Tocci Building Corporation Leverages Vela Systems Field Software Integrated with Navisworks to Deliver Autodesk Headquarters Project
First automated integration leverages barcodes to track office workstations through delivery, off-gassing, and quality inspection; Information available for LEED Platinum certification.
Burlington, MA, March 30, 2009 --(PR.com)-- Vela Systems, developer of mobile field software for the AECO industry, today announced that Tocci Building Corporation, a general contracting business that provides construction management, design/build services and site development, used Vela’s Materials Tracker and Issues and Punchlists software integrated with Navisworks® building information modeling (BIM) software to manage the installation and related LEED tracking for FF&E (Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment) items coming into the new Autodesk headquarters project.
Working with Creative Office Pavilion, Tocci Building Corporation used Vela Systems’ Materials Tracker to barcode and track Herman Miller office workstations for the recent Autodesk headquarters project. Specifically, office workstations, containing over 50 components per workstation, were tracked from delivery and staging to LEED-required “off gassing” to installation and quality inspection using a newly established link between Vela Systems and Navisworks.
The Autodesk headquarters project was the first in New England to utilize an Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) contract. IPD is a new collaborative practice method that requires the owner to cover all direct costs associated with design and construction, while contractually sharing the project’s risks and rewards, including profits, with the architect and builder. A key feature of IPD is early and ongoing collaboration by everyone on the extended design team—both in person and by using the digital model. In this case, the participating companies were Tocci Building Corporation (Contractor), Autodesk Inc. (Owner), and KlingStubbins (Architect).
The Autodesk Revit platform was used for BIM authoring; the team co-developed the model, which was then published to Autodesk Navisworks Manage for field utilization. The team used Navisworks for several construction-enabling functions, including publishing data related to workstations to the Vela Materials Tracker product using the Vela Integration Adapter™ (VIA). The Navisworks model and Vela database were synchronized as the status of workstations changed from “delivered” to “ready to install” to “installed”.
The onsite team scanned workstations as they were delivered, ready to install and installed. The information was compiled in the Vela Systems database and then translated to the Navisworks model, enabling visual representation of the status of furniture installation. By scanning barcodes affixed to the office workstations at the delivery, Tocci field staff was able to understand which components had actually arrive and respond to changes in deliveries effectively. During punchlist, the furniture was scanned again and specific deficiencies tagged to a specific location. These deficiencies were then integrated back into Navisworks using the bi-directional capabilities of VIA, enabling visualization.
"As the owner on this IPD project, we were delighted with the collaborative efforts to leverage the model in new ways. By sharing Navisworks with the other parties, and then tying the field information back into Navisworks, Tocci was able to streamline the information flow, improving team collaboration, saving time, and reducing confusion,” said Nicolas Mangon who is leading the Building Software Business for Autodesk. “This clearly demonstrates how valuable field information can be integrated with Navisworks for multiple uses like post-handover in the operations phase, and for creating value during and after the construction phase."
When enabled with Vela and Navisworks, stakeholders in the project could manage office workstation components and visualize the process. The end result was improved production workflow and project management. The joint solution enabled the entire team to feed into the BIM the constantly-changing status of office workstations from the field.
“Tying together field data with the BIM creates new opportunities for construction delivery methods and oversight,” said Tocci Building General Superintendent, Bob Tierney. “By using Vela Systems on this project, we demonstrated how we can connect the “virtually built” building to the “physically built” one. The model not only helps ensure we’re building correctly but also gives us better oversight because everyone can instantly see where we are and visualize problem areas as “hot spots” with live data from the field. It is the obvious next step for contractors looking to maximize the value of BIM.”
“Just as parametric modeling has changed the way cars and airplanes are built, BIM is changing the way buildings are constructed,” said Tim Curran, Vela Systems CEO. “Vela’s automated integration with Navisworks provides a key innovation that brings BIM to the field with our Field BIM™ products. It gives us further opportunity to provide important value to our partners and customers in the execution of the physical part of virtual models.”
About Tocci Building Corporation
Tocci Building Corporation is New England’s leading merit shop construction management firm. Nationally known as a leader in the fields of Virtual Design and Construction and Integrated Project Delivery, Tocci has always been at the forefront of new innovations in the construction industry. Headquartered in Woburn, MA, Tocci was founded in 1922 and is now lead by third generation CEO John L. Tocci.
About Vela Systems, Inc.
Vela Systems construction field software automates the execution and oversight of field activities on construction and capital projects for architects, engineers, contractors and owners. Instead of carrying a field notebook and paper plans or specs, jobsite users work with Vela Systems software on mobile computers to electronically access documents and to complete field reports, QA/QC inspections, worklists, punchlists, update the BIM and many other critical field activities. Vela's customers routinely save 5-10 hours per week per user, accelerate project delivery by two days per month, capture the true Cost of Quality™ and reduce litigation risk through standardized documentation. Construction happens in the field - Automate it™.
