BIM isn’t enough for successful Builders anymore. BIM’s siloed methods don’t encourage the communication and collaboration needed among Owners, Designers, Builders and Trade Partners. There is a paradigm shift happening in the AEC industry where BIM is being replaced by Virtual Design & Construction. VDC’s macro focus supports the collaborative effort needed to meet shrinking timelines on increasingly more difficult projects. No project team will succeed without integrating the people, processes, and technology available to the AEC industry. We are in a golden age of technology and individual knowledge. Alex Belkofer from McCarthy will share their experience of BIM & VDC from design through construction of the St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station. He will discuss their workflows, the collaborative BIM Execution Plan the team developed, and how the team collaborated to overcome the challenges of constructing a 120,000 sq. ft. modern aquarium in a 125-year-old national historic landmark.

A BIM/VDC kickoff meeting is a crucial (but often neglected) component on any multidiscipline/multifirm project. This session will give attendees a chance to build their own BIM/VDC coordination kickoff meetings. We’ll discuss and put together a one-size-fits-all type of agenda (to be used as a starting point for your organization) for a typical BIM/VDC coordination kickoff meeting. As part of this session, we’ll discuss who needs to attend, what topics need to be covered, how to track the information that is discussed, and how to best document the meeting itself. A final result of our discussion will be a group-sourced, distributable, BIM/VDC coordination document that works for any project type. This session is intended for BIM/VDC managers, BIM/VDC coordinators, BIM/VDC job captains, project managers, and anyone else typically involved in the initial project BIM/VDC kickoff meeting.

In the fast-evolving landscape of industrial construction, the early integration of virtual design and construction (VDC) and engineering disciplines is not just beneficial—it's essential. This session explores how using VDC from the beginning phases can significantly reduce rework and redesign, streamline processes, and ensure project accuracy. We will discuss how this integrated approach is particularly critical for modular construction projects, where precision and planning are paramount. Through case studies and practical insights, attendees will learn strategies to effectively synchronize VDC and engineering to enhance project outcomes.

The panel discussion will provide insights into transitioning from field roles to virtual design and construction (VDC) roles in construction. Attendees will gain practical insights, explore technological advancements, and discover professional development opportunities in this evolving construction career landscape. The discussion will cover how to attract field engineers to VDC, understand the changing role dynamics, integrate VDC practices, and utilize technology for improved project outcomes. Through real-world experiences and actionable steps, the panel will propose a roadmap for navigating this transition, developing training strategies, and leading teams to achieve construction excellence.

Drafting in VDC programs takes a combination of industry knowledge and software knowledge. In order to be proficient, a drafter has to pull from both knowledge sets and the best VDC personnel have some level of field experience in order to know how systems should be built correctly and efficiently. This session will moderate a discussion on ways to train union labor, both from the field and through the apprenticeship. In both cases, there is a need for some level of proficiency. For apprentices, more jobsites are incorporating coordination software in the field. They need to be able to use the software tools to read, interpret and build. For journeymen using their experience to become draftsmen, they need training on how to use software to design, coordinate and fabricate. The discussion will talk about how contractors around the country are approaching this training, what content should be taught to each set of people and how they approach bringing in labor to the office.

Join Jay Ure, Customer Success Manager at NavVis for a live demo of NavVis technology and learn how it's supercharging BIM and VDC workflows across the AEC Industry. Austin will dive into operating NavVis VLX, processing the data, and show you how to work with the data in 3rd party software such as Autodesk Revit. You won't want to miss it!

Gilbane VDC (Virtual Design and Construction) utilizes many tools and tips throughout the entirety of a project to support project needs. This presentation will run though a case study from project start to finish showcasing our process and procedures to put together various deliverables, and the outcome of each deliverable. We will focus on certain lessons learned that we now apply to our standard process, and highlight issues or success stories that have emerged from them. Beginning in Preconstruction, we will look at our Design Model Coordination Reports, touch on 4D scheduling, move onto Coordination and Drawing Submissions, and end on Verification, with a few more points scattered between. This presentation will educate others on Gilbane VDC's tried and true processes and spark ideas for the future.

BIM (Building Information Modeling) and virtual design and construction (VDC) managers often lead organizations through digital transformation, investigating the latest technology and exploring new ways to streamline and improve both business and project outcomes. Join us for a panel discussion with BIM/VDC managers from leading construction companies. We'll discuss strategies and best practices for getting the most out of collaborative, 2D and 3D quantification workflows.

Join us in this presentation as we showcase how we used 4D visual planning, laser scanning, model-based coordination, virtual mockups, and other virtual design and construction (VDC) tools and processes to overcome existing conditions and optimize the renovation process, which included the use of 206 prefabricated bathroom pods, for the 20 Mass Ave project located in Washington, D.C. The former office building is undergoing renovation to become a mixed-use location with retail space and a luxury hotel. By working together as a whole, these tools enabled the project team to streamline communication, reduce errors, and stay on schedule and budget. Don't miss this opportunity to learn practical tips and insights on how to integrate VDC strategies for the successful implementation of prefab and modular strategies in renovation projects.

