Mr. Masaji Sato, who aims to fuse the fields of architecture and civil engineering, will share how he used SketchUp mainly in the field of civil engineering for the Nanzan Project, a project to replace Metropolitan Route 231.
Road replacement work on Metropolitan Road 231
Tokyo, Japan
Since its establishment in 1873, Taisei Corporation has been involved in numerous projects in the fields of civil engineering, architecture, and engineering in line with social changes such as Japan's modernization, postwar reconstruction, economic growth, and globalization. For this interview, we spoke with Masamichi Sato, a first-class architect and professional engineer (construction division) who serves as team leader of the BIM/CIM team in the Civil Engineering Department of the Civil Engineering Division.
Mr. Masaji Sato, Team Leader, BIM/CIM Team, Civil Engineering Department, Civil Engineering Division, Taisei Corporation
In this article, he explains the role of SketchUp in the field of civil engineering, how to utilize 3D models by introducing SketchUp, and the possibility of integrating the fields of architecture and civil engineering.
interview (i.e. television, newspaper, etc.)
We want to spread 3D models to the world by using SketchUp.
Please tell us about the work you are currently involved in and what you value in your work.
I have been with the company for 20 years, and since joining, I have had experience in on-site construction management, worked on design projects for over 10 years, and am currently in charge of BIM/CIM related work. Specifically, I envision myself handling various things on site, from 3D modeling to ICT-related matters.
Normally, it is rare for a single person to be involved in both architecture and civil engineering, but I thought it was important to combine the two, so I decided to first tie them together in my mind by obtaining not only a professional engineer's license in the civil engineering field, but also a first-class architectural license.
As we work with a wide range of stakeholders, from upstream to downstream, what is important is to always be aware of "how I would think if I were in the other person's shoes. In every phase of our work, there is always someone else involved, so I always try to guess what they want most. And being a professional in both architecture and civil engineering is exactly what I am looking for.
Why did you introduce SketchUp and how has it changed since then?
My first encounter with SketchUp was about 15 years ago. When I was attending an architectural design school as a hobby, we had an assignment to create a small museum and a community house, and I used it to convert the image I had drawn in my mind directly into a 3D model on my computer. Its ease of operation led me to introduce it into my work, and here we are today.
At that time, the main communication method was 2D drawings, which inevitably lacked explanatory power. I believe that the use of SketchUp is the first step in spreading 3D modeling throughout the world.
SketchUp for communication with all stakeholders
Can you give us an example of a project that utilized SketchUp?
SketchUp currently accounts for more than 90% of the work I am involved with, and I have utilized it on more than 100 projects. Here I would like to introduce one of the largest projects, the Nanzan Project.
The project involved the installation of a 140 m long dug-in retaining wall (maximum height 15.6 m) from the tunnel entrance as a replacement road for Metropolitan Road 231 in the Minamiyama East Land Readjustment Project in Inagi City, Tokyo. SketchUp was utilized in the after part of the project to compare the before and after of the road retaining wall.
Because road retaining walls are highly visible to the public, it is important to reproduce the landscape in detail. The use of 3D data from SketchUp made it easier to visualize the finished product and to gain the understanding of all stakeholders, including the client. The entire project went very smoothly.
SketchUp 3D model for installation of Metropolitan Road 231 replacement road from the tunnel entrance.
3D models used to be "just for looking at," but now that SketchUp is actually used, everyone can experience the excitement of how easy it is to model. As a result, the progression of the site works well. Based on these successful experiences, we hope to spread SketchUp throughout the country.
What role does SketchUp play in BIM/CIM promotion and librarying?
I believe that the three most important factors in selecting a 3D CAD tool are "ease of use," "low cost," and "light weight. Other tools require a PC with extremely high functionality, and the cost of improving PC specs must be taken into consideration when introducing the tool. SketchUp, on the other hand, allows us to use standard PCs without modification, so the total cost was excellent.
Furthermore, SketchUp's simple interface makes it easy for anyone to use, so it can be used by all parties involved, not just CAD operators and other professionals. I think it is no exaggeration to say that SketchUp is an indispensable tool as we promote BIM/CIM in the future.
SketchUp also plays an important role in visualizing parts of construction in the civil engineering field. By creating a library of 3D models of heavy equipment and temporary structures, the field can also easily utilize 3D models. Currently, we have created a library of approximately 30 models as "dynamic components," and we plan to add more and more in the future.
What are the advantages of using SketchUp in the field of civil engineering?
Although 3D models are still underutilized in the civil engineering field, modeling with SketchUp can provide a variety of benefits.
By first making a 3D model in advance, problems can be solved at an early stage.
The level of explanatory power is also important: it takes quite a long time to understand the whole picture from a 2D drawing, but a 3D model can be understood in a matter of minutes. This is very useful in various discussions and meetings.
3D model of ground anchor
3D models also have the power to "impress". This ability to create the same kind of emotional response that one gets from looking at miniatures and models will play a major role in increasing the popularity of the construction industry in the future.
In addition to 3D modeling, we also believe that SketchUp ( Scan Essentials ) can utilize point clouds as scenery. In the civil engineering field, there is the issue of where the model should reside within a large site, and we believe that the point cloud is the best solution. By placing the point cloud, the overall image can be shared on site, enhancing explanatory power.
Toward Global Expansion of the Construction Industry
What features do you recommend for those learning SketchUp?
I have been conducting SketchUp training sessions internally and externally for about a year now, and the number of participants has reached 1,500. The most popular function is "Push/Pull. This is the first tool we use, but I think that by actually using it, you can experience how easy it is to create 3D models, because it can efficiently create 3D models even of complex shapes. Currently, SketchUp is mainly deployed within the company, but we hope to create an environment where it can be used outside the company in the future.
Execution procedure for excavated retaining wall (using SketchUp's Push/Pull function)
What are your thoughts on the future prospects for the construction industry?
While Japan's population is declining, the world's population continues to grow. Therefore, Japanese companies must continue to expand globally, and the construction industry is no exception. I believe that the fusion of civil engineering and architecture will be a great advantage. I hope that the number of SketchUp users will continue to increase in the civil engineering field, and that the boundary between civil engineering and architecture will fade and become one.
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