Which types of structural framing systems and materials are most commonly used in the US for residences? For office buildings?
What factors determine why these are the most used materials?
Why do different teams of designers and subcontractors link and share their models during the design process?
What are the advantages of linking models?
Are there any disadvantages to linking models?
Linking and sharing models during the design process allows for in-time collaborative changes to project work. This helps bypass the need for scheduled calls and ongoing correspondence challenges, thereby expediting the design process. Shared models also help illustrate design uncertainties that might be harder to describe in an email. Furthermore, the model is easily transferrable and it digital tracing can identify who to approach with an uncertainty. Some primary challenges to linked models include the long wait times to open/upload such a large file as well as the digital learning curve (especially with ensuring projects are saved correctly).
How do you think design coordination was done before we started using digital models?
What advantages does doing this coordination digitally have over previous methods?
Before digital design models, I know that architects and engineers would draw plans by hand. I have no doubt that printer and copy machines were much more widely used, but I imagine that many plans contained featured that had to be redrawn by the different stakeholders. This seems like an incredibly tedious process, especially as measurement and scaling techniques were manual. Additionally, file sharing took longer because plans and reports would have had to be mailed. Ultimately, design before digital models was a much lengthier process.
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?
Prior to breaking ground, expectations about roles should be very clearly defined in a contractual agreement. Although some might think that these roles are implied or already understood, establishing a clear line of communication can create an efficient path for problem-solving as issues arise pertaining to different practices. As it may pertain to digital design, using collaborative models where physical constraints can be easily visualized allow for transparent communication across parties. This works best when models are frequently updated; and similarly, teams should seek to meet regularly to check that the model still accurately captures the vision and circumstances, and to update on new developments that both teams might need to account for.
At what point in the project development process should design coordination start?
Is it ever too early?