The Future of VDC Lies in Advanced Technology... And the Processes That Support It

As more contractors began to see the value of VDC, the technology continued to advance rapidly. Today, modeling technology can practically do anything contractors want it to do—while VDC continues to help contractors avoid more complicated design issues earlier in the planning stages, currently VDC also helps clients visualize their projects virtually long before construction begins; solves significant structural and engineering challenges before they can become major issues on the job; and builds virtual schedules, virtual facility management plans and virtual cost estimates that are more accurate and predictable than ever before. New technological advancements in VDC continue to captivate our industry and add increasing value for clients.

Despite the game-changing advances in VDC technology over the past 20 years, nagging questions about the true potential of VDC continue to challenge industry influencers. Today, the construction industry finds itself at a defining moment for VDC. For us to truly maximize the value of VDC now and in the future, we must continue to leverage exciting new advancements in VDC technology but we must also concentrate our efforts on improving the processes and thinking that supports that VDC technology.

The most common process challenges associated with VDC are the often-blurry line between the “design” and “coordination” processes, the roles architects and contractors play in providing design details necessary to begin construction successfully, and the traditional contractual language that stipulates contractors must build from 2D drawings rather than 3D models. As an industry, we can find ways to address these gaps so that both architects and contractors can collaborate more effectively and leverage the power of modeling to its full potential. We can work together and use VDC as a bridge that brings together architects and contractors, supports the exchange of value design data, and enhances collaboration across the entire team.

We can also leverage VDC as a tool to streamline the decision-making process and manage the design and construction of buildings throughout their entire lifecycles, which can include more seamless integration of VDC with design, schedule and cost to effectively measure project “vitals” — because after all, you can’t manage what you can’t measure.

As building construction projects become more complex and sophisticated, there is little doubt VDC technology will continue to evolve and add increasing value. As an industry, we must continue advancing VDC technology forward, but the key will be to focus on improving the processes that support that technology. Only then will we experience the true potential of this game-changing technology and maximize its value.