We shape our buildings; thereafter, they shape us.” This quote by Winston Churchill sheds light on the role that the construction industry plays in our lives. We as witnesses can corroborate that the AEC sector is going through the most advanced “technologically- molting” phase in the 21st century. With the digital colonization of AI and AR/VR technologies, we can truly say that “Impossible is nothing”
At the core of this digital revolution in the AEC industry lies BIM (Building Information Modeling) and VDC (Virtual Design and Construction). These two disciplines have metamorphosed the way buildings are conceptualized, designed, constructed and experienced.
Explore how this digital revolution began with CAD and evolved into BIM and VDC by clicking here- CAD vs BIM vs VDC.
When it comes to healthcare facility construction, the three solid pillars-
- Precision
- Collaboration
- Resource Management
Are paramount. With their complex inherent nature, healthcare project construction is one of the most strenuous construction and design operations to exist. It requires adherence to stringent safety regulations, heavy-duty medical equipment integration and extremely efficient building systems. With these principles at play, the architect has a pivotal role in creating spaces that balance functionality and patient comfort.
VDC technology in healthcare facilities provides an updated holistic view by capitalizing on its capabilities of providing multi-disciplinary models of healthcare projects like hospitals, hospice, etc.
In the following sections, let us explore how VDC services are reshaping healthcare infrastructure with their brilliant visual and digital potential. We will also be diving in on how Tejjy implemented our BIM VDC expertise on multiple healthcare projects, as we analyze the immense prowess of Virtual Design and Construction.
Exploring the core of Virtual Design and Construction for hospital projects
To quote Jeff Wherry, healthcare senior project manager with JE Dunn. “As complex as these (healthcare) facilities are becoming, I couldn’t imagine leading any hospital project, especially a design-assist project, without a strong VDC lead on the team from day one. Early involvement is imperative, and the value they contribute is tremendous.”
- VDC technology in hospital design offers a smooth cruise by facilitating the very needs of execution of healthcare facility through its capabilities.
- It provides real-time collaboration amongst all stakeholders and project participants via a virtual shared model of the facility, facilitating ICE (Integrated Concurrent Meetings)
- VDC provides an immersive and detailed insight into the design of hospital projects, giving the designers an upper hand in delivering efficiency.
- In the healthcare sector, safety, sanitation and risk mitigation are extremely significant. VDC aids in highlighting potential issues and resolving them promptly before the execution begins.
Tools in the VDC ecosystem used in healthcare infrastructure
VDC is not a new tool or a technique, it is a comprehensive set of effective techniques and multidisciplinary powerful tools integrated into a system. This VDC system for healthcare facilities consists of tools to meet the unique demands of healthcare infrastructural projects.
These tools include
- Building Information Modeling
- Clash Detection Technology
- Laser Scanning and Reality Capture
- Facility Management Tools.
- 3D Visualization technology.
Combining these solution providers together forms the VDC ecosystem, which guarantees that healthcare facilities are safe and future-proof.
Integration of VDC into construction operation of healthcare projects.
VDC, as mentioned earlier, is a multi-faceted technology which is a quintessential element in any construction project. While Virtual Design Construction in healthcare design is used to enhance the construction delivery, its benefits extend to the future of the building as well. With its tools, VDC can be considered as a boon from conception of hospital design till healthcare facility management.
The practical integration of VDC services in hospital design can be studied through a project successfully executed by Tejjy Inc.
Capitalizing on our BIM VDC services expertise, we delivered precise execution of Hospital Project In Washington DC- Architectural & Shop Drawing – Tejjy Inc.
Our VDC proficient workforce integrated the visualization capabilities of BIM, a significant component of VDC throughout the execution process of the hospital project. The brief provided to us by the healthcare authorities -was to provide high-quality visualization deliverables. With our in-house architectural BIM experts, visualization was to be utilized to optimize the workflow and building systems and mitigate risks. Below are the key VDC deliverables we provided.
Architectural BIM model with LOD 300
We developed a comprehensive BIM model of the facility to represent hospital design with precision. This VDC model acted as a foundation for design validation across multiple disciplines. It also offered smooth coordination among all stakeholders by contributing as a panoramic platform for all the construction needs and spatial requirements according to healthcare standards.
Results: The architectural BIM model helped project participants to visualize the core systems of the building. The detailed model represented structural components in an integrated digital environment. Which facilitated decision making for the execution team. Architects were able to visualize and redesign if needed to create a functional hospital space. Incorporating VDC in pre-construction phase of hospital design helped us in optimizing the design to the fullest before the spade hit.
