【3D Panoramas Application】Matterport's Applications, Advantages, and Challenges in the Construction Industry!
Using digital twin technology, a digital representation of the physical world is created. This forms a critical differentiating factor in architectural design, civil infrastructure, and construction. After the pandemic lockdowns, contractors faced increasing demands for facilities with complex designs, and even needed to adapt to the requirements of a hybrid workforce. Digital twins provide support throughout the planning, budgeting, design, and construction phases.
The construction industry is complex, involving various stakeholders, including architects, engineers, contractors, owners, and government agencies. Digital twins enable all teams to jointly manage and share data, breaking down silos and bridging communication gaps between different departments and industries. In fact, a Forrester Research report indicates that 55% of global software technology decision-makers are already using digital identity and applying it at various levels, from design to maintenance.
What are digital twins in the construction industry?
Digital twins are used in construction projects to create replicas of real-world spaces. The resulting 3D models allow construction teams to virtually interact during the design and planning phases.
Digital twins enable teams to gain immersive access to critical building intelligence, realizing benefits in key projects.
．Relevant parties can collaborate faster and easier
．Increased productivity
．More efficient workflows among contractors
．Reduced issues and RFIs (Requests for Information)
By incorporating digital twins into BIM (Building Information Modeling) processes, contractors and architectural engineering firms can address many of the industry's most challenging issues, including low productivity, profitability, and performance, as well as high error rates and accident rates. Additionally, using digital twins can help companies reduce virtual design and construction costs and win more bids.
How do digital twins work?
Digital twins are created using a range of technologies, including 3D laser scanners, sensors, cameras, and other Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Creating a digital twin involves three main stages:
Capture: First, digital twins can be captured using digital cameras, including smartphones. Using a smartphone with the Matterport app is a simple and affordable way to get started.
Alternatively, compatible 360-degree panoramic cameras can be used to generate digital twins. For projects requiring precise accuracy, Matterport Pro series panoramic scanners offer advanced scanning capabilities for both indoor and outdoor spaces.
Edit, Document, and Annotate Building Assets: Use editing tools like blur and Trim to adjust your digital twin model for clarity and security. This makes visualizing physical spaces easy and accurate, with measurements and customizable areas. MatterTags and annotations can be placed on the model, enhancing data associated with specific assets, which is valuable when handed over to the owner. For example, MSDS, warranties, and installation PDFs can be uploaded and attached to annotations in the cloud or other mechanical systems.
Share and Collaborate: You can share digital twin models with remote teams and offices, reducing the need for on-site visits, cutting travel expenses, and enabling more environmentally friendly business practices in the construction engineering field. This allows remote teams to collaborate and coordinate more efficiently through accessible technology.
7 Benefits of Using Digital Twins in the Construction Industry
Digital twins offer a high degree of interactivity and automation, with the potential to revolutionize every aspect of construction business. This article will introduce the main advantages of digital twins in the construction industry.
1. Improved Resource Management
Digital identities can improve procurement processes and alleviate supply chain stagnation, facilitating the current gap between India and future expected outcomes, and helping construction companies better allocate resources and food assets.
2. Easier Communication with Stakeholders
With Matterport software, project managers can export point clouds, OBJ files, high-resolution floor plans, and reflected ceiling plans to 3ds Max, ReCap, Revit, and many other software programs. Each construction process allows stakeholders to instantly know the latest progress and be alerted to any urgent issues.
3. Smarter Decisions and Planning
Digital twins are a proactive planning tool, allowing clients or owners to provide feedback before the electric hammer starts or templates are installed. Engineers can conduct a wider evaluation of items like pipe locations and utility layouts. Architects can predict building aesthetics, such as paint colors or lighting layouts. Digital twins can improve design risk assessment and condition surveys, with immersive visuals for more efficient understanding of site conditions and issues, effective collaboration, and moving away from traditional PDF reports and photos.
4. Automated Progress Monitoring
Progress tracking is crucial for any new construction project. Digital twins provide managers with a way to remotely monitor projects.
5. More Accurate Assumptions and Predictions
Eliminating the need for field visits while still providing a comprehensive overview of the building environment, managers can obtain faster and more accurate contractor estimates. Virtual worklists can also be created by annotating 3D models with notes, links, photos, and videos.
6. Easier Safety Monitoring
Remote inspections enable project managers to better oversee each safety procedure. Additionally, digital twins can perform accurate virtual measurements in difficult or hazardous environments. This means workers on site do not have to take on unexpected risks.
7. Providing Owners with Robust Handover Deliverables
Contractors use Matterport to collect existing conditions throughout the project's progress, enhancing models with embedded data related to MEP systems, providing owners with a digital handover package that enables them to manage the construction project from day one.
