Wills Bros BIM Adoption Case Study
published by Digital Construction Skills Scotland
Background
BIM 360 is an Autodesk cloud-based solution that allows project teams to effectively work in a collaborative environment. In the AEC industry, it connects all project stakeholders to execute projects from conceptual design through construction and ultimately project turnover.
Main benefits of Wills Bros adoption of digital tools
- Common Data Environment – single platform for sharing of design, construction, handover and maintenance information used by everyone working on the project, from client to designer to contractor.
- Digital Field Inspections – paperless method to carry out quality inspections for site works. This eliminated the previous requirement of paper use, individual signatures, scanning, sorting, and storing completed checklists.
- One of the best unexpected benefits was when we were hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time, we realised how useful was it to have the process as digital and contactless. This eliminated the risk of disease spread through paper versions as well as time savings when people could work remotely.
Challenges
We have recognised six main challenges in using BIM 360:
- Implementation of the new platform at the start of the project.
- Ensuring all project users understood how the system would work and were ready to use it.
- Adopting the new digital solution took some time, including the need for group and individual trainings.
- Investment in purchase of hardware required such as iPads for use across site.
- Developing a whole new intellectual property (IP) for BIM in the company’s Integrated Management System (IMS).
- Coordination with Autodesk developers for feedback on the system’s shortcomings and further features required.
Recommendations
A dedicated implementation team headed by an experienced manager is an absolute necessity. Also, testing before formal launch of the digital tool is essential when working with high profile clients and projects of national importance.
Support
Primarily, we were supported by Autodesk’s Customer Success Team and a dedicated manager.
We were also supported through:
- Online support from CITB funded programmes such as the Gloucestershire Training Group
- The Construction Scotland Innovation Centre (now Built Environment – Smarter Transformation (BE-ST))
- Collaboration with Autodesk to present at Digital Construction Week 2021 and the opportunity to engage with technology experts and like-minded industry professionals
- Collaboration with Digital Construction Skills (DCS) in Glasgow and ‘ICE BIM for Infrastructure’ training certification.
This case study was first presented in CITB’s ‘Digital Construction Case Studies’.
Read more interesting digi-transformation stories at Digital Construction Skills website.
