Innovation is the top priority at Amberg Loglay. With BIM2LOG, the company has created something new for construction logistics planning. Konstantinos Kyrtsonis, who played a significant role in developing the method, explains what this is about and what the big advantage is.
A major construction site in the Swiss Plateau, phase 2: While some parts of the building are still under construction, others are already working on interior design. Dozens of companies and hundreds of craftsmen populate the construction site. Time pressure is high, space is scarce, elevators and cranes have limited capacities. Anyone looking at the problem asks themselves: How is it possible that everything runs smoothly here?
The 4D model: BIM on the construction site
Konstantinos Kyrtsonis knows the answer: “Optimum logistics planning is the key to success.” The civil engineer, who comes from the Greek island of Euboea, works as a data scientist at Amberg Loglay. Logistics services are his daily bread. “With BIM2LOG, we have developed a method of logistics planning that meets all requirements,” explains the expert in digital construction logistics. It is based on so-called Building Information Modeling (BIM), which represents buildings in 3D models. “BIM2LOG creates a 4D model. We supplement BIM models with information for logistics planning.” Data obtained using BIM2log analyses.
What is a 4D BIM model?
A 4D BIM model adds the dimension of time to the three-dimensional building model. Components are linked to the schedule, allowing the construction process to be not only visualized but also simulated over time. BIM2LOG uses this time dimension specifically for logistics planning: the schedule is linked directly and automatically to the model via standardized attributes. This allows bottlenecks to be identified during the planning phase, long before they become a reality on the construction site. Learn more about the method behind it.
Construction time is reduced
In this way, many planning questions can be answered reliably and precisely. For example: How many pallets can be stored at which location and for how long during the construction phase? Or: How much material do the lifts transport to the floors per day? Efficient planning is made possible and construction time is reduced. Using BIM2log, elements and components are grouped and total quantities are calculated. An unbeatable advantage in procurement. “We carry out individual analyses or coordinate the entire construction logistics — depending on customer requirements and project requirements,” explains Konstantinos.
In concrete terms, this means: BIM2LOG can accelerate construction execution by around 20 percent, reduce process costs by up to 25 percent, and cut material waste by approximately 10 percent. The construction of the Campus Suurstoffishows just how significant this impact can be: there, the combination of BIM, Lean, and logistics shortened the construction time by about a year.
How BIM2LOG manages trades within the model
The added value is particularly evident in complex projects. For the new “Agnes” building at the Cantonal Hospital Baden, the building was divided into eight functional cells: schedule and workflow planning were based on this same structure. The material quantities for each trade were derived directly from the BIM model and linked to the schedule. This made it possible to determine exactly which areas, transport equipment, and storage capacities were required for each construction phase, and deliveries could be managed just-in-time to the point of installation.
Don't waste time creating models
In the event that no BIM model is available, Amberg Loglay has developed the so-called 2D-to-3D generator. It automatically transforms 2D drawings, which are equipped with elements such as windows, doors, rooms, and building zones, into comprehensive 3D building models. The advantage: construction experts and engineers can concentrate on design and strategy instead of wasting time creating complex models. In addition, the 2D-to-3D generator has the ability to assign each element to a specific task, which in turn simplifies project management.
But that’s not all: “Our goal is to work with real-time data,” says Konstantinos. This data is collected, among other things, by sensors located on the construction site. Using intelligent dashboards, these sensors continuously track construction progress and provide a transparent comparison between the target and actual status. If the actual process deviates from the plan, it becomes immediately visible. The site management can take corrective action early on, rather than reacting only when there is a noticeable bottleneck in the material flow.
“This allows construction logistics planning and the BIM model to be continuously optimized — everything at the right time, in the right quantity, and in the right place.”
