Understanding the true value to the owner is crucial during the design phase because decisions and assumptions must be made. Having the most accurate and current data will help inform your decisions and result in more effective actions. Not too long-ago companies were creating takeoffs in Revit and exporting the information to Excel. However, we can now leverage models and technology to track design data and provide clients with live updated dashboard reporting. Gilbane’s estimating and preconstruction teams have found that tracking design data using technology is up to five times more efficient than traditional methods of exchanging 2D drawings at schematic design (SD), design documents (DD) and construction documents (CD) milestones. Programs like Assemble and Microsoft Power Business Intelligence (BI) have helped our teams track and trend design data and focus on maximizing value to the owner within the project budget.
Using technologies, like Assemble, you can focus on the details and unit prices of the project to ask the tough questions. Does the exterior façade have to be natural field stone, or can the same look and function be accomplished with precast at a lower unit price? When new drawings are issued, the models help visualize the scope effect and identify where exactly the change is happening. These types of detailed reviews and analysis of the project on a frequent basis have allowed Gilbane to keep projects on budget and eliminate surprises between design phase milestones.
Further details on this on this process and examples of it in action can be found in the webinar below that David Maser gave with Assemble Systems | An Autodesk Company.
