Infrastructure projects influence the development of large-scale geographies and the interactions between multiple stakeholders that bring that infrastructure into existence. The development of infrastructure is an inherently complex process that requires multiple parties to work closely together to achieve the finished product. The complexity of this development gives rise to numerous inherent issues related to time, safety, and quality. Therefore, it is crucial that experienced engineering teams be involved in leading the development of major infrastructure projects. Engineering teams with experience managing large-scale infrastructure projects will be best equipped to preemptively identify issues and provide solutions in a timely manner. Because of our exposure to best practices used by architectural BIM design companies in Dubai, along with working in partnership with a number of international firms, we at Strudco are able to provide coordinated levels of quality in structural engineering services for major infrastructure projects.
Understanding the Scale and Complexity of Infrastructure Projects
The scale and complexity of large infrastructure projects are much greater than those of smaller construction developments. Large infrastructure projects entail large-scale structural systems, heavy loads, long spans, and coordination across many disciplines, including architectural, structural, facade, and MEP. Engineering teams with years of experience managing large-scale structural projects understand that a small mistake made during the design phase may result in significant safety risks and delays in construction. In addition, they will also know how to accurately define project requirements, mitigate risks early in project development, and design systems that provide both safety and buildability upon construction. We design every project from the ground up, emphasizing the balance of design intent, constructability, and long-term performance.
Importance of Strong Structural Planning
It’s safe to say that structural planning is central to any infrastructure project. Structural planning establishes load transfer mechanisms and explains how a structure will be able to withstand and transfer environmental loads, as well as establishing the manner in which different parts of the structure will work together to achieve optimum efficiency. Poorly planned structural designs will result in not only inefficient construction practices, which lead to wastage of materials, but also the opportunity for construction difficulties. An experienced design team will have the expertise to ensure that the structures being designed will be optimally supported by the structural systems selected without sacrificing safety; therefore, the right materials, types of framing systems, and connection details will be used in accordance with the size and location of your project. Since we are experienced facade BIM designers in Qatar, we have this knowledge at our disposal and can seamlessly incorporate structural planning into your facade design to ensure that your building’s form and function align.
Risk Management Through Engineering Experience
Infrastructure projects carry significant financial and health and safety hazards, particularly where projects are either fast-tracked or where challenging environments create additional complications for the project. An experienced engineer will possess the knowledge and skill set to identify possible complications before they become serious issues. A well-trained structural engineer examines all facets of a project—from the manner in which foundations behave under loads (wind load, etc.), through the tolerance of the materials and installation sequencing of the materials, to the final product. Strudco leverages established workflows from global infrastructure projects as well as lessons learned to reduce uncertainties and provide reliable results. As a qualified structural design consultant in Bahrain, we have experience working within complex regulatory environments and have successfully designed structures that met both technical and code requirements without having to create multiple revisions to achieve that outcome.
Coordination Across Multiple Disciplines
Coordination remains a hurdle for almost all of our large infrastructure projects. Coordination among structural, architectural, façade systems, and MEP systems must occur without conflict; otherwise, delayed schedules may occur, and project costs will increase. Our engineering teams utilize BIM technologies along with advanced detailing methods to achieve efficient coordination. Communication of intent and information flow, along with clash detection through model coordination, improves the coordination of all projects’ contracting disciplines throughout the formal design process up until project execution. Through our multi-disciplinary engineering and productive experience, we act as central coordination partners for our clients and facilitate the seamless flow of information among all stakeholders throughout the life cycle of each project.
Role of BIM in Supporting Large-Scale Projects
BIM assists with the project development of complex infrastructure projects. BIM provides the tools needed to create models of designs and detect clashes prior to construction, and it improves drawing and quantity accuracy. Although these are valuable uses of BIM technology, the only way that BIM can truly be effective is if the model is produced and managed by persons knowledgeable in BIM technology and the design processes associated with BIM technology. Our BIM Team does not view BIM merely as a modeling tool; we view BIM as a decision-making tool. Our extensive experience providing Facade BIM services in Saudi Arabia equips our team to competently manage large digital models, monitor the accuracy of data in them, and render reliable outputs to the construction teams and to all persons involved with the construction of those models. Use of this experience allows us to successfully treat BIM as what it is intended to be—a tool providing true value to the successful execution of the project, and not an unnecessary coordination burden.
Efficiency in Design, Detailing, and Execution
Infrastructure projects rely heavily on time. Delays impact projects more than any other area, including budgets, stakeholders, and public trust. Knowledgeable engineering teams know how to manage their time effectively while maintaining the quality of the product. Engineering teams use established processes to ensure that they provide nothing but the best quality products. They utilize the latest and proven software products for the design, construction, and fabrication of the product, and will always provide documentation for the fabrication process and construction methods. Our team emphasizes accurate design and detailing and efficiently revises designs for clients to ensure that the design, detailing, and revision process is achieved as designed or planned. As we have established a working relationship with structural designers in Saudi Arabia, we are able to consistently meet tight timelines while producing a high-quality engineering product.
At Strudco, we see engineering not only as a means of providing the design and construction of a facility but also as a long-term commitment to the responsibilities of our facilities over the course of our projects. Large-scale infrastructure projects present numerous challenges; therefore, our engineering team’s experience and foresight allow us to coordinate the many technical skills needed for such endeavors more effectively than others do. We have had global exposure, BIM knowledge, and commitment to quality; therefore, we provide the best overall service for our clients in delivering complex/large-scale infrastructure projects with the utmost confidence. We believe experience is not just an advantage but rather a necessity in providing the best infrastructure that is both safe, efficient, and future-ready.