Challenges of Creating Digital Twins in Construction
To effectively deploy digital twins, some construction companies may face long-standing obstacles. This article will present points to consider.
．Lack of contractual agreements
Understanding the details of contract signing is fundamental common sense in construction projects. However, the integration of new technologies, such as digital twin technology, significantly changes this process. By documenting the project scope and key customer-driven factors, digital twins can ensure that the content of construction contracts is mutually agreed upon and understood.
．Lack of data support
Many construction companies have struggled to effectively leverage data, lacking insights and adopting different data management systems between IT and OT, but facing headaches due to an inability to access data in real-time or within deadlines. One of Matterport's advantages is its easy integration with other data.
．BIM Transformation
Even now, many construction companies use 2D design technologies for critical construction projects. Utilizing BIM models linked to virtual design and construction processes requires more complex 3D modeling techniques and integration of internal company processes.
．Lack of Structure or SOPs
Some construction projects lack processes for data exchange and problem-solving, making the introduction of digital twins another obstacle to overcome. By creating a single source of truth, digital twins can ensure that everyone, from contractors to auditing units and even clients, is on the same page throughout the project lifecycle.
．Financial Constraints
Due to budget requirements, construction companies are initially reluctant to invest in digital transformation. By reducing rework, improving effective collaboration, and cutting travel expenses, significant cost savings can be achieved. This sufficiently justifies the investment.
Digital Twin Case Studies in Construction
Many prominent construction and building companies are already using digital twins to fundamentally change their approach. Here are stories from top companies, detailing the benefits of using digital twins and improving existing workflows.
Corgan Achieves Construction ROI with Matterport 3D Digital Twin at Los Angeles International Airport When leading architectural and design firm Corgan began a $160 million construction project at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), managers applied digital twins to the construction workflow to optimize performance and productivity.
Digital twins are created using a range of technologies, including 3D laser scanners, sensors, cameras, and other Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Creating a digital twin involves three main stages:
Capture: First, digital twins can be captured using digital cameras, including smartphones. Using a smartphone with the Matterport app is a simple and affordable way to get started.
Alternatively, compatible 360-degree panoramic cameras can be used to generate digital twins. For projects requiring precise accuracy, Matterport Pro series panoramic scanners offer advanced scanning capabilities for both indoor and outdoor spaces.
Edit, Document, and Annotate Building Assets: Use editing tools like blur and Trim to adjust your digital twin model for clarity and security. This makes visualizing physical spaces easy and accurate, with measurements and customizable areas. MatterTags and annotations can be placed on the model, enhancing data associated with specific assets, which is valuable when handed over to the owner. For example, MSDS, warranties, and installation PDFs can be uploaded and attached to annotations in the cloud or other mechanical systems.
Share and Collaborate: You can share digital twin models with remote teams and offices, reducing the need for on-site visits, cutting travel expenses, and enabling more environmentally friendly business practices in the construction engineering field. This allows remote teams to collaborate and coordinate more efficiently through accessible technology.
7 Benefits of Using Digital Twins in the Construction Industry
Digital twins offer a high degree of interactivity and automation, with the potential to revolutionize every aspect of construction business. This article will introduce the main advantages of digital twins in the construction industry.
1. Improved Resource Management
Digital identities can improve procurement processes and alleviate supply chain stagnation, facilitating the current gap between India and future expected outcomes, and helping construction companies better allocate resources and food assets.
2. Easier Communication with Stakeholders
With Matterport software, project managers can export point clouds, OBJ files, high-resolution floor plans, and reflected ceiling plans to 3ds Max, ReCap, Revit, and many other software programs. Each construction process allows stakeholders to instantly know the latest progress and be alerted to any urgent issues.
3. Smarter Decisions and Planning
Digital twins are a proactive planning tool, allowing clients or owners to provide feedback before the electric hammer starts or templates are installed. Engineers can conduct a wider evaluation of items like pipe locations and utility layouts. Architects can predict building aesthetics, such as paint colors or lighting layouts. Digital twins can improve design risk assessment and condition surveys, with immersive visuals for more efficient understanding of site conditions and issues, effective collaboration, and moving away from traditional PDF reports and photos.
4. Automated Progress Monitoring
Progress tracking is crucial for any new construction project. Digital twins provide managers with a way to remotely monitor projects.
5. More Accurate Assumptions and Predictions
Eliminating the need for field visits while still providing a comprehensive overview of the building environment, managers can obtain faster and more accurate contractor estimates. Virtual worklists can also be created by annotating 3D models with notes, links, photos, and videos.
6. Easier Safety Monitoring
Remote inspections enable project managers to better oversee each safety procedure. Additionally, digital twins can perform accurate virtual measurements in difficult or hazardous environments. This means workers on site do not have to take on unexpected risks.
