Established in 1996, Boustead Projects Limited is a leading real estate solutions provider in Singapore, with core engineering expertise in the design-and-build and development of smart eco-sustainable business park and industrial developments for clients including Forbes Fortune 500, S&P 500 and Euronext 100 corporations.
When we started doing this case study, we wanted to understand how VRcollab has helped Boustead Projects improve productivity and workflows. Due to the Coronavirus (Covid-19), we noticed how VRcollab has also helped their BIM coordinations to operate as usual with minimal disruptions.
We spoke with Boustead Projects’ Digital Delivery Manager & Specialist, Khalil Shaiful, to understand how he has driven the digital transformation in the company & the business continuity plan in place amidst the Covid-19 outbreak.
Who is Khalil Shaiful?
With close to 10 years of experience in BIM, Khalil is the lead driver for organisation & corporate level BIM Implementation in Singapore. He helped Boustead Projects set up, manage and lead the BIM Department which includes BIM protocols, standards, procedure, processes and workflows. In a nutshell, Khalil played a key role in Boustead Projects’ digital transformation.
Digital Roadmap and Transformation in Boustead Projects
From planning and design to construction, project and quality management, digital transformation has increased Boustead Projects’ team productivity and allowed them to make better decisions. Their digital transformation started in 2015 with a purpose to provide more accurate, timely and reliable data. Since then, they’ve integrated various technologies throughout the whole construction process.
Boustead Projects utilises both Mixed Reality (MR) & Virtual Reality (VR) on organisation and project execution levels to stay on top of the latest transformative technologies. They leverage on 7D BIM and info-communications technology (ICT) to fully integrate all clients’ inputs and processes.
As part of their digitalisation, Boustead Projects believe in the practice of virtual design and construction (VDC) for potential issues to be identified and resolved at the design stage. That’s where VR plays a key role as it enhances the VDC workflow better.
VR Use in BIM Coordination
Essentially, VR allows all stakeholders to experience the BIM model in a 1-to-1 ratio environment. The life-sized proportions increase the chances of identifying any design issues which they can resolve before moving into the next phase.
“We use VRcollab on a regular basis,” Khalil highlighted, “for example, VRcollab is often utilised during our design meeting where the designers are engaged to use VR to get their understanding and approval.”
Benefits of VRcollab
Due to the Covid-19 and stay home notices, we see more users using the multi-user internet meeting. VRcollab’s multi-user feature allows users to host coordination meetings from anywhere around the world as long as they have Internet access.
“Especially in times of crisis like the current outbreak of Covid-19, the online multi-user meetings are imperative to continue our work from different locations & space. Even after all this is over, online meetings are going to change the way we work.”
With VRcollab, Boustead Projects has an edge over their competitor in terms of articulating the design of the buildings. This virtual design review sees a reduction in time taken to get design approved as opposed to the traditional way of drawing submission.
Boustead Projects also sees an in team collaboration as VRcollab provides an interactive and immersive solution.
“Stakeholders are more engaged in the design approval processes, using VRcollab allows us to be an immersive environment,” Khalil mention, “and at the end of the day we’re all able to come to a consensus on how to move forward if we have any design issues that holding the team & the project back.”
Covid-19 Outbreak
From personal health to business continuity, Covid-19 has adversely affected every part of our lives. A lot of measures are put into place to minimise human contact as countries wage a war against this coronavirus. We see schools turning to online learning, people working from home, and in the worst-hit areas, the entire country goes into complete lockdown.
In terms of business continuity, Boustead Projects have separated their teams into multiple, smaller workgroups. In any case that any person is affected, the rest of the company can still continue their daily operations. Boustead Projects has been able to continue BIM coordination while reducing social contact by hosting remote meetings through VRcollab.
Read more: How China Construction Uses Virtual Reality in Coordination Meetings
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