transparent

research projects major projects in 5d iTWO in SMEs integrated solut ions

Feature

Researching the virtual construction site

ISSN

143

7-35

3X

RIB Group magazine for the construction and process industry and infrastructure management

transparent issue 37

2 transparent 37/2012

editorial3 5D-Initiative

Realisation of innovative technology

research4 Mefisto project

New potential for the combined use of

planning and controlling information

10 Mefisto project

Magic of a vision

5d major project14 Max Bögl:

company-wide switch to iTWO

Multifunction hall ratiopharm arena Ulm

innovative 5d features18 Fully up-to-date on economic

conditions

ATP: largest project developer and

integral planner in Europe decides

in favour of RIB Page 16When building the ratiopharm arena in Ulm Max Bögl used a 5D-ERP solution based on three-dimensional construction models (BIM). Photo: Duckek, company group Max Bögl

6With the help of the 5D constrcution

model b.i.m.m. GmbH can precisely forecast how the process on the

construction site will work. Here a visualisation for a hospital project.

Animation: Martin Taurer

iTWO in medium-sized companies

20 Model for the entire construction

process

5D as new standard at

WOLFF & MÜLLER

industry promotes 5d24 Quality, cost certainty and

adherence to schedule

Engineering firm Pinkert:

”There’s no avoiding 5D”

integrated solutions26 b.i.m.m. GmbH is the construction

manager of the virtual model

Total construction process simulated

on PC

single user plans digital30 Why 2D planning is a waste of time

With iTWO Detlev Kraneis saves 50%

in time

transparent I contents

3transparent 37/2012

transparent I editorial

Editorial

Dear Reader,

The process-oriented 5D simulation technology creates new and innovative basic conditions

and opportunities for the construction industry. In

the 5D work method common building information

modeling (BIM) procedures are supplemented with

central information on the construction process and

information from all life phases of a construction project.

The technology, which has already been successfully

introduced into other industrial sectors, is now being

used increasingly in the construction industry. The goal

is to create a continuous digital chain from planning and

construction to the operation of construction works.

In this way different action alternatives can already be

quickly evaluated in the early project phases with regard

to their effects on costs, dates and quality.

The 5D initiative is a consortium of five leading European and Arabian construction

companies that work to a great extent with digital 5D construction models. The 5D initiative

was established by the construction companies MAX BÖGL, ZÜBLIN / STRABAG, CCC, BAM

and BALLAST NEDAM. Our goal is to create general construction industry requirements for

the realisation of innovative technology by hardware and software companies.

The potential of 5D technology will be brought to the attention of practitioners in the

construction industry at the first international 5D conference in Constance on 21 and 22

May. This event of the Constance University of Applied Sciences will assemble renowned

construction industry representatives from around the world, who will demonstrate their

practical experience in this context. We will support this event together with the sponsors

PERI GmbH, RIB Software AG and Trimble Ltd.

We hope you enjoy your reading

Konstantinos Kessoudis

Chair of the 5D Initiative

Published by

RIB Software AGVaihinger Straße 15170567 StuttgartGermany

RIB LimitedSuite 1207, 12/F, ICBC Tower3 Garden RoadHong KongChina

[email protected]

Managing EditorVerena MikeleitManager Corporate Communications

RealisationVERDUREwww.verdure.de Photos:Title: WED Wiener Entwicklungsgesellschaft

für den Donauraum AG

Circulation: 2.500

Online:www.rib-software.com/en/transparent

transparent is the magazine of RIB SoftwareAG and its subsidiaries. Its aim is to showcasesoftware solutions for remarkable design, engineering and construction projects around the world as well as providing practical ideas for software users.

Information:If you would like to feature your project intransparent, or require further informationon any of our featured projects or articles,contact Verena Mikeleit on +49 711 7873-369or via mail: [email protected] part of this magazine may be reproducedin whole or part without permission from thepublishers.


Mefisto: Combining design, engineering and management models across boundaries of corporations, AEC/FM disciplines and organisational hierarchies.

M.Sc. Sven-Eric Schapke, Institut für Bauinformatik, Technische Universität DresdenDr.-Ing. Christoph Pflug, Max Bögl

Multi-models: New potentials for the combined use of planning and controlling information

Mefisto is a lead project in the research program ”IKT 2020 – software systems and knowledge technologies” of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). The goal of the project is the development of a Management Information System for partnering-based, process-driven and risk-controlled construction planning and management. The project presents software solutions to combine current planning and controlling information in so-called multi-models. These multi-models allow for the transparent representation of the necessary construction tasks, for more holistic analyses of the project performance and risks as well as for a better management of the collaboration processes on a construction project.

n Starting point for the developments in Mefisto are

the design, engineering and management models

used in construction planning and management today.

Combining these models across the boundaries of

corporations, AEC/FM disciplines and organisational

hierarchies allows for the flexible integration of project

information to better evaluate the current project plans

as well as to simulate and analyse the consequences of

design and management decisions.

By contrast with the building-centric integration

approaches of ”Building Information Modeling,” in

Mefisto the different application models such as 3D

building models, bills of quantities, time schedules

mefisto-project I research


Utilisation of application models in hierarchic organisations of owners and contractors.

and quantity models are regarded as equivalent.

Furthermore, it is assumed that for a long time these

application models will be created separately with

specialised software applications and stored locally

with the different project partners. Consequently, the

developments of the Mefisto project concentrate on

mediating technologies in three areas:

• Multi-models and multi-model containers:

multi-models consist of multiple interlinked application

models that can be compiled and evaluated with

specialised nD-software applications and that can be

exchanged using multi-model containers.

• Mefisto platform: on the Mefisto platform the

software applications of the project participants

are connected via Web Service interfaces and the

coordinated exchange of the multi-model containers

is supported by central platform services.

• Information logistics: the Mefisto platform defines a

standard business logic for the use of multi-models

to manage the collaboration processes for creating

and utilising application models as well as the

corresponding access rights.

Combining engineering and management models

The basic idea of a multi-model is to combine

selected engineering and management models in a

single information resource. Within the resource the

application models are bound together by link-models

that explicitly specify the interdependencies among

the models interlinking associated model elements.

The result is a consistent multi-model that reflects a

certain project status and view on the overall project

information. It provides a sound basis to evaluate the

current project situation as well as to further elaborate,

simulate and analyse new design and construction

alternatives.



Bidding documents in a multi-model container.

A multi-model for preparing a bid proposal may for

example comprise: (1) a 3D building model and (2)

calculated quantities deduced from its elements.

These can be interlinked with the items in (3) a bill of

quantities and (4) a corresponding cost calculation as

well as with (5) the activities of a time schedule. With

such a multi-model different aspects of the required

construction tasks and supporting measures can be

represented more transparently. Particularly, the

interactive visualisation of information from different

application models in combination with the 3D building

allows for the user to more intuitively access, understand

and evaluate the contained project information.

