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?
If there are components that need to be constructed simultaneously it will become helpful to have a simulation that focuses on a 1-2 week period. It will be very helpful to see if there are any discrepancies in how the construction might overlap. For instance, if there are two separate buildings constructed at the same time, but are connected at a higher level (Level 4 for example), there are certain parts of the construction that need to happen in series, but parts that can happen simultaneously. The scheduler may need to confirm that certain components are not interfering with others during those periods of construction.
What level of detail should be included in a 4D simulation?
- Should you include all of the elements in the building model?
Most of the elements should be included in a 4D simulation, but if it is a very large building that is symmetric and very repetitive, it can save a lot of time to just do half of the building instead of the full model. For instance, if the building is a rectangular prism, 20 floors high, and has the same structure for each floor, it may be beneficial to only simulate part of the building. However, it is important for the scheduler to account for the time it will take for each entire floor to be constructed, so if the simulation is only half of the building each time marker will need to be doubled for an accurate and fully completed schedule.
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?
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?
Designers can use the information provided by preliminary estimates of the building costs by discovering how the cost may be lowered without compromising the structural integrity of the building. Designers may also be able to determine what areas require less structural stability, in which case a cheaper material may be available to use for that one section. It is extremely beneficial for the designers to be aware of the costs to construct the designed building and communicate with the stakeholders to approve those costs.