As the popular voting nears conclusion on March 31 for the 2019 Best Construction Blog competition, it is appropriate that the final blog to be reviewed — the XS CAD Blog — is enjoying last-minute surge. At the moment, it is third in the rankings, but this could change quickly as more votes arrive each minute.
The intense voting probably relates to an internal campaign within XS CAD. This is okay and within the competition’s rules — and the organization probably has many potential votes, with offices in India, the UK, Australia, the US and Canada. (While the popular vote is important, a panel of independent judges makes the final decision — recognizing the value of “get out the vote” campaigns, but preventing artificial vote ‘stuffing’ from skewing the results.)
XS CAD reflects the successful internationalization/offshoring within the IT industry.
A recent posting explains the Benefits of VDC (Virtual Design and Construction) from India. I’ll repost this somewhat lengthy note, because I think it best explains the “why” behind XS CAD..
Indian firms offer VDC services that include seamless multidisciplinary coordination between MEP, architectural and structural designs. This is delivered through sound expertise on creating clash-free 3D models, which are developed quickly and efficiently. The models typically contain time schedules, materials quantities, pricing and maintenance details. With the help of such models, goals can be defined early in the design stage and large amounts of information can be exchanged quickly. Indian firms are known to offer BIM services from LOD 200 to LOD 500 for design development, construction documentation, clash detection, fabrication models and as-built models.
Walk-throughs, virtual mock-ups and seamless multidisciplinary coordination fall within the gamut of VDC services offered by design firms in India. Many also provide the following information for architectural, structural and MEP performances:
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- Time for site installation of systems
- Time for rework on site
- Conflicts between systems
- Prefabrication enabled by process
- Actual prefabrication percentage used by trade contractors
- Change order numbers
So, in the field of BIM virtual construction, the VDC processes offered by experienced Indian firms can be summed up as:
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- Visualisation ? developing 3D models for stakeholders using AutoCAD/Revit
Modelling & analyzing ? analysing 3D models using Navisworks\ - Process modelling ? simulating and analysing the project for potential threats using Navisworks
- Online collaboration ? project teams in different locations collaborating on the same model
- Using BIM technology in the VDC process, or BIM virtual construction, improves virtual building design with: Quality assurance, cost reduction, improved communication, collaboration and visualisation (and) detailed data,
- Visualisation ? developing 3D models for stakeholders using AutoCAD/Revit
With the diverse advantages that Indian firms have to deliver BIM technology, and by extension VDC services, they have become a wise choice for Western firms.
Although my business is publishing, not architectural and engineering design, I — like many other Western business owners — have adapted and implemented offshore developers into the business model. (We currently work with consultants based in Nigeria, India and Pakistan). These resources allow the business to remain viable and competitive and to innovate new products and services.
The XS CAD blog provides a useful and effective introduction to offshore sourcing — and is certainly a worthy entry in the 2019 Best Construction Blog competition.
Voting closes at 11:55 p.m. on March 31. You can vote only once per email address, but you can select as many blogs as you like in your ballot.
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