Digital
Lifecycle
THE
Operations & Asset Management
Design
Construction
Introduction
Using data to breakdown barriers like never before & deliver the projects of tomorrow.
Having the right information at your fingertips every step of the way. That is how WSB is connecting project stakeholders from design to construction to daily operations and maintenance. Complex data becomes easy to understand, analyze and visualize in a connected data environment, ensuring smarter decision-making, reduced risk and saved time and money.
WSB is at the forefront of the AEC industry, and the digital lifecycle is helping our clients lead the way.
Digital Lifecycle
Introduction
Benefits
Digital Lifecycle
Case Study
Why Digital Lifecycle
Digital Plus
What is the Digital Lifecycle?
The Digital Lifecycle is philosophy in action. It ensures that data in pre-design and planning flows seamlessly into construction, and in turn that data flows seamlessly into operations and maintenance after a project is complete.
By moving all data to a connected digital environment, the Digital Lifecycle allows data to flow cleanly and efficiently back and forth among various steps and among all stakeholders throughout a project. The data collected and presented in 3D model designs give construction personnel a clear picture of the project. Construction personnel can then relay new data back to design to update and adjust the project modeling as needed. After the project’s completion, operations and maintenance staff are able to use the detailed and functional 3D modeling to identify every data point and every detail which enables greater efficiency.
The Digital Lifecycle is a continuous flow of data that improves project delivery and long-term performance of an asset.
What the Digital Lifecycle Means for Design
The interconnectivity for the entire lifecycle finds its foundation in design. With the use of 3D modeling, every individual interacting with a project from start to finish will be able to have a clear picture of how the project will function upon completion. Every pipe, every light installation, the specific type of pavement used, and more will be made accessible throughout the lifetime of the project for construction teams and contractors, for maintenance and operational staff, for owners and for design teams on future projects.
The collected data harnessed in the design phase provides information down to the smallest detail which removes misunderstandings, allows for a faster handoff from phase to phase, and greatly reduces cost, risk and scheduling issues. .
The Digital Lifecycle
What the Digital Lifecycle Means for Construction
Construction management is understanding the data and making sure it works from concept to completion. Using the digital data from the predesign and design phase, project managers and contractors can access the data they need seamlessly.
For project managers, that means understanding the solids, shapes, and 3D objects that contain rich information about the project. For surveyors and contractors, that means understanding the project management points, lines, and surfaces of the model. Both groups receive the information pertaining to their specific needs within a connected data environment and can account for factors that may need to be adjusted in design. The Digital Lifecycle is the key that provides clients and construction teams with all they need to make decisions and do their jobs.
What the Digital Lifecycle Means for Operations & Asset Management
Even when a project build is complete, the project is far from finished. Operations and maintenance of an asset is critical to get the greatest value from a project and ensure it continues to serve the public safely and efficiently.
In a connected data environment, those managing the asset over its lifetime can predict needed maintenance, share data across stakeholders, and help decision makers better plan for budgetary needs. Moreover, when data from design and construction are in the hands of people in the field managing assets, it helps them better understand and overcome challenges and gain deeper insights in how to best prolong the life of an asset. Furthermore, within the lifecycle, the disconnect between maintenance and asset management is similarly eliminated. Using a digital format, as maintenance is performed, the newly acquired data can be loaded into the system automatically for asset management personnel. This lowers the chance for delays or mistakes and improves not only the quality of the asset, but the work quality for the personnel involved. The lifecycle extends beyond the completion of the project, providing a higher degree of efficiency.
Benefits
Breaking Down Silos
Mitigating Risk
Ensuring a Higher Degree of Certainty
Creating More Sustainable Infrastructure
Building Trust and Understanding
When data is shared across stakeholders and project phases, everyone can have a better understanding of project variables, decision-making, and how to best design, build and manage a project. Data also becomes more usable and easy to understand.
When adjustments and variables are accounted for in a 3D environment, it’s easy to navigate the best path forward. It also reduces the risk of errors in the field when a project is being built, and gives owners the ability to better create and execute asset management plans after a project is complete.
The digital lifecycle helps owners save money and create efficiencies. The reduced chance of errors, cost overruns, time delays and more demonstrates a clear value for digital delivery and connecting data throughout its digital lifecycle.
When data is created, stored and shared in a 3D environment, projects become more sustainable. For operations and long-term maintenance, they can better understand the variables, challenges and decisions that went into the design and construction of a project, and better manage the asset for decades to come.
Just as the digital lifecycle connects stakeholders working on a project through every phase, it also builds understanding and trust for every day individuals impacted by a project. The public, local elected officials, and supporting agencies can better understand and visualize projects thanks to integrated data and 3D modeling.