To support the combination and interlinking of

application models in consistent multi-models, the

software applications on the Mefisto platform are

supplemented with newly developed modeling,

visualisation and analyses technologies. The developed

components first allow the user to systematically

inspect the interdependent applications models within

a multi-model from different discipline perspectives

and on different levels of detail. Second, they provide

for the navigation of the overall information space

of interdependent application models within the

multi-models on a construction project. Furthermore,

rule-based methods are applied: on the one hand to

automatically interlink and complement application

models and on the other hand to filter interrelated

project information from a multi-model to be

translated, aggregated or otherwise transformed for

further use in adjacent areas of construction planning

and management.

Data exchange using Multi-Model Containers

For the exchange of multi-models among different

project participants and software applications a new

exchange format named the multi-model container was

developed. The container only defines a superstructure

to encapsulate different kinds of application models

and corresponding link models. Within the container

the application models are treated as independent

information resources with their own application

domain, data schema and data formalisation. This

way, the multi-model container allows for the flexible

utilisation of established file formats, such as the IFC*

standard for 3D building models and GAEB** DA XML

for specification models using bills of quantities. In

addition, in Mefisto a series of supplements to existing

data standards and several new data schemas were

specified to allow for the exchange of e.g. construction

site models, cost models, organisation models and risk

models.

Principle structure of a multi-model container.

On the Mefisto platform the multi-model container is

realised by a collection of data files that are exchanged

within a compressed archive file. In addition to the

application models and link models, the container

comprises a XML-based description of the container

content. It provides metadata on the subjects, detailing

and data format as well as the contributors for each of

the contained models. On the one hand, this metadata

supports the administration, retrieval and utilisation of

the application models throughout the project. On the

other hand, they can also be used to define multi-model

templates that prescribe the requirements regarding

content and formalisations of application and link

models yet to be produced.

Project collaboration with multi-models

In their entirety the multi-models on a construction

project open up a multi-dimensional information space

of interdependent application models that can be



independently processed by the project participants.

Each participant has the opportunity to produce new

application models on his/her own responsibility and

interlink them with existing models. Depending on

the situation these newly created multi-models can be

maintained locally or published project-wide as a basis

for further planning and controlling tasks. In comparison

to the often pursued integration of project information

in central project databases or product model servers,

this approach distributed model-based collaboration

represents a paradigm shift.

In the Mefisto project various software components

(MM plug-ins) have been developed for the local

creation and analysis of the multi-models: on the one

hand for existing specialised software applications

such as iTWO (RIB Software AG), GRANID (gibGreiner

GmbH) and SolidWorks (SolidWorks GmbH) and

on the other hand for new analytical tools like the

SiteSimEditor (Ruhr-Universität Bochum) and the

M2A2 Multi-Model Assembly and Analysing Platform

(Technische Universität Dresden).

Software systems on the Mefisto-Platform.

For the project-wide use of multi-models the Mefisto

platform provides central platform services for the

coordination of collaboration processes (information

logistics) as well as for the filtering and transformation

the multi-models (multi-model management).

The information logistics of the Mefisto-Platform is

realised by a set of platform services for managing

platform users and multi-models. Via these services,

project participants can publish and retrieve

multi-model containers from their local software

applications. Moreover, a central workflow service

allows for assigning planning and controlling tasks to

the different project participants as well as for delivering

the respective results.

Various process management technologies are applied

to support the planning and coordination of the

multi-model-based collaboration processes. The

business logic of the Mefisto-Platform is first of all

defined by general business process models, called

Reference Process Modules. Integrating multi-model

templates, these process models formally specify the

requirements for the different planning and controlling

models to be produced. On a particular construction

project these reference processes can be customised

and interlinked with project schedules as well as

reused for the instantiation of respective workflows.

Furthermore, the multi-model container is also used

for workflow coordination: on the one hand planning

and controlling tasks can be assigned to the participants

using multi-model templates and on the other hand the

tasks results can be delivered in a corresponding result

container.

Potentials for the application of multi-models

Overall the research project Mefisto elaborates a variety

of collaboration methods and technical solutions

for multi-model-based construction planning and

management. Their potential applications and benefits

are investigated in several demonstrations scenarios by

the contractors and the project management company

on the project.

Filtering model views and systems from a building model.

Interlinking coarse-grained and fine-grained project schedules, M2A2 Multi-Model Assembly and Analysing Platform. (TU Dresden)



The methods and tools developed for the interlinking

and the combined processing of application models

first of all provide for managing the interdependencies

among disparate application models. Of particular

significance for the identification and maintenance

of these interdependencies are filtering methods to

extract discipline- or tasks-specific sub-models as well

as visualisation methods to interactively inspect and

navigate the combined application models.

New potentials for the effective utilisation of

model-based project information are also offered

by the procedures and tools to build supplementary

simulation and analyses models. Based on the

interlinked application models simulation models of

the construction processes and the project risks can

be generated much more efficiently. Furthermore, the

multi-models can also be used to conduct geometrical

and kinematic analyses of the production processes on

the construction site as demonstrated in the following

article by Thomas Hauber.

Business Process Model: Construction bidding with multi- model containers.

Finally, the procedures and tools for process

management offer the basis for realising (multi-)model

based collaboration in construction practice. Prerequisite

for the effective application of multi-models are

harmonised collaboration processes and detailed

agreements on their content and form. In Mefisto

detailed multi-model templates and reference process



modules are first of all developed for the collaboration

processes between owners and contractors, e.g.

for construction bidding and construction progress

reporting as well as for change management. The

elaborated demonstration scenarios have shown that

these reference processes provide a good basis to

plan and coordinate the technical and organisational

interfaces of a project as well as for realising the

corresponding software systems.

Acknowledgement

The research described in this paper was enabled by the

financial support of the German Ministry of Education

and Research, Department of ICT under contract

no. 01|A09001A, which is gratefully acknowledged.

Moreover, the authors would like point out that the

results presented have been developed in collaboration

with ten additional project partners from research, the

software industry and the construction industry. Further

information can be found at: www.mefisto-bau.de.

*IFC (Industry Foundation Classes) is a standard

conceived and certified by buildingSMART e.V. for the

exchange of building information models (BIM). Further

information can be found at: www.buildingsmart.de.

**GAEB stands for Joint Committee for Electronics in

Construction. The GAEB promotes the application of

electronic data processing in construction based on a

common language of all stakeholders involved.

GAEB DA XML is intended to establish a common

standard for construction information exchanged

during construction bidding, contracting and invoicing

as well as during construction execution. Further

information can be found at: www.gaeb.de. n

Multi-model container of Mefisto-High-Rise, GRANID (gibGreiner GmbH)

Multi-model container of Mefisto-High-Rise, iTWO (RIB Software AG)

Multi-model container of Mefisto-High-Rise, M2A2 Multi-Model Assembly and Analysing Platform. (TU Dresden)



The magic of a new vision

The team of the Mefisto research project researches the virtual construction site

n The further development of all instruments for

construction site planning is decisive

All of the partners involved in a construction project are

confronted by a steady increase in complex problems.

The problem solution is in addition complicated by

unclear connections on the construction site. To keep

pace with these problems, the consistent further

development of all instruments for construction site

planning and controlling are of decisive importance.

