The implementation of new technologies in civil construction is a complex and crucial challenge for companies like Engeform Engenharia, one of the largest construction companies in Brazil.

During the 3rd edition of the Construct IN Talks event, Gabriela Pierozan, a BIM Specialist at Engeform, shared her experiences about the company's journey in knowledge management and the implementation of new technologies on the construction site.

The architect also highlighted the challenges faced and the strategies adopted to make the use of tools more tangible and effective on construction sites. Check out the main highlights of the presentation below.

Challenges and Solutions for the Implementation of Technologies 

It is known that innovating in large engineering companies is a lengthy process that requires extensive planning, engagement from the professionals involved, and, above all, time to adapt to cultural changes. 

At Engeform it was no different, considering the various challenges faced when incorporating BIM and other technologies on construction sites. 

During her presentation at Construct IN Talks, Gabriela Pierozan highlighted the main barriers during this innovation process and the measures taken to overcome them:

Integration of Tools and Resource Overlap

There are several tools available on the market, and Engeform itself already used some on its construction sites. Therefore, it was necessary to map processes and needs to understand which solutions to apply, the issues they address, and how they could work together. 

Additionally, Proofs of Concept (POC) were conducted to validate the technologies and align internal initiatives to avoid conflicts of interest among the involved areas.

Team Engagement

The engagement of teams with the applied technologies is a crucial factor for all the potential of these tools to be explored. 

Some routines were implemented with the aim of optimizing this scenario and increasing usability for the team, such as:

• Monthly agendas: gather all the works that are using the tools, and the people dedicated to managing them to report on results and usages of these platforms. 

• Site visits: observe how they are being applied on the construction site and how the involved professionals are adapting.

Integration of Stakeholders in Processes

Each construction is a distinct scenario of project and procedures from the client, and this integration becomes a challenge since Engeform has its best practices and needs to safeguard these processes.

One action that helped with this was alignment with clients, designers, and managers at the beginning of each work to present the company’s routines, processes, and tools, thus validating the need for everyone's participation. 

Promotion of Innovation 

In the search for new ways to do things more efficiently, Engeform has an area completely dedicated to innovation, investing in various internal initiatives to promote this. Some examples are:  

• Engineering Project

• Knowledge and Innovation Management Ambassadors

• Digital Transformation

• ProjectaBIM Engeform

• Innovation Ranking in the Works

These actions aim to bring innovations and improvements to the company's construction processes, encouraging digital transformation and valuing successful initiatives and projects.

Engeform's Innovation Initiatives

When discussing Engeform’s initiatives at Construct IN Talks, Gabriela highlighted the process of implementing the BIM methodology in the works, sharing the experiences of collaborative workflow and integration between platforms.

Another technological solution presented was Construct IN, one of the platforms used by Engeform to manage and document its works through 360° images.

This technology, which allows remote monitoring of projects, was introduced to the company with the Engineering Project, an internal initiative aimed at innovation to address a mapped opportunity for improvement. 

Currently, Construct IN is considered a corporate tool within the company, with five ongoing projects in the system, in addition to others that have already been completed. 

Success Case of Visi by Construct IN

One of the company's success cases using the platform for remote management of its works was in the project of Hospital Unimed Sorocaba, which utilized all the capabilities of Construct IN, along with integration with other software. 

The main results in this work with the use of the tool were:

• Collaboration between the modeling partner and the site team in the 2nd stage of development of as-built models 

• Visual verification of the execution of scopes and extraction of measurements 

• Creation of notes for recording and controlling validated information 

• Recording of the project history (contractual administration)

According to Raquel Nishi, Business Manager at Engeform Engenharia on the Hospital Unimed Sorocaba project, a clear example of the platform's benefits was that PAYERAS, the partner office, never needed to visit the site to monitor the project.

“All monitoring of the physical evolution of the project was done through Construct IN, in addition to being used to report problems or questions during the process,” complements the manager.

In general, this technology has generated a significant time savings in activities such as measuring subcontractors and monitoring the physical progress of the works.

Site visits have become less frequent, reducing travel costs and allowing all teams, including management, to visualize progress remotely. 

*Guilherme Losekann, Head of Relationships and Expansion at Prevision

About the Construct IN Talks Event

The third edition of Construct IN Talks took place on November 8, in São Paulo, bringing together various professionals from the construction sector seeking innovation and networking. 

In addition to the Engeform presentation, other technological solutions that are transforming the sector were presented, bringing more agility and productivity. 

Prevision by Softplan, the event sponsor, was also present with a presentation on Lean Construction. Guilherme Losekann, Head of Relationships and Expansion, discussed the impacts of this methodology on Brazilian construction, its benefits, and challenges.

Sign up here at CIN News to receive the main updates from the sector and more information about the upcoming editions of the event.