Current Development And Future Potential Of VDC Approach
The automation capacity in AEC is reaching new heights. VDC is taking the industry by storm with its ability to build on top of BIM and increase the LOD as well as manipulate all the ensuing data. The strong basis of a highly developed information model with the added functions performed by visualisation and quantification software, turn the VDC approach into a maximum efficiency tool. Interlinked programs control the net of data and give a new flexibility for changes in any stage without disturbing the precision of results.
BIM is a predecessor in terms of optimization and automation theory, and represents the engine of VDC. The reliable foundation offered by BIM is a good indicator of success for VDC, both because of how BIM carefully paved the way towards evolved collaboration methods and how it unquestionably proved increased efficiency and productivity. Wide-spread BIM adoption is a paradigm which predicates VDC implementation taking place in the near future.
The determining feature of VDC is automation of work, which can be done to a high degree and has the means to “translate” information across disciplines. VDC can definitely be regarded as an eradication of traditional roles of project participants. The speed of current developments taking place in AEC is changing more than just the project process. Interdisciplinary knowledge is key to the long present issues of the industry in terms of communication, therefore BIM and ICT are now standards of work. It goes to show that VDC will become an industry standard for its potential to automate work and reduce inaccuracies and waste in the project. As a combined tool, VDC adds exceptional value for being able to master the massive amounts of data with reduced effort and fewer people to manage the project. In turn, this means new knowledge and roles come into effect. Overseeing the workflow quality and health of the central model are, in the case of VDC, the core jobs of this work method.
The companies responsible for industry innovation are, consequently, already implementing VDC and aim to report on the efficiency and control levels to encourage adoption of this tool and create meaningful collaborations industry-wide, not only within pioneer companies. Once this work approach will have passed the test of time and made itself a clear necessity, institutions will request it as a standard, given the positive outcomes and high-quality structures. However, full potential is difficult to achieve and some companies may decide their specific way of work or the small size of the company does not require such big a change. ‘
Finally, it can be concluded that you should not implement every tool in the toolbox on every construction project, this would result in more confusion and more change orders. Instead you should take a look at the specific project and decide what is really needed to optimize the process and how you best satisfy the stakeholders. ’