DPR Construction has the opportunity to work on some of the biggest projects across the globe. But rooted in the company's culture is a focus on applying excellence to projects of any scale. Small projects bring a set of challenges of their own: tight schedules, limited budget, thinly spread teams, and, most of the time, existing conditions. Virtual design and construction (VDC) can play a big role in delivering successful outcomes, but it takes the right mix of people, process, and technology. Join us for an engaging session where we'll walk through how DPR adapts to the unique challenges of smaller projects. We'll talk about the technology we almost always apply (spoiler: it's reality capture) and what tech we leave at home. And finally, we'll describe the type of person required to overcome small project challenges and how we go beyond collaboration with training, design support, and access to Autodesk tools.

You’ve got a new title—building information modeling (BIM) / virtual design and construction (VDC) manager—and your role has changed from hands-on production to supervisor or manager. Now you’ve been tasked with writing a business plan for the next three to five years for your firm's BIM/VDC department. Join a roundtable discussion on how to approach this task, and get tips and resource tools to help you take the next step in your career and shift your mindset from "doer" to "thinker."

Presentation Focus is on live successes and challenges in the overall VDC delivery process on a major Project: -$240Million Project / 8 Buildings / Over 23 Acres / 30+ Design & Construction Professional Firms Learning Objectives: 1). The role BIM-enabled tools and the VDC process plays in the delivery process of 8 buildings, extensive sitework reconstruction across 23 acres within a 2-year construction schedule. 2). How early BIM Execution Planning set expectations, and peaks and valleys we endured as a team that followed. 3). The tangible value of BIM deliverables to enhance effective self-perform concrete installation. 4). The evolution of “standard” 3D Trade Coordination from “just a requirement” to really “trusting the model”. 5). Point of Attack “BIMing” to center BIM as the “Circle of Trust”. 6). Enhancing visual communications and decision-making on an Owner level through BIM-enabled concepts such as Virtual Mock Ups, 3D Virtual Walk-thrus, and 4D Model-Based Scheduling.

Autodesk’s Architecture, Engineering & Construction Collection provides an extraordinary range of capabilities and tools that, when integrated, create incredible insights and make easy work of complex design and project problems. This class will explore the potential and power of digital construction and project management with the AEC Collection. In this class, we will dive into the complex installation of several large tanks in a highly confined facility, utilizing drone technology and reality capture with different software integrations. Some of the software this class will explore is AutoCAD Civil 3D software, Vehicle Tracking, ReCap software, ReCap Photo software, Navisworks software, InfraWorks software, and more. With the integration of all these programs, the project was able to succeed as planned, utilizing found vehicle and building clearances as well as logistical confirmation of the project's ability to succeed. This class will demonstrate the effectiveness of the AEC Collection as well as the virtual design and construction (VDC) methodology.

The built environment is fundamentally changing, empowered by innovation in virtual design and construction (VDC). The result is more-complex and increasingly elegant designs, as well as streamlined procurement and construction methods. This panel includes academic and industry leaders responsible for developing and implementing new VDC technology, including Hilda Espinal of CannonDesign, Ricardo Khan of Mortenson Construction, Forest Flager of Stanford University, and Danielle Dy Buncio of VIATechnik. The panel will discuss advancements seen on past and current industry projects in the areas of prefabrication, artificial intelligence, data analytics, virtual and augmented reality, and multidisciplinary design optimization. Panelists will use multimedia presentations and demonstrations to communicate the material to attendees to facilitate thoughtful and interactive discussion. Attendees will leave with a greater understanding of the impact that VDC has on project delivery and performance.

When your proposal gets the green light, the virtual design and construction (VDC) modeling begins. Learn 5 essential tasks for harvesting both existing conditions and preliminary design directly from InfraWorks 360 software, and development of a more detailed and construction-ready model in AutoCAD Civil 3D software.

This will be a discussion about the impact an owner representative and client advocate—who is also a virtual design and construction (VDC) manager—employed specifically for engagement, collaboration, and leadership can have on a project team. We will discuss and evaluate the implementation of Autodesk Construction Cloud and VDC processes for internal engineering in a large manufacturing company. We will explore outcomes for project performance. And we'll look at the real implications for architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) teams when there is an active VDC manager acting on behalf of the client needs in context of traditional design and construction project workflows.

The concept of a BIM (Building Information Modeling) coordinator and virtual design and construction (VDC) manager/coordinator is still fairly new, and most of those with the responsibilities of BIM/VDC coordination came upon their duties, responsibilities, and titles in a roundabout fashion. Attendees of this session will see the paths that many BIM coordinators, BIM managers, VDC personnel, and BIM project team members responsible for project coordination took to get where they are. This session will also cover common duties, responsibilities, and best practices regarding the specific items for which most BIM coordinators are responsible. This session is intended for BIM managers, VDC managers, BIM coordinators, BIM job captains, and others responsible for coordination on BIM/VDC projects.