CC Jan-Feb 2022

TECHNOLOGYfocus
reap its benefits. By implementing the
following best practices, teams can
leverage their CDE to reduce errors, waste,
and miscommunication.
1. Make the Right Data Accessible at the
Right Time
With all project data centralised, it's
important to prevent the confusion that can
arise from sharing project data too early or
too late in the process. Ideally, the CDE
allows for project managers to segment
users into groups and control which
information those groups can access,
when, and how they can interact with it.
2. Streamline Workflows with Automation
Using a solution that supports application
programming interfaces (APIs) allows for
connecting the CDE with a wide variety of
systems now and in the future, such as
ERP systems and document management
tools. That connectivity can then be used
to improve accuracy and efficiency. For
example, an automated workflow between
the CDE and ERP could trigger payments
to surveyors when official documentation is
uploaded and shared through the CDE.
3. Ensure Data Integrity with One-to-One
Mapping
With multiple systems from various
technology providers feeding and
extracting data from the CDE, there is a
risk of data integrity loss. The right CDE will
maintain the quality of the data, no matter
which programmes various stakeholders
use. It will offer one-to-one data mapping,
which is the process of matching fields
between systems without stripping or
editing data.
4. Prevent Data Clutter
During the implementation process it is key
that the CDE supports the data being
captured in a way most useful to the teams
involved, by for instance using customised
and standardised fields and attributes to
provide guardrails for the information that
users can enter, ultimately preventing data
overload, reducing errors and visual clutter.
5. Use a CDE that Supports Open
Standards
A CDE that treats all data from various
sources equally facilitates the sharing
and exchange of data. Support for open
standards also eliminates the risks that
come with manual data entry and poor
data integrity and facilitates information
sharing between any tool without losing
or corrupting data.
SELECTING THE RIGHT CDE
Teams working on building construction
projects of all kinds use Trimble Connect
as their BIM-centric CDE, plus much
more. In addition to integrating with a
variety of Trimble products and third
party applications, Connect allows all
users to view project information and
data-rich models in real time.
Stakeholders can also assign and review
tasks, monitor activity, and automate
versioning so users always know they're
viewing the latest documents. These
features set the foundation for the
Constructible Process, an approach that
connects all phases and trades of a
project to reduce risk.
The more complex a construction
project is, the bigger the need for a CDE
that enables teams to send and receive
data bidirectionally, view and interact
with project models, and improve their
data analysis capabilities. A CDE like
Trimble Quadri is specifically geared
towards linear infrastructure projects that
combine BIM and GIS capabilities. It
also enables the bidirectional flow of
data directly between the model and
internal systems. It is object- and
process-based, with all information
being appended to the model, which is
updated continuously throughout the
project - meaning there are no versions
to manage. By using a task-based
approach, the CDE enables teams to
manage their entire BIM execution plan
within the system.
With data flowing openly, Quadri acts
as an automated data aggregator.
Machine control information, surveying
data, and photogrammetry information is
constantly being fed back into the
system, automating the collection of
data used to create a digital as-built. The
as-built data can also be used in the
operational phase of the asset when
maintenance and repairs are needed.
HIGH SPEED RAIL ASSET DATA
CENTRALLY MANAGED
Last December, SNCF Réseau, the French
Railway Authority, announced that it had
selected an integrated solution of Trimble
Connect and Quadri to serve as the central
system within its Enterprise Common Data
Environment for the next three years.
Pierre-Etienne Gautier, director of SNCF
Réseau BIM and Digital Continuity
Programme stated that an open CDE was
instrumental in SNCF Réseau's strategic
roadmap to create a digital twin of its
infrastructure. Enriching the digital twins
consistently through a secure open CDE,
SNCF can maintain its infrastructure to the
highest standards during its entire lifecycle.
SNCF manages the largest high-speed
rail in Europe at over 30,000 kilometers
along with a large portfolio of greenfield
(network extension) and brownfield
(network modernisation) projects. The
enterprise adoption of the CDE ensures
digital continuity across all design,
construction, operation & maintenance
phases. SNCF Réseau is one of the
organisations adopting a combined
solution to address building construction
(Connect) and linear infrastructure projects
(Quadri). These systems federate all
company data into one consolidated and
integrated system, SNCF's CDE. Under the
new three-year contract, SNCF Réseau will
cover the entire project lifecycle - from
design and construction to operations and
maintenance - within its IT environment.
As SNCF is constantly expanding and
updating its infrastructure, having a
common data environment that supports
collaborative model development for all
digital assets is seen as instrumental in
working efficiently and effectively,
according to Judicaël Dehotin, deputy
director of SNCF Réseau BIM Programme.
Using CDEs to review and manage a
project provides great value throughout a
project's lifecycle, the model and data
playing an increasing role in long-term
investment planning.
Focusing on CDEs helps users -
architects, engineers, contractors and
others - implement best practices, and
leverage the data to achieve truly
transformational process improvements.
www.trimble.com
January/February 2022 21