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RLB Harnesses Construction Data and Increases Preconstruction Efficiencies

Published Date



Because Rider Levett Bucknall’s (RLB) global projects involve multidisciplinary teams and a number of stakeholders, informational accuracy in digital workflows is of the utmost importance. And so, when the company realised that there was room for improvement in its information-sharing practices— specifically on projects rooted in the preconstruction phase—a seed was planted, foreshadowing changes to come. Solving this issue was no simple task, however. For RLB, achieving it meant a mindset shift across the entire organisation.
 

“We needed to reimagine the design and preconstruction phase across the industry to improve collaboration and share data.”

Allan Trotter
Digital Lead for Cost Management


With over 4,000 staff across 40 countries worldwide, RLB provides clients with cost management and quantity surveying, project and programme management, asset advisory and specialist consultancy. Committed to creating value for its clients, RLB knew that by transitioning to a single source of truth, it could extract real-time data to improve design coordination and review, quantity-take-off, and mark-ups.


Slashing Inefficiencies and Duplication with Shared Data

Working without updated information had created a domino effect of inefficiencies for RLB’s team. Some would abandon new technology in favor of familiar processes, and projects became more time-consuming and manual. “Colleagues would revert to 2D ways of working because they didn’t have access to all of the information they needed to work in 3D. Sometimes tasks were repeated that had already been done earlier in the process,” Allan recalls. While the team recognised the need to correct this acute issue, the idea of utilising a digital roadmap seemed to be a more fruitful approach. RLB believed that a digital roadmap would help heighten process standardization and cross-team connectivity, both of which would improve outcomes for its clients and the overall industry. Seeking a connected environment that would better support cross-team and industry collaboration, RLB invested in Assemble, an Autodesk Construction Cloud™ solution.


 

“We saw the ability to connect BIM data between design and construction, which would provide significant support with estimating, change management, scheduling, tracking and design review processes.”

Allan Trotter
Digital Lead for Cost Management



Piloting for Proof

RLB’s UK team was the first to pilot the new technology. When a large power plant asked RLB to carry out cost verification and quantity check exercises during the project’s construction design stage, RLB utilised its new Assemble workflow. Pairing Assemble with other Autodesk solutions like Revit and Navisworks, RLB was able to cross-check the information model and condition the model for quants takeoff and further costing. All of these steps complimented the team’s typical quality take-off process, integrating Autodesk’s solutions into RLB’s own in-house cost estimating software. “Once the information model is checked and conditioned, we import the information into our ROSS 5D cost estimating software using the extended properties. This means we can utilise and standardise the model mapping process for our team,” Allan shares. By improving the model checking and conditioning process, RLB identified errors and gaps quicker. This led to a more accurate and detailed cost estimate in the required output format and improved the comparison and verification processes.
 

“And now that our business has adopted hybrid working arrangements, Assemble allows everyone to work together remotely.”

Allan Trotter
Digital Lead for Cost Management

Building upon that line of thought, “The [Assemble] user experience is excellent; [with it] everyone on the team can collaborate and work more effectively,” Allan elaborates.


Shifting the Mindset with Preconstruction Models

Using Assemble to create a central source of truth on this project cut down on task repetition and fostered collaboration within the team. Prior to Assemble, information could be fragmented and held in silos. And, while RLB still occasionally experiences such when working with multiple stakeholders, its dedicated to implementing new ways of working.
 

“Our focus is to change the mindset of the industry because we can see how this technology allows us to collaborate better.”

Allan Trotter
Digital Lead for Cost Management


Ultimately though, RLB benefited most from the visualisation functionalities and the enhanced reporting features. “The Power BI add-in and report templates will help us gain more insight from project activities and dive into further analysis,” Allan shares. Whilst implementation has been “intuitive and easy without lengthy training,” Allan’s team has set up company-wide learning programmes and enlisted “technology champions” to support adoption. Now the team’s confidence and capability in Assemble has grown, RLB looks to replicate the benefits achieved on the UK power plant project in the design development stages of future projects.