Design Automation Meets BIM Excellence: Doubling Production for a US Multi-Family Residential Contractor

AEC sector thrives on efficiency, but manual processes often slow down progress. 

The real challenge is– how to speed up without compromising quality? 

Our client, a U.S.-based construction engineering company, faced time-consuming processes such as repetitive tasks in modelling, coordination, and estimation bottlenecks. Their goal was to boost efficiency and output while keeping costs in check. 

A close collaboration between our BIM experts, the software automation team and their team enabled our experts to identify the potential areas for automation and software development.  

We replicated the client’s modeling environment by onboarding modelers to work on their production files, ensuring seamless collaboration and contribution. Simultaneously, our modelers provided valuable input and requirements to our software team, enabling the development of tailored automation solutions. 

Are you curious to know the insights? Let’s unveil.

Challenge– The Manual Workflow in Question 

The company provides coordinated design services and engineering solutions, focusing on single-family and multi-family residential homebuilders. While the team relied on Revit models, the major hurdles included: 

• Time-consuming manual placement of electrical fixtures 
• Cumbersome manual renaming of multiple views 
• Lengthy 3D modeling process for walls, windows, doors, and roofs 
• Challenging alignment of input files to the correct positions 

BIM X Automation – Made the Whole Difference 

The constant back-and-forth between teams caused inefficiencies. nCircle Tech streamlined communication between BIM and software automation teams, enabling real-time collaboration. This improved workflow reduced delays, allowing the automation team to deliver faster, tailored solutions, transforming traditional BIM processes. 

Automating the Electrical Placement 

Action: The team developed a Dynamo script and automated the daunting manual process of electrical fixture placement. 

Impact: Precision attained in less time. 

3D Modelling– Through an Advanced Route 

Action: Revit plugin was generated to automate the 3D modelling process from a .dwg file. Further, the ‘modify by points’ approach was developed to ease out the roof modelling. 

Impact: BIM modelling was made more effortless and quicker. An inbuilt template catered to the issue of unaligned input files. 

From Base File to Advanced Models 

The team at nCircle Tech received the following inputs from the client: 

• Revit template base file 
• Elevations, sections, and details in PDF and CAD formats 
• Architectural and electrical details 

Our process began with closely replicating the client’s existing modeling workflow. nCircle Tech’s skilled modelers collaborated extensively with the BIM and automation teams, identifying challenges and proactively proposing automation-driven solutions to enhance efficiency and accuracy. 

Our Deliverables

• High-precision .rvt and .pdf files - Included composed layouts, mirrored versions, and comprehensive floor plans. 
• Advanced Revit modeling - Consolidated multiple design options into a unified set, ensuring streamlined documentation. 
• Automation enhancements - Integrated automated area calculations (in square feet), delivering greater clarity and accuracy for project planning. 

Through this approach, nCircle Tech not only met but exceeded the client’s expectations, showcasing our commitment to delivering innovative and reliable BIM solutions. 

Estimating with Bluebeam 

One of the client’s key challenges was achieving precise estimations for the roof, a critical aspect of the project. 

To address this, the team at nCircle Tech leveraged Bluebeam to calculate: 

• Truss brace gable counts 
• Truss floor brace counts 

Deliverables

This approach ensured accuracy and efficiency in estimating essential roof components. 

The comprehensive documentation and calculations provided by nCircle Tech included: 

• Exact Roofline Lengths - Capturing every detail for improved project planning. 
• Accurate Bracing Counts - Including roof and floor truss bracing for precise material estimation. 
• Detailed Roof Surface Area Calculations - Supporting informed decision-making for construction planning. 

By integrating advanced tools like Bluebeam into the workflow, nCircle Tech enabled the client to achieve greater accuracy and reliability in their estimations, driving project success. 

Setting the Standard for Construction Engineering Efficiency 

From fixture placement to model alignment, each of the unique challenges was addressed by nCircle Tech’s innovative solutions. The client’s vision to revolutionize the homebuilding process was shaped by reducing manual labour, minimising errors, and empowering teams with top-notch automation plugins and software enabling the client to reduce project lead times by an average of 30% and minimize costly human errors by 25%, setting a new benchmark for operational efficiency. 

We at nCircle Tech believe in nFinite possibilities offered by technology to craft solutions that bring our client’s vision to life.