Data center construction is booming. A recent report from Grand View Research estimates the data center construction market size at about $261 billion worldwide, with that number expected to more than double in the next decade.
Timelines and schedule constraints are always a top priority for project teams, but with data centers, the push for completion cannot overshadow the need for strict adherence to design specifications. Data centers are certified using detailed criteria that account for backup power systems, climate controls, fire suppression, and fault detection – accuracy is paramount.
“In my experience, data centers have always demanded a high degree of accurate geospatial awareness,” says Mark King, Multivista Senior Product Manager – Reality Capture. “The complexity of systems and services means space is at a premium; any small deviation from plan can have a huge impact on the construction schedule and can severely affect downstream activities, costing time and money.”
Many data center projects incorporate pre-fabrication and off-site manufacturing of key elements, but this only heightens the need for precise installations. More and more teams are turning to reality capture and analysis services to get things right the first time.
Stories from the field
Working on a 360,000 square foot data center in Virginia, USA, HIIT Contracting had to place 1,148 prefab elements. If they didn’t fit perfectly, rework would be costly and time-consuming. The teams at HIIT are experienced working with 3D laser scans and building information models (BIM) to ensure precision.
“We scan a structure to get a deeper understanding of the project,” says Jared Stoffan, a senior manager in HITT’s virtual construction department. “We can identify deviations and make sure we’re capturing any changes from a fabrication model to the install of the structure itself.”
The HIIT team used Hexagon Multivista’s deviation analysis service to validate what they built and installed matched their BIM model, and to flag and fix any circumstances that did not. Accuracy was paramount.
“Laser scanning is our clients’ closest source to digital truth. It’s the most accurate, effective, and efficient way to capture a 3D environment,” King explains, adding that Multivista scanning experts using top-of-the-line scanners from our partners at Leica Geosystems can deliver 3D scanning models measurable with millimeter accuracy.
Project managers at DPR Construction, one of the top 10 general contractors in the USA, used Multivista scan data to compare installed systems against their models to ensure installation accuracy and identify out-of-tolerance conditions before concrete was poured or drywall installed. But with limited resources and tight timelines, DPR reached out to Multivista for help.
“We came to a point where there weren’t sufficient resources available to complete scans or do the scan reviews in a timely manner,” says DPR’s Northeast Field Technology Manager Tim Conroy.
With experienced scanning technicians on site and access to Hexagon Multivista Analyze service, Multivista was able to help DPR in two main ways:
1. Capturing accurate scans
DPR scanned the entire data center, then validated the point cloud data against the BIM to prove the mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and specialized systems in the facility were built per the coordinated model, but also to update the model to reflect as-built conditions accurately.
2. Automating reality capture vs model comparison
Manually checking as-built scan data against the model is very time-consuming. Using the workflows powered by Hexagon Multivista Analyze services, DPR was able to automate the process and hand their clients an accurate, updated BIM much more quickly.
Speed and accuracy, with human oversight
3D laser scanning provides the accuracy project teams need on complex projects like data centers, and automated workflows offer a much faster way to compare what has actually been built to what is supposed to have been. But accuracy is hugely important in that process too, which is why Hexagon Multivista Analyze experts add the human touch to automated processes, manually performing quality assurance checks on auto-generated reports to ensure every project gets the precision it needs.
If you’re looking to get more out of your reality capture data, or learn more about laser scanning or automated analysis solutions from a reliable and trusted partner with over 20+ years of experience in construction documentations, reach out for a demo.
