Trans Gulf Electromechanical is using robotic systems in a bid to improve the speed and accuracy of the transfer of design data.

The mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) sub-contractor employed the strategy on a mixed-use development in Downtown Dubai. The project required the construction of four structures: a 10-storey office tower, a 25-storey residential tower, a 25 storey hotel and serviced apartment tower, and a podium with underground car parking.

Chris Milford, Trans Gulf's building information modelling (BIM) and computer-aided design (CAD) manager, commented: “The client had not mandated the use of BIM on the project, but we’re always looking for ways to improve productivity and efficiency.”

Trans Gulf management decided that the MEP shop drawings for the project would be developed from a BIM model and issued according to a BIM execution plan developed specifically for the project.

Milford continued: “With the development of our in-house BIM capabilities, and as construction on the project developed, we saw an opportunity to save labour and reduce costs by implementing a BIM-to-jobsite process. In this scenario, the construction team would not only benefit from a fully coordinated MEP system, but also from transition of the information and data we have stored in the model from the virtual design space to the job site where it can be of greater value to the project.”

Trimble's Robotic Total Solution (RTS) and Field Link for MEP construction layout software were identified by the Trans Gulf team as suitable systems for deployment.

To demonstrate the potential benefits of the Trimble technology, Milford set up a side-by-side comparative study between the automated RTS method and conventional practices on the lower level basement (B2) of one of the project's towers.