{"id":81930,"date":"2020-09-03T09:58:46","date_gmt":"2020-09-03T08:58:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pbctoday.co.uk\/news\/?p=81930"},"modified":"2020-09-03T09:58:46","modified_gmt":"2020-09-03T08:58:46","slug":"building-layout-technology","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pbctoday.co.uk\/news\/digital-construction-news\/bim-news\/building-layout-technology\/81930\/","title":{"rendered":"Benefits of building layout technology"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cost and labour savings create competitive advantages with building layout technology<\/h2>\n

Construction costs are expected to rise by 2% to 3% this year, lead by labour cost increases that are forecast to be 3% to 4%, according to data from CRH Americas<\/a>. At the same time, the mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) space is expanding from its traditional base to include building control and fire protection systems; data and voice communications; and process piping. These changes represent opportunities for contractors to develop more business.<\/p>\n

Evolution within the construction industry has prompted more and more firms to turn to technology to improve productivity, maximise labour spend and reduce rework. Innovation is transforming crucial back-office and field-based tasks, making it faster, easier and more efficient to do business.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe construction industry will continue to innovate given the technologies interspersed throughout our daily lives, including apps, smartphones, tablets, and other devices,\u201d wrote the authors of JBKnowledge\u2019s 2017 Construction Technology Report<\/a>.<\/p>\n

For MEP contractors, survey layout with 3D laser scanning technology<\/a> is a difference-maker. The solution empowers users to gather, track, evaluate and analyse accurate physical data in a virtual environment.<\/p>\n

How survey layout and laser scanning works<\/h3>\n

The old-school way of capturing location data within the building relies on legacy tools like distance meters and notepads. The process is slow and ripe for human error.<\/p>\n

\"building<\/p>\n

Plus, things move as the building goes up. Concrete grows and shrinks. Structures settle. Users can\u2019t rely on outside points, because as the building shifts, those do too. That means each floor needs a fresh scan to account for differences.<\/p>\n

By contrast, 3D laser survey<\/a> and layout technology is faster, easier and more precise \u2014 <\/em>and doesn\u2019t require multiple trips to the job site. The system enables users to get exact MEP placement on each floor, and to easily maintain control on each subsequent floor.<\/p>\n

The technology streamlines workflows with a unified one-person rig, called a total station or multi-station. Consisting of a total station on a tripod, story pole or range pole with a prism, and a mounted computer, the station is highly portable and easily deployed on different floors and at varying job sites. Laser scanning is used to collect large amounts of data in the field and used as a timestamp or as-built scenario.<\/p>\n

Benefits of survey layout with 3d laser scanning<\/h3>\n

Frequently used for surveying outside the building, the technology has benefits for trades working inside, too:<\/p>\n