While virtual design and construction (VDC) has been around since the 1990s, it’s still not widely understood. A lot of people have heard of it, but they aren’t quite sure what it entails or how it can benefit them or their company. VDC allows the owner of the project to communicate directly with the team members, who are located in different areas, as well as to receive digital updates on the project’s progress and make changes at any time—all without physically being present on site.
Overview
Virtual design and construction (VDC) is the use of technology to create a three-dimensional virtual model of a building or construction project. This model is then used to plan, design, and construct the physical project. VDC can be used for both new construction projects and renovations. It is a growing field that is becoming more popular as technology advances. The idea behind it is that it saves time, reduces risk, and helps people make better decisions.
More often than not it has been proven to be faster than the traditional method of designing with 2D drawings. And because the process includes detailed planning, no surprises occur during the construction phase. For example, if a pipe needs to go in at a certain location, designers will know ahead of time how much space is needed and where they will need to install it so they don’t have any hiccups during installation.
The Process
Virtual design and construction (VDC) is the use of technology to create a three-dimensional model of a construction project before beginning work on the site. This allows for greater coordination between the different trades involved in the project, as well as reduces potential errors that could occur during construction. VDC can be used for both new construction projects and renovations/additions to existing buildings.
When starting a project from scratch, it is possible to develop models at every phase of the design process–before breaking ground or purchasing materials. It also allows designers to simulate how spaces will function by creating virtual walkthroughs or fly-throughs with photorealistic graphics that look like interactive movies. When renovating an older building, architects often rely on drawings from previous decades or use 3D imaging software which recreates the original blueprints from these old drawings and updates them based on modern building codes and technologies.
Advantages of using virtual design and construction
Virtual design and construction (VDC) is an emerging technology that offers several advantages for construction professionals. For example, it can shorten the length of time required to create new designs by up to 80% while also reducing the need for on-site supervisory visits. VDC also has benefits for owners; not only does it help reduce errors, but it can also provide them with accurate information about potential issues before they arise in the construction process.
In addition, many major universities have now begun using virtual design and construction as part of their curricula.
In this way, they can teach students how to use this innovative tool without having to worry about environmental concerns. Finally, virtual reality may be used in the future for even more complex tasks such as engineering new buildings from scratch or planning sustainable building practices.
How do virtual design and construction work? When designing something virtually, builders often rely on 3D modeling software. These programs allow architects to input all the necessary dimensions and then generate images of what a completed project will look like in advance.
How to implement virtual design and construction at your company
1. Implementing virtual design and construction (VDC) can help your company improve communication and collaboration between project stakeholders.
2. VDC can also help reduce the need for physical prototypes, saving time and money.
3. To get started with VDC, you’ll need to invest in software and hardware that supports 3D modeling and rendering.
4. Once you have the necessary tools in place, you can begin creating digital models of your project designs.
5. For large projects, this will likely require hiring a team of skilled 3D modelers who specialize in engineering or architecture-related tasks.
6. The files generated by these professionals are then uploaded into a cloud-based platform where they can be shared among all project stakeholders using virtual reality headsets or computer screens.
7. A common platform is BIM 360 Field, which allows users to interact with data sets and collaborate in real-time on any device with an internet connection.
8. Other options include Fusion 360, Revit Online, and SketchUp Pro, among others.
9. As it becomes more commonplace within the industry, VDC offers companies many benefits that should not be overlooked as part of their business strategy.
