We have been players in the BIM services business for over a decade now. We have delivered state of the art Building Information Modelling services to architecture, engineering, and construction companies across the world. We are now present in the USA, along with the Middle East and India. It has always been our endeavor to drive ongoing improvement in all the phases of the building lifecycle from planning to execution. Tackling massive scale is not new for us -consider our recent project Maha Metro Rail Corporation’s Nagpur Metro in India. The city-wide construction had a total length of 40+ km, 36 stations, and 2 depots.

While Excelize has been adding immense value to the building industry in Asia, it’s our work in the USA that gives us special pride. This is the leading economy of the world and projects there have the scale and vision to challenge the best companies. It’s gratifying to make a mark and gain the trust of construction majors there. Here are 5 reasons why US companies have faith in us!

Putting scale into perspective

With over 10 years of experience behind us, addressing scale is not an issue for us. We have been exposed to gigantic projects (like the Nagpur Metro). But perhaps more importantly, for these projects, we have had the good fortune of being involved in providing end-to-end solutions. We have seen every detail of these huge projects and we have found a way to deliver impact. This is why US companies trust us with massive projects.

For e.g., we were extremely proud of our solutions for a residential tower project in Florida. This is a skyscraper, 650-feet tall with 60-floors of housing. This high-end complex even included a robotic parking garage providing 284 parking spaces for 132 units allowing unit owners to park cars right outside their unit on each floor. It’s fair to say that projects of this scale that rely on advanced technologies such as robotics and IoT are next to impossible to pull off without the precision and insight of BIM modeling.

A portfolio without borders (of any kind)

We are extremely proud of our international exposure. We have been bringing the best BIM solutions to companies in some of the fastest-growing construction markets of the world. For e.g., we have a significant footprint in the FIFA World Cup-fueled Qatar market. Some of the other international projects undertaken by us were the Greenfield infrastructure project as well as a multi-specialty Hospital in the Middle East and the refurbishment project of a 52-year-Old University Library Building in California. Our portfolio talks loudly and confidently. The exposure is not just to different geographies. It’s varied in the kinds of projects we do. The experience required to model a heritage building is very different from the learnings you would take away from a metro project. It’s this combination of skills that our US customers value.

At Excelize, experience is the best teacher

Although this is the norm, we feel that in a field which is ever-evolving and growing on a daily basis, experience is everything. As construction technology changes and the boundaries of what is possible with BIM are being pushed outwards it is critical to have a sound foundation to base your efforts on. Being so hands-on with our projects has taught us many valuable lessons over the years. A decade of working on such large projects has fine-tuned teams to work together. Problem-solving is second-nature to us. The challenges faced on the diverse projects we have worked on have made us this way -a team forged in the fire of rich experience.

The proof is in the pudding

You have probably seen stats like 83% of the expert BIM users experienced a positive ROI and 93% of the users strongly believed in the potential of gaining more value in the future. (These are according to a McGraw Hill report). It’s probably stats like these that have convinced more and more construction projects in the US turn to BIM.

Now, sample these stats:

– 8% cost saving over projected DPR costs achieved in a $ 1.2 Billion project.

– 66% saving of time in creating a Clash Detection and Resolution (CDR) model for a renovation project covering 74,000 sq. ft.

– 97% accuracy in predicting the quantity of steel consumed in a residential project of 28 floors.

These are actual results delivered by Excelize by leveraging the power of BIM. It’s results like these that convince construction companies of our capabilities to add value.

Keeping sustainability at the center of modeling

It’s no secret that green practices are important in the USA. This is especially true after the recent discussions between the American Institute of Architects Committee on the Environment (AIA/COTE) and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The discussion reflects the growing focus on green or sustainable design, which is something that BIM modeling can help with.

It is needs like this that are driving the USA construction companies to look to make more investments in Information Technology-driven solutions like BIM. But those investments are not going through, as was reported in Moody’s last “Global Construction Outlook” report. The single biggest reason for the investments faltering was the lack of skilled people. Of course, this is where we come in! Our people have the domain knowledge, they know the best tools like Revit, and they have the exposure and experience that the USA demands. It’s a question of being in the right place at the right time.

