Building Information Modelling (BIM) is transforming the building and construction industry. One company that has pioneered this technology in Australia is Hansen Yuncken.
The company began with 3D modelling and today are looking to explore the benefits of 6D modelling with the support of their provider, Autodesk.
Hansen Yuncken BIM manager, Daniel Smith, said cloud based technology is saving hundreds of hours in the build phase of major projects.
He said the real time technology centralises the design, modelling, documentation and data of projects.
“This has led to a multitude of advantages for collaboration, efficiency and decision-making and we believe these learnings can be applied across the wider industry,” Smith said.
Hansen Yuncken has worked with Autodesk over the past decade using its construction software across the business including the current build of Meadowbank TAFE Multi Trades and Digital Technology Hub in New South Wales and the recently completed Sydney Coliseum Theatre.
Just this week Hansen Yuncken signed on to be an Autodesk lighthouse customer for another three years. As one of the first Asia-Pacific adopters of Autodesk BIM 360 technology across the business, Hansen Yuncken has played a critical role in providing insights back to Autodesk to drive continuous improvement.
“Meadowbank TAFE is a complicated project due to limited site accessibility and an intricate design. On top of that, we were completing a lot of the construction during the height of COVID disruptions over the last couple of years,” Smith said.
“One of our site managers estimated that, using Autodesk, an extra 50 hours invested in the planning stages saved us 200-300 hours of construction work, plus the flow-on costs.
“Team members, contractors and the client have visibility to a central hub of data, creating greater trust and more informed decision-making. We can better model and plan the entire construction process, mitigating potential risks before they occur.”
Smith said the current market has reinforced the need to achieve every possible efficiency.
Autodesk cloud-based software has enabled Hansen Yuncken to go from 3D modelling of the design, to 5D modelling which considers time and cost information. Looking ahead, Hansen Yuncken and Autodesk are working toward 6D modelling to also factor in management.
Hansen Yuncken’s chief financial & Information officer, Rexine Jones, explained what it means to truly collaborate with suppliers.
“Back in the 1920s, innovation meant pioneering new scaffolding systems. Today, it’s about using technology as an enabler to be more efficient, collaborative and informed,” Jones said.
“The construction industry has come a long way from managing information in excel spreadsheets. But the sector still needs to embrace digital technology as part of its culture in order to maximise value across the entire chain.”
Lou Grespan, vice president, named accounts sales, APAC at Autodesk, said collaborating with Hansen Yuncken as a lighthouse customer means undertaking R&D in real-time.
“Ultimately, we are both working towards the same goal of making construction more efficient to benefit the end user,” Grespan said.
Hansen Yuncken is a 100 per cent Australian owned building contractor.
The company has 600 staff and has undertaken iconic projects such as theHOTA Gallery on the Gold Coast and the new Royal Adelaide Hospital.