What Is the Truly Valuable DX for the Construction Site

SHUNSUKE HONAMI: Good afternoon. We are site supervisors working with many workers in construction site. In this session, we want to discuss about what is a truly valuable DX for construction site. We are not very good at English, but hopefully we can provide something helpful to move DX forward on your site.

KAZUMA TERUSAKI: Let us introduce ourselves. My name is Kazuma Terusaki. Have a 13 years of experience as a site supervisor. I have worked on a variety of construction sites in terms of structures, sizes, and uses, such as a 16-story steel frame hotel with 350 rooms, a three-story RC apartment building, to a two-story wooden house. Every day, I am passionate about this study transforming construction sites.

SHUNSUKE HONAMI: My name is Shunsuke Honami. I have a [INAUDIBLE]. My [INAUDIBLE] to our construction site including fitness crops, high schools, and office buildings. Total, 30 buildings in 17 years. I am always thinking about how data technology can change the way we work and will [INAUDIBLE] our impact it will provide to the company.

KAZUMA TERUSAKI: First of all, let us begin with our company introduction, with a short video.

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- We, Daiwa House Group, a business conglomerate that refines the value of living for every person, continues to grow as a leading company in the construction industry, boasting net sales of 4 trillion yen. For over 60 years since our founding, we have continued to commit ourselves to further contribute to the development of Japanese society and the enrichment of people's lives.

Creating safer and secure living with high quality housing, providing a wide range of solutions, from infrastructure development and construction, to operation and management of business facilities to meet various social needs. Helping bring smiles to people through businesses that match diverse lifestyles.

We will continue to create new value for societies through these business fields, and we're expanding to your country next. Our business resources developed in Japan are ready to help create better living for your communities.

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SHUNSUKE HONAMI: Now, let us begin with current challenges and our vision. Challenges for construction site are the same in Japan and around the world. First, the workforce is seriously decreasing. Second, people are dominant in construction site, and design BIM is not utilized.

Third, remote work is expanded in general. Thus, it is not obliged to construction site. [INAUDIBLE] what. It is the current situation. One, resources shortage [? insidious. ?] We need to change the way we transfer technologies and to allocate new resources. Two, work things out and [INAUDIBLE] information on lack of accuracy.

There are tons of paper drawings. BIM data coming from design team doesn't work. Three, COVID-19 accelerated remote work, but it was nothing to do with the construction site. To solve their challenges, we promised to use BIM 360, PlanGrid, and Prospect as a stepping stone for the digitalization of the construction.

By integrating three software packages into our workflow and to link these three element together, we can find a way to solve problems. There's a [INAUDIBLE] on construction site, and much, much bigger usage. On top of the platform, it is a starting point for transformation on the construction site. Now, we would like to play a video we captured in our construction site. It includes some of our activities we are going to explain later.

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KAZUMA TERUSAKI: Let me begin with describing three digitalization challenges we have been working on. We subcontractors, the construction site, and the owner-- there are many people involved, and a lot of information flying around. However, the old culture lags deep, and digitalization is slow.

We took on the challenges of digital innovation to create a new construction site. First, improving information communication methods with BIM 360. Second, promoting digitization of inspections with PlanGrid. Finally, visualization of construction site with Prospect.

I direct to begin with the case using BIM 360 for sharing of construction drawings. Our main challenges were here. Many parties involved in construction projects face challenges to have the latest data, impress all the time. From the next slide, I will share what we did to solve these points.

In the past, [INAUDIBLE] former not necessary drawings are missing all sides. They had to go all the way back to the site office to print them out. So we have tried various cloud services, but they didn't cover entire processing from data creation, sharing, and utilizing.

In addition, PDF data was managed by putting the dates in title. But the date was often entered incorrectly, or the title name was not standardized. Therefore, it was very difficult to know which data was really the latest. Such situations often result in mistakes. It took extra time to make corrections.

These five requirements are necessary for information sharing between the site office and the construction sites since it can cover entire processes from data creation, sharing, and utilizing on Cloud. We selected BIM 360 Docs. By using BIM 360 Docs, we no longer have to go back and forth between the site office and the construction site.