The goal: realistic models of the construction site for

meaningful investigations

After the use of building information models had

become established in many areas, it appeared in

principle possible to expand the models of the building

with a virtual construction site environment. Our

idea of a virtual construction site environment was

intended to be modeled as realistically as possible on

the future construction site to introduce comprehensive

Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Thomas Hauber, Max Bögl

transparency to the construction site geometry and

construction processes.

The solution: supplement of the construction model

with construction machinery models

The virtual construction site is the consistent further

development of the ”BIM” and was expedited with

passion and determination. The decisive step on the

way to a construction site model is supplementing the

construction model with models of the construction

machinery required and infrastructure facilities. On the

basis of the multimodel system, the construction site

can be described by various interdependent specialist

models that are independent of each other. Individual

elements of the construction site were reproduced

from particular perspectives. In the centre is first the

construction plot, supplemented by the infrastructure

of the construction site and equipment with its

dimensions, movement possibilities, performance and

Virtual construction site with cranes, concrete distributor, wind and fall protection.



Virtual construction site of a tower block with work platforms and construction machinery.

Representation and calculation of construction site and construction machinery in RIB iTWO.

Publication for all project partners – RIB iTWO as project platform.

cost key data. Ideally, information from other

specialist models, such as process models

and bills of quantities, can also be included.

Depending on what aspects are focused on,

various models can be linked as a suitable

multimodel. As a whole the investigations

have shown that the virtual construction site

is perfectly suitable for the construction site

planning.

Modeling process - overview

All general components of the construction

site planning were selected from the newly

created construction machinery library

and the construction site layout planned

in the CAD development environment

SolidWorks. The customary application area

of SolidWorks is mechanical engineering.

Consequently, numerous adaptations were

required. The design of the construction

site model was then exported via the newly

developed CPIXML interface in RIB iTWO.

The publication and calculation of the

configured construction site model occurred

on the project and information platform

RIB iTWO. The data exchange between the

project partners occurred via standardised

multimodel containers.

Modeling procedure - example

In the example of the tower block a wind

and fall protection installation is used as

the central safety module. The individual

components of the wind and fall protection

installation were selected from the newly

created construction machinery library. The

selected elemental model is equipped with all

important information, such as the weight,

materials used, the recommended assembly

process and the valid assembly tolerances.

Fast adaptation of the model geometry to

the specific use conditions is possible via

the configuration rules. Realistic movement

processes of the construction machinery are

ensured via the kinematic constraints. If one

considers the cranes, the estimate of the

range required and the lifting load capacity



needed produce the crane types possible.

The hook height intended reveals the

number of tower pieces required. Together

with the suspension or base anchoring, all

components are adopted from the library

and the crane assembled and configured.

Finally the construction model is consistently

supplemented with all cranes, scaffolding

and concrete pumps needed. This process

adheres to defined rules, which evaluate the

location and height coordinates and provide

the basic construction site layout as a result.

Investigations on the construction site model:

visualisation and testing of construction

viability

The three dimensionally visualised

constrcution site model offers a good idea

of the planned construction task and the

planned construction site installation. The

configuration of the extremely demanding

formwork systems, like an automated

lifting raise platform, is in general possible.

The number of climbing machines, the

lifting process and spatial conditions on the

”production island” can be subjected to a

conceptual check.

Collision check and movement analysis

As a result of a considered visualisation

of the construction site and emphasis of

potential collisions, the decisive overview

can be obtained. All crane models used

have the specific movement potential

of the reproduced originals. In this way

investigations on lifting, turning and

trolley movement of the service loads can

be carried out.

Determination of the equipment

performance

Although every construction project is

unique, many production processes

are similar: the virtual construction site

can describe the special production

process through the interaction between

construction elements, the construction

machinery used and the workforce

involved. The investigation of the material

flows required serves the improvement

of the supply security. For example, the

consideration of the stationary concrete

pump is significant: the pump performance

of the concrete pump in this case does not Construction process analysisAnalysis of pump output: pressure head and pipeline length.



Geometric check of the transport routes of a floor formwork system.

correspond to the standard performance,

since the concrete has to be pumped to the

top floors of the tower block. The pump

performance is reduced by the hydrostatic

pressure head and by the internal friction

of the unusually long delivery line.

The construction site model provides

information on the planned concrete pump,

the standard pump performance, the exact

length of the delivery line with the number

of pipe elbows and the actual hydrostatic

pressure head. With this information the

pump performance to be expected can be

determined under real construction site

conditions. The pump output determines

the specific manufacturing duration for

the proper processing of the concrete

transported. (see following page).

Investigation of transport processes

Another example: ensuring the

implementation of the formwork across all

deployment locations. For this purpose it

is necessary to concentrate the formwork

as transport units. The path from stripping

the formwork via cleaning to the next use

is reproduced with typified transport units.

This results in a geometric check of the

transport routes and crane conveyance.

An analysis of the scheduling produces all

components that are to be produced in a

particular period. In this example the analysis

of the quantities was carried out based on a

model on the project platform RIB iTWO.

1. Rotary tower crane in RIB iTWO2. Construction process analysis3. Material flows in RIB iTWO4. Hoisting and assembly process5. Vision of construction site planning

Analysis of construction processes

The analysis of a construction process as

interaction between construction work,

people, material and equipment provides

significant data on the effort involved

in the production processes, suitable for

subsequent simulations.

Conclusion

The virtual construction site describes our

idea of an effective instrument for modern

construction site planning. Our vision of

the new tool is a realistic multimodel of the

entire planned construction site with all of

its components and properties: a virtual,

three-dimensional construction site model.

To allow this vision to be realised all conditions

which characterise the construction site

should be recorded as precisely as necessary

and the tried-and-tested traditions and

methods in the construction site planning

taken up and further developed. The

virtual construction site will only become a

meaningful tool for supporting and securing

strategic decisions through a meaningful

analysis of geometry, crane movements and

production processes in the hands of creative

engineers. Conceived in this manner, we

expect a noticeable increase in planning

security. n



When building the ratiopharm arena in Ulm Max Bögl used a 5D-ERP solution based on three-dimensional construction

Starting Out Into the Future

Max Bögl Builds Multi-Purpose Hall Using 5D Construction Models

n One of the 5D projects of Max Bögl Group is the

multi-purpose hall rationpharm arena in Ulm. The

PPP project is one of many construction projects for

which the Neumarkt-based construction company

used the 5D ERP solution iTWO from RIB based on

three-dimensional construction models (BIM). The

company strives to be a step ahead of the competition

in the area of innovative construction. This demands

active rethinking, exact process analysis and, most of

all, a high level of commitment of the staff. According

to Max Bögl, the key to success is company-wide

process transparency.

