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It's official. Over the past two or three years, rumors have proffered the cessation of sales and/or support of Primavera P3 (Primavera Project Planner) and SureTrak; indeed, there have even been published dates, such as on Oracle's GSA schedule available on the Internet. Each year the rumors prove false or Oracle/Primavera has moved the published date back. This time, it appears to be official -- our sources at Oracle have confirmed Primavera P3 and SureTrak will no longer be sold after December 31, 2010. \"Sustaining\" support, however, will continue indefinitely for P3 and SureTrak.
What does this mean to you? The obvious choice, as preferred by Oracle, is to move to Oracle Primavera P6 Project Management (now in version 7; version 8 due out this fall). The other choices are to keep using your copy of P3 or SureTrak, as many of you have been doing, switch to another product, or find an occupation that doesn't need scheduling. All kidding aside, there are quite a few of you who will need to stay on the old programs for one reason or other, such as schedule analysis or contract requirements. Finding new bugs is rare, so support is really not an issue. Application usage questions are often happily answered by the user community.
Upgrade Policy
We're still waiting to hear from Oracle what the official upgrade policy is. In the past, if you had a paid up P3 maintenance contract, which cost approximately $1,000/year, you were entitled to a free upgrade to P6. We understand from one of our sources that the \"migration\" process allows a 65-75% trade-in credit from P3 to P6, but have not verified this.
Moving to P6
It's been five years since P6 was introduced (originally P3e/c) and we do hear more frequently of contractors successfully updating. Indeed, the publisher of Construction Project Controls and BIM Report uses P6 on a daily basis and has reported it to be stable and essentially perform all needed functions previously available in P3. For managing multiple projects in an enterprise environment, its original \"raison d'etre,\" it excels, proving to be a major time saver. Its steps feature is a boon for contractors and its enhanced WBS capabilities greatly improve schedule building and reporting.
Steeper Learning Curve
We look back and think P3 was reliable, powerful and easy to use. It probably seems that way since our learning experience evolved over a multi-year period concurrent with Primavera's own evolution, particularly as it transitioned from DOS to Windows. The P6 learning curve is similarly slow, primarily because the transition included the substantial design and development of an enterprise system. Clearly, this was a learning experience for Primavera as well. But it has proven to be worth it.
What's Next
What's next is not so much as important as what's next for you? P6 has turned the corner and can perform your scheduling projects more than adequately. If you are on P3, we recommend you upgrade and just start using the program. It does have some quirks, particularly in the management of baselines and upgrades, demanding more upfront work to build your resource tables, your organizational breakdown structure and your enterprise breakdown structure along with disciplined procedures for maintaining baselines, updates and backups. What's next as far as Oracle Primavera is concerned is a continued effort to fix bugs, add yet-to-be transitioned P3 features and add new user-requested enhancements. Beyond that, Oracle Primavera continues to put substantial effort into development of web-based capabilities. As we become a more mobile workforce, the ability to access our schedules and to provide select views for others on the project team becomes more productive.
Where to Start -- The Essential P6 Transition Toolkit
CPC/BIM recently announced a unique mixed-media resource collection designed especially for those moving to P6 from Primavera and SureTrak -- The Essential P6 Transition Toolkit. Drawing upon four education and training tools written by construction experts to help you master P6:
* 2010 Edition of The P3-to-P6 Transition Guide (for P6 Version 7) by Gordon Aronson (130 pages, 4-color, PDF document for immediate Internet download)
* The 2010 Edition of Project Planning and Control Using Primavera P6 by Paul Harris (378 pages, softbound printed copy, includes shipping and handling)
* Challenges and Lessons Learned with Primavera's Project Management Software by Sunu Mohan and Anne Marie Tombros (90-minute recorded webinar, includes shipping and handling). Focuses in-depth on difference in P3 and P6 and how they affect program usage, schedule calculations and schedule analysis.
* One-year subscription to the Construction Project Controls & BIM Report e-letter. Delivered monthly by email and on the Internet, this publication includes dozens of scheduling and Primavera-specific articles written by industry experts. Look up tips and techniques from past issues and keep posted on new Primavera developments that can help you be a better scheduler and get more from your schedule software applications.
This extremely useful toolkit is being offered for a phenomenally low price, over 50% off the individual retail value. (Total retail value is $793. Toolkit price is only $395.00. Order today.)
Future Considerations
There are several views of the future that will affect all of us. The widespread use of smartphones, tablet PCs, Ipads and soon-to-be Ipad copycats will increase the demand for schedule information at our fingertips. 4D scheduling is a proven concept for larger contractors and will start scaling down to the small-to-midsize contractors and subs.
Picture yourself on a job site with an Ipad. The GPS tells you where you're standing in the BIM model, and you can see what's scheduled to go in that spot over the next few weeks or the rest of the job right there simulated on your Ipad. RFID-tagged materials will update schedules automatically as rough-in and finish work go into place. When field conflicts are encountered that did not get past the BIM clash detection, virtual meetings with the parties involved can be held on the spot using web-conferencing enabled camera-phones and Ipads. Having the schedules on-hand to study the affect of necessary changed sequences or downstream material utilization will help quickly arrive at a consensus decision.
