What is Virtual Design and Construction (VDC)?

The acronym VDC (Virtual Design and Construction) was introduced in 2001 by the CIFE – Center for Integrated Facility Engineering at Stanford University, thanks to the contributions of Professor Martin Fischer. Today, it represents an advanced approach to managing construction projects, based on the integration of digital models, processes, and organization.

In the context of BIM, VDC is configured as a methodology that leverages informative models to plan, simulate, and control all phases of a project’s life cycle: from design to construction, up to management. In this sense, the integration between BIM and VDC allows for transforming the digital model into an operational tool to support decision-making and optimizing processes.

To effectively apply VDC in BIM and obtain all the benefits in terms of control, efficiency, and quality, it is essential to have adequate tools, such as advanced BIM software and BIM management platforms for team collaboration and coordination.

In this article, we will detail what VDC is in BIM, how it works, the differences compared to BIM, and how to apply it concretely in construction projects.

Principles of Virtual Design and Construction

VDC is a “virtual” process because it relies on digital models created with BIM software to simulate the final outcome before the project is physically built.

The terms “Design” and “Construction” refer to the two primary phases where VDC plays a role, enhancing quality, efficiency, and coordination throughout the project lifecycle.

The three fundamental principles of VDC are:

• product: the final outcome of the project, such as a building or infrastructure asset;
• organization: the project team and the ways in which stakeholders collaborate;
• process: the sequence of activities and workflows that guide design and construction.

In BIM (Building Information Modeling), these three elements are managed in an integrated manner through shared informative models, which allow for optimizing decisions, timelines, and costs.

What is VDC in BIM?

In the context of BIM, VDC can be defined as a management methodology that uses digital informative models to plan, simulate, and control the entire construction process.

In other words:

• BIM provides the digital model of the project (geometry + information);
• VDC uses that model to make decisions, coordinate the team, and optimize the process.

VDC in BIM thus allows for transforming the informative model into an operational tool, capable of:

• supporting planning (BIM 4D);
• integrating cost estimation (BIM 5D);
• improving risk management;
• optimizing collaboration between stakeholders.

How VDC Works with BIM Models

VDC uses 3D BIM models as a basis to develop advanced project simulations.

Through the integration of data contained in the model (time, costs, performance), it is possible to:

• analyze alternative design scenarios;
• predict critical issues before construction;
• coordinate different disciplines (architecture, structures, systems);
• improve planning of construction activities.

The BIM model thus becomes a shared digital environment where all information is collected, updated, and used to guide the decision-making process.

How BIM and VDC Work Together

BIM and VDC work synergistically but with distinct roles:

• the BIM is the method that allows creating and managing digital informative models of the work;
• the VDC is the approach that uses these models to improve processes, organization, and performance of the project.

This integration allows for transitioning from traditional design to an approach based on:

• multidisciplinary collaboration;
• data-driven decisions;
• preventive simulation of solutions.

How VDC uses BIM

The structure of Virtual Design and Construction

The goal of VDC is to understand the complexity of a project and anticipate critical issues before incurring high costs. In the context of BIM, this translates into the ability to use digital models to apply the Lean principles, often associated with the advanced dimensions of BIM (such as BIM 9D), including:

• waste elimination;
• cost reduction;
• increased productivity.

The main tools of VDC that enable these goals are:

• Integrated Concurrent Engineering (ICE);
• Project Production Management (PPM);
• Building Information Modeling (BIM);
• metrics (KPI).

Virtual Design and Construction: the structure

ICE: Integrated Concurrent Engineering

Integrated Concurrent Engineering (ICE) is a social method that descends from NASA and its Extreme Collaboration (Extreme Collaboration – XC), aimed at facilitating decisions and improving communication through the best available technologies.

Within the VDC framework, this methodology aims to organize meetings with the design team and allow stakeholders from multiple disciplines to participate simultaneously to create and evaluate multidisciplinary VDC models in an extremely rapid and reliable manner. Using ICE sessions in VDC allows for:

• reducing the time required to make decisions;
• improving the quality of the output;
• achieving better integration among the different disciplines.

PPM: Project Production Management

PPM (Project Production Management) is the component of VDC responsible for the processes.

Project Production Management, when applied to a project, clearly defines its objectives and provides a broad overview of the entire project and the activities that require the most attention.

It is a planning tool through which the execution of the project can be managed. It utilizes systems and methodologies to define:

• the variability of the project to implement measures aimed at reducing it;
• the workflow planning;
• the required resources.

The use of PPM in VDC design allows for understanding, controlling, and improving project delivery.