No need for searching or printing drawings and documents on very cheap papers. To check the [? fairness ?] and the consistency of the drawings, we collect the fabrication drawings and the composite with the construction drawings and other fabrication drawings to create a 3D image in our mind. It requires a great deal of experience and knowledge.

In addition, it was difficult to manage a large number of drawings submitted by the manufacturer at various timing, even for members with enough experience and knowledge. Around 40 or 50 [INAUDIBLE] errors could happen in one project. Releasing Revit data from design team for all projects.

However, we have not been able to utilize Revit data at all on the construction site. I also feel there was a huge resistance to use Revit in construction teams. Result, we could lower the hurdle by utilizing BIM 360 Docs. By using BIM 360, the design model can be built in 3D without having to learn Revit, making it easier to grasp the geometry.

Model coordination also allows us to automatically check four clashes in the model. We could eliminate that interference check.

SHUNSUKE HONAMI: Next, we will introduce a case study of digitalization, of inspection, site patrols, and site surveys by utilizing PlanGrid. Site supervisors like us, we expect quality and [INAUDIBLE] the site on a daily basis. We also conduct on-site surveys before construction begins and in post-construction maintenance.

These are the main challenges we had. How we addressed them with PlanGrid. We will explain details in the following slide. The first change was photos and drawings are not in linked in records. Inspection to ensure the work has been performed with the required quality and allow to check for quality and safety errors every day.

Today, to inspect the building for maintenance or to check the property before starting construction. It was difficult to accumulate the records with only a photograph or [? lighting ?] or drawings. In the past, the situation I've described here inspection and surveys were conducted only to keep records. And a tablet were only to solve problems on the spot.

It took a long time to associate photos with light drawings. Also, there was no optimal product to accumulate record. To solve this problem, we looked for the product to unify the linkage between photos and drawings and to manage all data in one place. It was PlanGrid.

Here are five major benefits by using PlanGrid. Creating sheets is easy, and not too much time required. By correlating the data, it enables us to accumulate the data as a company record. The next challenge was, knowledge and experience was not shared and utilized.

Many forms and records are handwritten. Handwritten. The knowledge and experiences contained in the records were not shared and utilized in the company. This comes from a strong [INAUDIBLE] culture. Not only our company, but also industry. I feel it lead to less awareness in utilizing what has been recorded.

There are five main challenges in data management, especially results. While stored for each project, they couldn't accumulate and share what we collected as data by aggregating and analyzing the inspection of multiple projects. To solve challenges, we use PlanGrid. It's easy to link photos and sheets with integration and centralized management from inspection to records.

With PlanGrid, we found four major benefits. All the information for inspection site patrols, side surveys, et cetera is now centrally managed. Knowledge and experience gained from each project are transformed into data, and they can be shared in the company.

Now I'd like to talk about a couple of case studies with Prospect to solve our challenges. For construction site supervisor, reading and accurately understanding design drawings is very important. Detecting errors and predicting issues at an early stage, before they occur, is key to deliver good product to our customers.

However, it requires a high level of skill and a great deal of experience. It also impacts on the quality of our work. To construct a building, it is necessary to read and understand many drawings, and to visualize the completion of the project. Is it very difficult for young people with less construction experience, or for the client, to read the drawings and visualize the building.

This can lead to problems, such as cannot detect building errors in advance, or pointed out the difference from the image after construction. To check, we need to visualize the actual product from the drawings. For the client, you need to explain it in a way easy to understand for them to visualize the real thing.

It's a very difficult task. As a solution, we thought it could be effective to directly build a full-scale building in VR. Among the many VR product, we selected Prospect for it's compatibility with Revit and ability to build an entire building as the most important requirement.

With Prospect, it's possible to understand information correctly in VR. A 3D model is easier to understand than 2D. And bottom view inside a 3D model is much easier than a bird's eye view of the 3D model. We can establish an image with the customer more accurately and quickly.

