Automation and Communication in Structural Engineering: Shaping the Future of the Industry – Ep 085

In this episode, we talk to Michael J. Bolduc, P.E., Senior Project Manager at Simpson Gumpertz & Heger Inc. (SGH), about automation and communication in structural engineering, and how engineers can help avoid the increasing pressure on structural designers to respond to major architectural changes or coordination issues late in the design process. Engineering Quotes: Here Are Some of the Questions We Ask Michael: You co-authored an article in the March 2021 Structure Magazine, called Communicating in a BIM World. Can you please explain why effective communication between architects and engineers is so important and how it affects the success of a project? In the article you said, and I quote, "The development of sophisticated ‘truly integrated’ design tools has been limited to high-profile design projects, whereas the more widely adopted tools have not lived up to the hype." Can you explain what you mean by that? What strategies can structural engineers adopt to help designers minimize the rework penalty, stay efficient in a slowing economy, and prepare for a future where BIM is the deliverable? In another article you co-authored in the March 2022 Structure magazine called Automation and the Future of Structural Engineering, you talked about how tech allows us to automate responses. Can you please talk about that? In the article, you mentioned that "… as daily work processes become more model-driven, and less time is spent looking at the drawings, the potential to miss critical details that are not modeled is introduced." Do you worry that it will lead to structural failures? Do you have any advice for engineers? Here Are Some of the Key Points Discussed About Automation and Communication in Structural Engineering: Shaping the Future of the Industry: Effective communication between architects and engineers is more important now than it ever was. The pace of the work is much faster now than in the past, so making sure that you are clear in your communications is vital. The numerous ways of communication we have available to us causes us to be inundated with them. You must set the boundaries and standards of how you want to communicate in a project to ensure you do not miss any information. Have conversations because the conversation places the context of what you are trying to achieve. If you are having trouble understanding what someone is trying to say, pick up the phone and make sure you understand what information the other person is looking for so that you can give them the answer they need. The true integration of a full building-type model only happens on large-scale projects. It is where you have the time and budget that is dedicated to the design team to get the construction-ready model during the design phase. Typical construction projects pose a challenge for this because of time constraints and tight budgets. Having a construction-ready model lets you coordinate everything down to a single duct penetration and turns a reactionary design into a proactive design. Having BIM as a deliverable is a long-term goal for the structural engineering industry. Everyone looks more at your model than your drawings. Use placeholders within your model to communicate important attention areas. Do not put too much detail in your models and only put in what is necessary at a given time point. Detailing a model too soon can cause challenges if changes are needed because you will need to change a multitude of elements. Ensure that a section of the model is locked down before detailing that section. Anticipate change. It is going to happen, so expect it to come. Don’t bring things to a final state but to where you know you are close, and leave yourself notes of finalization steps to be done once it is locked in. Try to automate mundane tasks.