New Arena for Ulm’s Basketball Team

National league basketball matches, live concerts,

shows and cultural events: The Swabian cathedral

city of Ulm partnered with the city of Neu-Ulm in

Bavaria in January 2010 to commission the building

of a new multi-purpose hall on the Volksfestplatz

in Neu-Ulm. Max Bögl, Germany’s largest privately

owned construction company, was responsible for the

planning, construction and operation. This prestigious

new building, which seats 9,000 spectators, costed

the two cities around 28 million euros. It was named

after the Ulm-based pharmaceutical company

ratiopharm, which sponsors the Ulm basketball team

of the same name. The hall was developed via a

reception area on the ground floor with access to the

upper floor. This is also where the boxes are situated,

which can be used as separate venues. An adjacent

250-space multi-storey car park and a parking lot

for another 750 cars completed the project. The hall

was realised as a PPP project by the cities of Neu-Ulm

and Ulm in cooperation with the Max Bögl Group.

Gerhard Hupfer, Manager of Building Construction

at Max Bögl, shook hands formally with the Lord

Mayors of the two cities as well as the manager of the

sponsor ratiopharm at the groundbreaking ceremony

in July 2010.

5D Software System

All in all, modern technology played a key role in this

project. Since 2011, the Neumarkt Group Max Bögl has

productively worked with RIB‘s model-based project

management solution iTWO. As one of the founding

members of the 5D Initiative , Max Bögl is regarded

as one of the most innovative representatives of

the European construction industry and already

5d major project I max bögl


models (BIM). Animation: ColorPoint ®

has several years of intensive experience in digital

engineering and construction processes. The

RIB solution proved its practical relevance in the

realisation of the ratiopharm arena in Ulm.

Group-wide Changeover

This project is one of several selected large-scale

5D projects for which the Neumarkt construction

company used the new quantity surveying method,

which bases processes and cost estimation on a

three-dimensional construction model. These

modern engineering and construction methods have

already been tested for the carcassing work of the DC

Tower in Vienna – a high-rise building with 61 floors

and a four-storey underground car park. The future

potential of this new work method, a preliminary

end-to-end simulation of construction time, cost and

a collision check of design data with BIM information

from the structural plans and the mechanical

electrical plumbing, is already being thoroughly

analysed. On the whole, Germany’s largest privately

owned construction company has gradually been

managing more and more projects with the aid of

construction models in recent years.

5D Project Management as Basis for Innovation

The Upper Palatinate company is aiming to be the

quality and innovation leader throughout Europe.

True to its corporate claim ”Progress is built on

ideas”, the company intends to set the tone in the

construction industry. These ideas are not only

permeating the IT department. The company has

also added products to its service portfolio that are

to complement its traditional construction services.


Digital planning and construction was also used in the shell of the Viennese DC Towers. Screenshot: Max Bögl


As Max Bögl is one of Europe’s largest manufacturers

of prefabricated components, this field offers

considerable potential. For example, the company

used its own know-how of prefab parts to realise the

”slab track Bögl” that has

already been successfully

built on German high-speed

routes and also in China.

Other concepts that have

been put into practice are

HIPERCON® prefabricated

components, used, for

instance in machine tools.

And of course, the technical

feasibility of such innovations

ultimately depends on

information technology,

according to the company. These products are based

on interactive, three-dimensional models.

Company-wide Information Portal – the Intramax

All processes at Max Bögl are based on an intelligent

and transparent IT infrastructure. RIB’s iTWO system,

the company’s SAP system, the Autodesk Revit

construction modelling software, the Microsoft

Project scheduling software and other software

used in the company are all fully integrated via a

central web-based information portal called the

Intramax. The construction company uses this portal

to handle analysis, risk management and in-house

communication.

Holistic Mapping of Corporate Processes

This portal is a key component of the company’s

innovative strategy. After all, innovation is always

associated with change processes within a company.

Transparent communication is a must. Taking the

example of RIB’s new 5D technology, it soon becomes

clear that the Neumarkt company had to make

obvious changes in many areas to ultimately reach

the target set by corporate management. And this

target is ambitious. The managers of the Neumarkt

construction company are aiming at cost savings of

up to 20%. The company makes clear that iTWO is

a strategic investment: ”Of course, it will take a few

years to pay off and demand a lot of time and personal

commitment from every single member of our staff

on all levels of the corporate hierarchy.” Working

with the 3D construction model in connection with

iTWO brings a significant advantage, particularly for Modern technology played a decisive role in this construction project on the Neu Ulm Volksfestplatz. Photos: Duckek, company group Max Bögl



changes to plans. However, not all projects

at Max Bögl are being fully managed with

the new iTWO 5D technology yet. For

some projects it is decided that it is better

to use a purely alphanumeric handling

method with RIB iTWO.

An Industry in Transition

It is believed at Max Bögl Group that the

trend towards digital engineering and

construction is unstoppable. More and

more companies are opting for the new

work method. Yet the transition has only

just begun. For this reason, the company

is committed to exercising its powers of

persuasion, particularly in connection

with the contracting of its own planning

services, which are usually done with the

conventional 2D method. The savings

of up to 20% of total construction

costs are only possible if the complete

planning sector is involved as early on

as possible and most importantly, they

are convinced of the benefits they will

derive from making active use of the new

5D technology. That’s why the focus of

Max Bögl Group’s commitment, besides

the ongoing inspection and revision of

in-house processes, is on the planning side.

The strategy of Max Bögl is crystal clear.

The construction company is positive it has

taken the right direction by embracing 5D

software technology. n

This project is one of several selected 5D major projects in which the company from Neumarkt tested the new work method for quantity determination, processes and calculation based on a three-dimensional construction model. Screenshots: Max Bögl

Max Bögl, one of the biggest prefabricated component manufacturers in Europe, is striving to be the leader in quality and innovation. www.5d-initiative.eu

The construction company Max Bögl is convinced that it took the right path with the 5D technology. Animation: ColorPoint®



Equipped with the 5D technology ATP will be able to consolidate and build on their leading position in Europe. Animations: ATP

Integral Planning in Five Dimensions with iTWO

RIB’s New Customer ATP the Largest Company in Austria’s Planning Sector

n RIB Software AG Stuttgart has won ATP Architekten

und Ingenieure, Austria’s largest project developer

and at the same time the largest integral planner

in Europe, as another new customer for its digital

construction software solution iTWO. The main reason

why RIB was awarded the contract were the innovative

5D features offered by the software. No vendor in

Austria was able to offer a comparable IT system, so the

decision was made in favour of RIB, who fully supports

all the country-specific characteristics. According to

Gerald Hulka, Member of the Board: ”The innovative

combination of 3D geometry, time and cost in one

solution makes iTWO Business Suite the only product of

its kind all over the world.”

ATP Architekten und Ingenieure sees integral planning as

a prerequisite for outstanding achievements. By integral

planning, the company understands the connection of

architectural tasks with structural engineering measures

and technical facility equipment. Additionally, the

client is always intensively involved to ensure that the

completed project entirely meets the desired planning

quality. The company’s recipe for success is based on the

extensive exchange of experience among planners from

different areas of specialism, who all speak a standard

language.

”iTWO Business Suite is the ideal solution for us,”

comments Gerald Hulka, Member of the Board.

