VR /AR and BIM are making our business community future proof!

Economic growth continues and the urgency to innovate is greater than ever. Increasing pressure on infrastructure and the rising demand for smarter and cheaper is the challenge of the future. That requires new skills. And then the question is: do you go along with the hype, or are you truly future proof?

That's where Jeffrey van Tol, BIM director at TBI company Mobilis, has a clear answer: "Changes in the construction industry are increasing; 3D modeling, parametric design, cloud-based software solutions, drones, 3D printing, VR /AR and mobile mapping, it's all there." Civil construction company Mobilis focuses on innovation within organization as well as within projects in infrastructure, water management and industry.

The use of VR also creates another piece of experience for the client. (Image: Vincent Basler)

Saving time and money
"By properly deploying these modern techniques, we significantly help the construction industry save time and money. We create a virtual representation of the existing environment, the final result and the intermediate steps. With this, we provide insight and experience for both clients and the environment of a construction project. The measurements we take with this form the basis for design, visualizations, planning, volume calculation, etc. Virtual construction enables faster decision-making and can lead to better decision making. It also exposes problems faster and allows for anticipation. And with the application of VR, this also creates a piece of experience for the client. Similarly, AR instructions help builders stay on track and monitor the quality of their work. The stored data can be used in a common data environment: BIM (Building Information Modeling). The insights gained make the work more efficient and the final product better," Jeffrey said.

BIM: major role within complex projects
"The use of BIM is taking on an increasingly essential role within concrete assignments. A BIM process is not the same across all projects but can be set up according to what is needed or what a client requests," Jeffrey continued. "We create our own BIM environment where all the information about the different project disciplines is stored, shared, used and managed throughout the construction process. This provides a lot of insight that allows us to advise at an early stage and certain choices are made. The various disciplines within an integrated construction project are much more manageable because we know when mutual coordination is needed. Clients and stakeholders go through the BIM model for validation: are they getting what they think they are going to get."

The Rhineland Route coordination model was used for review, interface visualization and validation with the client and stakeholders.

Digital Twin
"Mobilis goes even one step further," Jeffrey continues. "Together with Croonwolter&dros, we validate the operation of certain systems by linking the system architecture to the virtual model. This so-called Digital Twin is used to predict, test and possibly manage. We can simulate calamities and use the insights gained to improve the design. This saves a lot of time, creates better planning, saves costs and makes the testing and delivery process run more smoothly."

Rhine Road
"In the tender phase of this project, visualizations were made at various junctions in the route, allowing the client to look around 360 degrees. During the design phase, full use was made of the integral coordination model, which in turn served as the basis for the Digital Twin. The operation of the tunnel system was demonstrated in various scenarios. But a virtual driving experience of the various road phases during construction was also created in order to validate the road user's driving behavior." Jeffrey concludes, "Phased integral construction has to be done well, and having one central source of information is essential for that. Mobilis has proven to be very future proof in this."