Ontario Construction News staff writer
Construction management software provider Procore Technologies, Inc. says it has introduced two new product features in Procore BIM – Dynamic Wall Elevations and Follow Me, a location-based user collaboration feature. The two features transform the user experience in the field, making it easier to leverage 3D models during the construction phase of a project, the company says in a statement.
“Before Procore, we were using 2D drawings that didn’t reveal problems until equipment was being installed,” said Howard Simble, senior MEP superintendent at Robins & Morton. “Now, we have an effective way to deliver models to the field and resolve issues before work is put in place.”
Procore says its software unlocks the potential of Building Information Modelling (BIM) by providing field teams with performant access to 3D models on their iOS devices. The launch of Dynamic Wall Elevations and Follow Me were designed to meet the needs of field teams, bridging the gap between virtual design and construction (VDC) teams and the field.
“We invested in BIM to protect our customers’ investment in BIM,” Procore senior product manager Dave McCool said in the news release. “Procore users spend so much time coordinating models that we want to make sure those models reach the field teams who are installing the work. The new features in Procore BIM give field teams better access to models and greater visibility to see exactly where each user is within the model. Procore users can leverage BIM in a new way, simplifying communication and collaboration from the field to the office.”
Every wall within a building – concrete, masonry, framed, etc. – requires builders to understand the location of blockouts, backing, embeds, penetrations, and surface mounted objects prior to its construction. The specific dimensions of these objects exist within the model, but project teams were previously forced to spend hours recreating lift drawings in separate authoring solutions to convey those dimensions to the field. Dynamic Wall Elevations can change the way construction professionals build.
With Procore BIM, the most performant mobile model viewer in the industry, and its new Dynamic Wall Elevations feature, users can quickly generate elevations, or lift drawings, instantly in the field. The feature lets users zoom in and out, and analyze dimensional relationships down to one-eighth of an inch. Users can select any object to get the centreline or outside dimensions to grids and levels, allowing teams to validate that everything is installed exactly per the co-ordinated model.
“A lot of people talk about the model being the centre of everything, and Procore’s Dynamic Wall Elevations feature actually makes that the case,” said Scott Anderson, integrated construction manager, Okland Construction. “Our communication with the people in the field who are actually constructing our projects has transformed. No question is left unanswered using Procore BIM.”
Allowing field teams to produce consolidated drawings on the fly can reduce the chance for error in missing sleeves, blockouts, embeds, penetrations, and backing. This reduction in rework can lead to safer projects, because teams aren’t rushing through the rework, possibly taking shortcuts to get back on schedule. Reducing rework also leads to cost savings. Additionally, the Dynamic Wall Elevations feature may alleviate the need for BIM engineers to produce lift drawings altogether, freeing them up for other critical project tasks.
Follow Me – Location-based user collaboration
Procore says Follow Me allows users the ability to see all other users within a BIM model in real-time, making meetings more efficient and allowing clearer communication. A user can select any other user who is simultaneously viewing the model and navigate directly to that other user’s location— seeing exactly what the user is seeing in real time 3D. This feature is available on both the iOS and Web model viewers.