7. Providing Owners with Robust Handover Deliverables
Contractors use Matterport to collect existing conditions throughout the project's progress, enhancing models with embedded data related to MEP systems, providing owners with a digital handover package that enables them to manage the construction project from day one.
Challenges of Creating Digital Twins in Construction
To effectively deploy digital twins, some construction companies may face long-standing obstacles. This article will present points to consider.
．Lack of contractual agreements
Understanding the details of contract signing is fundamental common sense in construction projects. However, the integration of new technologies, such as digital twin technology, significantly changes this process. By documenting the project scope and key customer-driven factors, digital twins can ensure that the content of construction contracts is mutually agreed upon and understood.
．Lack of data support
Many construction companies have struggled to effectively leverage data, lacking insights and adopting different data management systems between IT and OT, but facing headaches due to an inability to access data in real-time or within deadlines. One of Matterport's advantages is its easy integration with other data.
．BIM Transformation
Even now, many construction companies use 2D design technologies for critical construction projects. Utilizing BIM models linked to virtual design and construction processes requires more complex 3D modeling techniques and integration of internal company processes.
．Lack of Structure or SOPs
Some construction projects lack processes for data exchange and problem-solving, making the introduction of digital twins another obstacle to overcome. By creating a single source of truth, digital twins can ensure that everyone, from contractors to auditing units and even clients, is on the same page throughout the project lifecycle.
．Financial Constraints
Due to budget requirements, construction companies are initially reluctant to invest in digital transformation. By reducing rework, improving effective collaboration, and cutting travel expenses, significant cost savings can be achieved. This sufficiently justifies the investment.
Digital Twin Case Studies in Construction
Many prominent construction and building companies are already using digital twins to fundamentally change their approach. Here are stories from top companies, detailing the benefits of using digital twins and improving existing workflows.
Corgan Achieves Construction ROI with Matterport 3D Digital Twin at Los Angeles International Airport When leading architectural and design firm Corgan began a $160 million construction project at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), managers applied digital twins to the construction workflow to optimize performance and productivity.
Takenaka uses Matterport Digital Twin for Remote Inspection and Effective Collaboration
In 2017, Takenaka Corporation became one of the first Japanese companies to adopt Matterport digital twins in the construction industry. By capturing digital twins of building and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) projects throughout the construction lifecycle, construction teams were able to collaborate more effectively at each construction stage.
Initially, Takenaka used traditional 3D laser scanners to digitally capture spaces. However, this required a significant amount of time to process the scanned data. It also required engineers to conduct on-site surveys and use these expensive scanners. With Matterport's digital twin technology, Takenaka was able to streamline its project management process in several ways:
．Reduced the time to produce 360-degree photos by 90%
．Eliminated the need for expensive laser scanners, saving thousands of dollars per scan
．Reduced travel and labor costs through remote measurement and inspection
Swinerton Uses Matterport Digital Twin to Advance Projects
During the COVID-19 lockdown, San Francisco-based construction company Swinerton had to maintain transparent progress and keep clients informed at all times, even as social distancing restricted on-site visits to physical assets and construction sites.
Using a Matterport Pro2 3D Camera, Swinerton performed highly detailed 3D scans of a 20,000-square-foot space in just a few hours. The resulting scans could be distributed to clients, architects, engineers, and subcontractor consultants, who could navigate the virtual space and suggest changes at any time. The use of digital twins allowed Swinerton to keep projects on track in several ways:
．Reduced client travel time by 100%
．Reduced MEP and architect travel time by 50%
．Eliminated four weeks of potential project delays
．Saved clients thousands of dollars by preventing costly errors and rework
4 Tips for Applying Digital Twins to Your Next Project
Want to get the most out of digital twins in the construction industry? Here are some introductory tips:
1. Familiarize yourself with regulations
Before using digital twins on a construction site, companies need to comply with local laws and regulations. However, digital twins can help contractors speed up approval and permitting processes, and plan future blueprints more quickly.
2. New Employee Training Programs
Historically, the construction industry has been slow to adopt new technologies. Companies need to introduce new training programs to equip employees with the knowledge required to utilize digital twin technology. Special courses on cybersecurity may also be necessary for employees responsible for protecting confidential information.
3. Build a Digital Twin Architecture Roadmap
Developing a strategic blueprint that outlines how digital twins will achieve project goals is a good way to ensure all stakeholders are on the same page. These architectural roadmaps can serve as reference points throughout the project lifecycle, helping teams align tasks and objectives.
4. Integrate Related Technologies
Matterport digital twins seamlessly integrate with existing programs such as SketchUp, Revit, AutoCAD, and other commonly used BIM design software. Project managers can export their point clouds and easily share them in Revit or other BIM tools, where they can generate OBJ files and point clouds for as-built drawings and construction documents.
