Automated Design Workflow Mapping and Checklists

Project Managers:
Rob Brawn, (541) 768-3391 or RBrawn@CH2M.com and Darya Nabavian, (301) 228-7404 or Darya Nabavian

If you are a FIATECH member and would like to participate in this project, email us!

Project Participants | Overview | Project Status | Approach | Project Deliverables | Resources

Project Participants

Overview

FIATECH's Capital Projects Technology Roadmap Element 2 team has completed several activities, including the interoperability requirements definition conducted in coordination with Element 9: Lifecycle Data Management and Information Integration as well as hosting an automated design workshop with the EPCs, owners and software vendors. During the automated design workshop, software vendors stated that the general requirements and priorities that were discussed represented a good start towards improving interoperability, but added that additional details would be useful to help them meet the needs of the industry. Rather than focusing on a specific design solution, the team has decided to focus on the work exchanges and workflows that occur between Element 2 and the other connecting roadmap elements and the exchanges that exist between the engineering disciplines within Element 2. Capital projects are often delivered from various locations with multiple partners and many subcontractors. This project will define common workflows and checklists to support this environment. The result will be more efficient project startup and easier exchange of work. In addition, software vendors will be able to create tools aligned with these workflows.

Project Status

Multiple project concepts were outlined, discussed and ranked during the Element 2 Roadmap session at the previous FIATECH Members Meeting. After that working session, construction personnel indicated that the quality of information provided from design systems and tools was inconsistent between projects, the level of detail was often inappropriate compared with the need and changes to information were not well managed.  It was suggested that Element 2 could help improve the exchange of information between design and construction by defining and mapping the minimum information requirements.  Furthermore, projects are often structured as joint ventures or delivered using subcontractors so the exchange of information needs to occur not only within the same organization but should be seamless with external organizations. It was suggested that development of checklists that define implementation processes could be useful to improve communication and understanding of the processes and to facilitate project setup and operation. Element 2 accepted this challenge and has been working on solving this problem during the last 7 months.

Approach

The project team divided into three working groups to accelerate implementation. Team 1 focused on workflows for design to construction.  Four topics were identified.

  1. Developing workflows and  timeline and aligning them with standard project phases
  2. Defining a typical set of engineering deliverables
  3. Categorizing levels of work package development
  4. Indentifying contractual terms for the project

 Team 2 concentrated on the 3D model and associated data deliverables and defined the minimum data deliverables for construction by commodity type. A list of attributes was collected, assessed and ranked. Attributes were aligned to a document type where that information is created and maintained and assigned to a timeline by project phase. To narrow the scope for initial implementation, the team focused on process and piping but also addressed overlaps with other disciplines.

Team 3 focused on elements related to application of processes defined by team 1 and 2 such as scalability, concurrent engineering and delivery using CM or direct hire.

Once each team completed their definitions, the entire group met to assimilate the results. Attribute information that was related to documents was then related to the workflows and work packages. The deliverable is a flow chart (See Figure 1) and supporting documentation describing the minimum attribute requirements linked to the owning discipline, document type, project phase and work package.

Project Activities

The team plans on including other disciplines such as civil, structures, instrumentation and electrical in the near future.  Once this information is completed checklists to facilitate implementation will be completed.

Project Deliverable

Engineering Data Deliverable to Construction , 2008

Common Design Workflow Checklist , 2008

Resources

Presentations

Element 2 Project, FIATECH Members Meeting 2007

Successful Use of BIM for Design Build Projects, DBIA, 2007 Design Build Conference and Expo

FIATECH Automated Design Workgroup

Interoperability Requirements for Automated Design

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