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As an increasing number of its projects were being designed using a Building Information Modeling (BIM) process, Van Wijnen saw the potential for BIM in construction. BIM is a process that involves creating and using intelligent 3D models to inform and communicate project decisions.

The company decided to adopt a BIM process that relied on Autodesk Navisworks Manage software for model-based scheduling and coordination. The successful results of BIM in the office inspired the company to expand BIM usage into the field with support from Autodesk BIM 360 Field software.

According to Peter Hutten, a general manager at Van Wijnen, BIM has helped the company increase the pace of construction while improving quality-and more. "If you build something as a model, you can see and fix many issues before the first day of construction. Fewer problems have meant lower costs and faster construction," says Hutten. "Taking BIM to the job site made perfect sense, especially given that our goal is to keep getting better and faster."

THE CHALLENGE
Cost is an important consideration when it comes to choosing a contractor to build a project. That's true whether the project is a residential development or a new medical center. Van Wijnen perceived that cost considerations would only increase in importance in the future, and it wanted to gain a competitive edge. With a specific goal of completing projects in half the time and for 15% lower costs, the company decided to commit to boosting its speed and cost-effectiveness over the long term by using BIM and lean construction practices, such as prefabrication.

"Working more effectively makes us more competitive," says Hutten. "We chose an ambitious target, and when we get there, we'll try for 50 percent of 50 percent. BIM is a significant part of our program. We use models to understand what we and our subcontractors are going to do as early in the process as possible. The idea is to reduce errors, find ways to do things better, and plan precisely."

THE SOLUTION
Van Wijnen began using BIM with Autodesk Navisworks Manage software. The firm's current process begins when project architects and engineers provide their design models to Van Wijnen and the company's subcontractors. Van Wijnen aggregates the models in Navisworks, and uses the software to help identify clashes for the design team to address. A large hospital project might involve dozens of models, and a small residential project may require just a few. No matter the project size, Van Wijnen follows a similar BIM coordination process.

As the project moves forward, Van Wijnen's subcontractors develop detailed models of their portions of the building. The team again uses Navisworks to help spot and resolve clashes. Beyond assisting with coordination, the models let the entire construction team visualise the elements of the building in 3D - even the portions of the building assigned to another subcontractor. By linking scheduling to the model, Van Wijnen helps provide a way for subcontractors to see what they need to build and when they need do it.

According to Harmen Bijlstra, BIM manager for Van Wijnen, "We are understanding, preparing and improving projects. BIM lets us rely more on faster and lower-cost lean construction techniques, like prefabrication and just-in-time delivery of material. It's like we've built the whole project several times with Navisworks in advance. We're able to fit the pieces together at the right time in the field."

GOING PAPERLESS IN THE FIELD
Inspired by the time and cost savings, which Navisworks helps enable, Van Wijnen wanted to take BIM to job sites. The company began by piloting Autodesk BIM 360 Field construction field management solution on a 13-home residential development. Combining mobile technology and cloud-based collaboration and reporting, BIM 360 Field provided a way for the construction management team to create checklists and more at the point of construction on Apple iPad mobile devices. The goal of the pilot: a paperless field office.

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