Adopting Engineering Software and Emerging Technologies

As we discussed in the part one, engineering techniques and materials have changed how buildings get completed. Double Black Construction has been quick to adopt intelligent tools and emerging technologies to improve the quality of the final construction they deliver to clients. At Double Black Construction, innovation is at the core of their relationships to the most reputable manufacturers and talented professionals (architects, engineers and skilled tradespeople) to deliver ideal pre-engineered building solutions.

No one likes paperwork. Mountains of old-world paper copies are wasteful and can quickly escalate into a chaotic, unwieldy mess. Working with cloud-based administrative tools lets documentation be recorded and checked faster and kept more accurately in a better organized fashion. Not only does this help ensure deadlines are met, but progress reports can be provided to clients immediately and with the relevant metrics to provide a better semblance of how work is getting finished and if costs and timelines are on track.

• 3D Modeling: Even non-designers appreciate how revolutionary software has been to architecture since it was first introduced in the early 1970s (think of software packages as AutoCAD, Rhino 3D, SketchUp and V-Rays, which turns creates realistic renderings). These types of three-dimensional (3D), real-time, dynamic building modeling software increase productivity and lead to decreased design and construction times. Interior layouts and décor can be created, viewed and altered in a real-world visual setting, supplemented by augmented reality (AR) overlays of information. Virtual reality (VR) is an exciting new frontier where clients can wear glasses and immerse themselves in virtual walkthrough of their completed building – in all its final splendor before a single bolt has been installed. 3D modeling allows architecture, engineering and construction professionals to visualize and communicate data and technical schematics using digital intelligence to augment the skills they’ve developed over a lifetime.
• Building Information Modelling (BIM): BIM is key in modern architecture and engineering. It helps automate the development of sustainable buildings. BIM encompasses geometry, spatial relationships, geographic information and building components to construct a conceptual model of the building. Digital models are then scaled to precisely manufacture the dimensions of materials used to construct your building. The complexity of this technology is shared to benefit all tradespeople and stakeholders, from electrical, mechanical to plumbing experts, and all necessary systems, such as heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC). Beyond practical and functional elements, BIM allows stakeholders to work exactingly with the building installation so they can understand how all the functional elements interact with the more aesthetic ones like roofs, walls and windows. Any change is instantly applied across the entire design plan, elevation drawings and section views. Each building element or component is then scheduled into a manufacturing and building schedule to ensure deadlines are met. More than a design tool, BIM is a comprehensive planning tool to keep all teams organized and on track.
• Predictive Engineering and Testing: Predictive software simulates the stresses on the structure long before it’s been built to see how it will react when exposed to extreme conditions. Engineers can exert any force onto the structural design to ensure the building is designed to withstand everything nature can throw its way. This software can simulate both short-and long-term stresses on a particular support or section or examine weight loads and forces on the entire structure to ensure it’s built to last without requiring future repair or retrofitting.

Frank Melo has a construction civil engineering technology and business background with over 25 years of experience as a business owner and contractor. He was born and educated in London, Ontario and now divides his time between projects primarily in Ontario and British Columbia. He can be contacted at Double Black Construction at (778) 951-4766 or by email at frank@doubleblackconstruction.com or through LinkedIn.