The Digital Lifecycle In Action
Transportation
Roads and bridges are assets used every day and have a major impact on communities, businesses and the public. When it comes to transportation design, developing a digital environment ensures every element is accounted for, and ensures projects can meet the needs of the community. The type of pavement used, locations of curbs and gutters, signs, signal lights, manhole covers, expected traffic flow, and more is available throughout the entire lifecycle of a project.
Wastewater
In a 3D connected environment, projects like a water treatment plant can be modeled in incredible detail down to every single pipe, roadway, support beam, and system. In later stages, stakeholders can see when specific-related assets were installed, model information, and specific identification of those assets within a model. Operational and maintenance staff can find that specific asset and make note of when it needs maintenance, expected repairs, and much more.
Renewables
Producing the clean, renewable energy our communities need requires great attention to detail and traditionally a very time consuming installation process. With the Digital Lifecycle, much of the tedium, excess time and excess costs in the installation of solar farms is stripped away. Through the usage of digital mass plans, contractors are able to easily identify every coordinate of every panel to remove any inconsistencies during placement. Additionally, construction teams through the use of digital designs are able to identify exact locations for removal and replacement of dirt and soil efficiently to cut down on transportation costs. The Digital Lifecycle also provides a clean line of communication between teams as equipment is remotely monitored and troubleshooted whenever issues arise so construction teams can react in the most effective manner. The Digital Lifecycle provides innovative solutions that improve the efficiency and cost effectiveness of renewable energy projects.
Case Study
The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) received special funding to convert Highway 169 from the Mississippi River to 197th Avenue into a freeway system through the city of Elk River. Through the TH 169 Redefine Project, WSB was the first firm to deliver a full set of plans in a 3D digital format to MnDOT. When speaking to the Minnesota StarTribune, Darren Nelson, MnDOT’s project manager praised the move as “…helping MnDOT get ready for where the industry is going. The [long-term] goal is full digital delivery and to get rid of paper plan sets.”
By utilizing the fully interconnected Digital Lifecycle the project was able to remain within budget and start more than a year earlier than projected.
TH 169 Redefine
Elk River, MN
Why WSB's Digital Lifecycle is Right for Your Project
At WSB, we use the latest tools and technologies to build the places and spaces we use every single day.
The Digital Lifecycle brings data together in one seamless place throughout the life of a project - from design to construction to operations and maintenance. Whether you are a state agency, local government, contractor, or policymaker, the digital lifecycle provides the tools to turn complex data into accessible information that improves projects and measures for every variable.
The Digital Lifecycle is WSB’s philosophy put into action. We help our clients reduce risk, improve safety, lower costs, drive better productivity, and create a connected environment that ensures a vision becomes reality.
WHY Digital Lifecycle
Learn More
Learn more about WSB's suite of digital solutions that make the Digital Lifecycle possible.
wsbeng.com
In Action
Municipal
The old way of working on projects was a city describes what they want, someone designs it, someone else builds, and someone else manages it. In the Digital Lifecycle, we unite those phases into an integrated digital environment, so that all stakeholders and policymakers understand each phase of a project with the details they need. Even a city official who doesn’t have the engineering background will be able to understand how the design works, what the end project will be, and what maintenance will be expected to ensure a long lifecycle for the asset. The Digital Lifecycle also provides a stopgap from the loss of institutional knowledge. When a city employee leaves, a fully digitized information system ensures that knowledge isn’t lost.
Environmental
Whether with a new development or while updating decaying infrastructure, being able to examine and work to correct potential environmental impacts is an imperative. Virtual models can assess stormwater systems, potential flooding depths, threats from rising tides, and other environmental concerns that impact a project. By knowing potential threats upfront, design, construction and operation teams can implement solutions seamlessly. Additionally, the Digital Lifecycle can help asway public concerns. It can transform data into graphics and 3D images which are easily interpretable for residents and stakeholders. Those affected by a project are granted peace of mind knowing all efforts are being made to protect the environment and budgets.
Energy Utilities
Energy and pipeline utilities are the second most regulated industry in the country. To fit that need, the Digital Lifecycle provides real time data like performance and exception reports with included geotagging to alert operations staff of the exact location of issues. Additionally, these digital tools construct in a 3D format the exact location and parameters of every existing utility line and where future lines can be placed to streamline the process. Oftentimes, a project has been engineered at great cost only for an issue to appear right after construction like misidentifying the location of an energy line. These issues drain funding and time. The Digital Lifecycle saves projects from such waste.
Transportation
Wastewater
Municipal
Renewables
Environmental
Energy Utilties
Energy Utilties
Environmental
Renewables
Municipal
Wastewater
Transportation
Energy Utilties
Environmental
Renewables
Municipal
Wastewater
Transportation
Energy Utilties
Environmental
Renewables
Municipal
Wastewater
Transportation
Energy Utilties
Environmental
Renewables
Municipal
Wastewater
Transportation
Energy Utilties
Environmental
Renewables
Municipal
Wastewater
Transportation
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