By Vicki Speed

By Vicki SpeedDisplayed with permission The American Surveyor Vol. 10 No. 7 Copyright 2013 Cheves Media www.Amerisurv.com

hat happens when a technologyinnovator known for its range ofproductivity solutions for buildingconstruction contractors joinsforces with progressive buildingprofessionals to construct the firstphase of its own corporate campus?Technology, technology and more technology.The new four-story, 125,000-sq-ft Trimble RockiesCampus in Westminster, Colo., is a beautiful glassed-instructure set in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains thatblends character and functionality.It’s also the demonstration project for a wide range ofcollaboration technologies used throughout the fast-track13-month construction schedule—with documentedefficiency improvements that began before the firstbulldozer arrived on the site in May 2012.For instance, thanks to design-to-field connections,the team achieved 100% embed placement and zeroplacement errors during steel frame layout. In fact, thelast steel column was erected to within ¼-inch tolerance.The structural steel erection was completed in 10 weekswith no “fall back” work. The mechanical, electrical andplumbing subcontractors realized 50% or better improve-Displayed with permission The American Surveyor Vol. 10 No. 7 Copyright 2013 Cheves Media www.Amerisurv.com

ment in field layouts as compared toprevious projects.From robotic total stations totablets, digital levels to prisms, buildinginformation models (BIM) to 3D laserscanners, the Trimble Rockies Campusis an impressive demonstration of howtechnology can help coordinated projectteams drive efficiency, reduce waste anddeliver a quality solution quickly andaccurately.Overall, the coordination exercisehelped the team flag and fix items inpreparation for the issuance of the finaldesign package. Perhaps the greatestadvantage of regular coordinationmeetings was communication andaccountability. Each week the BIMcoordinator checked through openitems and asked each trade to providepercentage complete scenarios for floormodels and conflict resolution.Setting Primary ControlThe project team, led by Oz Architecture(architect) and JE Dunn (generalcontractor) with significant input fromTrimble building construction experts,sought to implement integrated projectdelivery (IPD) techniques and strategiesto gain the lifecycle benefits of BIM.Key in the delivery of the buildingwas the development of a digitally anddimensionally accurate model for designand construction coordination, detailing,fabrication, and field level management.JE Dunn, SCI, MTech, EncoreElectric and Frontier Fire Protectionutilized Tekla BIMSight for constructionmodel collaboration, conflict checkingand site inspections. As the developmentof the 100% dimensionally accuratefederated model of the site and thestructure continued, the JE Dunn surveyteam used model-to-field connection tolocate building corners, drilled piers andconcrete corners.Surveyors used the Trimble S6 TotalStation to complete the closed looptraverse of the new building site.Initially, surveyors from AccurateEngiSurv LLC used the Trimble DiNi Digital Level to gather high-accuracyvertical measurements that were usedto transfer elevations from the referencebenchmark to the site control points.Surveyors used the Trimble S6 TotalStation to complete the closed looptraverse of the new building site. Theywere especially happy with the efficiencyof the system, stating that they are able tomeasure points in 2 minutes what usedto take 30 minutes, while maintainingexceptional accuracy. This data, adjustedin combination with the level loopscompleted with the DiNi Digital Level,form the core of the sites control network.The S6 traverse and DiNi levelingobservations were processed in a singleTrimble Business Center project. Asimultaneous network adjustment of theobservations yielded highly accuratecontrol point values, which will serve allpositioning tasks on the site to follow.JE Dunn’s Field BIM Manager initiallyused the Trimble RTS633 robotic totalstation with a 360-degree MT1000 activeprism to verify control and set curb lines.To begin the process, he uploaded predefined points from the civil and structuralengineering models to the Trimble Tabletrunning the Trimble Field Link construction layout software.With BIM-to-field connections, theproject team achieved 100% embedplacement and had zero placementerrors during steel frame layout.Displayed with permission The American Surveyor Vol. 10 No. 7 Copyright 2013 Cheves Media www.Amerisurv.com

