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Thesis 2 Undergraduate Project
For my undergraduate thesis 2 project in AUC, as part of a team, we completed a construction planning project for an international school located in New Cairo, Egypt. The project consisted of complete contract analysis, site preparation and mobilization plans, execution methodology, preparing method statements, specification examinations, conducting equipment selection, utilizing Revit and SketchUp to build BIM models and 5D simulation on Navisworks, preform a time schedule for the project by utilizing Primavera, complete quaintly takeoffs using multiple sources, resource analysis, delay and claim simulations, sensitivity analysis, risk management plan, financial ratios study for subcontractors evaluations, item cost breakdown, project cost control, and financial chart studies.
The Components of the Project
The items below represent the different types of components which make up the whole of the thesis 2 project.
SketchUp 3D Model and Lumion Render
A SketchUp model was created in order to be used in the 4D simulation. Model showcases the different elements of the project, how they scale to each other and their positions. The 3D model can be used for planning and illustration purposes as it gives the personnel a realistic look on the project which was otherwise just 2D drawings.
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In order to make the project's elements appear realistically, Lumion was used in order to render the 3D model. The Lumion render utilized the different materials, shades and added components in order to create renders that make the user in touch with the project.
Method Statements
Method statements are a description on how work will be executed in an efficient and secure way. The method statements provide information, illustration, and descriptions for the employees who will bring these works into reality. Method statements are usually made for high risk, complex works that require clear and definitive guidelines. They are also known as the safe systems of work because they provide a logical and comprehensive sequence of events detailing the work must be carried out.
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For our project, we decided to make one comprehensive method statements which summarizes the Swimming Pool construction, it includes: swimming pool excavation, concreting and finishing.
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A SketchUp model was developed for the sequence of events and then rendered on Lumion.
Cost Breakdown Analysis
In order to provide an adequate estimation that will both allow the Contractor to be competitive while at the same time bring in profit, a cost breakdown needs to occur. The individual items in the BOQ and their respective specs need to be thoroughly investigated in order to understand the requirements of each item and what is needs to be done to complete it as requested. The cost breakdown will be done for each item in the BOQ to identify the final unit price to which includes the direct costs, markup and indirect costs.
Cash Flow Analysis
Financial analysis is a great way to determine the planned standing of the project during a point of time. The financial analysis can be done in a plethora of ways, one of these methods is the Cash Flow Chart. The cash flow chart will analyze the Contractor’s finances for the project throughout its whole duration. The Cash Flow Chart will demonstrate the economical assets that are given to the Contractor by the Owner, the cash spent on the Contractor to commence and complete the tasked work and finally the total overdraft. The Cash Flow Analysis allows the Contractor to identify whether they will have a negative overdraft, and whether this overdraft will influence the final profit planned for the project.
Sensitivity Analysis
The sensitivity analysis preformed in order to analyze which work packages in the project have the most contribution the project’s price, and thus are more crucial for the Contractor to recognize as these will be the items that bring in most of the Contractor’s commission. The sensitivity analysis utilizes the Citers Paribus method. This method will be used in order to charted the sensitivity analysis diagrams. However, there is a disadvantage to this method as an assumption is made which states that the rest of the work packages will not alternate when analyzing a single package which is unrealistic.
Delay Analysis
Delay analysis is a crucial part in the examination for any construction project, this is primarily due to delays being the main cause for claims and disputes. The delay analysis is preformed to realize the effect of delays in the project’s duration, the reason for the delays, and then figure out which party is responsible. The responsible party will then be liable to compensate any damages, time or cost wise that were caused by them. The longer the duration of the project, the more indirect costs the Contractor has to pay and the more his ability to move on to other projects is constrained. The Owner’s loss with a delayed project comes from his inability to start bringing in revenues through the project until it is finished and functional.
Simulations Produced
The items below represent the different types simulations preformed on Navisworks to complete the project's deliverables.
Lumion Animation
The 3D SketchUp Model was made realistic and rendered using Lumion. This was done by adding foliage and the refining of materials. An animation video was produced which shows the scope of the project and it's different components.
4D Simulation of Construction Execution Plan
An Autodesk Navisworks model was developed in order to showcase the sequence of events as illustrated in the time schedule produced by Primavera. The Navisworks 4D simulation combines the SketchUp 3D model and the time aspect in order to provide the simulation showcased above.
Method Statements 4D Simulation
Another Autodesk Navisworks Simulation was produced for the method statement detailing the excavation, concreting and finishing of the swimming pool.
5D Simulation of Project Element
The 4D Navisworks simulation includes the 3D model from the Revit mode which was combined with the Primavera schedule. This allowed the team to produce a simulation to the progress of Building (B)’s Concreting and Finishing activities.
Another element that can be added to the 4D Simulation which is the costs spent in order to execute these activities. The costs for the activities included in the Navisworks simulation were extracted from the priced list activities and had the profit removed from them in order to resemble the cash out for the contractor.
Thus, the team was able to produce a 5D simulation video which showcases the execution process of producing Building (B) in the 3D sense accompanied by the time and cost elements.