Professional Documents
Culture Documents
August 2008
Structural Steel Shop Drawing Review: The Present the Future By Michael Gustafson, P.E.
he structural steel detailing industry has continued to expand its use of 3D modeling technology in recent years; currently more than 50 percent of the structural steel detailing market in the United States is using some form of 3D modeling software (American Institute of Steel Construction, 2007). This change has brought great efficiencies to the steel detailers own productivity, in addition to improving upstream and downstream processes. Structural engineers, on the other hand, have not seen the same improvements in their own productivity in reviewing and approving structural steel shop drawings. In fact, some engineering firms may argue that the average number of shop drawings to review per project has increased over the years. More recently, however, engineering firms are finding new ways to increase their productivity in reviewing and approving shop drawings using a range of emerging technologies. The transfer of shop drawing submittals electronically was the first step in using digital technology, but now enhanced visualization methods of reviewing and approving shop drawings are now being implemented.
Continuing Education
The Professional Development Series is a unique opportunity to earn continuing education credit by reading specially focused, sponsored articles in Structural Engineer. If you read the following article, display your understanding of the stated learning objectives, and follow the simple instructions, you can fulfill a portion of your continuing education requirements at no cost to you. This article also is available online at www.gostructural.com/pg.asp?id=20.
Instructions
First, review the learning objectives below, then read the Professional Development Series article. Next, complete the quiz and submit your answers to the Professional Development Series sponsor. Submittal instructions are provided on the Reporting Form on page 6. Your quiz answers will be graded by the Professional Development Series sponsor. If you answer at least 80 percent of the questions correctly, you will receive a certificate of completion from the Professional Development Series sponsor within 90 days and will be awarded 1.0 professional development hour (equivalent to 0.1 continuing education unit in most states). Note: It is the responsibility of the licensee to determine if this method of continuing education meets his or her governing board(s) of registrations requirements.
Learning Objectives
The learning objectives of this paper are the following: nderstand current contractual and industryU expected responsibilities of the engineer-of-record in the shop drawing review process. Identify inefficiencies or redundancies in the current review processes. Learn how 3D visualization tools can be used to coordinate, review, and approve shop drawing submittals while still delivering a 2D submittal of shop drawings. Comprehend industry trends moving toward a 3D model-based shop drawing review process.
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Figure 1: An example of 2D-3D Review workflow includes coordination of the 3D structural model, 2D design drawings, and the 3D steel construction model.
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Figure 2: An example of an approved assembly shown in both the 3D model and on the 2D electronic drawings in PDF format.
of connection can be assigned an agreed upon connection grouping so that the connections can be easily identified in the model during the verification process and cross referenced with the design calculations. During connection design approval process, the EOR can also utilize the fabricators model to verify the connection design within the context of the primary structure, as well as better visualize the load paths and constructability of the design. During review of the shop drawings or model, the EOR can then verify that the specified design code is valid at each connection location, or even viewed in conjunction with the provided submitted calculation sheets by the connection engineer.
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Conclusion
Building and construction industry experts anticipate significant changes to their industry because of the convergence of three industry trends: BIM, IPD methods (such as design-build), and sustainability (Cross, 2008). The impact of the convergence could offer big benefits toward project productivity and also for how projects are managed and delivered. The 3D model-based review workflows discussed above find synergies with these three trends. First, BIM can help engineers better visualize not only their
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References
merican Council of Engineering Companies, 2007, A Design & Construction Industry Trends Survey American Institute of Steel Construction, Feb. 2007, 2007 Structural Steel Detailer Listing, Modern Steel Construction Construction Users Roundtable, 2006, White Paper 1202, p.7 Cross, John, April 2008, Hat Trick, Design-Build Dateline, Vol. 15/No. 4 Ghafari & Associates, 2007, Breakthrough Results on General Motors Project Series McGraw-Hill, 2007, Interoperability in the Construction Industry, Smart Market Report, p. 24-25
Instructions:
1) 2) 3) 4) 5) a a a a a
Select one answer for each quiz question and clearly circle the appropriate letter. Provide all of the requested contact information. Fax this Reporting Form to 770-919-0574. (You do not need to send the Quiz; only this Reporting Form is necessary to be submitted.)
b b b b b c c c c c d d d d d 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) a a a a a b b b b b c c c c c d d d d d
Certification of ethical completion: I certify that I read the article, understood the learning objectives, and completed the quiz questions to the best of my ability. Additionally, the contact information provided above is true and accurate.
Signature: Date:
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collaboration methods with the construction team, while the structural engineer can use a more productive, accurate, and even more enjoyable process in approving structural steel shop drawings.
Michael Gustafson, P.E., is the engineering product manager for North America at Tekla Inc. He can be reached at michael.gustafson@tekla.com.
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Atlanta
Gwinnett Arena Georgia Aquarium
Proud Sponsor of the 2008 Structural Engineers Building Conference and Expo, October 2-3, Hyatt Regency Atlanta, GA
Tekla welcomes you to Atlanta for the 2008 Structural Engineers Building Conference. We also welcome you to earn your professional development hours with our free course designed to maintain, improve and expand your skills and knowledge of the structural steel shop drawing review process. To learn more about how you can earn professional development hours through Tekla visit www.tekla.com/pdh Tekla Structures is Building Information Modeling (BIM) software that streamlines the delivery process of design, detailing, fabrication, and construction organizations. The software easily integrates with other systems such as architectural, MEP process layouts as well as analysis and design solutions. Use the same model to save time and ensure quality projects. Not only have Tekla Structures Users delivered BIM-based projects in Atlanta, but also thousands of users have successfully delivered BIM-based projects in more than 80 countries around the world.
www.tekla.com/pdh 1.877.TEKLA.OK