Besides allowing us to show customers a picture of the

finished construction with all the details from the very

beginning, the innovative 5D technology additionally

provides them with all the relevant cost and time

information. So they are always fully up-to-date on

the economic conditions of their project. This gives us

value added for our business.” Gerald Hulka continues:

leading position in europe with iTWO I ATP


Equipped with the 5D technology ATP will be able to consolidate and build on their leading position in Europe. Animations: ATP

”Equipped with the 5D technology we are

able to consolidate and build on our leading

position in Europe.”

Integrated solutions for complex building

construction projects – ATP Architekten und

Ingenieure, headquartered in Innsbruck

in Tirol, is regarded as the largest integral

planning company in Europe. The company

can look back on a long tradition of success.

Founded in the fifties as a one-man office,

ATP Architekten und Ingenieure now has a

workforce of about 450 employees at seven

sites – in addition to Austria in Germany, in

Switzerland, in Croatia, and in Hungary. n

leading position in europe with iTWO I ATP


Carcassing Quantity Takeoff Time Halved by Digital Engineering and Construction Processes

The medium-sized construction company WOLFF & MÜLLER ranks as a pioneer in digital construction. Using the new iTWO software from RIB, it has significantly improved construction processes already, accelerating quantity takeoff for carcassing work by up to 50 per cent. The Stuttgart-based family enterprise implemented iTWO software in 2011 and is convinced that the innovative method of working with 5D construction models will establish itself as the new standard in future.

n Quality, reliability and innovation strength. These

three keywords have always been the motto of the

WOLFF & MÜLLER Group. The medium-sized Swabian

family enterprise is one of Germany’s leading

privately owned construction companies. WOLFF &

MÜLLER handle projects all over Germany from new

or modernised buildings for trade and industry or

the public sector to hotels, office blocks and research

institutes. They also take on particularly challenging

power station and civil engineering projects. Their

wide-ranging portfolio of services in the classic

construction market is rounded off by road and

underground construction work and infrastructure

management projects. Besides actual construction

work, the company also produces construction

materials, offers a comprehensive concept for

iTWO among medium-sized companies I WOLFF & MÜLLER

The construction project, a B&B hotel in Heilbronn, served as a comprehensive illustration of the advantages of digital planning and construction with iTWO for the employees. Animation: WOLFF & MÜLLER


investment, property and procurement management,

supports and advises industrial companies on buying

energy, besides offering insurance for all aspects

of construction. The key to the company’s success

is the nationwide exchange of information and an

active knowledge management covering all fields of

expertise.

Process Transparency an Essential Prerequisite

The targets that Organisation Consultant Andreas

Salzer and Helmuth Pfeiffer, Head of Organisation

and Data Processing have set themselves for the

future are ambitious. To extend the company’s lead,

they intend to achieve a significant reduction of

project throughput times. With the aim of enhancing

profitability and competitiveness, the company plans

an end-to-end optimisation of construction processes.

This is to be based on a uniform IT landscape linking

up all tasks from quantity takeoff through the

compilation of work specifications all the way to cost

estimation and control.

Model-based Engineering and Construction

The company subjected many different software

programs to thorough testing in the search for the

optimal tool for integrated, model-based project

management.

WOLFF & MÜLLER thus evaluated various systems

of reputed software vendors. One of the first tools

available on the software market, claimed by the

manufacturer to combine 3D geometry with tendering

and award of construction contracts, did not lead to

the expected improvements. In practice, staff had

to pool their competences in totally different areas,

i.e. design and cost estimation. However, the desired

increase in efficiency can only be attained when

these areas of competence work in parallel, which

was unfortunately not the case with this and other

software.


The company accelerated the quantity determination for the shell by up to 50% with iTWO. Models: WOLFF & MÜLLER


B&B hotel in Heilbronn. Typical project for WOLFF & MÜLLER. Classic SME-oriented construction project. Photos: WOLFF & MÜLLER

The work with iTWO permitted guaranteeing very high transparency at very early project phases. Screenshot: WOLFF & MÜLLER

In 2009, the Stuttgart company RIB

Software AG launched iTWO that also

promised end-to-end handling of all

construction processes in a 3D model.

However, there was a crucial difference

between iTWO and all the other products

WOLFF & MÜLLER had tested. Helmuth

Pfeiffer: ”With this system, the model

is available throughout the entire

construction process. The model-based

processing does not end with the

compilation of the work specifications.

This was a vitally important aspect for the

requirements of our company. Another

consideration was that we had already

worked successfully with RIB software in

the past. So with iTWO we were confident

that we had found the right solution.”

The company then implemented the new

iTWO 5D software solution from RIB. To

create the 3D models, WOLFF & MÜLLER

chose the Revit Architecture CAD system

from Autodesk. In addition, an optimised

content was required for iTWO and Revit

Architecture to give the staff an easier

start to working with the model-based

work method. WOLFF & MÜLLER obtained

the appropriate software for this from the

Berlin company htG hartmann technologies

GmbH.

Improved Economic Efficiency With iTWO

”Using iTWO, we reduced our project lead

times very quickly, so that we are noticing

the first signs of success already,” reports

Salzer. ”By adopting the digital work

method, we have accelerated the quantity

takeoff process for carcassing work by

roughly 50 per cent.”

Digitisation of the Construction Industry

Gaining Ground

The company attributes an immense

amount of value added to the model-based

method. The staff therefore produce the

3D models themselves to make sure the

in-house quality expectations are always

met. At first, this step may appear to involve

extra work and expense, but it pays off by

the time the quotation is made. Helmuth

Pfeiffer and Andreas Salzer are convinced

that the cooperation with the engineering

side will soon change, too. This will depend

on having a model-based design, which is

bound to happen in future, according to

the experts.

To demonstrate the full benefits of digital

engineering and construction to the

staff, a construction project was taken

as an example of all the advantages of

5D processing. At the time, a B&B hotel

in Heilbronn was at the project planning

stage. Being a medium-sized venture, this

was a typical project for the Zuffenhausen

company. The resulting quantities were

absolutely precise. As well as this, iTWO

introduced modern digital construction

approaches to the sample project such as

3D laser scanning. Another project goal

was to simulate the construction process.

This was done by dovetailing the iTWO

software with an additional IT system, the



Andreas Salzer (photo above: left, photo below: second from left) explains the model-based work method to colleagues with iTWO. Photos: WOLFF & MÜLLER

Helmuth Pfeiffer, head of organisation and data processing, ”The clients of WOLFF & MÜLLER also benefit from the transparent construction processes, as a result of which their investment security increases.” Photos: private

Organisational consultant Andreas Salzer

WOLFF & MÜLLER save time and costs with shortened project run times. Animation: WOLFF & MÜLLER

ASTA Powerproject project management

software used at WOLFF & MÜLLER.

Migration Completed in the First Half

of 2011

”Our staff were quick to embrace the

model-based work method,” recalls

Pfeiffer. Those already actively working

with iTWO 5D are delighted with the new

possibilities.”

