Virtual Design and Construction for Safer Construction Projects

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1 Session No. 762 Virtual Design and Construction for Safer Construction Projects Introduction David B. Korman, CSP Skanska USA Building Inc. New York, NY Albert Zulps, AIA, LEED AP Skanska USA Building Inc. Boston, MA Virtual Design and Construction (VDC/BIM) may be used to plan and communicate project safety measures and to improve project safety during construction and in facility operations. Creating a virtual building in 3D allows for a clear understanding of the proposed building by all stakeholders, regardless of their ability to read drawings. The building is spatially correct and can therefore be used for to identify and mitigate safety hazards in the planning stage that would affect construction and operations of the building. This paper will review how VDC/BIM may be used throughout all phases of the project lifecycle to enhance safety. VDC for Safety Design Phase Safety should be considered from the beginning of design safety as it relates to occupants of the building and for those who operate and maintain the building as well as safety for those who construct the building. Safety by design is a term used to describe how buildings may be designed to allow safer construction and safer operation post construction. For example, a valve may be located so that a ladder is not required for installation or a chain wheel may be designed to couple with the valve to avoid using a ladder during operations. Below is an example of an access ladder designed adjacent to the edge of the building, creating an unsafe fall condition. Moving this ladder away from the building extremity would have made for a safer condition, both for those on the ladder and anyone below from the hazards of something falling.

2 Unsafe ladder location Identifying trip hazard during virtual walkthrough Safety by design may include: The use of VDC/BIM to enable enhanced collaboration between designers, contractors and maintenance staff. Models may be used for discussions and to propose and capture resolutions. Testing and analysis of VDC models for potential safety violations before work has started to avoid safety issues. This may be in the form of automated rule checking software and by sharing the models with safety experts and local authorities such as the fire marshal and building department as well as with Facility Management staff, who will ultimately operate the building. Test the safety of planned maintenance routines with the VDC model for post occupancy prior to construction. For example, the safe egress route and clearances for equipment which may require long term replacement and maintenance.

3 VDC for Safety Construction Phase VDC/BIM is well suited for planning the safe construction of our buildings. VDC/BIM is now commonly used for the 3D coordination process, so obtaining accurate models during construction that can be used to help with safety is becoming more common. These existing models can be used to better plan construction sequencing. For example, the models can be repurposed by adding construction equipment and means and methods. So, for example, using a 3D animation of construction sequencing (4D sequence) the location of cranes can be optimized to minimize overhead risk and conflict with hazards such as overhead high tension wires. VDC/BIM may be used during the construction phase to enhance safety in many ways including: Creation of Virtual Safety Tours The use of interactive and saved animations provides an overall visual 3D model with many valuable uses to enhance worker safety through the entire lifecycle of the project. An animation model can be used to enhance the overall orientation or induction process for new employees working on the project. We know from historical incident data that craft workers new to a project are more at risk to suffering an injury. Part of that is stemmed from the overall unfamiliarity with the site and site working environment. VDC can be used to help them understand the site layout the logistics of the project. This is particularly beneficial when dealing with large, very complex projects. The orientation model can be used to show everything that is shown on a traditional 2D drawing but it will enable the worker to go on an actual virtual tour of the project. This provides the workers with an enhanced knowledge of the current phase of the project, the anticipated challenges and what to expect when they arrive on the project site. An added benefit to this virtual model is that it allows the employee to participate in a virtual emergency evacuation scenario. As part of orientation for new employees, the model can also provide them with both knowledge and familiarization with the project s Emergency Action Plan (EAP).. You can walk them through the project, showing means of access and egress, pointing out the locations of fire extinguishers, alarms, and any other emergency equipment locations. Then you can actually walk them through an emergency scenario and evacuate to either the designated muster areas or to designated locations to shelter in place. This will provide the new worker with the necessary tools and knowledge to enhance their experience on the project. Safety Planning Pre task planning, job safety analysis and site specific safety planning all offer the most opportunities to utilize VDC for enhanced project safety. The VDC model will allow all work crews to see the elements currently in the space, allowing employees to better identify the specific risks associated with the task and to select proper control measures to reduce that risk so that the task can be executed more safely. The VDC model was used for fall arrest plans and pre-task planning. The VDC model is also extremely beneficial when it comes time to developing rigging plans for large mechanical equipment that need to be accurately planned early and coordinated with the closing of the building envelope. The advantage that this provides is extremely important and provides all of the parties the opportunity to visualize the process of the plan and make necessary adjustments prior to executing it. This can be an added value not only for the large rigging but also for the ordinary material handling tasks which we routinely have seen serious incidents from.

4 Incident Investigations VDC can be used during an incident investigation to recreate the event sequences and the incident scene. Even if the project did not have a VDC model available, a laser scan of the existing site conditions could be performed. The scan could then be used to create an actual VDC model of the incident scene the way it looked at the exact time of the incident. The newly constructed model could then be used for identifying root causes and to focus on preventing reoccurrence by identifying specific corrective and preventative actions. The VDC model could be used during legal proceedings thus eliminating the need for hundreds of still images. Additionally, we have been able to instill very important lessons learned from incidents by creating a virtual reenactment of the actual incidents based on an in depth investigation. The video can then be played over and over to a variety of audiences so that they can visualize the actual incident that occurred. This provides clarity around the actual root causes that led to the incident, thus preventing similar occurrences in the future. Safety Planning for Prefabrication VDC enables the intense coordination required to prefabricate building elements such as overhead mechanical racks and vertical risers with certainty, so installation is sequenced without surprises. Planning with 3D models ensures the safest installation sequence, and prefabrication means that work that would normally take place on a dangerous jobsite exposed to weather is executed in a controlled indoor environment. Installing the prefabricated elements, such as a riser, requires less manpower on site and avoids dangerous conditions such as over openings. Other uses of VDC for safety in the construction phase include: General site planning including egress and emergency routing, muster points, first aid stations, fire safety, location of flagmen and signage, crane swings, and material storage. Test safety of planned maintenance routines with VDC model for post occupancy prior to building. VDC models to support communication with staff on site, subcontractors, local authorities, and the community. Accident recreation. Using 3D models and animations to recreate accidents for the purpose of education and to avoid making the same mistake in the future VDC for Safety Operations Phase Using VDC/BIM creates a virtual as-built model that mimics the built structure. This model may have planned maintenance data including safety procedures linked to model elements. In this manner the model may enhance the safety of planned maintenance routines through clear communication. In the image below, models and associated information from a virtual building are easily brought into the real building and accessed in real time. Layers may be turned off to reveal the location of systems behind and accurately locate them, which takes the guess work out of the process and allows a user to zero in on equipment more quickly.

5 Model with associated data and safety information VDC/BIM for safety during the building operations phase may include: VDC models to support communication with staff on site. The model may be used for work planning prior to staff deployment and on mobile devices such as ipads. Execution of planned maintenance routines using the virtual building, identifying risks and best practices. VDC for Safety Future Going forward safety on job sites may be enhanced using augmented reality technology. For example, safety information and hazard notification may be overlaid on safety goggles in real time, along with 3D model information and analytics. Wearable technologies will become more prevalent. GPS location devices may link to 3D building information models of the virtual building site and alert both the individual and safety professional of potential dangers and track activity for continual optimization of construction site safety.