Case Study
Engineering is a complex process and Arup, the global consulting firm, needed a way to bring their re- sources together. They wanted to use digital tools and drawings in their collaboration sessions to improve decision-making and discussions around complex construction challenges. Arup’s mission is to help clients solve large, complex construction challenges by harnessing its diverse skills to constantly expand what is technically possi- ble. Arup operates in an industry that is changing fast. In- novative, advanced design and construction techniques that only a few years ago were not even envisioned are now routinely deployed. How standardization of visual collaboration in large project teams saves time and money
The multipurpose room in the Boston offices of Arup with its blended projection solution creates the perfect seamless canvas for collaboration and BIM applications. Photo: TCyviz
As with most industries, increasing digitalisation enables new ways of working, and Arup has embraced the latest technologies. The company has a need to demonstrate to clients how their concepts and designs will look, which includes viewing plans and graphics in considerable detail. Close liaison is essential, not just with clients but also between Arup’s many employees whose skills encompass a range of comple- mentary disciplines. Effective collaboration allows the expertise of each member of Arup’s multidisciplinary project teams to be combined for better decision-making. The Challenge: Enabling Interactive Visual Collaboration for Large Multidisciplinary Teams Arup frequently employs large project teams which often include par-
ticipants – both clients and Arup staff – from across the globe. These require large meeting room spaces and displays in order to collaborate effectively. Arup has around 400 video-enabled meeting rooms across its various offices and understands how vital it is to effectively connect their disparate employees and clients. The extensive requirements for successful team collaboration, as well as productive client engagement, meant Arup had difficulty finding the right solutions. This was particularly true for the larger spaces that are more complex to design from a collaboration perspective. Several bespoke solutions were considered; however, most were expensive and not easily scalable to the size of room and specific meeting require- ments. Arup was looking for something that the company could replicate across its offices, whilst being easy to manage and support. Maximizing Use of Space at Arup Many of the company’s larger meeting spaces are multipurpose and are used for "town hall" type events. In addition, they can be used for specific meeting, presentation, and application-centric needs, such as for Building Information Modelling (BIM). BIM is a process which involves the generation and management of digital representations of physical and functional characteristics of places; and which is increas- ingly gaining momentum. While Arup’s small and medium-size rooms were working well, a staff satisfaction survey highlighted users were becoming frustrated with the lack of ability to hold larger meetings and presentations involving many people.
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january 2020
csengineermag.com
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