As they naturally want to stay ahead of

the competition in future, too, they are

considering the integration of further

processes with iTWO. For example,

structural engineering and dimensioning

are to be meshed with the system in the

near future. There is also discussion on

linking up building services to derive

active benefit from iTWO’s Clash

Detection feature and thereby speed up

the planning stage even further. A link

with civil engineering project accounting

and the integration of special software

for sustainable building are also being

considered.

Enhanced Competitiveness

Andreas Salzer is convinced that iTWO

software will establish itself as the standard

in the construction industry just as ARRIBA

did: ”Clients’ specifications have changed,”

he says. ”Nowadays, our customers expect

a high degree of transparency very early on

in the project. Details are important and

variants play a key role. Some customers,

especially in the manufacturing sector,

even take it for granted that a simulation of

the construction process will be provided,”

he reports. And, with redevelopment

becoming increasingly topical, clients need

to know exactly the quantities that will be

required to refurbish a building. ”Using

iTWO, we can visualise these quantities and

measure the involved cost and duration of

the construction process more accurately,”

he sums up.

Helmuth Pfeiffer concludes: ”Model-based

engineering and construction with iTWO

offers us a large number of options

for enhancing our competitiveness. By

shortening our project throughput times

we save time and money. Our clients

benefit from transparent construction

processes, which improve the security

of their investment. We are therefore

convinced that our investment in the

integrated software solution will pay off

very soon.” n



industry promotes 5d I engineering firm pinkert

The Future of the Construction Industry is Based on 5D Construction Models

Large-scale Industry Sets New Course for the Entire Construction Industry

n The future belongs to digital engineering and

construction – this is the philosophy of engineering

company Pinkert in Sandersdorf, which was established

in 1990. Its founder and manager, construction engineer

Dieter Pinkert, says that the specialty of the company is its

holistic approach to construction project management.

This is reflected in the company’s range of services,

which covers the entire planning chain from tendering

and site management all the way through to full project

management. The portfolio also includes structural

engineering and technical design as well as supervision

and management of planning and construction costs.

State-of-the-art work methods are applied to keep

pace with ever-growing customer requirements. To be

able to carefully examine the opportunities and risks of

their customers’ ideas in the preliminary planning phase

already, Dieter Pinkert and his team of ten engineers

rely on model-based processes. In 2010, they introduced

Autodesk Revit Architecture and iTWO from RIB, an

integrated software solution for digital engineering

and construction in five dimensions. Dieter Pinkert and

his colleague Thomas Kunte are convinced that this

high-tech-software system will equip them to address

customer requirements even more specifically and

provide a basis for delivering the demanded quality. As

Pinkert says, ”There is a continuous and massive increase

in customer expectations.”

Large-scale Industry Demands Five-Dimensional

Planning

Located in Sachsen-Anhalt, the engineering company

works for major industrial enterprises, i.e. the classic

manufacturing industries. One of the core competences

of Dieter Pinkert’s team is the service phase 5 of the

HOAI (Fee Scales for German Architects and Engineers),

which mainly covers implementation planning and

cost management. ”Perspective planning in this line

of business, for instance in the automotive sector, the

solar industry or power plant engineering, is oriented to

construction management,” says Pinkert. ”The basis for

this is the 5D construction model,” he continues.

The Sandersdorf engineers are convinced that

traditional software for tendering and contracting

construction services is no longer adequate for coping

with the standards of quality, cost accuracy and

delivery reliability demanded in large-scale industry

nowadays. For example, customers of the Pinkert

The model-based work method is intended to make a 15 per cent cost saving in construction implementation possible in the event of stringent material purchase and supply management. For developers 20 to 25 per cent are possible.


industry promotes 5d I engineering firm pinkert

company already expect not only extremely

structured planning but also especially

accurate realisation of their construction

projects. The execution phase is a particular

challenge for materials procurement and

project accounting staff; all the data must

always be transparent for the customer.

”Our work in the planning sector comprises

project control activities, the exact planning

of technological processes and, above

all, end-to-end management of all costs

incurred in a project,” adds Dieter Pinkert.

The company meets these demands of

industry with the integrated software

solution consisting of iTWO from RIB

and Autodesk Revit Architecture. The 3D

geometry ensures the desired quality, iTWO

Business Suite focuses on cost accuracy for

the customer and the scheduling system

MS Project, which can easily be linked up to

the system solution, helps to guarantee the

deadline reliability expected by the client.

Strategic Switchover

In 2010, the company, which has meanwhile

used RIB software for 20 years, switched

from the predecessor system ARRIBA to

the new iTWO solution. This was a strategic

decision, as ”engineering and construction

with 5D construction models will establish

itself as standard practice,” as Dieter

Pinkert emphasises. The Industry has clearly

indicated that the construction business is

expected to adopt this technology. Pinkert

estimates that roughly 50 percent of all

Germany’s engineering and construction

capacities will have implemented the new

work method within the next five years.

At the moment, however, the picture is

rather different. Four members of staff

use the integrated software solution at the

Pinkert company, producing 3D models

on the basis of dwg files in Autodesk Revit

Architecture and transferring them to the

RIB iTWO technical ERP software. In a power

plant construction project, the specialist

engineers from Sandersdorf planned a

conglomerate of factories consisting of 15

separate buildings on the basis of pdf files.

”The processing of the models involves a

tremendous amount of work, particularly in

the initial phase,” explains Thomas Kunte. ”It

is extremely difficult to be done without a

special affinity with high-tech applications,”

adds company boss Pinkert, ”and as a

company you naturally have to invest a great

deal of time at the beginning to be able to

use the new solution efficiently.” Looking at

the planning time for this project however,

which has a total volume of approximately

40 million euros, the fast payback period of

the 5D solution is immediately apparent. The

project has reached the execution stage in

the same year in which the Pinkert company

made the changeover.

Basis for Smooth Construction Workflow

According to the experience of the staff, the

group most hesitant to use the new planning

methods is that of the technical building

equipment engineers. ”If these people didn’t

shy away from the expenditure involved in

changing the system, it would be possible

to integrate all aspects into an end-to-end

model that could be used as a basis for a

smooth construction workflow,” comments

Pinkert. After all, the technical ERP solution

from RIB already incorporates integrated

clash detection for such structured planning.

High Savings Potential on Both Sides

The company founder sees tremendous

savings potential from the use of 5D.

Contractors can save about 15 percent

provided they apply stringent materials

purchasing and process management.

According to Dieter Pinkert, engineering

companies can save even more, as ”more

planning accuracy means less deviation from

the actual construction. We can save 20 to 25

percent of planning and engineering costs

using the model-based method,” Pinkert

sums up. ”This savings potential alone shows

why the future belongs to 5D and why there

is no alternative.” nThe 3D geometry guarantees the quality the client desires. iTWO Business Suite focuses on cost security.

Dieter Pinkert estimates that in about five years around 50 per cent of the entire planning and realisation capacity in Germany will make active use of the new work method based on the 5D construction model.

