Professional Knowhow Converges Technology Leads the New Era of Construction Industry │ 專業融合科技 開創建造業新紀元

Urban development is advancing at an incredible pace. The pursuit of harmony between new buildings and the environment has made exterior design more important than ever. As a new landmark commercial project in Kwun Tong, the development project located at 240 How Ming Street (KTIL240) boasts a fa?ade (Curtain Wall) area of more than 400,000 square feet, which is grand and spectacular.

Ir Thomas HO, Chairman of the Construction Industry Council (CIC), Ir Albert CHENG, Executive Director, together with Council Members Ir Simon LIU and Ir Edwin TONG visited the project site to inspect how the contractor, Entasis Limited, uses Building Information Modelling (BIM) to help overcome the challenges of fa?ade construction. They also learned about how the team monitors, manages, improves project efficiency, and ensures site safety through its self-developed digital systems and professional knowledge.

Overcoming Challenges with BIM

To match the curved design of the project's exterior, the fa?ade elements had to be met the "Double Curve" design requirements during production. Under the conventional production processes, the failure rate of elements production can reach up to 50%, resulting in waste and low production efficiency.

"Therefore, we used 3D scanning to input the curvature parameters of the glass products into the BIM model for comparison. Any errors can be detected and adjusted immediately," said Mr. Elvis CHAN, Entasis Senior Project Coordinator. "Moreover, before processing the insulating glass unit (IGU), we have already removed the elements that do not meet the standards through the above method, reducing the loss rate from 50% to about 10%," added Mr. Lewis LUNG, Entasis Senior Project Manager. Using BIM and 3D scanning ensures accuracy in construction, improves product quality, reduces resource wastage, and increases energy efficiency.

Real-Time Tracking with Self-Developed Systems

The delivery of components involves multiple steps, such as production, transportation, and installation. Achieving information synchronization is key to smooth project management. The team uses its self-developed digital supply chain monitoring system, STAMP, and the "Integrated Digital Project Delivery" (IDPD) to achieve a one-stop monitoring solution. From factory production and warehouse transportation to on-site installation, everything can be tracked and monitored in real-time. Through the real-time data of the digital supply chain, the construction progress can be quickly retrieved anytime, anywhere and by anyone.

Automated System for Higher Efficiency and Precision

Beginning with the creation of the typical unitized panel in a BIM model, the team uses their own developed Entasis Automation System (EAS) to automate the production of various engineering drawings. The 2D elements drawings and lists in the system will also be synchronized with the changes in BIM data, which helps to achieve accurate procurement and reduce waste. Utilizing the system’s ability to directly generate fabrication drawings and CNC codes not only saves time but also reduces errors caused by relying on manual labor for repetitive work. This is beneficial for the reasonable allocation of human resources, ensuring better and more reliable project quality.

Flexible Design to Improve Efficiency and Ensure Safety

The fa?ade construction of this project involves a large number of complex and irregular designs. The team uses BIM and parametric design to customize C-shaped suspension brackets, which ensures that the center of gravity (CG point) remains vertical when lifting heavy objects and skillfully avoids crashing into the waterproof hardware protruding from the building. Coupled with an adjustable lifting hole frame, different-sized elements can be flexibly lifted without changing the suspension bracket design, which is innovative and practical.

To enhance "Design for Safety" (DfS), the team has specially designed and embedded tie frame brackets for plinth installation to fix the position of each metal rod (C-rod) weighing over 60kg. This reduces the inertial error after injecting concrete and eliminates the safety risk caused by relying on on-site personnel to make corrections, making the process more convenient and labor-saving. Meanwhile, in pursuit of perfection on ideal leveling, four adjustable C-rods are reserved on the Tie Frame to retain adjustment flexibility in standardized processes, striving for perfection and enhancing efficiency and speed.