BIM: Building Information Modeling

BIM is the component where the virtual part resides, utilizing technology to enhance projects. It is the way to obtain the digital and visual representation of what the team is working on with information related to each object of the building.

BIM is of immense importance in ICE sessions for:

• easily presenting the project challenges to the team and clients;
• supporting the decision-making process through data acquisition and 3D visualization.

Metrics

To ensure that each component can pursue the objectives of the VDC process, it is necessary to monitor appropriate metrics. These metrics are important to identify corrections to be made in order to achieve continuous improvement of the process.

The Key Performance Indicators (KPI) to monitor for project success must be selected based on the identified objectives. They should include:

• Production Objectives (PO): objective measures such as time, costs, number of resolved collisions that are regularly monitored to check whether the project is on the right track;
• Controllable Factors: subjective measures such as quality and satisfaction that are directly linked to the production objectives of each component (PPM, BIM, and ICE) and serve to optimize the project’s processes;
• Customer Objectives (CO): metrics such as usability, performance, sustainability, and safety set by the project team to meet customer goals measured when the project is operational.

VDC framework

BIM vs VDC: what are the differences

The BIM method and the VDC method have many points in common and are therefore often confused. Both are based on collaboration and intelligent communication; however, in the context of BIM, VDC represents a broader approach that uses BIM as an operational basis.

The main difference between BIM and VDC lies in the purpose and level of application.

BIM (Building Information Modeling):

• creates the digital model of the building;
• integrates geometric and informational data;
• allows the virtual representation of the project;
• organizes models and documents throughout the lifecycle of the work.

VDC (Virtual Design and Construction):

• uses BIM models to plan and control the process;
• integrates aspects such as time (4D), costs (5D), and risk management;
• supports the decision-making process through simulations;
• coordinates people, processes, and technologies.

In other words, BIM builds the information model, while VDC uses that model to manage the entire design and construction process in an integrated manner.

Differences between BIM and VDC

VDC in Construction: How It Is Applied

The application of VDC in construction extends to the entire life cycle of the work and uses BIM models as an informational basis to plan, simulate, and control every phase of the project.

In the context of BIM, VDC transforms the digital model into an operational tool that guides decisions, processes, and construction activities, significantly reducing uncertainties and inefficiencies.

In particular, VDC finds application in the following phases:

• Design Phase:
  • development and analysis of multidisciplinary BIM models;
  • interference verification (clash detection);
  • simulation of alternative solutions;
  • support for decision-making through ICE sessions (Integrated Concurrent Engineering).
• Planning Phase:
  • integration of the BIM model with the temporal dimension (4D);
  • simulation of construction sequences;
  • optimization of the schedule;
  • coordination of activities among different stakeholders.
• Construction Phase:
  • use of the BIM model as an operational reference on site;
  • monitoring of work progress;
  • controlled management of changes;
  • reduction of errors and rework.
• Management and Maintenance Phase:
  • use of the updated model (BIM as-built) for facility management;
  • monitoring of building performance;
  • planning of maintenance interventions;
  • optimization of the work’s life cycle.

This approach allows VDC in BIM to improve project predictability, increase efficiency, and ensure greater control over time, costs, and quality.

Roles and Professionals of BIM VDC

The integration between BIM and VDC requires specific skills and new professional figures capable of managing not only digital models but also processes and collaboration among different stakeholders.

In the context of VDC in BIM, roles evolve from the traditional project organization and lean towards greater integration between design, planning, and construction.

The main figures involved are:

• BIM VDC Coordinator
• BIM VDC Manager
• BIM VDC Engineer and Specialist

These professionals work synergistically to ensure the effective use of the BIM model within the VDC process.

What is a BIM VDC Coordinator?

The BIM VDC Coordinator is the operational figure who manages the technical coordination of BIM models within the VDC process.

His role is essential to ensure integration among different disciplines (architecture, structure, systems) and to ensure the quality and consistency of the information contained in the model.

Among the main activities of the BIM VDC Coordinator are:

• coordination of disciplinary models in a shared environment;
• management of interferences (clash detection and clash resolution);
• support for ICE sessions and team collaboration;
• verification of the correct application of BIM standards;
• updating and control of models in the different phases of the project.

Thus, the BIM VDC Coordinator does not limit himself to controlling the model but actively contributes to improving the design process.

What does a BIM VDC manager do?

The BIM VDC Manager is the strategic figure responsible for the implementation and management of the VDC methodology within the project.

They have a comprehensive view of the process and coordinate people, tools, and objectives to ensure the achievement of expected performance.

