Boban John
In the construction world, the preconstruction phase is where the magic starts—or at least where it should. It’s where vision meets reality—where strategic planning, risk assessment, and teamwork come together to set the stage for project success.
Thankfully, over the past several years, this critically important, but also traditionally time-consuming, project stage is becoming exponentially more efficient for forward-thinking teams thanks to the growing adoption of digital twin technology.
In the past, preconstruction relied heavily on countless physical site visits, manual measurements, and disconnected tools, leading to inefficiencies and a higher risk of costly mistakes. Now, though, thanks to the emergence of 3D reality capture platforms that provide AEC professionals with immersive, highly detailed digital models of job sites, teams can work more efficiently, collaboratively, and accurately from anywhere in the world.
How it Works
Today, the preconstruction phase of projects empowered by digital twin technology typically commences with a digital scan of the project site. These scans, which are taken with a high-resolution, 3D LiDAR camera, ultimately result in a highly accurate, immersive 3D model—a digital twin—that includes even the smallest of details, like the electrical, plumbing, and HVAC components—all rendered in 4K along with precise measurements that are automatically captured by the camera – no tape measures, pencils or notebooks required!
From there, these newly captured digital twins fundamentally transform how preconstruction unfolds since the entire team—architects, engineers, contractors, and owners—have immediate, always-on access to the work site from any Web browser (no additional specialized 3D software is needed).
Accuracy, Efficiency
The best part of that? No more endless physical walkthroughs. This means teams end up saving time, cutting costs, and making faster decisions—which keeps everything on track and within budget. And, as an added bonus, there’s also a substantial sustainability benefit thanks to the dramatic reduction of unnecessary travel and the associated carbon emissions from cars and airplanes.
Another significant advantage is the ability to capture projects in context early in the planning process. Through the digital twin, architects, engineers, and construction professionals can collaboratively create comprehensive, digital as-built surveys using point-cloud data, ensuring all details are accurately captured. AEC professionals can seamlessly import these point-cloud models into the industry-standard software tools they already use, including Autodesk Construction Cloud and Procore, enhancing their existing BIM and CAD workflows.
Consider a scenario where an HVAC system or electrical run is inaccurately documented by hand. Such discrepancies might not be uncovered until the construction phase, leading to costly changes and delays. However, by leveraging 3D reality capture and creating a digital twin, the as-built data is guaranteed to be precise. This enables stakeholders to identify and rectify issues before they escalate, ensuring the integrity of the BIM process. With so many benefits, it’s no surprise that forward-looking AEC firms are going “all in” and reaping the benefits.
Real-World Success
For example, Minneapolis-based Knutson Construction, known for healthcare and education projects, used a leading digital twin platform, Matterport, to reduce site visits across their portfolio of projects by a staggering 75%, according to the company’s Vice President of Technology & Innovation, Katie Montag. “We can also produce our construction documentation and images at least twice as fast now,” she said. “Plus, we end up with reliable dimensional information and photo documentation, all in a single file.”
Similarly, during a recent multi-site renovation project that included 503 bank branches, BMO Financial Group was able to save roughly 6,000 hours of travel time (about 12 hours per location) by using a digital twin platform for the first time. According to our most recent ESG report, each Matterport digital twin creator avoids an estimated average of 0.55 tCO2e (tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent) per year. On a life-cycle basis, each digital twin can prevent roughly 0.15 tCO2e emissions, equivalent to driving a personal car for about 451 miles.
As a result of BMO’s successes, they are now incorporating digital twins into all of their construction projects, according to the bank’s program manager, Lisa Near. “Word quickly got out about this fantastic 360-degree tool that we had and, I am telling you, people have come out of the woodwork,” Near said.
With countless success stories like these, it’s clear that as the construction industry continues to evolve and embrace more and more new technologies, digital twins will soon become an essential component of every preconstruction toolkit, ensuring that all projects start with a solid foundation before one hammer is lifted or one shovel goes into the ground.
