China State Construction Engineering (Hong Kong) (CSHK) has deployed Nutanix Frame, a Desktop-as-a-Service (DaaS) solution, across its operations to enable staff to learn and access the Building Information Modelling (BIM) application from anywhere to ensure construction projects can be executed on time and ideally under budget.
BIM is an intelligent 3D modelling process developed to facilitate plans, design and construction, and improve efficiency levels for professionals such as designers, architects, engineers and those involved directly in construction.
BIM is mandatory for government projects valued at more than HK$30 million, and a lot of promotion is made for its use in the private and public sectors. CSHK has set-up a BIM training centre and is targeting proficiency among at least 80% of its staff within the next two years to maintain its leading position and competitiveness in the industry.
Simon Ng, head of BIM at CSHK said: “The ability to access BIM technology with such ease means the difficulties associated with hardware requirements and remote working are no longer an issue for us. Longer term, it also means we will be able to work, teach and learn with much greater agility.”
The BIM application has high hardware requirements, which typically means users need to upgrade each workstation. This approach is a lengthy process and not cost effective considering some staff members do not participate in the BIM process full time.
The advent of remote working under Covid-19 also made this impossible. Employing Nutanix Frame enables staff to access and apply BIM technology directly from any computer (including laptops and tablets), with no need for upgrades.
In essence, all they require under the new system is an internet connection. As well as enabling staff to work remotely, the adoption of Nutanix Frame dramatically simplifies operations on construction sites, with its cloud-based service removing the need to procure workstations and enhancing productivity.
Edward Yeung, managing director of Nutanix Hong Kong and Taiwan, added: “As BIM technology becomes standard in Hong Kong, we expect many more in the fields of design, construction and engineering to reap the benefits of cloud technology to work with maximum flexibility and effectiveness.”
