Per Aarsleff A/S
Mixed Reality represents a radical change for Aarsleff…
Danish contracting company Per Aarsleff A/S (or just Aarsleff) have a clear plan on how to constantly identify technology and process transformation that can help them make the company an attractive contractor, as well as employer.
One of the key enablers is to ensure that employees look for opportunities to make improvements, but also to allocate formal responsibilities and budgets to make things happen. BuildingPoint Scandinavia have talked with Nikolaj Thomsen in Aarsleff about how they recently brought Mixed Reality into practical use!
What is the challenge?
What types of challenges does Aarsleff face on a day-to-day basis? What keeps them up at night, or makes their job difficult? For what reasons do they look to technology?
Nikolaj Thomsen, VDC Team Manager at Aarsleff, explains that traditionally one utilize drawings as the number one information carrier on the construction. The drawings clearly document what needs to be done, but unfortunately represents no direct connection to the actual tasks. The data has to be interpreted and then transfered to the real world through measurements and work tasks; like drilling a hole in a wall.
No quality assurance is built into the process automatically. Post work quality assurance frequently identifies deviations which can come from erronous interpretation of the drawings, or even working from an outdated revision of the drawing. Creating drawings is also time consuming and costly.
How do Aarsleff set out to relieve this challenge?
A large and prestigious project in Denmark, the "New Headquarter for Danske Bank” was a natural testing ground for adressing this issue.
The project has a total building area of approx. 113,000 square metres: Danske Bank's headquarters will occupy 73,000 square metres, and 40,000 square metres will be used for parking facilities and technical installations.
The contract is carried out as a design and build contract, and the Aarsleff Group company Wicotec Kirkebjerg A/S will carry out the technical installations. Danica Pension is the client of the project, COWI is consulting engineer, and Lundgaard & Tranberg Arkitekter is consulting architect.
The construction activities began in 2019 with completion expected in 2023.The contract has a value of approx. DKK 3 billion (Read more in Berlingske.dk).
As VDC coordinator and Team Manager, Nikolaj is assigned to this project and aims to identify possible process improvements that can be implemented directly in the project to ensure that improvements has effect immediately. It is also a great way to ensure that the theoretical improvements survive the meeting with the real world and actually proves the value.
In his role in the company, Nikolaj also has a mandate and support from top management in finding potential game-changing solutions, but crucially he also has a budget to do this without having to "beg" money from the project.
To address the issues related to quality Nikolaj uses the installation of MEP Support as an example:
By using total stations they are able to locate the precise location of holes for installation and avoid interpretation of drawings on site. By working directly from the 3D models they ensure that the correct positions are identified automatically. In addition, the use of tools like Trimble Connect also ensures that the latest revision of the design is always used. Scanning the site post installation documents the as-built status, and the building owner can be asured that the 3D model is correct.
During assembly/installation of the supports, Nikolaj found that use of iPads with the 3D models can be useful, however not sufficient to ensure that the design was correctly understood. This is where the XR10 with Hololens2 shines; this Mixed Reality tool allows for the user to mix the 3D model with the real world and check how the installation should be carried out. This has already been proved very useful. Watch the video to see how this is done!
What is the value that is realized through these changes?
In Nikolaj's opinion, this is not a subtle incremental change in process. Moving from production and maintenance of drawings as an information carrier to working directly with 3D design models and merging this with the real world during construction has the potential to be a paradigm change; it will impact engineering efficiency, construction site productivity and quality, post construction quality control and full life cycle use of the 3D models, fundamentally everything in the process. It will impact the workflow and affect the cost of construction. It will also allow for more effort going into value creating activities rather than "wasted" work on creating and revising drawings.
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Tablets with drawings are handy, but Mixed Reality is significantly better…
He estimates that installation of the MEP Supports is 50% faster after they started using total stations by reducing the time required for measurements, and an estimated reduction in quality hits by 80%. Adding Mixed Reality to this will further increase the efficiency on the construction site, but also affect the communication between construction and design, e.g. by letting workers on-site to add "to-dos" to the model directly.
Another huge impact is seen on the engineering and design time spent since the reduced need for drawings allow for more focus on capturing details in the model, and tighter communication related to revision.
What about the future?
Many opportunities present themselves when one look at the achievements in this project, and the clear proof of value in the change of workflow and increased quality and productivity.
Regarding the future, Nikolaj is very clear:
"This represents a radical change. Mixed Reality has the potential to change how we build today. The key feature is to get rid of drawings that are not needed. Drawings pose a problems in the construction phase, particularly related to revisions.”
He also remarks that it is not enough to make isolated changes in individual diciplines:
“An intetgrated workflow between construction and design based on 3D models, using total stations and mixed reality on the construction site together is the key to make this change."
How can Mixed Reality help your company?
IMAGE: Nikolaj Thomsen, VDC Team Manager at Per Aarsleff A/S
Nikolaj Thomsen
VDC Team Manager at Per Aarsleff A/S
Education: BA Architechtural Technology and Construction Management from KEA - Københavns Erhvervsakademi
Work experience: Per Aarsleff A/S since 2016, VDC coordinator, promoted to team manager (dept. Special projects, 2 people + 7 VDC coordinators in the project team). Passionate about VDC, innovation in process and technology that has the potential to make a big impact on how things are done.
Connect with Nikolaj Thomsen on LinkedIn
About Per Aarsleff A/S
Aarsleff is a leading Danish contracting company. Their expertise is to devise, plan and implement large-scale projects within infrastructure, climate change adaptation, the environment, energy and construction – from design to handing-over. Their point of departure is a strong position in Denmark and the Baltic Sea region, and they solve projects in most parts of the world.
Through a number of years, They have worked to improve the efficiency of uniform processes by industrialising a number of products and services. This means that we are able to carry out uniform projects faster and more cost efficient.
Aarsleff in figures
Aarsleff is a public limited company listed on Nasdaq Copenhagen A/S. Our revenue amounts to DKK 13,5 billion – of which 31% comes from abroad. The Group employs 6,800 dedicated people in the Danish parent company and in the subsidiaries in Denmark and abroad.
Read more on Aarsleff’s website
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