Technology is constantly progressing in the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry, and it is crucial for companies to adapt to provide modern and efficient solutions for clients. As digital transformation becomes more integrated into regular practices, companies must navigate the challenges of modernizing digital strategies without reinventing or negatively impacting the design processes.
EXP’s Chief Information Officer Steve Ross sat on Bentley Systems’ panel “Going Digital Without Starting Over” with industry experts to discuss the future of Integrated Digital Delivery (IDD), collaboration and the future of the digital twin. Below are some key takeaways from the panel.
How can companies go digital without starting over?
Going digital without starting over requires a continuous recommitment to innovative technologies and design approach, in this case, the digital 3D design process. Companies will have to continue to work to understand the technology and define how teams will use it.
The most important aspect to consider is that the client should remain at the center of this process. The goal of this technology is to ultimately provide more advanced solutions for clients. Understanding what the client needs will take the project where it needs to go.
How are companies using ProjectWise to standardize digital project delivery?
Integrated Digital Delivery, especially in the design-build approach, has revolutionized the industry in terms of how we work together. The digital strategy and coordination required to choreograph the data exchanges and deliverables including every partner’s requirement is significant. The overarching goal of streamlining the efficiency and speed to delivering the facility is at the heart of our challenge.
The ProjectWise platform offers versatility that allows teams to consume and manage the complexity of all data types required for a project. The platform provides the automation and security necessary to deliver projects efficiently and successfully. These tools are at the core of collaboration and ProjectWise is at the center of what consider when it comes to common data environment (CDE) and iTwin. The ability to examine project issues and design review has opened up new opportunities to elevate the way teams work together.
What role do you see data-centric workflows playing in the infrastructure lifecycle and how are you looking to leverage them?
When we talk about data-centric workflows, we are talking about additional data that brings richer information about the components of an item regardless of whether that item is a door, an air handler or retaining wall. The information that designers and builders add to the model continues to travel in the model and inform the asset and ultimately become part of the management of the future facility. This is the digital twin vision. If we are successful in our digital delivery, the client is the benefactor of this additional intelligence and will be able to integrate it with their facility management systems.
For this reason, we are going beyond design to the side of operations as we work on these projects with our clients. Understanding their vision for our model in post construction is an important part of the development of our digital twin. This technology continues to develop, and teams are learning how to use it to its fullest potential, making this an exciting time to work in the AEC industry.
What is the next phase of digital transformation for EXP and the industry as a whole, and in what ways does ProjectWise enable this?
AI has become one of the most talked about topics in this industry recently, although we can’t completely predict the impact AI will have as we implement enhancements to run our business and for the digital design in our business. There is no doubt that these enhancements will be significant and disruptive on a large scale. The pace of change in the world is at an all-time high and AI is going to continue to accelerate that.
As I talk to people in the organization, we talk about automation, we talk about innovation and we talk about where we are going in an industry that is already rapidly advancing. AI will accelerate that rate of change. To adapt to that change, companies must stay at the forefront of technology and consume new information at a faster rate than before. The most important thing to remember going forward is to keep up with the pace of change while allowing company culture to remain solid.
To learn more about IDD and the future of AI, contact Chief Information Officer Steve Ross.