Can you guarantee that the completed building will match the performance predicted by the analysis in its day-to-day operations?
Why or why not?
When choosing settings for each of the building performance factors, should you always choose the setting that gives the absolute lowest predicted energy use?
How can you use Insight feedback to make design choices regarding materials, lightning, PV, etc.?
4D simulations are often used to show the construction sequence for an entire project, but shorter simulations that focus on a specific period of time are also useful. Can you provide examples of how a simulation that focuses on a 1 or 2 week period could be useful for planning?
The same week concrete pouring of the foundation finishes, framing may arrive to begin on the first floor and plumbing to extend up the drainage openings from the foundation. Simulating the precise sequencing and timing can allow each trade to arrive on the day they can work, instead of arriving only to be needed a couple days later.
What level of detail should be included in a 4D simulation?
Should you include all of the elements in the building model?
Every element in the building model can be included in a 4D simulation, but that will likely slow down the simulation. Elements can be split into sections of work, like first floor plumbing, which can be treated as one unit in simulation. This is also semantically meaningful to other trades for coordination purposes than granular pipes and fittings.
How can the feedback shown in a 4D simulation help you to optimize the project schedule?
What are the main benefits of linking model elements to the project schedule?
Every trade needs to know their part in the schedule. By linking their individual parts of work to the schedule through the model elements, they are in sync with everyone. The dependencies on each model element, especially in case of a surprise delay, can be clearly assessed for prioritization and severity escalation.
How can model-based quantity takeoff improve the design process?
How can designers improve their designs using the information provided by preliminary estimates of the cost of building their design ideas?
Every building has a budget (well, maybe except some, like Apple’s Spaceship HQ). Designers must stay within that budget by some margin. Using preliminary cost estimates on building design ideas, designers can get intuition for how the financial budget translates to floor area, curtain wall area, and structural beam costs. These constraints will prepare the architect’s refinements and detailed designs to be within budget, instead of leaving the cost to be a surprise that the owner refuses to accept.