Implementation of Common Data Environment in BIM

Perunding Irzi provides engineering consultancy services for large civil and structural infrastructural projects such as highway, road and bridges design. Some of their projects are Post Tension Bridge at Kuala Kejir Terengganu, SJK(C) Chung Hua Kuala Pilah, Govermental Complex at Kuala Nerus Terengganu and Bridge at Kg Rantau Panjang Selangor. For most of the projects, Perunding Irzi is implementing Building Information Modelling (BIM) tools such as Autodesk’s Revit, Autodesk’s Navisworks and Autodesk’s Civil 3D in their projects.

Perunding Irzi wanted to implement Common Data Environment (CDE) in their projects as they are still using traditional information sharing to store and share all project information and data. Common Data Environment platform which is Autodesk’s BIM Collaborate Pro, a platform that integrates well with BIM authoring tools and offers large data management capabilities will facilitate each project to provides a centralized system to store all project data and documents that are accessible between all stakeholders from different disciplines such as engineers, architects and contractors to collaborate more effectively.

However, there are some challenges faced by Perunding Irzi in adopting Common Data Environment. Main challenge is to provide comprehensive training program for all stakeholders. It is important for all stakeholders to understand Autodesk’s BIM Collaborate Pro to ensures widespread adoption in their project, minimizes resistance to change, and maximizes the benefits of the Common Data Environment.

Implementation of Autodesk’s BIM Collaborate Pro as a CDE Platform in their projects will assist Perunding Irzi to achieve one of their project goals, which is improving collaboration between stakeholders. CDE platform will serves as a host cloud-based platform for all stakeholders that is accessible from variety of devices including computers, mobile phones, tablets and machines. It provides a common platform where teams can work together on design, planning, scheduling, and other project activities. All information or forms needed can be retrieved from anywhere by stakeholders. CDE will also facilitate coordination and clash detection that results to reduction of waste and rework in the project lifecycle since teams are provided with accurate data regarding progress made by other disciplines allowing them to update accordingly.

Next, by adopting Autodesk’s BIM Collaborate Pro in their project lifecycle, one of their project goals to ensure data integrity and consistency can be achieved. All project data are centrally stored in the CDE, ensuring that all stakeholders have access to the same information. By doing this, the potential for data discrepancies, consistency problems, and versioning problems that can arise when employing several software applications is reduced. Only authorized stakeholders are able to view and edit project data following CDE's controlled access policy. This aids in preserving the security, privacy, and integrity of project data. Contractors can manage team members, subcontractors, and other stakeholders access rights, preventing the possibility of unauthorized access or data breaches.

Lastly, one of Perunding Irzi’s project goals are to improve project analytics and reporting. Autodesk’s BIM Collaborate Pro allows all stakeholders and contractors access to sophisticated analytics and reporting options that let them analyze project data, create custom reports, and monitor project performance.

To achieve all the project goals, Perunding Irzi Sdn Bhd have decided to send their stakeholders to receive Autodesk’s BIM Collaborate Pro training from Bimage Consulting Malaysia. In this training, all participants were introduced the importance of Common Data Environment and how it can make your projects more efficient. Participants was also showed how to communicate with remote teams through a work-shared Autodesk Revit model and how Autodesk Connector plays a bog role in managing remote collaboration through Autodesk Revit. For non- technical stakeholders, the training was also given on how they can make their inputs in the cloud-based platform.

The training covered account registration, user interface and setting up project followed by managing team space. In managing team space session, stakeholders were trained how to manage team folders, team member access, coordination spaces and creating template for design collaboration. By end of the session, participants were able to use the features of Autodesk BIM Collaborate Pro and also demonstrate the workflow of Autodesk BIM Collaborate Pro.

Adopting Autodesk’s BIM Collaborate Pro as their Common Data Environment platform will help Perunding Irzi to gained some business outcomes. With Common Data Environment, all project process will become faster that will lead to produce efficient project workflow. CDE’s transparency features will make their business more appealing to their prospective client and helps them to secure more project in the future.

Implementing Common Data Environment will also be economically beneficial to Perunding Irzi as CDE can help to reduce both initial expenditure and ongoing operational and project costs by adopting a centralized process. All project expenses can be easily managed under one umbrella. A CDE also allows for faster, easier and more accurate tracking of building costs, timings, and requirements as all the data is easily accessible and therefore easier to digest.

In conclusion, implementation of Common Data Environment which is Autodesk’s BIM Collaborate Pro managed to aid Perunding Irzi to achieve all their project goals which are improving collaboration between stakeholders, to ensure data integrity and consistency can be achieved and to improve their project analytics and reporting.