A Launceston builder and virtual reality entrepreneur have teamed up to start their own virtual construction business – aiming to save thousands of dollars for residential homeowners.
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Virtual reality businessman Tom Tasker has joined forces with Davies Construction founder Luke Davies to launch Unify Design.
Mr Tasker explained that the startup uses 2D construction plans to develop a 3D model of potential homes, providing a visualised product for home owners, builders and engineers.
He said the 3D model allowed his business to supply a bill of quantities, and a more accurate quote, saving builders thousands of dollars in over budgeting, and reducing the cost of construction.
Mr Tasker said he was also working with an engineer and designer, with a plan to eliminate coordination errors, as builders, engineers and designers were working off different plans.
The overall concept is known as building information modeling (BIM) – which is being used around the world to generate modelling for the physical and functional characteristics of a design project.
Master Builders Association Tasmania executive director Michael Kerschbaum said BIM would be beneficial for larger-scale commercial projects, but he was dubious about its potential for residential construction.
He said he wasn’t sure whether the savings would be offset by the cost of the service.
“It’s relatively easy to build most homes, unless you’re talking about something that’s particularly architectural in nature, or has a difficult design,” he said.
“We’re probably behind a number of countries that seem to be embracing the technology than we are, it is being used increasingly – typically on larger, commercial buildings, and more complex designs.”
The UK Cabinet Office 2011 BIM Strategy Paper found using BIM for infrastructure projects could reduce building costs by 20 per cent.
It has already being used in Western Australia for major projects, including the $1.2 billion Perth Children’s Hospital, and investigations are underway in Queensland, Victoria, and New South Wales.
Building and Construction Minister Guy Barnett said the government supported BIM in principle, while noting it would be dependent on all parts of the sector having access to the computer program.
“Current legislation would make BIM difficult as everything is scripted to support manual processes such as lodging plans with councils,” he said.
He said the Building Act, which will come into force on January 1, 2017, would address these issues.