Translating design intent is a worthy goal with today's 3D modeling tools, but that vision does not have full control over the reality of put-in-place construction. So, 3D design model tools are heading into the field. The idea is to bring the model closer to the action to help achieve the design's true intent. But the delta between what is placed and what was planned continues to bedevil builders at a time when precision construction is seen as a key to increasing productivity and profit in the industry.
Precise construction is especially important in the health-care sector. Leading owners identify markets and needs and then commission new facilities with the full realization that changing medical equipment and health-care requirements will race ahead of design and construction and that change orders to adapt to the requirements current at the time of commissioning are inevitable—and acceptable—as long as their contractors manage the changes well. But that doesn't make it easy for the contractors that have to rip out months-old work in yet-to-be-completed buildings to accommodate the latest design changes ahead of opening day.