Some of today’s most complex projects take place in the real world, not the digital one: skyscrapers and office buildings, manufacturing plants and logistics facilities, healthcare and college campuses, and the enormous arena of infrastructure projects.

Capital intensive projects are extraordinarily demanding, and the architecture, engineering, and construction firms that handle these projects do so with great expertise and experience. But by embracing digital technology and the vision of digital construction, these projects can be managed more effectively and more efficiently – and, even more important, they can be completed faster and more safely.

Construction and related activities cannot be fully automated, of course. But digital transformation can radically transform the way that firms in this vast sector operate. And, in today’s hyperconnected world, clients expect these firms to operate in a highly digital way – to deliver a seamless digital experience. Digital construction and digital engineering processes – smart construction – represent ways for those firms involved in capital intensive projects to build long-term relationships with clients, relationships that extend well past the point at which projects are handed over for occupancy and ongoing operations.

Now, Wipro is creating a digital vision for capital projects called the Owner’s Technology Support Office, or OTSO. Designed for all kinds of capital intensive projects, the OTSO is an integrated delivery system defined by building information modeling (BIM), an intelligent, three-dimensional modeling platform that harnesses data, generates insights, and provides evidence-based decision support throughout the entire process from conception and planning to construction and operations.

OTSO relies on a capital project-specific platform called BIM++. Developed by Wipro, BIM++ defines technologies, policies, information, and the interplay among all three to enable all stakeholders to collaborate more effectively. The common data environment of BIM++ also enables a virtual space that helps all stakeholders to “see” projects evolve and develop. Wipro is also reengineering processes and data governance models to standardize, optimize, and automate processes connected with the design, build, and operate stages. Building information modeling and operational services that reside on top of the platform can ensure more effective usage of technology platforms to deliver better business outcomes across capital project stakeholders.

The Benefits and Value of OTSO

Companies that manufacture traditional products, even highly sophisticated ones like smartphones or cars, rely on prototypes and iterations to ensure the product is truly ready for mass production or customized production. But this is a tremendous challenge for capital projects; no one would ever create a full-scale prototype of, say, Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building. But with OTSO and BIM++, it will be possible to develop digital/virtual prototypes and simulate their construction and operation. Digital construction is especially valuable and important for handling change order requests, the biggest driver of cost inefficiencies in engineering and construction projects.

Three-dimensional models of buildings and projects are commonplace, but BIM++ goes further and will enable users to see the fourth and fifth dimensions of time and costs. Generating 5D modelling platforms will make construction cost estimations much more precise and predictable. Finally, BIM++ aims to enables a 6D component to ensure these models can be effectively leveraged during the infrastructure operations to deliver smart operations once the building is complete.

The benefits of applying the BIM++ platform to capital projects are enormous:

• Cost savings: Sophisticated, data-driven models can reduce waste and improve performance, generating real savings; an optimized supply chain also increases accuracy of budgeting and efficiency in digital construction.
• Automation: BIM++ enables model-led automation, which will ensure interdependencies of critical activities are monitored and triggered across project phases and for handling change requests.
• Real-time collaboration: Dynamic data platforms enable a readily available “single source of truth” to fuel better, more effective collaboration in real-time.
• Faster: BIM++ accelerates the design-to-operate cycle by cutting down activity redundancies that arise from disintegrated functions and stakeholders across the project ecosystem.

Next Steps

Standardization and Integration of construction-related business processes can be achieved by harnessing the potential of digital technologies and a data-driven approach. This approach to digital construction offers great opportunities for engineering, construction and operations firms to gain competitive advantage and really reimagine construction by industrializing it.

Read more about BIM++ and Wipro’s capabilities in architecture, engineering and construction; engineering, procurement and construction; and built environments at this link.

Manish Ravindra Kumar

General Manager and Global Practice Head - Engineering Construction & Operations

Manish R Kumar is the Global Digital & Consulting Head for Wipro’s Engineering Construction & Operations (EC&O) practice serving the engineering, construction, real estate, facilities management, smart cities and airports sectors. He has more 20 years of diverse experience and substantial digital expertise in these areas, focusing on industry-centric value propositions, digitally led domain solutions, and best practices and processes. Manish has evangelized and delivered successful digital solutions and specific IT value propositions across the globe for smart and 21st century infrastructures, enabling construction and real estate enterprises to become more agile and productive.