The future is not that far-fetched, or far away. Scheduling remains the essential planning tool necessary for the proper execution of the project. Whether today's tools will evolve with the industry or if totally new tools need to be developed remains to be seen. Meanwhile, take advantage of those tools available today. Your feedback is invited.
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arnews[1] += "KLH Engineers in Fort Thomas, Ky., has won an Autodesk BIM Experience award for its early adoption of Building Information Modeling for more than 35 new construction and renovation projects representing a total construction value of nearly $400 million.
The Autodesk Award goes to companies and educators internationally that are using innovative design techniques through the company's building information modeling (BIM). BIM is a software-based sustainable design technique that seeks to streamline building processes by more easily linking architects, engineers, construction professionals, facility managers, and owners. The process allows them all to explore the physical and functional characteristics of a building project digitally.
KLH Engineers began using the innovative design program in 2006.
\"This is really the future of engineering and design, everything is going this way,\" said KLH Marketing Manager Cynthia Jackson. \"This is 3D designing, and it helps eliminate the errors in the designing process ahead of time, as projects are being designed. It eliminates change orders and speeds up the work process.\"
KLH, founded in 1955, is a consulting engineering firm offering mechanical, electrical, communication and information technology, lighting design services, commissioning, and energy solutions. The company employs 95, and also has offices in Columbus and Dayton.
KLH works in the healthcare, civic, institutional, retail, education and commercial markets and has completed more than 10,000 projects throughout the Tri-State and nationally. Among its projects were the IT design and renovation of the Otto M. Budig Theater at NKU, the mechanical, electrical and lighting systems for the 500,000 sq. ft. Fifth Third Bank call center in Madisonville, and the mechanical and electrical systems for Newport-on-the-Levee.
One of KLH's current projects using BIM is NKU's College of Informatics.
The company also has recently been noted for its innovative approach to design by Building Design + Construction Magazine, which named KLH to their 2009 Giants 300 list and named them as one of the Top 75 Retail Design Firms in the U.S. The Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce named KLH Engineers as one of its Emerging 30 firms in 2009.
Writer: Feoshia Henderson
Source: KLH Engineers Marketing Manager Cynthia Jackson";
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arnews[2] += "While the current economic conditions are creating a slowdown in the construction industry, it is also creating a need for change. Companies can no longer operate the way they did in the time of economic boom. In many cases, there is an increased need for collaboration, reporting, and accountability through the use of technology, and owners understand how important this is on projects today.
In fact, the most recent survey of owners from FMI Corp., www.fminet.com, Raleigh, N.C., shows some owners are looking to improve team coordination through the use of technology, which will improve collaboration and reduce risk. Specifically, 18% of owners cite team coordination—with technology-enhanced processes—as the area needing greatest improvements.
One example of an owner using technology is the University of Chicago, www.uchicago.edu, Chicago, Ill., which looked for a tool to manage complex plans and projects and integrate business process automation. With technology, the facilities services team can manage budget approvals, contract approvals, payment applications, project issues, RFIs (requests for information), change management, and submittals, among others.
However, while technology is playing an enabling role, the new structured processes will help the facilities services team control costs and respond to project issues faster. This will also help reduce the risk for delays and cost overruns.
The University selected e-Builder Enterprise from e-Builder, www.e-Builder.net, Plantation, Fla., and is also using the technology with Crystal Reports for more flexibility in the creation of reports and dashboards, which will improve project visibility.
Owners are finding now is the time to use technology to improve collaboration, reduce risk, heighten visibility, and increase reporting.
I-Lab Engineering, Singapore, Asia, was looking for a system to manage a 650,000-sq.ft. scientific research center. According to the company, its goal was to set up a central location for data to increase collaboration and improve reporting of meeting minutes, RFIs, and drawings. The contractor worked with ProjectAIMS, www.projectaims.com, Hong Kong, China, to implement Prolog from Meridian Systems, www.meridiansystems.com, Folsom, Calif.
TS Wong, CEO, ProjectAIMS, says more project owners are adopting technology to manage reporting and team collaboration, and in the light of the complexity of the project and accelerated schedule, I-Lab needed the technology to gain efficiency.
With all the change occurring in the construction industry these days, it will be interesting to see how the role of technology will evolve in the years to come.";
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arnews[3] += "12 August 2010
Tekla, Inc. and Meridian Systems announced today a business partner relationship to integrate Tekla Structures for Construction Management with Prolog® Converge software from Meridian Systems. This integration will facilitate greater collaboration between design teams and the general contractor, key subcontractors and fabricators. The integrated solution will be showcased at the Tekla User Conference on August 12-14 in Atlanta.
Tekla Structures is an advanced BIM (Building Information Modeling) software solution that provides an accurate, dynamic, and data-rich 3D environment that can be shared by contractors, structural engineers, steel detailers and fabricators, as well as concrete detailers and manufacturers. Meridian’s Prolog software is the industry standard for construction project control and transparency and delivers total control by automating day-to-day construction tasks and processes, from project design to close-out. Prolog Converge, which was introduced in 2009, provides a powerful Web services platform to facilitate best–of-breed integrations such as with Tekla Structures.