Primary control points—accurate to/ -in. over 1000-ft—were installed ondrilled piers and dialed in with AccurateEngiSurv surveying control points.JE Dunn, along with the earthworkand electrical subcontractors used thecontrol points and curb lines to ensureexact grading in required locations,top soil stockpiling out of the way offuture construction, and to avoid futureconstruction for temporary utilities.Once the piers were poured and piercaps set in the formwork, JE Dunnsurveyors used Trimble’s RoboticLayout Solution—Trimble Field Linkfor Structures to verify the placement ofanchor bolts.The surveyors also providedsignificant support to the site activities.For instance, JE Dunn surveyors locatelight pole centerlines and 3-foot offsetsper the 3D model, which allows Encoreto dig the trenches and set the conduit.The exact field positions of the trenchesare shot in by Encore electric and are1 8uploaded to support the owner’s as-builtconditions model. Knowing the exactlocations of the conduit will also helpOE, the site contractor, avoid digging incompleted areas and provide the ownerwith critical knowledge about power linelocations in the future.Andre Schlappe with Martin & MartinConsulting Engineers, adds, “Severalpotential utility collisions were identifiedearly in the design, saving lost timeand rework during construction. Also,the color coding and 3D modelingallowed for rapid coordination betweendisciplines, saving design time on thefront end.”Head-to-HeadLayoutCompetitionAccurate to the CoreTo push the boundaries of BIM-to-fieldopportunities, JE Dunn and StructuralConsultants Inc. (SCI), the structuralengineer of record for the Westminsterproject, sought a number of opportunities to further streamline the design,detail, fabrication and constructionIn an effort to evaluate the overallproductivity and manpowersavings gained by using robotictotal stations versus traditional(manual) layout, the Trimble projectteam set up a friendly competitionduring the construction of theTrimble Rockies Campus building.Two 2-man teams lined up fora timed competition, pittingtechnology against paper plansand tape. Each team had roughly200 points to layout, snap and IDinterior wall positions as fast andaccurately as possible. The teamusing robotic layout technologyaccurately completed the 200points in 4 hours, while the manuallayout team completed 100 in thesame 4 hours.Not only was the robotictechnology-enabled team ableto complete the task faster, theywere able to lay all walls outwithout error and within exactmeasurements of the building’sdigital model.Displayed with permission The American Surveyor Vol. 10 No. 7 Copyright 2013 Cheves Media www.Amerisurv.com

phases of structural steel, concrete, rebarand exterior metal studs of the project.With the intent to reduce duplicationof effort, the Trimble Westminsterproject team looked to use one federatedmodel from design through constructionof all steel and rebar elements to expeditesteel delivery. The idea is that the samemodel that is used to permit-approvedcontract documents is leveraged to detailand fabricate shop drawings for rebar,structural steel, exterior metal studs, andstructural components.For example, on the stair andelevator cores, JE Dunn combined SCI’s Tekla Structures steelmodel, Zimmerman’s Tekla and CADfabrication models (developed fromSCI’s Tekla Structures model), 2DCAD formwork drawings and elevatorshop drawings (pulled from SCI TeklaStructures steel model) into lift drawings, which condensed critical stair andelevator information to one drawingsheet. Then JE Dunn used TeklaStructures in-model review to go overthe formwork drawings (2D) and modifythe formwork design to miss embedswith formwork ties, flipper pockets, andformwork inserts prior to formworkdeliveries to the site or finding issuesduring installation.On site, Dunn field crews layoutpoints for stair and elevator core corners.Throughout the construction of thestair and elevator cores, the survey teamcontinued to use the Trimble RoboticLayout Solution to check formworkpoints as compared to design intent.Crews set the wall formwork and thensurveyors again check x,y,z position offormwork. Crews pour concrete and thensurveyors check position of embeds, doorblock outs, flipper pockets and formworkinserts as compared to the lift drawings.The quality checks insured that the finalWith the piers poured and caps set inthe formwork, field crews used Trimble’sRobotic Layout Solution – Trimble FieldLink for Structures to verify that theanchor bolt placements are located asspecified in the Tekla Structures model.BIM-to-FieldSynchronizedSystemsIn-model review tools helped drivediscussion during and resolve potentialconflicts in advance of fabricationand steel erection.as-built conditions of the elevator andstair cores fit design intent and minimizedthe chance of problems with steel framingand concrete decks.The structural engineer, steel detailer,rebar detailer and JE Dunn as theself-performing (SP) concrete contractorcentralized their production work bycollaborating within a federated TeklaStructures project model. JE Dunnutilized the structural engineer’s designmodel set up with the appropriateconcrete pours to develop lift drawings inTekla Structures. They also combined thesteel detailer’s embedment details and therebar detailer’s reinforcement layouts.Lina Stinnett, BIM Manager for JEDunn, said, “Using the single TeklaStructures model from design throughconstruction and fabrication allowedus to erect our last steel column within¼-inch tolerance.”The use of the Tekla Structures structural model by field personnel for directsteel frame layout using robotic Trimble Trimble Connected Community—dedicated project website to trackproject progress, store critical andtrack site activity in real-time Trimble Field Link for MEP andStructures—transition model datato the field and as-built data fromthe field to the model Tekla BIMsight—projectcollaboration tool to combine 3Dmodels from IFC-compliant BIMtools, clash detection, markup anddesign review Trimble Point Creator—create2D and 3D field points withinRevit or CAD and then exportto Trimble Field Link for easystake-out in the field.Displayed with permission The American Surveyor Vol. 10 No. 7 Copyright 2013 Cheves Media www.Amerisurv.com