And, as mentioned, we pride ourselves on offering end-to-end solutions. This means our clients don’t have to coordinate with numerous vendors. We take over everything- from BIM services, CAD services, construction sequencing services, and even Point Cloud to BIM.

This combination seems to be what’s making us stand out when USA-based construction companies look for a BIM partner. Is this the combination of skills and experience that you are looking for?

BIM is much more than an exceptional 3D model-based software. It is a smart solution that provides builders, architects, and construction professionals the insight and knowledge to plan, structure, develop and manage their building projects better. BIM does this though a better visual analysis of the structure that facilitates effective decision making with BIM.

BIM demands an exceptional understanding of the process of creating and dealing with all of the data points on a project. The digital depiction of each aspect of the structure depends on this precision of data and empowers the meaningful integration of information and technology.

Of course, a tool so powerful has some complexities inherent to its application. Building Information Modelling, too, has some modern technical aspects which call for some skills and experience to deliver well.

Effective implementation and utilization of BIM technologies and procedures require the attention of BIM professionals. The benefits of hiring an expert BIM Service provider include:

· Improved collaboration and control.

· Improved project quality.

· Faster delivery of projects.

· Reduce wastage of resources.

· Cost-effectiveness.

· Maximum impact from the BIM implementation.

With the dramatic rise in the demand for BIM technology around the globe, the demand for individuals with BIM skills has become significant. Putting such a high-impact team together demands serious attention.

We do consider ourselves among the top shelf of BIM service providers and from that perspective, perhaps, it’s worth taking a look at what the best BIM professionals look like. What characteristics set apart the best BIM professionals?

Of course, the first requirement is to be an absolute expert on the software tool itself. These professionals must live, breathe, and talk BIM. They must know how to make things happen by harnessing the awesome power of the chosen software tool. But there’s more than technical skill involved here. This post is about those other essentials.

This isn’t a set of guidelines for recruiting, more a set of qualities one must look for in individuals who can best leverage the powerful toolset to provide meaningful data to project teams. As it happens, these also suggest parameters that could be vital in your decision of a trustworthy and skilled BIM solution provider.

1.     Great Communicators: The BIM team plays an essential role in every construction phase involving multiple construction teams. It is important to communicate the information the framework delivers effectively. Consequently, communication is a huge factor in making a capable BIM professional. The ideal BIM professional would be acquainted with the business prerequisites and with the capabilities of the partner teams. It’s possible that BIM may be new for the onsite team so when a project executive approaches for something, the team should be able to translate that request into the data that is needed. Team members who can read between the lines and interpret those requirements back again are invaluable.

2.     Flexibility: Different time zones, project types, and plans of action must be considered in the equation. The BIM professional is often required to work offsite and yet be a core part of the onsite team. This suggests the true BIM professional must be flexible to adjust to the necessary business structure, schedules, and procedures. They must also be familiar with a range of requirements and be flexible in their delivery.

3.     Quality-Obsessed: So much depends on the BIM model. The construction planning, that determines how the project goes, is heavily dependent on the model. Equipment schedules, material orders, resource planning, and, even, post-construction facilities management rely on the BIM model. Having a quality driven team makes it possible to get the model right the first time and reduces unnecessary errors and issues. Only if the BIM professional is quality-driven can a strong foundation be built up that will be capable of holding up the entire effort.

4.     Ability to Fuel Innovation: BIM demands a combination of high efficiency and an extreme degree of initiative. This is essential for solving complex issues at the required pace. Individuals with diverse skill sets are key, as different problems need different solutions. A wide variety of ideas and viewpoints are necessary to blend together to come up with the best result. There is a need to look beyond the obvious and see visions of the future that may not be immediately apparent. In such a situation. innovation becomes a stock-in-trade for the folks who craft impactful solutions out of the BIM effort.

