Elevating Efficiency: The Impact of a Custom 3D Web Platform on a Leading U.S. General Contractor

New-age AEC initiatives are thriving by leveraging the dynamism of effective project documentation and 3D model management facilities. But how?  

AEC projects often need a centralised repository associated with structured 3D models. Such models help bring the stakeholders on a mutual platform, allowing them to access, edit, and view files, elevating the collaboration. The absence of this systematic medium is reflected in the form of deficient access management capabilities.  

Our client—acclaimed as one of the largest building and initiative ventures in the U.S., approached us with a similar challenge. As our team at nCircle took over the project, we analysed the core painpoints within their construction and execution workflow. With us, they sought to achieve a customised 3D delivery platform—one that aids standard BIM model delivery, customer retention, effortless productivity, and seamless automation. 

To accommodate their vision and alleviate the roadblocks in their project execution, we came up with a user-friendly admin portal built around Autodesk Forge APIs. Through this simple yet effective web app, we were able to deliver robust security measures that protect sensitive data. 

But that’s not all. Our layered 3D model management became key to solving some major obstacles in optimising their workflows for design, engineering, and manufacturing sectors. Want to know more? Keep reading to find out.

The Project Challenges at Play 

Being one of the largest players in the U.S. Building and Infrastructure sector, our client works across various domains. From public to private, cultural to corporate, education to entertainment, and primarily, their infrastructural expertise helps connect these different sectors into a cohesive system through power, transit, water, and roadways. 

With over a century of expertise in harnessing the finest software solutions, the client is known for enabling owners, developers, and designers to make informed project decisions. 

Owing to their pragmatic approach towards data-driven decision-making, it became essential for them to tread the new-age path of optimising construction workflows.    

Our secure 3D web application served as a comprehensive solution for this U.S.-based infrastructure gaint. But what were the primary project challenges at play that were untangled through this solution? Let’s dive deeper.

• Absence of a centrally structured platform, specifically for 3D models
• Utilisation of box being the chosen method for all sorts of file storage
• Lack of a dedicated 3D or 2D platform for stakeholders to map data in real-time
• Roadblocks in stakeholder communication owing to the lack of a system that helps them view, edit, and access file simultaneously 
• Deficiency in access management capabilities

Elevating Construction: Fusing Holistic Collaboration and Customisation  

With the aspiration of drifting away from conventional and basic BIM modelling, our client aimed at becoming more of a tech venture. Their goal—making it simpler for stakeholders to store and access all their projects within a single platform and achieve effortless model reviews. 

To help their team achieve better coordination and move beyond the confines of options like BIM360, we at nCircle Tech developed a cohesive 3D platform. 

How Was the 3D Platform Set into Motion? 

1. Admin portal that enabled upload and management of project documents. 
2. Sorting 3D model files with related project information through a standardised format. 
3. Project segregation based on products specific to client delivery. 
4. Integrating 2D and 3D forge viewers to view 2D sheets and 3D models simultaneously. 
5. Implementing the camera sync feature for enhanced 2D and 3D comparison. 
6. Deriving actionable insights from clients to tackle their consumer retention issues. 
7. Channeling 3D forge viewer for better collaboration and transparent communication between the client and the consumer. 
8. Clearly defining user roles to achieve customised data accessibility.

The Identified Painpoints and the Tech That Tackled Them 

Here are a few painpoints that we encountered through the process of curating this holistic 3D web solution.

1. Ensuring seamless performance of the web app
2. Working with heavy construction models while implementing auto-camera sync
3. Manually navigating IDs through Forge API consumed a lot of time

The following technological tools were leveraged to bring our mutual vision to life -

• Autodesk Forge (APS) based platform 
• Frontend - React.js 
• Backend - Node.js 
• Database - MongoDB 
• Deployment – AWS 

What Benefits Did the Solution Bring? 

Even with an extensive set of challenges looming, nCircle Tech’s Autodesk Forge proved to be the right solution. With a seamless admin portal and features like 2D and 3D forge viewers, our client achieved the following: 

• A 30% productivity enhancement 
• A well-designed web application and website display for their amazing portfolio 
• Stakeholders could now view heavy files up to 5-6 GB without any performance issues
• Internal collaboration became much more transparent

Thus, they are now equipped with an effective tool that adds to their workflow efficiency by facilitating project management in an organised format.   

We at nCircle Tech have over a decade of experience leveraging the latest technology to curate meticulous solutions that cater to our clients’ aspirations. Our tools help leading developers and business owners structure workflows and make informed decisions to evolve their existing strategies.