Mid Group first approached 3D Repo in July 2021, amidst the global Covid pandemic while working on a new residential scheme called Carnival Place, seeking a solution for efficient data & model validation
Mid Group was founded in 2014 and has since established itself as one of the UK’s leading offsite construction, consultancy and development businesses.
A creative partnership with 3D Repo
Due to the magnitude of the Carnival Place residential project, part of Wokingham Borough Council’s multimillion pound town centre regeneration scheme, and the ongoing challenges posed by the pandemic, Mid Group decided to look for a solution that would enable efficient data sharing, reliable workflows and model validation.
“Mid Group opted for a multi-project plan with us,” explained Jack Williams, senior account manager at 3D Repo.
“This allows unlimited users across multiple projects to access project data in 3D Repo. As with all our other plans, it also allows you to connect 3D Repo to various common data environments and file store solutions, and in this instance Mid Group is using Asite. This enabled everyone involved in the project to access the model and work as cohesively as possible.”
Mid Group undertakes BIM data validation for all its projects through its in-house BIM team, Sterling BIM, checking models in two-week cycles. They check that all objects are named correctly, they have the right parameters attached (eg fire ratings, acoustic ratings, U values), are modelled correctly and meet the requirements of the BIM Execution Plan. Checking is a manual process and can be challenging to meet time frames allowed.
Saving more than 1,500 man-hours per year
“We identified a use case where 3D Repo ‘smart groups’ would automatically validate our model data via different rules in order to check the models,” explains Stephen Chudley, BIM, design and technology director at Mid Group.
“Last year across all our projects, we processed more than 400 models and checked every model for information accuracy. This process typically took a minimum of three to four hours per model, which translated into thousands of hours.”
For the use case to be viable, the checking procedure needed to be automated, scalable and transferable across all projects and file types, and provide easy access to the data for all. Mid Group and Sterling BIM worked collaboratively with 3D Repo to create a custom set of data validation rules to add to 3D Repo’s smart groups, which Mid Group now uses to validate model data.
The Sterling BIM team then developed and enhanced the 3D Repo Power BI templates to produce an automatically generated dashboard report which summarises model quality and highlights any non-conformities.
“This has cut the time spent on each model to approximately 30 minutes. The results of the model validation are automatically shared in the 3D Repo platform, as well as via the automatically generated report using the 3D Repo open API and Power BI. We have not just achieved a reduction in time but also a process improvement that allows us to achieve greater efficiency and accuracy while driving up quality. The improvement has also been delivered at speed – from use case definition, through product implementation, data validation testing, to rollout took less than six months,” continues Stephen.
“In addition to an estimated time saving of over 1,500 hours per year, we found that we collaborate much better with our partners thanks to 3D Repo’s solution. Our end users are construction and commercial teams who really value the fact that the data is always correct. And, thanks to the dashboards, we can quickly identify where the issues are, saving time across our entire project team including consultants and contractors.”
Streamlined processes and improved documentation deliver accurate projects on time
The tailored data validation solution 3D Repo, Mid Group and Sterling BIM have developed vastly improves documentation. This enhances the quality of the models before they have even gone into manufacturing, which means better outcomes overall. As an example, the first time Stephen’s team ran the validation of the object data, 350 errors were spotted, but after implementing 3D Repo’s process, the number of errors was down to zero in just three weeks.
Through the automated data validation pipeline, users can import various standard elements, which gives offsite workers a greater level of assurance. The benefit of the validation is right first time, which reduces procurement lead times.
“3D Repo’s solution has overhauled our procedures,” says Stephen.
“The benefits are easy to see – instead of working with spreadsheets and manual calculations, everything is automatic. This passive validation is essential in improving our efficiency and streamlining operations. In addition, it validates deliverables and makes everyone more accountable, which leads to a better working environment. Better quality data is the backbone to delivering projects on time, on budget, and to the highest standards possible and this solution is a fantastic development substantially enhancing our capabilities.”
People are being encouraged to join the free webinar by 3D Repo and Mid Group to learn more about this use case. Click here to register for the webinar.
*Please note: This is a commercial profile
