| A New Perspective in the AEC Industry | | | | conventional scheduling. Some of the significant |
| 1910! A solid 99 years to the present, Henry Laurence | | | | considerations are as follows: |
| Gantt, an American mechanical engineer designed a | | | | Visualization of the Project: 4D model enables the |
| chart popularly called Gantt chart, named after him, to | | | | scheduler to view the entire construction site in a |
| monitor progress of the project against time constraint. | | | | nutshell. The scheduler is able to move around, look |
| It has long been a popular technique for project | | | | outside, inside and under the building and verify the |
| planning. But it lacks something to be desired when it | | | | progress of project. It helps the scheduler to detect |
| comes to visualizing a project timeline. 4D model is the | | | | inconsistency and avoid visual incongruities in the |
| solution to it. 4D model is a 3D CAD model attached to | | | | representation. |
| the fourth dimension of time via a schedule. Though | | | | Better Integration and Cost Estimation: Integrating |
| the concept of 4D scheduling has been around over | | | | human resources, equipment and material resources |
| 20 years, it has not been popular due to some | | | | with the BIM model, 4D scheduling helps to better |
| technical challenges associated with it. The continuous | | | | schedule and cost estimate of the project. 4D BIM also |
| advancement in technology and the emergence of | | | | monitors procurement status of project materials. |
| Building Information Modeling (BIM) have removed all | | | | Conflict Detection and Resolution: During design and |
| challenges associated with 4D scheduling. With the | | | | construction phase, potential spatial conflicts may arise |
| increasing success of BIM in the realm of designs, the | | | | between building components. It is not easy to identify |
| adoption of 4D modeling is becoming the norm today. | | | | or predict these conflicts using 2D or 3D layouts. But, |
| Rich with information, BIM modeling services deliver | | | | 4D model identifies various issues related to space, |
| architects a wealth of design-centric tasks and home | | | | schedule and sequencing, and resolve them ahead of |
| builders a number of significant benefits including | | | | the construction process. |
| increased coordination, constructability analysis, BOQ, | | | | Improved Time Management: Integrated with BIM |
| quantification, and cost estimation and so on. One of | | | | modeling, 4D scheduling helps the owner as well as |
| the most important developments in building | | | | project team to easily visualize time constraints and |
| applications for BIM is the project planning where | | | | opportunities of improvement and investment in the |
| design and construction come together. At the core of | | | | project. |
| a project planning, there lies building design, the | | | | Maximization of Critical Resources: 4D model allows |
| backbone of a project planning. 4D scheduling plays an | | | | the project team to evaluate various alternatives |
| important role in project planning. | | | | resources and scopes of work over a period of time |
| It includes vital data such as start and finish date of | | | | to optimize the resources and labor accordingly. |
| each component and their criticality. 4D model delivers | | | | 4D Project Planning with BIM |
| minute details to the project team. It works as a | | | | By adding the schedule date to the model |
| platform for project team and other non-technical | | | | components, project team improves the plan and |
| stakeholders to visualize the assembling of a building | | | | integrates the communication among various divisions. |
| over time. With 4D construction simulation process, | | | | With the progress of time, project team |
| architects can evaluate various options and choose | | | | programmatically links schedule to BIM model to |
| the best alternative at project design phase. | | | | evaluate various construction options to make the |
| 4D Modeling Offers Significant Benefits over 3D | | | | optimum decision. There are two methods for linking a |
| Modeling | | | | BIM model to a project plan- |
| 4D model is a further development over 3D model. It | | | | 1. Direct link between Revit and MS project, and |
| challenges and changes many of the practices of | | | | 2. |