Why do different teams of designers and subcontractors link and share their models during the design process?
Linking and sharing models during the design process can be an essential tool to understand how the various building systems and components integrate with each other. Especially for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems, understanding where duct runs or piping may be intersecting with stairways, structural beams, or ceilings is vital information to know before you start building (and can more easily change design). Each of the different modelers (architect, engineers, other designers, and trade partner contractors) will have different components they are adding to the model. By integrating these, a more complete picture of the whole project can be understood and addressed on a computer rather than being addressed in the field. Changes that can be made during design save a ton of money and time than if those changes had to be made in the field.
Some disadvantages is the accuracy of any given model - is a specific issue actually an issue or is it due to model inaccuracies or lack of understanding of how a system might actual be built in the field? This type of discrepancy between different model types could cause confusion and frustration between partners. In addition to this, I would imagine that having different modelers using slightly different modeling conventions could lead to overall confusion for coordination and lead to an inaccurate overall model.
How do you think design coordination was done before we started using digital models?
I would imagine that for complex designs, there were a lot of field coordination (once construction started) and problems arising from different contractors performing layout for their scope and then realizing there were clashes. That said, there must have been meetings between principals, contractors, and the owner trying to piece together the 2D views of drawings and walking the space to understand where discrepancies or clashes existed in the drawings. 3D clash detection and linking models allows for this type of effort to become rapid and identifies quickly where the clashes are much earlier in the design phase than might have been possible before.
What strategies can design teams use to find and avoid clashes prior to the start of construction?
What can be done besides sharing the models digitally?
A certain set of specific conventions could be adopted to keep the various designers, contractors, etc. aligned. This could establish expectation for level of modeling done, file naming, continual and open communication on key changes to the design following a design schedule, and other things that would avoid any one modeler from working on an old or out-dated design. This could even look like having and taking detailed minutes during full-scale design meetings where all parties are involved and in the know for where the design (and design intent) stand and where the vision of the architect and owner want to take it. This type of communication (along with the tools oriented around consistency) would be a way to reduce clashes between system components. This coupled with a detailed clash detection procedure and reconciliation protocol would allow for the project to move to construction as smoothly as possible.