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Working with Creative Office Pavilion, Tocci Building Corporation used Vela Systems’ Materials Tracker to barcode and track Herman Miller office workstations for the recent Autodesk headquarters project. Specifically, office workstations, containing over 50 components per workstation, were tracked from delivery and staging to LEED-required “off gassing” to installation and quality inspection using a newly established link between Vela Systems and Navisworks.
The Autodesk headquarters project was the first in New England to utilize an Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) contract. IPD is a new collaborative practice method that requires the owner to cover all direct costs associated with design and construction, while contractually sharing the project’s risks and rewards, including profits, with the architect and builder. A key feature of IPD is early and ongoing collaboration by everyone on the extended design team—both in person and by using the digital model. In this case, the participating companies were Tocci Building Corporation (Contractor), Autodesk Inc. (Owner), and KlingStubbins (Architect).
The Autodesk Revit platform was used for BIM authoring; the team co-developed the model, which was then published to Autodesk Navisworks Manage for field utilization. The team used Navisworks for several construction-enabling functions, including publishing data related to workstations to the Vela Materials Tracker product using the Vela Integration Adapter™ (VIA). The Navisworks model and Vela database were synchronized as the status of workstations changed from “delivered” to “ready to install” to “installed”.
The onsite team scanned workstations as they were delivered, ready to install and installed. The information was compiled in the Vela Systems database and then translated to the Navisworks model, enabling visual representation of the status of furniture installation. By scanning barcodes affixed to the office workstations at the delivery, Tocci field staff was able to understand which components had actually arrive and respond to changes in deliveries effectively. During punchlist, the furniture was scanned again and specific deficiencies tagged to a specific location. These deficiencies were then integrated back into Navisworks using the bi-directional capabilities of VIA, enabling visualization.
"As the owner on this IPD project, we were delighted with the collaborative efforts to leverage the model in new ways. By sharing Navisworks with the other parties, and then tying the field information back into Navisworks, Tocci was able to streamline the information flow, improving team collaboration, saving time, and reducing confusion,” said Nicolas Mangon who is leading the Building Software Business for Autodesk. “This clearly demonstrates how valuable field information can be integrated with Navisworks for multiple uses like post-handover in the operations phase, and for creating value during and after the construction phase."
When enabled with Vela and Navisworks, stakeholders in the project could manage office workstation components and visualize the process. The end result was improved production workflow and project management. The joint solution enabled the entire team to feed into the BIM the constantly-changing status of office workstations from the field.
“Tying together field data with the BIM creates new opportunities for construction delivery methods and oversight,” said Tocci Building General Superintendent, Bob Tierney. “By using Vela Systems on this project, we demonstrated how we can connect the “virtually built” building to the “physically built” one. The model not only helps ensure we’re building correctly but also gives us better oversight because everyone can instantly see where we are and visualize problem areas as “hot spots” with live data from the field. It is the obvious next step for contractors looking to maximize the value of BIM.”
“Just as parametric modeling has changed the way cars and airplanes are built, BIM is changing the way buildings are constructed,” said Tim Curran, Vela Systems CEO. “Vela’s automated integration with Navisworks provides a key innovation that brings BIM to the field with our Field BIM™ products. It gives us further opportunity to provide important value to our partners and customers in the execution of the physical part of virtual models.”
About Tocci Building Corporation
Tocci Building Corporation is New England’s leading merit shop construction management firm. Nationally known as a leader in the fields of Virtual Design and Construction and Integrated Project Delivery, Tocci has always been at the forefront of new innovations in the construction industry. Headquartered in Woburn, MA, Tocci was founded in 1922 and is now lead by third generation CEO John L. Tocci.
About Vela Systems, Inc.
Vela Systems construction field software automates the execution and oversight of field activities on construction and capital projects for architects, engineers, contractors and owners. Instead of carrying a field notebook and paper plans or specs, jobsite users work with Vela Systems software on mobile computers to electronically access documents and to complete field reports, QA/QC inspections, worklists, punchlists, update the BIM and many other critical field activities. Vela's customers routinely save 5-10 hours per week per user, accelerate project delivery by two days per month, capture the true Cost of Quality™ and reduce litigation risk through standardized documentation. Construction happens in the field - Automate it™.
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Vela Systems, Inc.
Jeff Scholes
9788849319
www.velasystems.com
Jeff Scholes
9788849319
www.velasystems.com
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