Simplifying Construction Planning: How 4D Can Provide Clarity and Support

Construction projects can be very complicated, requiring a wide range of relevant stakeholders working together to bring an often expensive project to completion. As such, it’s important to find ways to reduce the complexity involved to keep everyone on the same page. One way to accomplish this is by thinking about the project in terms of “dimensions”, specifically the fourth dimension. The concept of 4D makes it easier to understand and explain the many factors that go into managing a construction project, making them especially useful during the execution phase.?

First, it is important to understand what 4D actually means in terms of construction planning. The concept falls under the wider umbrella of Building Information Modelling (BIM), a holistic process of creating and managing information through digital representations of key characteristics. Whereas traditional building design largely relied upon two-dimensional technical drawings, BIM extends beyond the three primary spatial dimensions (width, height, and depth) to incorporate other dimensions, most notably time (4D). Some add further dimensions to their plans as well, such as cost (5D), sustainability (6D), and facility management (7D).?

4D thinking is vital in delivering successful construction projects, as while the first three dimensions will tell you how a building will look, additional dimensions break down how to make that a reality. Construction projects are complicated, and while project leaders might be able to understand the Gantt chart for a build, often the clients, subcontractors, and other stakeholders will struggle to keep up. BIM and 4D serve to simplify the process for people who are not planning experts, ensuring everyone is on the same page.?

There are several meaningful benefits to using 4D over the course of a construction project, most importantly the ability to tailor the information provided to the specific needs of your audience. When you’re reporting on a project’s overall progress, you have several stakeholders with different priorities. With 4D, you can easily adjust the level of detail based on the end user. The client might want to know whether or not you’re building in a specific zone, while the contractor will want to know what stage of the project you’re on. If handled properly, you can inform all stakeholders in one sitting, keeping operations running smoothly.?

While 4D is predominantly considered during the execution phase, that doesn’t mean that’s the only time that it’s relevant. In fact, it is valuable for clients to consider their execution strategy in the design and preconstruction phases as well. The addition of 4D phasing throughout the development process can greatly bolster operational efficiency, add value to the front end, and validate the benefits of various sequences of the project. All of this provides a solid foundation for a delivery plan before going to market.?

Of course, implementing 4D into a construction project comes with many factors that you need to be aware of in order to get it right. For instance, a lot of people get hung up on the numbering of the various dimensions involved in BIM planning, as they naturally assume that 4D should always be followed by 5D, and so on. In practice though, no single dimension has priority and when you change something in one of the dimensions, it has an impact on the other dimensions. In that way, the various dimensions of your project are mutually inclusive together, working together in tandem.?

Additionally, implementing 4D into your organisation’s workflow can be challenging early on due to the many stakeholders involved. Before adopting BIM and 4D, make sure that you have the big picture for your project, since without that overarching understanding of what you’re doing, it can be difficult to use 4D to break it down further. Even if it takes time to implement, if you can demonstrate how BIM and 4D can improve existing workflows and generate meaningful value, it is easier to sell clients on the changes you’re making.?

Construction planning is complicated enough as it is. Don’t make it more difficult than it needs to be. By leveraging BIM and 4D, construction companies can simplify the process, keeping all stakeholders informed and aligned!