By integrating these two leading software solutions, project design teams and construction firms can convert a two-way Request for Information (RFI) review process into an intelligent and visual process that can better identify construction issues early on, and reduce data entry.
“The first phase of our integration focuses on RFI management,” says Andy Dickey, business manager for Tekla North America’s Contractor Group. “From within our BIM software, users can now connect to Prolog Converge, create or modify RFI information, and associate those RFIs with model objects.”
With RFIs integrated into the BIM model, collaboration during design and construction can be done visually in 3D. This provides an intuitive and efficient process for identifying and resolving design and field condition issues.
“This integration brings tremendous efficiency gains during the design and construction process,” said Bruno Berti, senior director of product management, Meridian Systems. “By visually integrating a BIM model with the RFI management process in Prolog Converge, issues can be identified and documented earlier in the process and routed for review and resolution.”
For more information on solutions from Tekla, visit the Tekla Extranet Extension Downloads section: https://extranet.tekla.com/BC/tekla-structures-en/product/extended-applications/Pages/Default.aspx.
For more information on Prolog and Prolog Converge software, visit: http://www.meridiansystems.com/prolog-software-overview.asp or subscribe to the Meridian Information Library for free access to premium research and case studies by going to: http://www.meridiansystems.com/.
About Meridian
Meridian Systems, a Trimble Company (NASDAQ: TRMB), is the Plan-Build-Operate technology solutions leader for project-based organizations (PBO2). Building owners, construction and engineering firms, and public agencies use Meridian software to effectively manage capital building programs and facility assets. Meridian offers construction project management and infrastructure lifecycle management solutions that reduce project costs and schedules across the plan-build-operate project lifecycle. Subscribe to the Meridian Information Library for free access to premium research and case studies by going to: http://my.meridiansystems.com/downloads/.
Tekla Structures
Tekla's technology creates new opportunities for the construction industry. Tekla Structures, the most advanced BIM (Building Information Modeling) software on the market, provides an accurate, dynamic, and data-rich 3D environment that can be shared by contractors, structural engineers, steel detailers and fabricators, as well as concrete detailers and manufacturers. The highly detailed as-built structural models created in Tekla Structures enable the highest level of constructability and production control. Centralizing model and non-model based data into the model allows for more collaborative and integrated project management and delivery. This translates into increased productivity, elimination of waste, and an enhanced value for structural modeling. More information at http://www.tekla.com/us.
For additional information, please contact:
Andy Dickey, Business Manager for Tekla North America’s Contractor Group
tel. 770.426.5105, Andy.Dickey@tekla.com
Christian Erickson, Marketing Manager, North America
Tel.770.426.5105, Christian.Erickson@tekla.com
Tamara Kaestner, Marketing Programs Manager for Meridian Systems
tel. 916.294.2375, tkaestner@meridiansystems.com
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arnews[4] += "August 09, 2010 - Mark Mergenschroer
Building Information Modeling (BIM) enables unprecedented Team Work of building design and constructability. The power of BIM to bring together the client, architect, engineer, and contractor into a singular team, centered on project execution, will transform our industry.
The design team’s mission for a BIM project should be to create a realistic simulation of working conditions necessary to produce a realistic BIM Model that will enhance time and effort to produce construction documents, maximize time available for design development and optimization, and thereby provide our clients with a better project development process.
The BIM deliverable focus should center on how, not, who, when, where or why. For the design team to have an effective deliverable, they should involve the client in team communication during every phase of design. Part of the process should be to hand the client a model viewer and supply training on use of the viewer, so that the BIM model can be viewed as the model is being developed. The team focus should be on delivering not only a quality BIM model, but a quality, high performance building, that will be functional for the client.
The first stage of the BIM Model should include information gathering. During this phase, information will be collected and developed into a BIM Model that contains conceptual and schematic level information about the project. This typically produces a conceptual model with key elements in the BIM Model, so that the client can get a visual understanding of the design intent.
The second stage of the BIM model is the analysis stage. This stage will focus on “The Right Fit” for the client. The client’s requirements will be fully developed during this stage, with all analytical analysis being included within the BIM model. During this stage, the team populates the BIM model with all the proper systems, equipment, information, and requirements for the facility. Constructability will be a key concern during this stage, with conflict checks being run by the entire team. User group meetings really help define this stage of the process.
The third stage involves implementation of BIM construction documents to construction of the facility. With the team having placed an emphasis on the constructible BIM model, the construction documentation process should be fluid. Since everyone has worked as a team from the beginning of the project, delays and surprises during the construction phase are greatly reduced.
The fourth stage consists of the facility management aspect of the BIM Model. A BIM model can be more than just a tool for construction. Having an accurate As-Built or As Constructed BIM model can lead to many advantages for the facility maintenance personnel. Part of the BIM deliverable should be to train the maintenance personnel on how to use the BIM model for future facility maintenance issues. Facility maintenance from a BIM model is a growing trend in our industry, as well as, a powerful tool for our clients.
This is a very simple approach to a BIM project. Let's not try to complicate BIM. Let's try to make it as simple as possible, so that our clients can reap the benefits.";
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