Models: engineering firm Pinkert


The Site Manager of the Virtual Model

”Predict 1:1 How the Process Will Work on the Construction Site”

n Simulating the Construction Process on the PC

Anton Gasteiger sees himself as a pioneer of new

work processes in construction engineering. In 2010,

he achieved a vision by founding b.i.m.m. GmbH

together with the architect and engineer Martin

Taurer and software specialists Jochen Reichert and

Shenqiang Wu. The company name b.i.m.m. stands

for building information model management, i.e.

the management of building information using a

three-dimensional model. The challenge for these

international experts is the efficient networking of all

stakeholders in the planning stage of a construction

project – be they designers or structural or mechanical

engineers. According to founder Anton Gasteiger, this

entails providing everyone involved in the planning

stage, i.e. architects or engineers, with the information

they need on any construction component, for

instance a supporting member. ”This is done with the

three-dimensional model,” he adds. Wherever they are

located, companies involved in a project are to be given

easy access to the information via the world wide web.

The international team of specialists working for the

Kufstein-based b.i.m.m. GmbH is propagating improved

cooperation and communication of everyone involved in

the planning stage in all phases. In the model, quantities

and all components of a project are displayed in three

dimensions. The model-based quantity takeoff paves

the way for transparent cost information via a detailed

list of work including all price data. Beyond this, the

model also contains information on construction time.

”The aim is to avoid delays in the construction schedule

right from the beginning,” comments Anton Gasteiger.

Using the model, the entire construction process

can be simulated on the PC. And Anton Gasteiger,

founder of the AGA-BAU GmbH company in Tirol,

is convinced that the PC can be an indispensable tool

for efficient processes on a real construction site, too.

Most importantly, it allows risks to be detected even

Improved cooperation and project communication in all phases of planning with model-oriented project processing.

integrated solutions I b.i.m.m. gmbh


before they arise. He is certainly not short of

practical experience in this field.

Virtual Reality as a Preliminary Stage

To date, AGA-BAU has completed roughly

400 projects. For about four years, they have

all been realised using the new b.i.m.m work

method – not only in Austria. All the projects

are planned virtually on a computer first as

prototypes.

The Kufstein engineer and architect was

successfully working on 3D design as early

as the end of the eighties. The service

portfolio of the AGA-BAU GmbH already

covered joinery calculations for roofs, all of

which Gasteiger designed on the computer

as 3D models, including all joints and special

designs along with the structural analysis,

lists, etc., and then calculated.

Integrated Solutions

Nowadays, of course, software technology

has reached the level of sophistication

required for the comprehensive method

that b.i.m.m. intends to implement.

Besides standard Autodesk software such

as Autodesk REVIT Architecture for the

architectural design, Autodesk REVIT

Structure for the structural engineering and

Autodesk REVIT MEP for the mechanical

engineering, the b.i.m.m. professionals

use various developments of their own,

the so-called b.i.m.m tools. The parameter

tool enables simultaneous editing of all

parameters. A special floor tool produces

a realistic view of flooring for an entire

storey including all layers, doorsills and

Animation: Martin Taurer.

b.i.m.m. GmbH from Kufstein, Tyrol (Austria) sees its role both as general planner as well as ”support provider” in introducing BIM in the planning process.

About ten to 20 per cent of the overall planning costs on average can already be saved with a model-based work method. If one in addition considers the savings on the part of the construction company and conducts comprehensive controlling, overall cost savings of up to 30 per cent are also possible.


Modell: b.i.m.m. GmbH

”Each planner or specialist planner has access to the information decisive for his concerns on each construction element.”

Engineer and architect Anton Gasteiger


sees itself as so-called site manager of the virtual model

with the main task of providing all project participants

with the information they need. ”The 5D construction

model enables us to predict 1:1 how the process will

work on the construction site,” says Gasteiger. On the

basis of the tender preparation plans, construction

companies can see an exact breakdown of project costs.

With this modern method, Anton Gasteiger is able to

precisely determine the economic efficiency not only

of structural components, but also of materials, such as

different grades of concrete. His detailed models also

contain the necessary resources, for example cranes

and construction machinery. ”Our 5D representation of

construction site activity is so transparent that the price

calculation for the construction company is realistic,”

he continues. ”That means a totally new type of cost

estimation basis for the contractor.”

Transparency: Two Sides of a Coin

According to the motto: No construction site is too

small and none too large to justify efficient planning,

the company also approaches clients on the subject and

encourages them to demand it. ”These are the people

who are most likely to notice the overall cost benefits,

not to mention those of avoided errors,” comments

Anton Gasteiger. The engineer is convinced that clients

will play a key role in the gradual change in work

processes throughout the construction industry. Some

of Austria’s construction companies are still reluctant

to embrace the new methods. The comprehensive

data transparency offered by working with the 5D

construction model is a two-sided coin, says the expert.

masonry niches. The service portolio of b.i.m.m

GmbH also comprises customised software geared to

project-specific requirements in order to enable even

more efficient use of the systems available on the

market - Anton Gasteiger and his constantly growing

team at b.i.m.m. rely on integrated solutions to be

able to keep optimising the practical relevance of their

complete portfolio.

b.i.m.m GmbH regards itself both as leading company

and ”support provider” for the introduction of BIM in

the planning process.

New Basis for Cost Estimation

Unlike several well-established engineering software

products in the b.i.m.m. portfolio, iTWO from RIB

also covers the construction side of a project. The 3D

model, therefore, is primarily intended to help project

participants in the construction process itself. Besides

the three-dimensional geometry, iTWO comprises

resource information, i.e. data on construction

materials, machines or construction site workers,

time and process components. Its manufacturer,

RIB, calls it a 5D construction model. The integration

between Autodesk REVIT and iTWO enables the

three-dimensional model to be transferred to the

RIB solution. This step also includes the checking and

editing of all structural components. The objective of

b.i.m.m. GmbH is to pass the construction model to

the contractors in a form that enables them to realise

all kinds of processes of their construction projects,

ranging from material ordering to cost control. b.i.m.m.

iTWO from RIB above all covers the tasks of the company carrying out the construction. Animation: Martin Taurer.


transparent 37/2012 29

This is due in part to the sensationalist

coverage of the subject of data protection

by the media. Transparent information

processes are usually presented in the

clichéd ”Big Brother is Watching You” style.

In addition, many of Austria’s construction

companies work with country-specific cost

estimation and cost management software.

Switching to the German RIB system would

involve a fundamental change in the initial

phase.

On the Way to Cost Reduction

Clients, on the other hand, are extremely

keen to increase cost transparency. According

to Anton Gasteiger, an average of ten to 20

per cent of total planning costs can already

be saved by using a model-based working

method. ”If you also look at the savings

made by the construction companies and

implement end-to-end cost control, you can

even attain total savings of thirty per cent,

which is what has already been achieved

in the automobile and manufacturing

industries with the aid of the digital factory,”

says Gasteiger. ”Cost changes that have been

caused by changes to the plans can be shown

the very same day using the model-based

method,” Gasteiger reports. For this reason,

b.im.m. GmbH is currently concentrating

on the client side of the business. ”If clients

expect a model-based working method,

contractors will have no other option,” the

expert is confident. However, because ”The

Journey is the Goal” applies to clients just

as it does to all other project participants,

b.i.m.m. GmbH supports each company for

at least six months. This is the only way to

ensure long-term success with the new

project management methods.