Architectural Visualization and 3D Rendering
Our team utilized the ultimate set of 3D rendering and visualization tools- Autodesk Revit and 3Ds Max to create a photorealistic representation of the healthcare facility. These renderings clearly put forth the following for us-
- Design Intent
- Material Finishes
- Lighting Schemes
Results: A window into the immersive visual representation of the healthcare facility provided much-needed clarity on the design intent. High-resolution 3D renderings for healthcare infrastructure enabled our client to assess the functional as well as aesthetic aspects of the facility. Employing collaborative VDC strategies in healthcare construction had a vital impact on stakeholder engagement.
Clash detection and BIM Coordination
The 3D model crafted was scrutinized to mark out conflicts. Utilizing the advanced clash detection algorithms provided by Navisworks software within the BIM environment, our clash detection professionals identified the spatial conflicts between architectural, structural, and MEP systems.
Results: The discrepancies identified were resolved by our in-house teams of structural and MEP engineers with due studies done on stringent healthcare standards and regulations in the USA. This process made sure that the HVAC systems and medical equipment installation stayed in harmony with the structural components.
Our experience in providing high-quality VDC services in healthcare management immensely helped us in the early detection and resolution of design flaws. This reduced the future rework and delays during the construction phase.
Walkthrough Video
We developed an immersive virtual walkthrough using 3D simulation technologies in Autodesk Revit. This walkthrough offered the clients and the stakeholders the experience of the hospital design in Washington D.C. The detailed walkthrough accurately represented every nuance of the healthcare facility design from.
- Hospital Design
- Medical Equipment Placements
- Spatial Distribution according to the function it serves
- Hospital building systems
- Design flow and zoning.
Results: The walkthrough allowed our clients to navigate through the significant areas of the hospitals including operating rooms, patient care units, administrative spaces, etc. In the virtual realm. Our team members were able to assess whether the planned design purpose was fulfilling the brief while adhering to strict codes and regulations. We simulated different design scenarios to pick which one fits the best to our client’s and the project’s needs.
Our clients could envision the hospital design and gave us feedback which was incorporated by our team. This resulted in the successful execution of the Hospital Project in Washington DC by Tejjy Inc.
Along with these prominent deliverables we also provided Architectural service for healthcare facility by providing architectural shop drawings.
Our accurate BIM model created with the help of as-built documentation provided detailed Quantity Take off to enable accurate budgeting for the project. Our deliverables resulted in prompt and efficient execution of the hospital project, giving us the upper hand with our VDC skills. This project by Tejjy Inc. Is a testament to study the VDC impact on healthcare construction timelines.
Click here to explore this project virtually!
Upgrading healthcare facility design with VDC- MEP Coordination and Clash Detection
VDC technology leverages its tools for large healthcare project coordination to improve the efficiency of building operations to a significantly high level. MEP coordination and clash detection play a vital role in providing a successful healthcare project delivery. Let us take a deep dive into this-
MEP coordination in healthcare infrastructure, facilitated by VDC technology provides-
- Integrated Design Approach
- Real-time collaboration
- Standardization of Components.
Clash Detection in hospital MEPF design facilitates-
- Early Identification of Conflicts
- Reduction of Change Orders
- Streamlined Maintenance procedure
This approach was deployed by our team for two of our most prominent projects
MFSS II by US Army Corporation of Engineers
- We did our small part in serving the veterans of this country by providing efficient MEP solutions and Clash coordination using our competence in VDC for healthcare facility maintenance.
- This Indiana-based outpatient clinic for veterans was crafted virtually by our BIM and VDC experts. The BIM model was then examined and dissected to extract MEPF service layouts of the existing medical facility.
- Capitalizing on our advanced mastery of Autodesk Revit and Navisworks, we carried out successful clash identification and resolution of the hospital facility.
The 3D visualization of the healthcare infrastructural facility helped our team in resolving design issues. We provided architectural design solutions for hospital infrastructure with adherence to health facility standards, USA.
The Laurel Medical Center, Laurel, Maryland, USA.
- Based in Maryland, this medical community has been the best medical care provider in the area for a decade. We provided them with MEP services for smooth functioning of the healthcare facility.
- Our BIM team created a BIM model of the healthcare infrastructure with the level of detailing of 350 (LOD 350). Through this BIM model we were able to visualize the existing MEP systems.
- Post the clash detection phase, we identified conflicts between the systems. These conflicts were resolved promptly with our team of structural engineers and architects by our side.
- Leveraging the leading VDC services in USA, we ensured that all the architectural and structural systems are coordinated and running seamlessly with the help of Building Information Modeling.
