TPS Consult The use of JetStream by TPS Consult was highlighted in UK journal AEC Magazine when they published a case study about the first project undertaken by the company based on the 3D object model approach. Autodesk Architectural Desktop was at the heart of the process, providing a wealth of information downstream and JetStream is used by TPS Consult to view large model files and detect clashes.

A model project for TPS Consult

The use of JetStream by TPS Consult was highlighted in UK journal AEC Magazine when they published [Sept/Oct 03] a case study about the first project undertaken by the company based on the 3D object model approach. Autodesk Architectural Desktop was at the heart of the process, providing a wealth of information downstream and JetStream is used by TPS Consult to view large model files and detect clashes.

Carillion, one of the UK's leading construction services groups, operates throughout the United Kingdom and in a number of overseas regional markets. The company provides its customers with services and capabilities across all the key sectors of the construction industry. Carillion is a market leader in retail and commercial building, refurbishment of social housing, road and rail maintenance, integrated facilities management for the NHS and is a pioneer in Private Finance Initiative projects. The company's mid 2002 order book exceeded £5 billion, it has a workforce of over 14,000 operating in more than 20 countries, and one Carillion company, TPS Consult, has become a beacon of good practice through its use of Autodesk Architectural Desktop and 3D object model technology,

AutoCAD-based 2D processes

TPS Consult supports its business through a rich heritage of software applications, a number of which were inherited from the company's forerunner organisations.

However, there is an overhead in running a number of different CAD systems for what is fundamentally the same task. System management is more complex. Establishing and maintaining cross product and cross-release compatibility can be a challenge. It is more expensive to maintain the wider skills base. That is why a decision was made in 1998 to standardise on one core CAD supplier, Autodesk.

According to Steve Jolley, Director of Object Technology at TPS Consult, "Technology and products evolve. As a major multi-discipline practice, we need future proof products that will enable us to work as an effective unit. That is why we chose Autodesk, the low risk option. They are the market leader and have the largest global client base, we felt secure in the knowledge that the products would be around in 10-15 years time."

The company standardised on AutoCAD and associated applications for 2D design, and 3ds max and Autodesk VIZ for 3D concept and design visualisations. The immediate results justified the decision. For Steve Jolley, "The 2D design processes we have developed with AutoCAD have served us well and continue to do so. Producing 3D concept models in Autodesk VIZ has proved to be very effective too." The system now comprises 111 seats of Architectural Desktop, 34 seats of Autodesk Land Desktop for external modelling, four seats of Autodesk VIZ for visualisation and some 60 multidiscipline analysis and design applications. NavisWorks is used for clash detection and viewing large model files in OpenGL file formats. Infrasoft MX is used to complement Land Desktop. BS Link & Cymap are used for building services design and the CSC suite of products including 3D+ is used for structural analysis and design.

Working smarter with ADT

TPS Consult did not choose Autodesk just because of AutoCAD. In Steve Jolly's opinion, "Many designers still, for well founded reasons, focus only on their part of the design supply chain, delivering information in formats that are not truly compatible with others in the process."

"This approach may be cost effective for the individual business but often causes costly delays when a project team want to share information. To replicate this in a multi-discipline company would be madness; we want all our disciplines to share data, when appropriate".

"The Autodesk range of products is supported be a vast array of third party applications. This means that we can competitively purchase compatible software for virtually all of our project life cycle processes."

"One other major factor is the availability of skilled staff and training programmes. With Autodesk both of these are in adequate supply. With any other solution, our delivery capability would be restricted. We know, because we looked!"

Use of "objects" now realistic

As part of its "work smarter" strategy, the company began to evaluate the use of the object-based 3D building model at the heart of the design process. Objects are representations of real construction products; a typical object incorporates all the information necessary to completely describe a building component.

They can include content that is completely compatible with most construction life cycle systems. They need only contain detail and information that is relevant to the product or situation and are not complicated. Objects are not associated with any one software application; a true object is completely platform independent. Steve Jolly says, "The concept has been around for a number of years. The theory was well understood particularly in other sectors like the aircraft and automobile industries, but the hardware was very expensive, making it difficult for many construction businesses to achieve an acceptable return on the investment. This together with the lack of skilled operators meant that for the construction industry object technology never really took off. However, with advances in affordable hardware and with software such as Architectural Desktop, its use is now a realistic possibility."

A project to prove the strategy

Venter Odendaal, the South African entrepreneur, is the driving force behind Leading Rule Limited, developers of the Broadoaks Estate, Byfleet, Surrey. This is a prestigious office development 25 miles to the south west of London and close to the M25. The site currently comprises an existing mansion house already used as an office, a coach house and a number of garden buildings on a 34-acre site.

