Full Digital Control of the Homebuilding Process
THE DEEPER STORY
This company takes a broad view of technology by promising “full digital control” of the homebuilding process.
DIGIBILT’s work with each builder starts with the creation of a 3D model in Revit. Thomas Simpson, the company’s Director of BIM Technology, estimates about 40 hours to create full scale model from a paper plan set, not including discovery sessions with the builder and subs to iron out details and to make sure the model reflects the way they build.
He says the model offers “an extreme level of accuracy”—two to four times the information offered by most plan sets. It models the home down the the individual stud and includes detailed files for every product. “Architects usually draw at a 100-200 level of accuracy in Revit,”[i] says Simpson. “We’re at 400 or 500.”
The company models assemblies the way they will be built. A wall the framers would nail together on and stand up as one piece, regardless of length, is modeled as a single assembly. Clicking on the assembly brings up details on every item it contains, including pricing.
The designer also gets a 3D image of how plumbing and mechanical systems fit into the building frame. That eliminates a lot of field variances by making it easy to resolve clashes (like a duct that runs into a water or drain line) in the office.
A big time-saver is the model’s ability to automate tasks that are normally labor-intensive. At the Housing Innovation Alliance’s Summit in April 2019, CEO John McLinden showed how a single click creates a bill of materials, or BOM, in about five seconds; a second click generates a critical path schedule in another five seconds. Changes to the model automatically update the BOM and the schedule.
The model will also serve as a permanent reference. That’s because DIGIBILT teamed up with Underwriters Lab to create BILTiD, which is analogous to an automotive VIN number. Each house gets a unique ID that links to a database that includes the model and detailed product information. If a faucet leaks, the homeowner or plumber can go online for the model number then take it to the supplier to get the correct cartridge.
Labor Tracking
The company also offers automated labor management. It has put a system in place for tracking labor and creating accountability, which solves a management problem and promises to make workers more productive.
At the beginning of the workday the job supervisor receives an automated text, based on the schedule, asking how many workers showed up. At the end of the day the super gets another text asking what percentage of scheduled tasks the crew completed. The answer is used to update the schedule and supers are rated on how close their jobs track the schedule.
Predictive analytics also inform trades downstream if something is trending behind. McLinden says that the software will eventually learn where delays are most likely for that builder.
The system also includes worker training. For critical tasks like window flashing, the installer receives a text with a link to an instructional video from Construction Instruction, and the system tracks whether the installer actually watched the video. “Most carpenters will look at a link sent by text, especially if there’s accountability built in,” says McLinden.
The bottom line is that DIGIBILT’s system reduces jobsite waste and re-work. It eliminates a lot of the hours needed for planning and management, while also making individual workers more productive. McLinden claims the the builders who work with the company realize an average cost savings of $14,000 on a $440,000 home.
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- 100 = there is a chair (or cabinet or window or whatever)
- 200 = there is a chair that has nominal space requirement of 500×500
- 300 = there is a chair with arm rests and wheels
- 400 = manufacturer and model number.
- 500 = manufacturer and model number, supplier, date purchased