Visit our projects, MFSS II by US Army Corporation of Engineers and The Laurel Medical Center to virtually witness the VDC in healthcare facility construction implementation.
Improving Patient experience by implementing VDC technology – Digital Twins
In large-scale healthcare facilities like multi-specialty hospitals, labs, nursing homes, Psychiatric Facilities, field hospitals, etc. Patient experience is paramount. Patient care and experience determine the overall efficiency of the healthcare building. In order to reduce the wait time for the patients and the commute time for the caregivers, one of the most prominent aspects is patient and staff flows.
VDC has been lauded in healthcare facilities to be a major contributing factor in patient-centric design. Digital Twins- one of the major technologies to emerge in the current AEC environment is the strongest suiter for simulating patient-staff flow to finalize the efficient scenario.
VDC technology taps into its toolbox to support Digital Twins in healthcare facility construction and management.
- IoT devices and sensors to track real-time patient-staff movements.
- BIM Integration
- Artificial Intelligence for predictive maintenance and identifying patterns
- VDC in Cloud Computing and Cloud platforms like Azure Digital Twins or Siemens MindSphere to manage and integrate data from different systems.
With the assistance of the tools and technologies mentioned above Digital Twins in healthcare provide:
Patient Flow Optimization
- 3D models integrated with Digital Twins’ capabilities model patient journeys or commute patterns. These patterns cover the entire process from admission to discharge.
- Analyzing these patterns digital twins suggest the most efficient pathways to reduce waiting times and fast access to critical care.
Staff Workflow Analysis
- Digital twins supervise and collect data of staff movements. This helps in optimizing:
- Workspace layouts (Nurse stations to patient wards)
- Ideal staff motions without unnecessary back and forth.
- Care quality and reduced fatigue.
Predictive Maintenance
- Digital Twins monitors building systems like HVAC and other medical equipment, critical healthcare systems, etc. Its multi-disciplinary surveillance capabilities can predict breakdowns and schedule maintenance.
Emergency Simulations
Simulation powers in digital twins for hospital design can create emergency scenarios to check and improve the handling capacity of the healthcare facility in case of unexpected patient surges.
Infection Control and Safety Planning via VDC Simulations and Digital Twins
One of the major aspects that came into the limelight during the pandemic is the ability of our healthcare system to manage large-scale surges and deliver effective care during the pandemic. An urgent need for better healthcare management and efficient healthcare infrastructure was felt. The unpreparedness of the healthcare infrastructure to manage the patients and keep the infection under control is what contributed to a significant number of casualties.
This is where VDC capabilities can be the guardian of medical care.
Digital Twins and VDC simulation’s advantages are not just limited to optimizing patient care, although it is a prominent factor. VDC simulations can also facilitate Infection control. Let’s look at how VDC contributes to safety planning in medical care-built facilities:
Airflow and Ventilation Simulations
Designers can visualize the airflow systems during the design phase itself and can optimize the HVAC placements to control air-borne infections. For eg: While designing the quarantine rooms, digital twins can simulate air-pressure differentials. This ensures that the infected air does not escape the isolation rooms. Safeguarding the hospital premises.
Simulation of clean and contaminated Zones
VDC can be leveraged by architects to segregate the clean and contaminated zones. With its clear visual representation, designers can improve pathways for transporting sterile equipment or medical waste disposal.
Digital Twins with their real-time access, can enable renovating the existing medical facility to meet the social distancing needs and patient-surges. It could help in testing the different configurations of seating spaces and corridors. It can also help in maintaining compliance with safety standards.
Training for Safety Protocols via Simulations.
VDC-oriented virtual environment with AR/VR integration can create training simulations. These simulations can be used to train medical staff, doctors, caregivers, etc. On different safety protocols. It can also simulate medical emergencies and showcase correct procedures for handling special cases.
VDC and its digital tributaries present the AEC sector with a comprehensive framework for designing, constructing, and maintaining healthcare facilities. It also improves patient care and the overall well-being of society.
Conclusion.
Virtual Design and Construction can be considered an indispensable resource when it comes to designing and constructing healthcare facilities across the USA. As seen earlier the strategic advantages and the data-driven approach that the VDC technology offers are soon going to be imperative in managing medical facilities. The evolving medical practices, ailments and its sufferers, having a holistic healthcare facility has become mandatory.
In the light of the pandemic, the AEC sector was reminded of the importance of efficient planning and construction. As the healthcare construction continues to grow in scale and complexity, the use of VDC will always remain critical.
Let’s make the future of healthcare infrastructure smarter, cleaner and healthier with VDC.
