Professor Li Heng outlines the potential global benefits of Construction Virtual Prototyping Technology
	A 3D model of the Tseung Kwan O Sports Stadium, which will host events for the 2009 East Asian Games

Large-scale infrastructure projects are commonplace in Hong Kong, making the city an ideal breeding ground for a pioneering project that is set to revolutionise the way major construction projects are planned and managed. Construction Virtual Prototyping Technology (CVP) transforms the traditional two-dimensional technical drawings into vivid, three-dimensional images of skyscrapers and other complex structures with nuts-and-bolts detail. The technology can mimic every step of the construction process through computer simulation, using actual data.

"This completely changes the planning and management of construction projects,” said Professor Li Heng, Director of the Construction Virtual Prototyping Laboratory at Hong Kong Polytechnic University's Department of Building and Real Estate. "At the moment, construction work, in a way, is a big gamble. There are lots of design information, rough plans that have the potential for disaster. Our technology eliminates mistakes and transforms a risky and low-tech project into a predictable venture."

The 12-member team, under the guidance of Professor Li, has been working on the project for four years, collaborating with some of Hong Kong's biggest contractors such as Gammon Construction and China Overseas Holdings. "Hong Kong is a good testing ground, if not the best place, to develop this type of technology. It has lots of large-scale infrastructure projects, where we're able to put our theory into practice,” he said.

Reducing design flaws

According to Professor Li, up to 22 per cent of the total cost of a project normally is factored in for waste because of design flaws. The new technology allows conceptual designs to be simulated and tested before actual construction begins, saving time and money. Through computer simulation, which takes about one month, planning time for a project can be cut in half. "The learning curve is done in the computer, eliminating the common practice of trial and error on site.” And Professor Li said that means cost savings of up to 10 per cent, which translates to hundreds of millions of dollars.

So far, the technology has been used in 27 projects including the Tseung Kwan O Sports Stadium, a venue for the 2009 East Asian Games, and the Venetian Hotel in Macau. 

In the case of the sports stadium, the CVP system, which automatically alerts for design flaws, spotted 36 structural mistakes and 46 problems with the building's surface. The technology also led to modifications to the original design of the V-column that supports the roof stadium. It also carried out a visual evaluation, which identified that safety rails to be used would have blocked spectators' view. The initial design was then replaced with a glass panel, which also avoided unforeseen delays caused by applying for the necessary safety permits.

Planning daily tasks

CVP can also be used to help in the tendering selection to find the most financially feasible and safe design proposal. The technology, through construction sequencing, can also plan out the day-to-day tasks throughout the project. 

The team is now in the midst of fine-tuning the technology, but expects to develop commercial software for the international market as early as the end of the year. Professor Li sees great potential in Hong Kong becoming a global leader in the high-tech construction industry by pioneering new advancements for one of the main pillars of Hong Kong's economy.

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Construction Virtual Prototyping Technology (CVP)