Hatch develops BIM 7D capability for total asset management

7 November 2016
Hatch is continually developing its Building Information Modelling (BIM) capability as the most cost-effective means of delivering and ultimately managing projects successfully for its diverse clients.
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The capability to deploy BIM effectively is a key differentiator of the Project Delivery Group (PDG) at Hatch, headed up by Mulalo Silidi, Regional Director – Engineering. Silidi explains that PDG is an internal ‘powerhouse’ providing engineering services to the various Business Units at Hatch, which include mining and metals and infrastructure and energy. This is where BIM comes into its own, he highlights.

“BIM 3D refers to a modelling environment in which data is inputted in the form of tagged objects. This allows multi-disciplinary engineering teams, for example, to conduct proper clash detection checks, and to extract detailed bills of quantities. It also provides for a complete visual representation of the proposed asset.”

Grant Dabelstein, a mechanical engineer at Hatch and BIM expert, explains that BIM is a crucial bridge between deliverables in terms of project drawings and specifications, and the 3D project model itself. “If you do not have a very good 3D model, it will affect the deliverables, and vice versa.

“The fundamentals of BIM reside in that 3D environment, which is where all elements are identified, tagged and quantified. It is very important to do all of this correctly from the outset, or the 3D model will fall flat.”

3D project models have to be ‘smart’ in order to function as a means of close collaboration across all the disciplines involved in a specific project. “There has to be a seamless flow of information in order for the work flow to be as effective as possible, and also to minimise the design time which, in turn, will make that potential project even more attractive to the client,” Silidi points out.

This leads to the next stage, which is BIM 4D. “Here we take the information inherent in the 3D model and assign construction work packages to it. This is linked to the project schedule, which allows us to carry out proper materials planning. An added benefit is that it allows you to conduct constructability reviews.

“Long before you are on-site, you can simulate the exact construction sequence. This also allows the team carrying out the actual construction to become involved much earlier in the design process itself, which will go a long way in reducing the total construction time,” Silidi comments.

BIM 5D adds a ‘cost’ element to the equation, relating to the project capex. “The plant owner needs to know what that total cost is likely to be. It is important to simulate different scenarios to determine if we are still within the baseline estimate.”

Silidi says there are a number of factors that can impact on a construction sequence. “For instance, if the materials and equipment is forecast to arrive late, the construction team can utilise the system to reprioritise the labour in order to minimise standing time and cost overruns.” This is where a 3D model can be leveraged to facilitate project management.

BIM 5D even allows for productivity to be factored into the total cost, as the number of workers and the rate can be inputted for the estimated duration of the project. “This is crucial in an environment such as South Africa, where productivity and skills level are critical factors in any project,” Silidi adds.

Environmental sustainability is the main consideration of BIM 6D, which addresses a lot of ‘soft’ issues in terms of the full project lifecycle, including stakeholder engagement and local community involvement. Beyond this level even, BIM 7D is seen as revolutionizing project management.

“Following a design for a client, drawings are handed over and shelved to gather dust, long after the project itself has been finalised. However, there is a lot of intelligence in that data from an operational point of view, which can be inputted into the 3D model,” Silidi argues.

Ends

Notes to the editor
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About Hatch
Hatch supplies process and business consulting, information technology, engineering, procurement and project and construction management and operational services to the mining, metallurgical, energy and infrastructure industries.

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