The production of three-dimensional

b.i.m.m models is gradually becoming more

and more of an interesting proposition for

architects, too, although Gasteiger expects

the trend to take a while to catch on

completely in this group of professionals.

Virtual Forums

b.i.m.m. GmbH characterises the corporate

philosophy of actively supporting Austria’s

largest architecture and engineering

company – ATP – as well as the country’s

smallest lead planning company – AGA-

Bau-PLANUNGS GmbH. The company plans

to directly provide all companies involved

in a project with the 3D models in a virtual

forum on the Internet. In future, all parties,

Anton Gasteiger says, are to be enabled to

process or retrieve all the project information

in real time.

5D on the Advance with iTWO

Despite the rather low current prevalence

of RIB software systems on the Austrian

market, Gasteiger is convinced that iTWO

will take the whole country by storm. ”When

I heard of the new 5D solution, I knew

right away that I wanted to add it to my

product portfolio,” he says. ”I have always

felt that working with the most modern

and innovative IT solutions the market

has to offer is a sound basis for success in

the construction industry. RIB’s new iTWO

software system is definitely in this league.

The career I have had so far proves that my

intuition was correct,” he concludes. n

www.bim-management.at www.bim-management.com



Model-Based Engineering and Construction Processes Efficiently Implemented in Real Estate Projects

”Better to plan in the office than on the construction site with an excavator shovel”

n Dipl.-Eng. Detlev Kraneis, a construction engineer

from Leverkusen, sees himself as a partner in project

planning, site management and supervision, besides

working as an appraiser and advising clients on buying

or building their own properties. To offer his customers

a top-quality, modern service, one of his main concerns

is energy- efficient construction and energy consultancy.

Using thermographs, he detects sources of heat loss in

buildings and manufacturing defects. Throughout his

career he has always been quick to embrace business

trends, enlarging his portfolio of services accordingly.

This is also reflected in the way he integrates the latest

information technology in his daily work. End-to-end

construction process and project management based

on a 5D construction model helps him work particularly

efficiently. In 2009, Detlev Kraneis introduced RIB’s new

5D software solution iTWO, which is becoming more

and more popular among Europe’s leading construction

companies as well.

Continuous optimisation

”As an engineer, you have to move forward at least

every two years,” he explains. ”Only then do you derive

a practical benefit from competitive advantages.” He

also stresses the importance of ongoing further training.

He has based his planning on three-dimensional

geometry models ever since the nineties. At that time,

Kraneis explored projects in mechanical engineering

and the process industry, where the switchover to

digital engineering and construction took place much

sooner than in the construction industry.

‘Drawing in 2D is a waste of time‘

Until 2009, Detlev Kraneis waited for a similar, mature

system for the construction industry. In his opinion, the

2D drawing customary in the planning environment is

not only a joyless task, but a waste of time.

Defining the construction sequence in the planning stage

”When I plan an object in 3D, I can get detailed results

in a very short time without a great effort,” he reports.

3D planning saves him the work of processing views,

sections or details separately. Detlev Kraneis edits the

three-dimensional models with Autodesk Revit. Just

one mouse click gives him all the quantities plus the

detailed costs within iTWO Business Suite. If there are

any changes to the plans, the impact on the costs can

be seen immediately. This makes it easier for him to

communicate with all his project partners. Tradesmen

can see from the model what the job they are working

on is supposed to look like, as the construction sequence

is already fixed in the plan. The cooperation with the

client gains transparency, as he can see the impact of any

changes in detail. The engineer also plans to implement

resource management and a scheduling system into

the overall system in the near future in order to benefit

from the full scope of the 5D functionalities.

”By reducing the workload in costing and quantity

takeoff, compilation of works specifications, invoicing,

and preparing tenders, the integrated solution

consisting of RIB iTWO and Autodesk Revit saves about

50% of my time,” he says. And time is money in the

construction industry, as everybody knows.

Construction engineer Detlev Kraneis had already introduced the new 5D software solution iTWO from RIB.

individual user plans digitally I kraneis bauingenieure


However, switching from 2D plans to the

integrated solution requires thorough

routine in 3D modelling, because the fast

processing of variants, which is what saves all

the time later on, can only be optimally done

if the models have been prepared in exact

detail and are always correctly defined.

This requires comprehensive training and

practice and constant further development,

according to the expert.

Customers demand more transparency

But, as Detlev Kraneis explains, there

will soon be no alternative. ”Customer

expectations are increasing all the time,”

he reports. ”This is not only the case for

extremely large construction projects, which

means that an integrated technical ERP

system like iTWO Business Suite is essential

for large construction companies. My

customers in the private sector are expecting

more and more transparency, too,” he adds.

”They want to see why something on the

construction site is not working so that they

can take appropriate action if necessary.”

Energy consultancy: Costs at a keystroke

Apart from cost estimating, Detlev Kraneis

mainly uses iTWO for energy consultancy.

”When I define a new heating system with

a corresponding output in Revit, iTWO

shows me the exact cost at the press of a

key.” If a building is thoroughly restored to

meet all the current energy specifications,

the engineer just has to make graphic

adjustments to the model to get all the

quantities and costs needed to implement

the project. The customer can see all the

visual changes, quantities and costs entailed

by an energy-saving renovation and make

more informed decisions.

Other ideas the engineer plans to put

into practice include the adjustment of

3D models directly on the construction

site using a Tablet PC. He also intends to

log defects on site – naturally in 3D. Apart

from this, he is currently defining various

configuration options with construction

materials of different quality grades that

he can use to tailor his plans to individual

customer requirements.

The concept for success:

Technology and innovation

The motto of Detlev Kraneis is: ‘Better to

plan in the office than on the construction

site with an excavator shovel.’ The engineer

is convinced that this is only possible with a

model-based working method. ”Successful

planning goes hand in hand with a high

affinity for technology,” the engineer from

Leverkusen concludes. n

By using 3D planning the engineer obtains detailed results very quickly and without great expense.

Optical changes, quantities and costs are all transparent for the customers of Kraneis Bauingenieure (Construction Engineers) and they can reach better founded decisions. Screenshots: Kraneis Bauingenieure

individual user plans digitally I kraneis bauingenieure

The Future is digital, even in construction industry.For that reason we rely on state of the art software applications to link our WOLFF & MÜLLER planning and calculation units in a smart way. Thereby we are able to achieve obliging results, even if structural parameters are changed spontaneously. For guaranteed planning.

WE HAVE BUILT THE FUTURE FOR 75 YEARS.

WOLFF & MÜLLERHolding GmbH & Co. KGSchwieberdinger Straße 107

70435 Stuttgart

Telefon +49 711 8204-0

[email protected]

www.wolff-mueller.de

AZ_WM_RIB_216x303_4C_engl.indd 1 02.05.12 14:57

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Documents

construction project

d construction models

d technology

construction manager

operation of construction

d itwo

d planning

d initiative