MATTERPORT LAYS A SOLID FOUNDATION FOR YOUR CONSTRUCTION PROJECT
Matterport's 3D data platform is a powerful and effective way to document and collaborate on the construction process of a building or property. Using compatible cameras, you can create digital models of small or large spaces with a level of detail close to the actual site. These models are presented as navigable, photorealistic visuals, a technology known as Cortex AI, a patented computer vision rendering and artificial intelligence technology.
The Matterport digital twin platform also allows you to easily export other file formats to third-party software, saving you a lot of work time.
．With Matterport, you can:
．Quickly and effectively document and communicate key milestones
．Reduce travel time by sharing and annotating models
．Perform remote quality inspections, off-site measurements, and reduce on-site visits by capturing all data from the outset.
Nowadays, construction companies abroad use digital twins to reduce their number of on-site visits, strengthen safety and monitoring procedures, and accelerate workflows, increase automation, improve asset management, and provide relevant parties with the necessary information to support file project creation and effective collaboration.
Do you have a space you'd like to scan? Contact us today! Convert your store, building, school, or hotel into a virtual reality space, with customized cloud editing, diverse functions to choose from, and easy global connectivity. 3DMart offers more than just 3D printing; contact us to learn more about Matterport 360 Scanners, including more application cases and detailed equipment information.
．Reduced the time to produce 360-degree photos by 90%
．Eliminated the need for expensive laser scanners, saving thousands of dollars per scan
．Reduced travel and labor costs through remote measurement and inspection
Swinerton Uses Matterport Digital Twin to Advance Projects
During the COVID-19 lockdown, San Francisco-based construction company Swinerton had to maintain transparent progress and keep clients informed at all times, even as social distancing restricted on-site visits to physical assets and construction sites.
Using a Matterport Pro2 3D Camera, Swinerton performed highly detailed 3D scans of a 20,000-square-foot space in just a few hours. The resulting scans could be distributed to clients, architects, engineers, and subcontractor consultants, who could navigate the virtual space and suggest changes at any time. The use of digital twins allowed Swinerton to keep projects on track in several ways:
．Reduced client travel time by 100%
．Reduced MEP and architect travel time by 50%
．Eliminated four weeks of potential project delays
．Saved clients thousands of dollars by preventing costly errors and rework
4 Tips for Applying Digital Twins to Your Next Project
Want to get the most out of digital twins in the construction industry? Here are some introductory tips:
1. Familiarize yourself with regulations
Before using digital twins on a construction site, companies need to comply with local laws and regulations. However, digital twins can help contractors speed up approval and permitting processes, and plan future blueprints more quickly.
2. New Employee Training Programs
Historically, the construction industry has been slow to adopt new technologies. Companies need to introduce new training programs to equip employees with the knowledge required to utilize digital twin technology. Special courses on cybersecurity may also be necessary for employees responsible for protecting confidential information.
3. Build a Digital Twin Architecture Roadmap
Developing a strategic blueprint that outlines how digital twins will achieve project goals is a good way to ensure all stakeholders are on the same page. These architectural roadmaps can serve as reference points throughout the project lifecycle, helping teams align tasks and objectives.
4. Integrate Related Technologies
Matterport digital twins seamlessly integrate with existing programs such as SketchUp, Revit, AutoCAD, and other commonly used BIM design software. Project managers can export their point clouds and easily share them in Revit or other BIM tools, where they can generate OBJ files and point clouds for as-built drawings and construction documents.
MATTERPORT LAYS A SOLID FOUNDATION FOR YOUR CONSTRUCTION PROJECT
Matterport's 3D data platform is a powerful and effective way to document and collaborate on the construction process of a building or property. Using compatible cameras, you can create digital models of small or large spaces with a level of detail close to the actual site. These models are presented as navigable, photorealistic visuals, a technology known as Cortex AI, a patented computer vision rendering and artificial intelligence technology.
The Matterport digital twin platform also allows you to easily export other file formats to third-party software, saving you a lot of work time.
．With Matterport, you can:
．Quickly and effectively document and communicate key milestones
．Reduce travel time by sharing and annotating models
．Perform remote quality inspections, off-site measurements, and reduce on-site visits by capturing all data from the outset.
Nowadays, construction companies abroad use digital twins to reduce their number of on-site visits, strengthen safety and monitoring procedures, and accelerate workflows, increase automation, improve asset management, and provide relevant parties with the necessary information to support file project creation and effective collaboration.
Do you have a space you'd like to scan? Contact us today! Convert your store, building, school, or hotel into a virtual reality space, with customized cloud editing, diverse functions to choose from, and easy global connectivity. 3DMart offers more than just 3D printing; contact us to learn more about Matterport 360 Scanners, including more application cases and detailed equipment information.
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