Digital dimensioning in construction

increases your returns with certainty

Where we find digitization in our daily lives quite normal, digitization in construction remains a challenge... Change is difficult. But sometimes very necessary. Because every builder recognizes the issues. But implementing such digital changes takes time and requires trust.

Ad van Gils realizes that, too. He is a consultant and trainer in digital surveying at Topcon Positioning Netherlands. The company offers knowledge and solutions to work smarter at the intersection of infrastructure and technology. "We notice that many companies find it difficult to move away from the old, familiar way of working. But nevertheless, digitization in the construction industry is continuing," Van Gils expects. "After all, the benefits are unprecedented."

Quick and easy dimensioning on construction sites with the comprehensive 3D laser LN-100.

First step

Digitization has been done on individual components, but software and processes are still little integrated, Van Gils notes. "We cannot blindly copy data from old digital drawings. Accuracy is of great importance, especially now that more and more prefabricated building elements are being worked with and the tolerances are small. Then it is important to digitally take exact data of the actual situation and design from there. New technologies are helping with this and changing the way we plan, design, build and maintain the built environment."

Digital dimensioning on construction.

The big picture

"Thinking big is the starting point," says Van Gils. "Because when all building disciplines work with accurate and up-to-date information, everyone can do the job faster, more accurately and more efficiently. Building Information Modeling (BIM) is seen as a crucial step in digitization in this regard, but even more is needed. We need to look at the bigger picture. In every phase of construction, in various ways, digitization contributes to a piece of certainty, accuracy and thus failure cost reduction. In addition, the improved process speed increases efficiency. It is so much easier to use once you have mastered the technology. And that is exactly where we see that many companies set up barriers mainly for themselves."

Starting smart

Investing in digitization costs money and time, and people often think it is too difficult. "A piece of ignorance," Van Gils observes. "Switching to digital processes also doesn't have to happen everywhere in the construction process at once. You can start small, start smart. Take an activity and see where a digital process can provide improvement. Topcon is there in every step of this process to help: what are you running into, what do you need, what are you still missing, how can we improve this. That's where our strength lies: accessibility is in our DNA and we realize that awareness is an important factor. There needs to be awareness that it takes a while to make something new your own. Therefore, grab a (small) project where the deadline is not already "tomorrow," let people work with it and give them a chance to build efficiency with it. It's worth putting that energy into it."

Data is becoming increasingly important. Digitalization on the construction site is a must for effective collaboration.

Switching up at efficiency

Every step in digitization at every stage contributes to more productive work. According to Topcon, sharing knowledge and data is necessary to get workflow improvements. Projects become more profitable by being delivered on time, on budget and to specifications.  "When you find that digitization is yielding returns, you start switching up," Van Gils continues. "A big step is when you digitize the workflow between the office location and the project location: when people in the field get real-time updates on their tablets and thus always work with the latest version. But it's the same the other way around: when data from surveying is transferred directly to the work planner in the office, he can see immediately whether the surveying is complete and correct. That part has now been made so user-friendly that we want to show it to them. Let them experience it!" Van Gils concludes, "When we do that and companies start digitizing faster, they will work according to a more efficient workflow with better results."