Ir Thomas HO praised the team's integration of BIM and their professional expertise, which is worth learning from the industry. As a pioneer of the industry, CIC encourages the industry to make use of technology to support industry development, strengthen safety awareness at site, enhancing production efficiency, and exercise professionalism to rise to the challenge.

都市發展一日千里，新舊日復交替，嶄新的建築物追求與環境共融，外觀設計尤爲重要。作為觀塘區全新的地標性商業項目巧明街第240號（KTIL240）發展項目，幕牆（Fa?ade）面積超過40萬平方尺，巍巍壯觀。

建造業議會主席何安誠工程師、執行總監鄭定寧工程師、議會成員廖聖鵬工程師及唐嘉鴻工程師到訪項目工地，視察承辦商大師有限公司（Entasis Limited）利用建築資訊模擬（BIM）協助解決幕牆建設的挑戰，以及了解團隊如何通過自行研發的數碼系統及專業知識，監控、管理、提升工程效能及保障工地安全。

運用BIM迎難而上

為配合項目外觀的弧形設計，幕牆玻璃元件在生產時需滿足「雙曲彎弧」（Double Curve）設計要求。按常規生產模式，製作元件的失敗率高達50%，引致浪費，更極大降低了生產效能。

「所以我們採用三維掃描（3D Scanning），將玻璃成品的弧度參數，輸入建築資訊模擬模型（BIM Model）進行比對，如有誤差可即時發現並調整。」高級項目統籌陳文浩介紹。「而且我們在進行中空玻璃（IGU）加工前，已通過上述方法將未達標的玻璃元件篩走，將耗損率從50%降至約10%。 」高級項目經理龍焯彥補充道。在3D Scanning的配合下，運用BIM 確保建造準確性，提升成品質素，減少資源折損，高效節能。

自設系統 實時追蹤

組件運送涉及多重的生產、運輸及安裝等步驟，如何實現資訊同步，是流暢項目管理的關鍵。團隊利用自行研發的數碼供應鏈監測系統STAMP 及「綜合數碼建造方案」（IDPD） 實現「一條龍」式監管，從工廠生產、倉庫運輸到工地安裝，均可實時追蹤及監察。透過數碼供應鏈的實時數據，隨時隨地了解施工進度，訊息快捷、透明。

自動化系統 高效更精準

從BIM典型版塊單元開始，Entasis 利用自家研發的Entasis自動化系統(EAS)，自動化生產各類型工程圖紙。系統內二維構件圖紙及清單等信息，亦會跟隨BIM數據的變化同步呈現，有助精準採購減少浪費。善用系統構建圖紙及數值代碼，不但能節省時間，更能減低由於依賴人手從事重複性工作引致的誤差，有利合理分配人力資源，確保工程質素更高和可靠。

靈活設計 提升效益 確保安全

本次項目的幕牆建造涉及大量複雜且不規則的設計，團隊更利用BIM 及參數化設計（Parametric Design），特製C字形吊架，確保在吊掛重物時讓重心（CG 點）保持垂直之餘，巧妙地避過建築物上凸出的防水硬件。再配以可調節的起吊孔（Lifting Hole）框架，於無需更改吊架設計的前提下，靈活地吊運不同尺寸的元件，創新又實用。

為提高「建築設計安全」（Design for Safety, DfS），團隊為柱腳安裝工程特製加硬的內嵌式繫條支架（Embed Tie Frame），以固定每支重超60kg的金屬桿(C桿)位置，以減低注入混凝土後的慣性誤差，消除需依賴工地人員現場修正所帶來的安全隱患，既便捷又節省人力。為達致理想的平整度，Tie Frame上預留4個可調節C桿，務求在標準化工序下保留調整彈性，力臻完善，真正達致「提效」及「提速」。

建造業議會主席何安誠工程師稱讚團隊於BIM 應用及專業領域的融合，值得同業借鋻。議會作爲業界牽頭人，鼓勵業界效法，以科技輔助行業發展，加强建築設計安全，提升效能，發揮專業，迎難而上。