemical or major process industries and only latterly in the building services field. These 3D drawings are normally carried out by mechanical and electrical contractors in the building services industry to coordinate their work once they have received the design consultant?s drawings, upon which they have tendered.
To address the problems, however, caused by poor coordination, outdated procurement and installation methods, claims, delays and inefficiencies endemic within the building services industry using the conventional contractual approach Waterman Building Services, an engineering design consultancy, part of the Waterman Group of companies, has been pioneering the use of 3D interactive design methods which produced a single project model of the building services at the design stage of the project.
The 3D model produced can be utilised by all members of the design, construction and FM team and in one interactive model incorporates the design, fully coordinated working drawings, fabrication drawings, material schedules, specifications, operating and maintenance instructions and direct links to FM software, to allow the project to be managed once completed.
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14 Cornhill, London - Roof |
There is a considerable saving in cost, time and waste on projects using this process and the preparation of the model is the responsibility of one professional not dozens of different subcontractors. There is no requirement for contractors to produce their own working fabrication drawings as all information can be taken from the model, and in fact the ductwork information can now be fed directly from the model into ductwork cutting machines to manufacture the ductwork (CAD / CAM).
Waterman Building Services has now established an impressive track record of adding value to customer?s operations through our 3D modelling. It is an important tool in developing a true partnering relationship between the consultant, the contractor and the client and in meeting the requirements of government and industry initiatives to deliver significant improvements in construction project delivery.
As an international consultant, we have transferred this technology to our Dubai and Sydney offices where the process is currently being utilised on several new construction projects. We also expect to introduce this technology to our new projects secured in China. Some of the projects successfully completed in the UK include the K2 project in St Katherine?s Dock, London for Taylor Woodrow Properties, Admiral?s Park in Dartford for Laing O?Rourke, 95 Queen Victoria Street, London for Stanhope and we currently have 4 projects under design using this process.
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K2, St Katharine?s Dock, London |
On the K2 project recently completed, the contractor, Rotary Southern, was not required to produce a single drawing, and neither did Ellis, the subcontractor on the Admiral Park project in Dartford, but the 3D model was successfully utilised to provide all construction information.
We see interactive 3D single-project model design as the way forward for our industry and if produced from the design stage of the project great savings in waste, cost and efficiency can be made. It also gives us a substantial advantage in keeping ahead of the competition on international projects.