Global trends as well as data-driven development across various industries go on to dictate the requirement for permanent change as well as finding ways to be more effective when it comes to stakeholders as well as project participants. This is reflected in various types of businesses by way of new technologies, fresh collaboration processes, novel organizational charts, as well as new roles. Some old roles happen to be no longer needed as the new ones come to the fore. These new roles most often go on to replace a list of people within the workflow. By way of making information as well as processes digital, it is indeed possible to do more with less time and resources.
Apparently, a digital engineer happens to be one of these new heroes.
What happens to a digital engineer?
Much has been talked about and even written about when it comes to innovations in design as well as office collaboration within construction; however, now happens to be the right time for these advances so as to reach the job site. Digital engineers happen to be the center of competence for digital technologies as well as using BIM on site. They happen to cooperate with design as well as project offices, make executions, train employees, and at the same time also perform novel functions that happen to be required at a specific site. Typically, one digital engineer happens to be assigned to each site.
In yesteryear, this role may also have been called a VDC manager or even a BIM coordinator for construction. However, responsibilities, authorities, as well as most importantly, anticipations when it comes to performance improvement happen to be much higher for digital engineers. They become the epicenter of all data processes. Their major metrics are not just doing everyday tasks but also making generic construction processes much better.
Why a digital engineer happens to be so important?
A digital engineer goes on to become the leading innovator at a construction site. They immerse themselves in the on-site processes as well as offer the most effective solution. They are indeed the helpers for the team, and they go on to even develop the team. It is necessary to change the team’s minds about, as well as increase the general understanding of, the technologies that are being used by way of obtaining trust that these techs can do part of human work as well.
The digital engineer often goes on to assist the project manager and, at the same time, also participates in all meetings. With the aid of actual construction BIM models, they go on to show a visual picture of the site, create simulations, go on to calculate volumes, offer up-to-date schedules, and also become the first helper when it comes to decision-making. They also take the required measurements from the 3D model across the meeting. It was not possible 15 years ago, pretty inconvenient around 10 years ago, and indeed not as fast 5 years ago, but it is indeed pretty natural now due to advanced mobile as well as cloud technologies.
One of the major things that digital engineers can go on to do is unite teams that happen to be working remotely. A digital depiction when it comes to the site has gone on to become accessible anytime across all the managers, and it does not really matter where they happen to be. Modern monitoring services like Photo 360, laser scanning, drone surveys, and AR/VR go on to offer visual clarity on the issues raised, a general and common understanding of these issues, and a fast solution.
How to find a digital engineer?
Two places so as to find a digital engineer happen to be the construction industry or the IT departments. The person has to have a proper fundamental education, either a bachelor’s or master’s degree. Young specialists happen to be mostly faster for everything new, but it also happens to be a good career opportunity for the existing engineers. Typically, this needs experience participating in real projects when it comes to design or construction. It is much easier to shift workflows and establish a novel, effective structure of digital interaction when one previously worked inside the old one and gauged all its issues and challenges well.
At the same time, digital engineers must have an understanding of how modern technologies provide real profit when it comes to construction sites. They need to be fast learners of new solutions, have a broad outlook on existing software and services, and be able to witness trends in emerging technologies. An IT background can very well be crucial, as they need to interact with local IT teams, IT consultants, vendors, and well as ervice providers.
A promotion to being a digital engineer on site can be one step up for BIM coordinators within the design office. They may already happen to have the passion for automating processes and can also get new motivation for self-realization on site, where the level of innovation happens to be much lower. The same happens to be applicable for most active office engineers. They may get tired of routine and, as well, seek to lead new internal corporate projects. Digital construction execution can be one of those projects.
Another variant happens to be outsourcing a digital engineer. Consulting companies have started to provide a digital engineer for hire. The main advantage in this case is that you will gain not only expertise but also experience from wins and losses on other projects. Innovative people know that many questions have no answer until you try. Not every company can afford to try on a hot project. SIGNAX is one company that offers this digital engineering service.
List of responsibilities
Let’s break down the responsibilities of a digital engineer, such as the core things that are used by leading companies in today’s times. The choice of technologies BIM uses always has a dependence on the project as well as its objectives.
Checking the BIM data from design companies. Digital data on site can go on to work if one is confident in its quality as well as completeness. A digital engineer goes on to check clashes and required parameters of elements as per the corporate classification system, such as WBS, CBS, etc.
Volume calculation from the model. This can be made use for budgeting or construction schedule development. All these operations do not require the work of cost as well as procurement engineers anymore. The calculations can be made in online mode and can thereby dramatically decrease the human factor.
Merging schedules as well as BIM models- 4D. 4D came to the construction sector quite a few years ago; however, the schedules happened to be usually made by design companies. As the general contractor has a financial incentive for being there on time, it is way better to manage the schedule directly on site.
Site management by way of using the construction BIM model. This goes on to include the calculation of work done, completed, as well as accepted. The exact numbers are always within the system and can be used by project managers as well as the supervision team. One can easily see the progress of any date as well as pay contractors for the exact amount of work that is done.
Photo 360, laser scanning, as well as drone surveys on site. These are good examples of obtaining digital data and happen to be priceless when it comes to reducing the time as well as increasing the quality of construction work. It enables a clear understanding of the present status as well as the history of the process. Photogrammetry is enabled in all types of engineering tasks.
Development of the as-built model as well as the operation stage digital twin of the facility. A project can have numerous changes since it happened to be first designed. Digital operations also require up-to-date data. It is much easier to collect data across construction. Digital assets can go on to increase the cost of the facility.
Conclusion
The construction sector is on the path to improvement. Furthermore, each company has the objective of paperless construction in the near future. Digital technologies must go on to play a major role in this process. Companies require reliable guidance so as to deal with working with and, at the same time, managing the data, shifting the workflows and culture of digitalizing for each project stakeholder. This has led to digital engineers becoming indispensable as well as leaders in offering valuable collaboration on project site.
