News
TEKLA AND VELA SYSTEMS CREATE FIRST COMBINATION OF FIELD AND BIM SOFTWARE FOR CONSTRUCTION SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT
Uniting 4D Building Information Modeling with RFID-Enabled Field Solution Yields $1 Million Cost Savings at New Meadowlands Stadium
BURLINGTON, MA; ATLANTA, GA – April 1, 2008 – Vela Systems, a developer of
mobile field software for the AECO (architecture, engineering, contractor and owner) industry,
and Tekla Corporation, a leading building information modeling (BIM) solutions provider for the
building and construction industry, today announced a joint software solution that brings dramatic
new management capabilities to construction projects. The solution marries Vela's patentpending
field administration software with Tekla's construction management solutions. When
enabled with field software and radio frequency identification (RFID), stakeholders in a
construction project can manage critical-path building components and visualize the supply chain
through a real-time, 4D simulation in which the fourth dimension is time. The joint Field BIM
solution enables the AECO industry to feed into BIM the constantly changing status of the supply
chain in the field.
Traditionally, BIM tools have primarily focused on design and coordination, not supply chain
management. By combining the technology with mobile field software, further enhanced by
technologies such as RFID, AECO leaders gain unprecedented supply chain visibility for
assessing status, controlling quality and coordinating the scheduling of building materials across
a distributed environment, encompassing everything from manufacturing to delivery and
installation. The solution also improves future, post-handover operations such as facilities and
warranty management.
The new Tekla/Vela solution was integrated with RFID to meet the needs of Skanska Building
USA as it oversees the $998 million design-build project to construct the new open-air
Meadowlands Stadium in New Jersey, the future home of the New York Giants and New York
Jets. Through the use of patent-pending RFID technology to tag and track materials, Skanska
has used the joint Tekla/Vela solution to capture important information about building materials
from vendors and merge it in the 3D model in real-time. As a result, Skanska expects to expedite
the Meadowlands building schedule by 10 days, producing $1 million in cost savings.
“This solution is giving us a precise view of production management,” said David Campbell, vice
president for Skanska USA. “Bringing together RFID, BIM and field software together into a
single solution has vastly improved our ability to track materials along the entire process, from the
plant to erection in the structure.”
The joint Field BIM solution is based upon Vela's mobile field software installed on Tablet PCs
and Tekla Structures for Construction Management BIM software. The solution enables all parties
involved in a building project – whether on site or off – to access and update critical, up-to-date
information conveyed through a rich 4D building information model. This vivid multi-color visual
representation allows AECO and project leaders to more easily and effectively:
- Assure accurate communications between field and off-site personnel;
- Assess construction development and compare progress to initial forecasts;
- Schedule building activities and use of work crews;
- Track materials and control inventory;
- Ensure work quality and safety standards are met;
- Generate a work history/model for future management and troubleshooting of a building;
- Create an auditable trail that can reduce legal exposure; and
- Analyze possible improvements to project delivery.
The solution breathes “ongoing life” into the Tekla Structures BIM model through Vela Systems'
patent-pending software architecture. This includes an updated Vela Integration Adaptor for bidirectional
integration of information with Tekla Structures BIM. Field personnel at a construction
site can enter information via a simple user interface into a Vela database directly on the screen
of the Tablet PC with a special pen. When the solution is RFID enabled, a reader attached to the
Tablet automatically scans information from the RFID tag and logs that information. This data is
synchronized and integrated directly with the Tekla Structures BIM database. The database-todatabase
integration allows for easy synching of information, while eliminating the need for
additional mapping or an Internet connection on a work site. Additionally, document flow is
enabled to the job site, providing those in the field with immediate access to critical information
such as plans, designs, reports, task updates, safety procedures and much more.
Vela Systems' mobile field software automates field processes in construction and has been used
on more than 300 projects from Las Vegas to Dubai. It replaces the notebooks and tubes of
drawings traditionally used on construction sites with specialized software installed on rugged
Tablet PCs. Vela puts entire file cabinets of documents that were formally stored in trailers and
offices at the fingertips of people in the field. Vela's technology features a variety of modules for
accomplishing specific construction tasks such as materials tracking, field repairs, punch lists and
safety inspections. Customers using Vela report typical savings of at least 10 hours per week per
user, accelerating project delivery by as much as two days per month.
Tekla Structures BIM software streamlines the delivery process of design, detailing,
manufacturing and construction companies. While integrating openly with architectural models,
Tekla's strengths suit the data-rich nature of the construction phases of project delivery. Tekla
Structures' ability to process extensive data enables the creation of detailed 3D models that can
be applied to every stage of design and construction. Such collaborative workflows minimize
errors and maximize efficiency, resulting in high profitability and on-time project completion.
Thousands of Tekla Structures users in more than 80 countries have successfully delivered BIMbased
projects worldwide.
“Vela Systems has been used to manage safety inspections, deliver construction documents
electronically to field personnel, account for the cost of construction quality, ensure punch list
items are completed, and more,” said Tim Curran, Vela Systems' CEO. “Now, by combining our
solution with Tekla's BIM software, AECO leaders enhance their decision-making with a total
grasp on the materials available for construction. Our customers' ideas and needs continue to
drive us to innovate and introduce new standards in construction technology.”
"Integrating BIM & RFID shows a genuine advancement of project management technologies,”
said Stacy Scopano, Business Development Manager, Contractor Segment – Tekla Corporation.
“Making critical aspects of supply chain management and field coordination centralized -- and now even visual -- represents a very significant step forward for technology-enhanced project
control.”
The Tekla/Vela solution is available immediately and is being jointly marketed by Vela Systems
and Tekla Corporation. For more information on the joint solution, contact Vela Systems at
888.VELA.SYS (888.835.2797) extension 2 or info@velasystems.com, or contact Tekla at 1.888.Tekla-OK (888.835.5265) or info.us@tekla.com.
About Vela Systems, Inc.:
Vela Systems is The Leader in Field Software for the AECO Industry™.
Vela Systems software
streamlines and accelerates all field processes in construction and capital projects. By replacing
their field notebooks with Vela software and Tablet PCs, Vela's customers save 5-10 hours per
week per user, accelerate project delivery by two days per month, capture the true Cost of
Quality™ and reduce litigation risk through standardized documentation. Vela's suite of modules
includes field reports, safety inspections, work lists, punch lists, schedule updates and many
other critical field activities. Industry leading architects, engineers, contractors and owners agree
that Vela Systems helps them Work Faster, Collaborate Easier, and Finish Sooner™. To see how
Vela's customers are improving construction delivery from Las Vegas to Dubai, please visit
www.velasystems.com or call 888.VELA.SYS.
About Tekla Corporation:
Tekla is a leading international software company whose innovative software solutions make
customers' core AEC businesses more efficient. Tekla's software products and related services
are used mostly in building and construction, but also in energy distribution and by municipalities.
Tekla Corporation has area offices and partner organizations worldwide. International operations
account for some 80% of net sales. Founded in 1966, Tekla is one of the longest operating
software companies in Finland. For additional information please visit www.tekla.com .
© Copyright 2008 Vela Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Vela Systems and the Vela Systems logo are registered trademarks of Vela Systems, Inc. in the United States and other countries. The names of other products mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.