3D Scanning Provides a Digital Twin As Built for Demolition & Installation Projects

PUBLISHED:
August 1, 2023

Industrial retrofit and construction projects have complex demolition and installation planning requirements. Unexpected delays can extend production downtime and create significant unwanted labor and downtime costs. Reality capture using 3D scanning creates a digital twin that can be used to simulate every demolition and installation step before a single cut is made. These simulations allow project management teams to mitigate risk by finding unexpecting clashes, safety risks or other unexpected difficulties. As shrinking contingency budgets necessitate that every project manager works to minimize costs, 3D scanning and project simulation have become key tools in identifying risks and planning projects in detail to reduce costs.

Unexpected Issues and Downtime Cost Time and Money

The Machine Metrics blog says 82% of companies have experienced unexpected downtime from various causes. Lost production or project delays due to downtime are directly accountable to lost revenue, in addition to the labor costs and other auxiliary costs accrued during a delay. Downtime and schedule failures have a domino effect, often cascading into subsequent project phases. If not planned for, the costs from unexpected delays multiply through that process.

One factor in unexpected issues leading to delays is that 2D as built drawings leave out details and are often out of date. Planning demolitions and installations in 2D using existing as built documentation, manual measurements and traditional survey methods has a high risk of unexpected issues like component clashes. These unexpected issues and downtime are often costly in engineering, shipping, and refabrication costs to alleviate the problem. When combined with the labor and lost production costs of the delay itself, these risks can be devastating to a project budget.

Creating a 3D Digital Twin is Easy, Fast and Accurate

A 3D scanned digital twin provides an environment that all project stakeholders can easily use. 3D Scanning eliminates the uncertainty of manual measurement and the need for making additional measurements by hand. A 3D digital twin allows new measurements to be made digitally, at a desk, within the 3D scanned environment. 3D Scanning is fast, with project scans and supplementary 3D modeling able to be delivered before a survey can be completed.

Simulation takes 3D Scanning to the Next Level

With the 3D digital twin created by scanning (and the supplemental 3D modeling of critical equipment or components) simulations can be created to plan every step of demolition and installation. A simulation can catch unforeseen issues in demolition, installation clashes that were not easily seen in the 2D plan and safety risks that may present themselves. A simulation is a powerful tool not only for analysis but also for communication. The animated results that can be created after the simulation phase is complete can be used to convey finalized project steps to stakeholders or project teams as needed. The combination of the interactive 3D environment created by 3D scanning, combined with the detailed 3D modeling from the engineering team and 3D simulation for project planning, provides a complete digital workspace that allows teams to plan and execute every demolition and installation project step in advance before a single cut is made. Detailed planning and insight mitigate unnecessary risk and reduce cost overruns.

Contact AsBuilt today if you are interested in leveraging 3D scanning for your next project to maximize efficiency and reduce risk.

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