5.     Organized: The task is complex and multi-faceted. The stakeholders are many. The desired impact is high. It is also clear that the consumers of the BIM model are varied and what they seek from the model also varies greatly. Staying focused on the task and delivering what is required demands an extreme level of self-organization. Such an organized approach makes it easy to monitor tasks, deadlines, and priorities and deliver what everyone needs.

BIM is a solution that includes team-members and consumers of information from several unique backgrounds which include builders, architects, engineers, contractors, and so on. A BIM professional who can deliver what each of these stakeholders requires has a special set of skills. The professionals who work on our team share the traits listed here. What characteristics do the BIM experts you have worked with show?

Construction sequencing and scheduling requires you to plan construction activities while considering resources, spatial constraints, and other concerns. Scheduling and sequence analysis in construction guarantees that staging is streamlined and identifies potential conflicts. Construction sequencing usually requires scheduling and sequencing software to create, update, and communicate the project plan to the stakeholders through various reports. A range of representation techniques is utilized to envision the sequence and scheduling issues. The sequencing model ensures the smoothest possible construction sequence.

In the context of construction, traditional methods used for project planning can’t show how or why certain activities are connected in a given sequence. They fail to calculate precisely the critical way to complete a project as they cannot capture the spatial components identified with these activities.

Sequencing and scheduling in construction is the process of listing activities and tasks with a planned start and finish date. Construction sequencing management becomes vital as the traditional planning methods fail to link directly to the building model. A construction sequence implies that the installation arrangement of project equipment and materials, as well as the grouping of units, frameworks or subsystems, depends on the plant sequence.

The Construction Sequence creates methods based on engineering, designing, and operation activities. The importance of sequencing in construction projects cannot be underestimated since it plays a crucial role in the success of the project.

As a practice, construction sequencing should be followed all through the project. It is also important that the written arrangement be modified before any changes in construction activities are executed. The plan can be updated if the construction site inspection indicates the requirement.

Here’s why sequencing management can have an impact.

Effectiveness: Construction sequencing management is a useful tool for erosion control because it guarantees that management practices are introduced where necessary and when appropriate. The plan must be followed and updated if necessary, to amplify the effectiveness.

Cost considerations: Construction sequencing management is a low-cost tool as it requires a limited amount of a contractor’s time to provide a written arrangement for proper coordination of construction activities and practices.

Application: Construction sequencing management should include the following:

• Principal improvement activities.

• Which measures should be introduced before other activities are started?

• Compatibility with the general contract construction plan.

For instance, construction sequencing can be utilized to design earthwork and erosion and sediment control (ESC) activities at construction sites where land disturbances might influence water quality.

Construction sequencing management benefits the projects in the following ways:

·         It assigns dates to project activities.

·         Based on construction sequencing and scheduling, the preliminary expenses can be estimated.

·         It helps to identify whether the duration stipulated for the project is achievable or not.

·         It is also useful for formulating tender estimates for projects.

·         It helps coordinate the resources like materials, equipment, and labour with project work.

·         It provides a sequence of tasks. This helps to define the next activities that need to be prepared for.

·         It helps the construction team to achieve its goals within the time limit.

·         It helps focus on safety performance activities.

·         It helps to track actual work performed to determine whether construction is proceeding satisfactorily.

·         It helps eliminate problems due to production bottlenecks.

·         It provides comprehensive data concerning time, schedule, and resources.

·         It helps identify and resolve workspace clashes.

·         It helps maximize quality control measures.

·         It helps to achieve the highest level of productivity.

Proper sequencing, 4D scheduling, and planning ensure the completion of the project on schedule and within budget. This not only defines the pace of the work but also provides an overview of how the tasks are executed. It identifies techniques and sequences in which materials are delivered. The construction sequencing management exposes details such as out-of-sequence work, scheduling clashes between multiple trades and various scenarios and phasing strategies. In the end, the aim is to deliver projects on time and within budget. Construction Sequencing Management helps construction companies achieve that goal.