This summer, I sat down with Angela Simoes and Jonathan Girroir from TechSoft 3D to discuss Digital Twin, and how that actually plays out in the real world.
While I am currently a consultant, and have been since 2016. Most of my career was on the owner / operator side of the AECO industry. I will never try to convince our clients to use a solution I would not use in their shoes.
In fact, one of the services that we offer here at R.O.I. Consulting Group is evaluating IWMS and IoT solutions for clients and making an informed recommendation to them, based on our knowledge of the platforms and their needs. So, my leadership and coworkers are of the same mind as me in this regard.
On a high level, we discussed:
1. What does it look like when an ideal model-based handover occurs and is ingested into the operations management system?
vs
2. What does handover actually look like and where does it go wrong?
Topics that were touched upon:
- In this discussion, I explain why owners need a single file format for deliverables, and how those (either DWG or RVT) work with our IWMS / CAFM / CPIP systems.
- How BIM requirements are laid out in materials specs/SOWs.
- We do not get the deliverables that we spec and pay for, sometimes intentionally, sometimes due to shifting priorities.
- Collaboration between teams during design and construction is far overstated.
- There can be multiple points of failure during closeout and handover that results in clients not receiving editable documentation or consistent documentation.
- Every design team should have at least one programmer who can automate changes across a project. Don't do this manually, come on.
- Don't make assumptions on Facility Engineering requirements, ask why that spec is there.
- The IWMS is the single source of truth and touchpoint for most users, not the model.
- How databases have longevity and portability, ensuring long term maintenance.
- The model MUST to be editable, for maintenance corrections and future renovations.
- Keeping models up to date saves vast amounts of money on future projects not requiring surveying and redrawing.
- The biggest improvement in our segment of the industry is actually SaaS IWMS hosting (regular included updated) vs internal or consultant hosted (years between updates, so many customizations that upgrades are long and expensive).
- The design team needs to speak to the owner, meaning the operator... not the project manager. If you are involving the occupant, you can involve the FM team, too, include it in that process.
- See Also: Who is the Owner and how do they use your deliverables?
- The technology is there, but the processes and coordination still have a long way to go.
- Scanning existing conditions is getting easier as devices become cheaper.
- Monitoring devices, sensors are so much cheaper and easier, you can DIY. For example, the Disruptive sensors that are plug n play.
- Consumer level devices such as these are easier to get past Finance / IT, etc. compared to traditional BAS/BMS and hand surveying which is more complex and expensive.
