Tocci explains that the value of technological innovation is particularly relevant when it comes to the dimensional control of existing buildings; specifically, he points to the problem with the accuracy of original drawings. In many cases, an older building’s drawings were done by hand on Mylar and may not accurately reflect the building and its current condition. By laser scanning critical building components, Tocci says it’s easy (and quick) to prove whether a two-dimensional drawing is still relevant or not.
“That usually gives us a good indication of the quality of the drawing, but more often than not it just serves as a validation for the decision to go and laser scan the entire building because we see enough discrepancies that we understand that, ‘OK, this is this is a typical 1954 hand drawing. We can’t carry it as gospel’,” he explains.
New Tools of the Trade
There is a variety of new tools and technologies on the market that hold a great deal of promise in terms of transforming the way buildings are constructed and remodeled—many of which are already being implemented without significant cost or disruption to existing paradigms (see “New Technologies to Consider”).
For example, Millin suggests drones are “the most exciting new technology because they can be integrated into existing workflows, making them much more efficient compared with other technologies. For example, drones are already helping the construction industry build instant ROI by creating job-site-ready maps and models at record speed, where other technologies can prove difficult to show the value.”
He also points out drones are becoming increasingly cost effective, thanks to the recent proliferation of new models that has driven down hardware prices. “Technologies like 3-D printing and virtual reality hold incredible promise for the future but require more of an initial investment and workflow overhaul,” Millin says.
Nevertheless, Tocci says augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) can be invaluable tools in certain instances that can save money in the long-run. For example, in the design of hospitals or courtrooms, project teams often build costly physical mockups of operating rooms, courtrooms or other critical spaces for the benefit of end-users who offer their input into the functional elements and ergonomics of the environments before they are constructed. Using AR or VR can more effectively translate a two-dimensional sketch into a 3-D scenario, especially for people who have trouble visualizing between the two. “Having the ability to put [end-users] into an augmented reality or virtual reality that gets them spatially comprehending what they’re dealing with is critical,” Tocci explains. “The additional step of going through and building it in a virtual reality environment is almost a rounding error on the physical mockup cost.”
VR and AR tools don’t necessarily require a huge investment in equipment or resources, however. Tocci says a number of new software tools and apps on the market can be leveraged using smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices to display 3-D geometry in real time. One such tool, Modelo, offers design professionals the ability to upload a SketchUp or Revit model directly into a program that generates a sharable link, which displays a 360-degree, 3-D view of a space using virtually any web browser.
“We can go create a quick mockup showing a three-dimensional space, send a link out and have somebody click on it on their cell phone and spin around to better understand what we’re talking about as opposed to marking up a 2-D floorplan or an elevation or a section and hoping that [clients] understand what the breakroom in their office is going to look like,” Tocci says.
As far as new technologies for existing buildings and renovation projects go, however, Tocci says “pound-for-pound, the best tool out there is a laser scanner.” Noting the affordability of laser scanners today thanks to competitively priced products, Tocci says laser scanning “is the area to jump into just because of the ROI—it’s been documented 100 times over.” He adds that the cost of hardware is decreasing and availability of computers to handle computationally heavy point clouds is constantly improving, as well.