Advance Concrete 2011 - Multi-User Technology

Most of today's projects are complex and require the involvement of an entire team to meet shorter and shorter deadlines. Starting with the 2009 version, Advance Concrete integrates the "Model Share" technology - a major innovation allowing splitting big projects in smaller parts, which are then shared and detailed separately by several users simultaneously.

Only one file - Several users!

Working in Multi-User mode, without a unique data file, leads to several files, which are always difficult to manage. With this revolutionary technology, Advance Concrete allows sharing the work between the members of a team and then integrates it in the best manner. Each member of the team has access to a unique file that can be accessed at any moment, by any of the members.

Efficient project management

Let us compare how a project evolves with and without Multi-user technology and see the benefits.
Suppose there is an office building with 2 basements, ground floor and 5 levels (R + 5). Two structural engineers and 3 draftsmen will work on this project in two main steps.

• Modeling    The building is modeled and calculated in Advance Design by the two structural engineers.
  
  
• Detailing    The model is exported into Advance Concrete using the GRAITEC BIM solution (GTC) and adjusted according to the architecture. Next, the necessary reinforcement drawings and all other views are created.

For the described project, the customer sets the start on site 3 weeks after the architecture is ready. The workflow consists of the following tasks with the corresponding estimation of time:

	Nr.	Step	Estimation [days]
Modeling	1	Model the structure with Advance Design	1
	2	Interpretation of the calculation results (forces, reinforcement)	3
	3	Generating calculation reports	1
	4	Export / Import with GRAITEC BIM (GTC)	0,5
Detailing	5	Adjust the model according to the architecture	1
	6	Infrastructure formwork plans	3
	7	Superstructure formwork plans	4
	8	Reinforcement drawings for similar elements	1
	9	Foundation reinforcement	1
	10	Basement walls reinforcement	2
	11	Basement beams reinforcement	2
	12	Basement slabs reinforcement	1,5
	13	Basement columns reinforcement	2
	14	Superstructure walls reinforcement	3
	15	Superstructure beams reinforcement	3
	16	Superstructure slabs reinforcement	3
	17	Superstructure columns reinforcement	2
	18	Drawing numbering	1
	19	Checking	3
	20	Layout	2
		TOTAL	40

The figure below illustrates the planning with and without Multi-user technology.

The workflow diagram without Multi-user technology

The workflow diagram using Multi-user technology

As can be seen, without powerful software allowing several users to work simultaneously on the project, the deadline cannot be met. The only solution in this case is to work on the detailing (the 6 - 19 tasks) at the same time. This way, all members of the team will work together most of the time during the project. As a result, the time spent on this project is significantly reduced by about 18 days.

So simple and secure

The main idea is based on using a database for storing the model information. With this approach, all data are centralized in a single database, which guarantees a high level of security. The database can be created starting from an existing drawing and can be updated with changes according to the drawing as the project evolves.

All the tools necessary to manage efficiently the work in Multi-user mode are available!

Each member of a project team can extract from the model database a set of floors on which they can work (creation, modification, deletion of elements). At any time, they have the possibility to make their work available to other members of the group. In addition, users can update their workspace to view how the model is progressing.

First, create a database that stores all the model information.

• Each member of the team registers a username and the password.
• The information from the model imported using the GRAITEC BIM solution is sent to the database.

All members of the team access the model to make all necessary changes in the infrastructure and superstructure. (Task 5)

For example, a draftsman is assigned to the infrastructure while the others adjust the elements of the superstructure.

• The draftsmen log on to the database. This action automatically creates a new .dwg file. During the connection they select the floors they want to work on, though, they can view the entire structure.
• The users check-out the elements they want to modify. After this operation, these elements cannot be modified by other users.
• Once the work is done for an entire floor or for part of the structure, they check in the structural elements into the database so that all members of the team have access to the latest model.

Structure modifications :

As the structural elements are adjusted according to the architecture and calculation reports, the draftsmen create formwork plans and reinforcement drawings. (Tasks 6 - 10)

    

As the details are created, the elements of the structure can be modified.

For example, after the structure calculation the columns of the 1^st - 5^th floor have to be modified. This involves also the modification of the basement walls.
The structural engineers log on to the database. They cannot modify the elements until the draftsmen check-in the elements modified by them.

When the engineers publish their modification to the database, the draftsmen can see in their workspace the details that require update, and then they adjust the reinforcement according to the new sections.

All .dwg files containing the reinforcement drawings and the formwork plans of the structure imported from Advance Design, can be finished in about 3 weeks.

Benefits

• Security: The structure elements checked-out by other members are always available in read-only mode. This guarantees secure data protection.
  
• Productivity: As all team members work simultaneously, there is no time loss during the project. Short deadlines are successfully met. The collaborative solution ensures faster modeling, allowing the development of more projects in a shorter time.
  
• Less errors: New elements and the modified ones are "published" to the database and become available to all other members of the team only when the draftsman issues the command, when the model is complete and correct.