With over ten years of developing and using BIM applications, there is no single firm with the depth and breadth of experience Beck Technology possesses.
Known for innovation in the preconstruction process, Beck Technology’s services team utilizes a variety of cutting edge technologies to deliver exceptional value to our clients in the preconstruction phase and beyond.
Beck Technology, Ltd. was born from The Beck Group, a firm that combines architecture, construction, technology and development to deliver a uniquely efficient Integrated Enterprise. Beck Technology has the necessary expertise to be practitioners with “boots on the ground”. Our expertise extends into many leading BIM technologies from Revit to Navisworks, and to our own technology, DProfiler. Our services span the building life cycle from planning, design, construction, and facility management. Contact us for an introduction to our services team of:
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DProfiler
DProfiler is our preferred application to help the project teams visualize, cost and analyze design alternatives during the planning and conceptual design process. Often times, budgets are not in-line with the intent of the project from the beginning of the design process due to the assumption gap between the owner, the architect, and the contractor. Many of these gaps are rarely recognized until a full budget is developed and re-aligning these assumptions is too costly to the project. DProfiler was developed specifically to address this communication gap between conceptual design and conceptual estimating with the quickest and most effective means available to the project team. The tool also allows a rapid assembly and comparison of multiple preliminary design models with real-time cost estimating and energy analysis generated simultaneously. This allows all parties to be involved in real time collaborative sessions to evaluate project options and foster a team atmosphere in making those decisions. Our services team can provide cost estimating, site logistics planning, phasing, and value engineering with DProfiler.
Revit
Beck Technology has extensive experience using Revit on design and construction projects to accurately document the project in a detailed BIM. We have developed modeling standards and BIM content, and utilize standardized levels of detail specifically to create an appropriate building information modeling process that responds to the project needs. This experience allows us to create exceptionally detailed Revit models of the architectural scope that are also highly functional as construction oriented BIM.
Innovaya
Estimating a highly detailed model requires an understanding of the BIM process to enable accurate handling of the data to be extracted from a model. Innovaya’s Visual Estimating was one of the first tools designed with this process in mind. This tool acts as a bridge between a model and a detailed cost estimating platform such as Timberline. The application combines a 3D interface to explore and evaluate the model, an estimating centric interface for extracting quantities from the model, and system for developing mappings between the BIM and the cost assemblies in the database. Used effectively, this program can facilitate a variety of advanced cost analyses of the design team’s BIM including design change cost comparisons and evaluation of multiple design schemes at a highly detailed level. More importantly, it allows experienced estimators to focus their time on quality control and cost verification instead of quantity takeoff leading to more accurate estimates.
Navisworks - Simulate
For scheduling, Beck Technology has experience using a variety of scheduling applications and can combine these schedules with the design or fabrication Building Information Models within Navisworks Simulate. A visual schedule like this can be used to help all project team members visualize the construction sequence of the project and to illustrate the intent behind delivery and installation dates as they relate to other trades and the schedule as a whole. We also use these schedules to help identify potential schedule conflicts in 3D and to look for opportunities to optimize the project schedule.
Navisworks - Clash Detection
Revit models have also be leveraged in Navisworks Manage for coordination and clash detection by combining the Architectural, Structural, and MEP models. Beginning this process in the design phase facilitates a more fully coordinated document set, resulting in a shorter and more effective coordination process with subcontractors. As these subcontractors become involved, we will replace any design models in Navisworks with the fabrication models required from subcontractors. MEP, fire protection, and any structural steel are all areas that we expect to receive 3D fabrication models for this purpose. In projects where local subcontractors lack experience with 3D modeling, we have trained these companies by providing basic information on the process and mentor them to meet goals for the project.
Laser Scanning
We have utilized laser scanning and other scanning technologies to supplement our BIM processes in a variety of ways. We have used Laser Scanners for capturing as-built conditions on existing interiors and exteriors, for creating Building Information Models of the same facilities, and as a verification system during construction to ensure that subcontractors are installing their scope per the fabrications models. We have used both the models constructed from the laser scanning files and the native point clouds themselves in Navisworks for coordination and comparisons.
Through our experience as practitioners, we have gained significant understanding of the skills necessary to implement BIM processes and procedures in a team environment that includes sub-consultants and subcontractors of varying skill levels. We have assembled standard contract documents for all our team members to help communicate BIM expectations at the project level and to help the team meet the project’s goals. Additionally, we hold regular meetings to ensure these requirements are being met.
Implementing the use of the BIM on the jobsite once the construction phase has begun allows “on the fly” interaction to aid in the construction, immediate integration of any construction changes, and an accurate as-built and revision model. This digital construction model is facilitated by electronic submittal requirements, allowing any correspondence with consultants or subcontractors to be easily added to the BIM document set. Keeping this file up to date with the construction process is critical for the long term use of the BIM for use in facilities maintenance and operation. Involving other trades in the BIM process is critical for successful implementation of BIM on a project.
In addition to the design consultants, subcontractors must be involved in defining the BIM deliverables and must participate by creating their own 3D fabrication BIMs for use in the construction BIM processes. Just as with consultants, we have developed a standard attachment to our contracts for subcontractors that clearly defines what needs to be modeled in order for the team to get the full value out of scheduling and coordination in BIM. Maximizing technology on a jobsite requires appropriate interface devices to be present for the project and field staff to interact with the BIM. Job trailers must at a minimum, include access to a workstation class computer to manipulate and update the BIM, and a conference room and projector suitable to the project team for collaborative meetings involving the BIM.
As a result of the depth of technology implementation in the organization, Beck Technology has developed training programs and documentation for many of the major applications that we employ. Applications such as DProfiler, Revit, Navisworks, and Innovaya have dedicated process manuals that integrate these applications into our daily processes. Additionally, on and off-site training programs are utilized as necessary to get project teams running effectively. Video tutorials are also available.
Because Beck Technology has offered DProfiler as a commercially available BIM authoring software, we take pride in our training course and documentation offered to train customers who purchase the software. Beck Technology has created documentation in the form of a Getting Started User Manual complete with several exercises and case studies for users to become acclimated to the application, as well as full documentation on functionality and use. In addition to the technical documentation, Beck Technology, Ltd., has created and instructed several training courses to internal and external clients. We have professional trainers, with experienced staff practitioners who offer on and off-site training at Executive, Base, and Intermediate levels to our increasing customer base.
Beck Technology frequently collaborates with industry professionals to help further the integration of technology in our industry. Beck Technology contributes to and/or participates in multiple BIM forums, organizations, and networks.