[INAUDIBLE] learn their job by seeing and experiencing the job site. It is impossible for them to learn only in the classroom without seeing the site. It takes a very long time for a new employee to be able to grasp drawings as accurately as a skilled person. On the other hand, we know we could only learn from the project we had in charge of.

When consulting a new type of building, we have never experienced it. It is difficult to learn the [? drawing ?] accurately. The same is true, even for skilled workers. Field experience requires [INAUDIBLE] about number of projects and years of experience. Experience begins with seeing and understanding the real object in the project.

We thought VR can help us to shorten the time to experience in many cases. VR is also very effective to train young people. When I started my career, it took at least seven or eight years to complete 10 site experiences. But introducing virtual on-site experience with Prospect, utilizing [INAUDIBLE] [? model, ?] we can greatly shorten that time.

By using Prospect, we have seen these effects. We can expect to greatly shorten that training period for new employees by experiencing our virtual side in VR. Even for skilled people, it is helpful to deepen their understanding of various building use projects in advance. [INAUDIBLE] out errors and maintenance information during construction to the BIM model.

We would be able to create even more practical educational content. Well, please watch the video how we are using Prospect. We set up [? phases ?] first. For each type of construction, we can monitor the volume of work. When checking a point of concern, we also can overlay a couple of constructoin tests.

Here, condition concrete, equipment piping, and the sanitary fixtures are overlaid and checked. While checking, we can write a message to others in the VR and measures earlier of concern. After measuring and writing, we take a photo and record the results.

Switching from a type of construction to another, we conduct those site patrols. While moving in the site virtually-- while moving in the site virtually, we take a look and check areas of concern. This is also effective for training new employees. Here, issues have already been registered. I selected one from a list and interacted some critical point in construction for a new employee.

This feature can also be useful when talking to the client about the checkpoint. Here safety temporary sketch for the front is also inspected.

KAZUMA TERUSAKI: Now, let me summarize some of the results from our attempts so far. We [INAUDIBLE] through the three elements we have been working on as a first step in digitization of the construction industry. First of all, by improving information communication methods using BIM 360, time to find drawings and print drawings were eliminated.

It resulted in around 45 minutes savings per day, or 15 hour per month. It is now possible to manage RFI, attached drawings, response due dates, progress status, and activities, et cetera. [INAUDIBLE], greatly reducing the time for RFI, increasing productivity by 35%.

By using motor coordination, we could achieve zero check errors. Next, by digitalizing inspections, using PlanGrid. [INAUDIBLE] to prepare reports has been eliminated saving 40 hour per month. All data from inspections, site patrols, and surveys can now be accumulated. 100% data re-use achieved.

Finally, applying VR to the construction site using Prospect, we could identify possible issue in advance. As a result, issue was reduced by 30%, saving 60 hours for correcting error per month. Customer complaints due to the difference in image upon completion went down to zero. It also would contribute to shorten the train period for young staff by two years.

These are the effects from our three initiatives. As a closing, I will talk about the Daiwa House Construction team vision for the construction site of the future. What kind of the construction site of the future do we want to achieve? What is the real transformation of the construction site?

Digital transformation is inevitable. Our goal is to make it happen in the construction site. However, the construction site of the future cannot be realized in a single step. Embrace digitalization, enable digital processes, and collect digital data.

In this session, we shared some concrete approaches in our three initiatives of our efforts to [INAUDIBLE] digital construction, such as [INAUDIBLE] labor saving and the co-creation with robots. We will go further and lead to the realization of data-driven management.

SHUNSUKE HONAMI: DX at the construction site has changed from nice to achieve to must achieve. Nothing will change if we keep selling at the low demand without taking a concrete steps. With DX, we have taken the first step of digitalization throughout the construction site of the future.

KAZUMA TERUSAKI: Also, this session focused on PlanGrid, Prospect, and BIM 360 Docs. We are currently in the process of migrating to ACC Autodesk construction ground. Next time, we want to share our chapter two toward bringing the construction site of the future to life.

SHUNSUKE HONAMI: We'll do our best.

KAZUMA TERUSAKI: Thank you so much for you all listening.