PDC BIM has found strong demand for its services in the space where information technology and construction collide, winning work at the Perth Children’s Hospital, the new Perth Stadium, Inpex Ichthys LNG, and for BHP Billiton’s iron ore mines.
PDC BIM has found strong demand for its services in the space where information technology and construction collide, winning work at the Perth Children’s Hospital, the new Perth Stadium, Inpex Ichthys LNG, and for BHP Billiton’s iron ore mines.
In just three years, the offshoot of engineer PDC Group has had revenue growth of around 600 per cent, while staff numbers have drastically increased, from six to 47.
Part of its success is due to the development of a new building information management tool – iConstruct.
“The technology enables 3D elements from all areas of the construction, infrastructure and mining industries to be imported and integrated into a single 3D model with pinpoint accuracy,” the company said.
“This advanced tool acts as a project knowledge hub for all stakeholders, including internal workforces and outside contractors, saving clients time and money.”
The software is having success overseas, too.
“iConstruct now has over 100 clients internationally in the commercial building, mining and oil and gas sectors, including six of the top 10 US general contractors,” PDC said.
“Projects using iConstruct include the new Apple campus 2 headquarters in Cupertino, California, and the current Intel production facilities in the US, Ireland, and Israel.”
PDC says the software is designed to help big organisations optimise maintenance and capital planning, scheduling and work execution.
The projects are complex.
“The new Perth Children’s Hospital, being built on the QEII Medical Centre site in Nedlands, will replace Princess Margaret Hospital as the State’s dedicated children’s hospital,” the company said.
“Featuring 298 beds, 12 operating theatres and the latest facilities, the hospital will be the specialist paediatric hospital and trauma centre for WA.
“PDC BIM has been appointed BIM manager to the construction contractor and has also been given a state advisory role.
“A key requirement for the project is an accurate and complete BIM model containing appropriate information for use in the management and maintenance of the facility after completion.”
It can reduce time for a site team to access information from around an hour to five minutes.
This is particularly useful as costs increase and assets age, with asset utilisation, or ‘sweating’, increasing.
The company is bullish about the future, planning to harness strategic alliances and continue to simplify the user experience of its technology.
As part of its strategy, the senior management remains engaged full time at a time some competitors are downsizing, it has doubled its software development team, and trebled its field implementation team.