Technology continues to advance and be adopted in a variety of industries, and the construction industry is no different. One of the biggest technological advances that is trending in the construction industry is virtual design and construction (VDC). This tech trend has been growing in the construction industry for a number of years, and it is forecast to continue to grow. With over a quarter of a century worth of experience in the construction industry, Tucker Paving is no stranger to technological advances and the adoption of new trends turning into standard operating procedures. Explore what virtual design and construction (VDC) is and how it is predicted to continue to be important in the construction industry in the future.
Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) Defined
Virtual design and construction (VDC) is the use of virtual environments to imagine and create the structures, buildings, and design layout of construction projects before they are built in the real world. For instance, VDC may be used to engineer a roadway or bridge, or to create a virtual 3-D rendering of a new hospital to gauge the workability of the building—before either are constructed in the physical world.
VDC includes, Building Information Modeling (BIM), which is creating a virtual model of a structure or building. This virtual model allows a stakeholders—from architects and engineers to builders, clients, and investors—to view and manipulate the structure before ground is even broken. A building can be “walked through” by stakeholders using virtual reality, or you can see how a structure such as bridge will operate when it comes to vehicular, pedestrian, and watercraft traffic.
VDC is also being used hand-in-hand with Construction Management Software (CMS). CMS software is software designed to help those in the construction industry to manage the details of a build, including communications, budget management, decision-making, and scheduling. It allows all stakeholders in a project to be on the same page as data and images are accessible in one place, including blueprints, permits, invoices, and other pertinent documents.
The Continuing Popularity of Virtual Design and Construction (VDC)
VDC has and will continue to grow in popularity in the construction industry because it improves the outcomes and bottom lines of building projects. Stakeholders can communicate and make decisions from anywhere in the world, problems can be identified and corrected before any construction even begins, and all process—like safety, material ordering, payroll, and subcontractor scheduling—are streamlined.