Their main responsibilities include:

• defining project objectives and KPIs;
• planning activities according to VDC principles;
• integration between BIM, ICE, and PPM (Project Production Management);
• managing the team and information flows;
• monitoring performance (time, cost, quality);
• supporting the decision-making process at a strategic level.

The BIM VDC Manager is responsible for transforming the digital model into an effective management tool and ensuring its use for the optimization of the entire process.

BIM VDC engineer and specialist

The BIM VDC Engineer and BIM VDC Specialists are technical figures who work directly on BIM models and project data and support the practical application of VDC.

Their contribution is essential for the development of analyses, simulations, and integrations that allow for improved planning and project management.

Among their main activities:

• advanced BIM modeling and information management;
• development of 4D (time) and 5D (cost) simulations;
• data analysis and decision support;
• integration between models and planning tools;
• support for coordination and communication between disciplines.

These figures represent the operational link between the BIM model and the VDC process and contribute to making the project more efficient, controllable, and predictable.

BIM VDC Professionals

The advantages of using VDC

The main innovation introduced by VDC in construction design and planning concerns the optimization of the management phase, with a direct impact on time, costs, and project quality.

In the context of BIM, VDC allows using the information model as a basis for improving collaboration, planning, and control of activities.

Among the main advantages of using VDC, we can highlight:

• increase in communication among teams: thanks to the ICE system, the different project actors participate in organized collaborative sessions that foster direct comparison and information sharing. This approach reduces decision-making times and limits delays related to the lack of integration among disciplines;
• better strategic planning of the project: through the PPM methodology, it is possible to define objectives, activities, resources, and priorities clearly from the initial phases. This results in more effective planning, with a reduction in conflicts, unforeseen events on-site, and design rework;
• greater efficiency and productivity: the use of BIM within the VDC process allows for a complete and up-to-date virtual model, accessible to all parties involved. This enables a shared vision of the project, facilitates simultaneous work among disciplines, and reduces reliance on emergency solutions that come with high costs;
• reduction of risks and greater control: the ability to simulate scenarios and analyze critical issues in advance allows for more informed decisions and constant control over the project’s progress;
• optimization of the lifecycle of the work: the BIM model, integrated into the VDC process, also supports the phases following construction, improving the management and maintenance of the building.

Benefits of the integration between BIM and VDC

The integration between BIM and VDC allows for obtaining the maximum value from the digital process, thanks to the combination of the information model and process management.

In particular, this integration enables:

• turning the BIM model into a decision-making and management tool;
• improving coordination between design, planning, and construction;
• increasing transparency and traceability of information;
• reducing time, costs, and margins of error;
• improving the overall performance of the project.

To plan and manage a construction project using the VDC methodology and obtain all the advantages listed above, you need:

• a BIM software to create extremely detailed 3D/BIM models with all the information related to each object of the building;
• a platform of BIM management system with integrated tools that allow collaborating and coordinating the work team, reviewing the model, managing the realization times of a work, and estimating the costs of the project intervention.

FAQ on BIM VDC

What is BIM VDC?

BIM VDC is an integrated approach that combines BIM informational models with processes and organization to plan, simulate, and control the entire lifecycle of a project, from design to construction to management.

What is the difference between BIM and VDC?

BIM creates and manages the digital model of the building, while VDC uses that model to optimize processes, coordinate the team, and support decisions during all phases of the project.

What is VDC used for in BIM?

VDC in BIM serves to improve planning, reduce risks, and optimize time and costs through simulations, multidisciplinary coordination, and proactive analysis of critical issues.

How does VDC work in construction projects?

VDC uses BIM models to integrate project data, timelines, and costs, allowing scenarios to be simulated, activities to be coordinated, and progress to be monitored throughout the lifecycle of the project.

What are the main advantages of BIM VDC?

The main advantages of BIM VDC include:

• better collaboration among teams
• greater control over timelines and costs
• reduction of errors and rework
• data-driven decision support
• optimization of the project lifecycle

In which phases of the project is VDC applied?

VDC is applied in all phases of the project:

• design (analysis and coordination of models)
• planning (4D simulations and work scheduling)
• construction (monitoring and site management)
• management (maintenance and facility management)

Which professionals work with BIM VDC?

The main professionals involved are:

• BIM VDC Manager (strategy and coordination)
• BIM VDC Coordinator (technical coordination of models)
• BIM VDC Engineer and Specialist (modeling, simulations, and analysis)

What tools are needed to apply VDC in BIM?

To apply VDC in BIM, BIM modeling software and BIM management platforms that enable collaboration, coordination, and management of timelines and costs are required.