Venter Odendaal's development will transform the site into a superb working environment with fully landscaped gardens, with the refurbished mansion house as the centrepiece. There are numerous tree preservation orders in force and the site is in the green belt. Consequently, the development is very sensitive and had to meet very stringent planning conditions approved at Secretary of State level.

The client acquired the site some four years ago from the Ministry of Defence and established the design concepts with the selected architect at that time. The overall requirement was to demolish the extensive 1960's office blocks, refurbish all of the existing listed buildings and to add three new office blocks, each of two 2000m2 floors. These are to be standard office blocks linked to a standard service core. There will be great emphasis on re-landscaping and the retention of the dense surrounding woodland between the development and the area's residential buildings. The new offices will be sandstone-clad, have a low profile and there will be formal and informal gardens with still and flowing water. Overall, the development will be virtually invisible to all but the people who work there.

Matthew Hodgson, Architectural Designer at TPS Consult, takes up the story, "We worked with the design prepared by the client's South African architect, and then developed them on from RIBA Stage D to full working drawings ready for tender to a number of contractors. Some 25% of the work had already been done in 2D before our involvement. On seeing the commission, it was clear that here was a project tailor-made for the 3D object model approach. We felt that it was only through a 3D object model that we could be sure we could communicate the design to all parties involved."

"In addition, the developer required a flexible internal layout. It was essential that he had an easily understandable and editable data set for subsequent operations and maintenance. He needed a life cycle model." He adds, “The client is unique, it's a great project and the technology is wonderful. It's the ideal project to prove our strategy. We showed the developer the 3D object model produced for a previous tender and he was immediately captivated with the idea. In addition to placing the 2D work with TPS Consult he agreed to fund the creation of the object model as it would bring additional operational and maintenance benefits for him."

In fact, since the project had started in 2D, TPS completed the 2D production drawings. In parallel with this, the team started to build the 3D object model in Architectural Desktop directly from the 2D design.

According to Steve Jolley, "It was easy. Firstly we used 2D data from the architects and structural engineers to put together the shell of the buildings. To do this we look for all the common and standard items such as walls, doors, windows etc and created project styles. We then added property set data to each object style to an appropriate level and then populated the model with these objects."

In Architectural Desktop, objects are not restricted to representing physical entities. Property data can be attached to any entity, such as blocks, solids and even polylines. This is very useful as many objects are not readily available and have to be created; it also means that information can be extracted from a model even if the model contains entities that are not true objects. Using this technique in conjunction with Architectural Desktop's structural members it is possible for example, to interrogate and extract data from the piles, pile caps, ground beams and other foundations.

No more ambiguity

The 3D object model will provide a wealth of information as the project develops. Contractors will have accurate information on which to base their tenders. Errors of misunderstanding will be more or less eliminated and any changes to the project will be easily communicated.

The use of the 3D object model will be essential to the effective operation of the finished development. Once the as-built information is added, the operations and maintenance team will be able to provide accurate, timely and comprehensible information to, for example, the voice and data service provider and the security service provider. The operators will be able to manage office layouts, storage requirements and tenancy change requirements. In addition, the charging structure can now be based on accurate and unambiguous information extracted from the model.

Benchmark for the future

What has TPS learned from this project? First and foremost Steve Jolley is convinced that, "Architectural Desktop will do the job." He adds, "No, that's not right. It's done the job! We have attempted to create a virtual office complex made up from intelligent objects using Architectural Desktop. Importantly, we understand the limitations of the product and are in regular contact with Autodesk in the UK to get over these limitations. We have proved that our strategy and methodology are correct and we are building a benchmark for the future. We now have a number of active projects and we are building upon the knowledge we acquitted during the Broadoaks Estate project. People actually ask to join the team now. They want to get involved."

He has some advice for those wishing to take the same approach. "Unless companies are prepared to carry out proper training for their staff in Architectural Desktop the real benefits of the product will never be achieved, proper training is essential."

As the use of 3D object models increases, Steve Jolley believes that the traditional roles and responsibilities will change. He believes that, "The model will become the reference point for the complete life cycle of a building."

"Instead of issuing work packages for example, the model will be issued marked with each parties work responsibilities. Therefore, processes and information flows will change. The degree of intelligence and scheduling will continue to develop. We will design and engineer rather than draw with drawings becoming a by-product." He adds, "Because of our close involvement with Autodesk in developing this technology, we feel they really understand our clients' needs. In fact, we believe now that only Autodesk has the technology and potential to create a truly complete life cycle model."