The trend of new technologies in the construction industry has now revolved beyond mere scheduling and planning tools. With more quest for certainty, cost-effectiveness, and timeliness, there are innovations that aid onsite and off-site delivery; amidst such innovations is 4D Simulation.
Wondering what visual scheduling looks like in managing a construction project? That’s exactly one of the core values of 4D simulations. Its basic principle is integrating a 3D building model into the project schedule.
While giving visual representation/project sequences to project stakeholders, the 4D Simulation is an efficient tool that aids in effectively optimizing and comprehending the construction process. Despite the existence of 4D Simulation before Building Information Modelling(BIM), sharing 3D models as common development made it used for BIM projects efficient.
Under the term 4D BIM Simulations, today, it is a common practice used to evaluate design constructability at various phases of a construction project.
4D Simulation in CPM
In construction project management, the use of 4D Simulation has been seen widely, in its use for various construction processes. Some of these include clash detection, team coordination, communication, and cost/ time management.
Its scenarios of clash detections in project management involve the optimum use of its visual functions by spotting unexpected geometrical clashes among project elements.
Fig 1: 4D Simulation Clash detection
This has been seen in large plumbing works, where 4D Simulation was employed to discover temporary work limitations on sites. With its ability to establish radius layouts and sequence review, we have seen it used for mobile crane simulation and onsite operation management. In addition to its fundamental role in CPM, it is also utilized in site induction.
4D Simulations have discovered discrepancies between preliminarily determined pathways and the associated working areas allotted to various machines in the manufacturing industry.
4D Simulation and its software
Sharing 3D models as base development, its interoperability with BIM software and other project management tools has made planning and scheduling efficient.
Synchro 4D, Navisworks, Revit, and Navigator are some of these software.
With constant development and quest for operation management and optimizations in the construction industry, 4D simulations are sure to be the best project cost and time saver. Construction managers looking forward to optimizing their projects can adopt 4D BIM Simulations in all construction stages. At the preconstruction stage, it enables the visual detection of temporary works and obstructions, therefore enabling the meeting project’s objectives within the scheduled time frame.
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SEYAR AZADANI, PMP
PRESIDENT & CEO
Seyar Azadani has over 20 years of CPM scheduling and construction management experience working with general contractors and project owners, including the USACE, DOT, VA, Meta, QTS, Turner, Donohoe Construction, and Whiting-Turner company. As a Construction CPM Scheduling Consultant, Seyar has provided Primavera P6 CPM Scheduling services for government agencies and the private sector, representing owners, general contractors, construction managers, and architects.
Seyar has proven knowledge, expertise, and experience in utilizing Oracle Primavera P6, Primavera P6 Team Member, Primavera Unifier, Bluebeam, MS Project, Procore, eBuilder, Tableau, Navisworks, and Autodesk Revit. As a project controls specialist, Seyar has assisted Meta and QTS with Data Center projects, including new build projects, retrofit projects, and leased spaces.
Seyar has provided project controls services to projects ranging from civil to industrial to high-rise construction, including hospitals and healthcare facilities, roads and highways, high-rise apartment buildings, and commercial projects, utilizing Primavera and MS Project CPM scheduling tools to create and maintain the CPM schedules for his clients. With the US Army Corps of Engineers projects, as a contractor and construction manager, Seyar has built military facilities, including completing the construction of a USACE training facility, a $200+ million project in the capacity of project construction director.
Seyar has a Master of Science degree in Construction Management from New York University (NYU) in Jan of 2012 and a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering in 2004.
