Mr. Nakahiro Ikeda, who is involved in the study of construction plans using 3D models, will share how SketchUP was used in the renovation project of Shibuya Station on the Ginza Line.
Exterior view of the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line Shibuya Station relocation project
Tokyo, Japan
Tokyu Corporation has consistently worked to solve social issues since its establishment in 1946 based on the philosophy of "creating a safe and comfortable living environment. Tokyu Corporation is taking on the challenge of creating a sustainable society for the next generation. For this interview, we spoke with Mr. Nakahiro Ikeda, who serves as the Director of the D.T.I. Promotion Office in the Railway Civil Engineering Department of the Urban Development Branch.
Mr. Nakahiro Ikeda, Director, D.T.I. Promotion Office, Railway Civil Engineering Department, Urban Development Branch, Tokyu Corporation
In this article, we discuss the benefits of introducing SketchUP, how to use SketchUP in actual work processes, and how to train young employees using SketchUP.
interview (i.e. television, newspaper, etc.)
Please tell us about your company's business and the type of work in which you are involved.
Tokyu Corporation operates a general construction business that handles a wide range of projects, including building projects, railroad projects, dam and tunnel projects, civil engineering structures, and real estate projects. I joined the company in 1997, and since then I have been engaged in large-scale railroad improvement projects in the Tokyo metropolitan area for more than 25 years. Currently, I am engaged in planning and review work using 3D models.
I believe that the sense of accomplishment and fulfillment that comes from actually completing what you have conceived and planned is unique to the construction industry. Creating 3D models is one of the most exciting parts of my job. I can see details in realistic detail and get a concrete image of things that were previously difficult to see in 2D.
Why did you introduce SketchUp and how has it changed since then?
I implemented SketchUp for this project in 2017. I selected it because it is easy to model and very easy to explain to stakeholders.
Visualization of Shibuya Station in 3D model
Until now, the creation of models and perspective drawings has been outsourced to specialized contractors, making it difficult to speedily reflect changes in plans, such as the addition of new items, in the course of local briefings and discussions with the government.
However, with the introduction of SketchUp, it is now possible to reflect changes in the plan in real time. This change benefits not only construction workers, but also all stakeholders, including local residents, government officials, police, and road administrators.
How do you utilize SketchUP in your work process?
An important aspect of utilizing SketchUp is to use it from the earliest phases of design planning. By creating a 3D model even before the design plan is finalized, it is possible to eliminate any subsequent defects before they occur. In fact, I model in SketchUp from the early phases of design planning and use it for construction consultation, verification of design defects, and detailed construction planning.
SketchUp brings benefits not only to the upstream of the project, but also to the downstream. By creating a 3D model in the initial design planning phase, a 4D simulation can be performed once the construction phase is underway, or a construction simulation can be performed in the VR space. SketchUp plays a seamless role in supporting the entire project because it can be used separately upstream and downstream.
3D modeling in SketchUp throughout the process from upstream to downstream
Using SketchUp for a large infrastructure equipment project
Can you give us an example of a project that utilized SketchUp?
I am currently involved in a renovation project for Shibuya Station on the Ginza Line, which is said to be a once-in-a-century large-scale redevelopment project. The construction process began in 2009, and the station will be moved to a new station building in January 2020. Construction on the east side will be carried out while operating the railroad business in the new station building, and construction on the west side will begin in 2021. Construction is currently underway to remove the building and install two new bridges.
However, in a project of such a large scale, it is difficult to gain the understanding of younger workers with only 2D drawings. Therefore, by utilizing SketchUp, we have been able to help younger workers understand the work and plans they are currently involved in. The fact that young people can now understand the entire project "quickly" and "accurately" is a major change within the company.
Actual construction of the Shibuya Station Renovation Project
What role does SketchUp play in your design plans?
In the railroad renovation project I am involved in, stakeholders from various departments are involved, including not only the civil engineering and construction departments, but also the electric signaling and sales departments, since the work is carried out while trains are in operation.
SketchUp's visibility and excellence as a communication/collaboration/presentation tool are key factors in reaching a smooth consensus among all members of the team.
SketchUp for consensus building among various stakeholders
The use of point cloud data from SketchUp is also very important in visualizing local equipment and facilities such as electric wires and poles that cannot be represented on 2D drawings. The data allows us to verify whether the construction machinery will not interfere with the actual construction, and whether the planned structure will not interfere with the existing structure. It is a great advantage to be able to identify defects before construction. The more complex the construction, the more we realize the importance of SketchUp.
SketchUp is also compatible with other tools, for example, I import Civil3D directly into SketchUp. I also import SketchUp data into Twinmotion rendering software for simulations. Since I mainly use SketchUp, I naturally use other software that is compatible with SketchUp.
Visualized cables with point cloud of current status by Scan Essentials
Actual remaining cables
What are some of the key points to keep in mind when using 3D models in SketchUP?
While 3D models are very useful, they also have disadvantages, which I call "the downside of BIM/CIM. 3D models are not the end of the process, but the beginning. 3D models are meaningless unless you can visualize the plan in more depth, without overconfidence.
As an example of a lesson learned, I would like to share part of the construction of Shibuya Station on the Ginza Line mentioned above. At one construction site, each construction section had its own staff in charge, and the 3D model I created was shared with all sections. At that time, one construction section argued that "the crane should be installed here" or "it should be swiveled this way," while another section decided that "this would be easy to do. As a result, the former construction work went very smoothly, while the latter did not go according to plan.
A 3D model is not so much beneficial as it is "easy to understand"; it reveals things that were not noticed by simply converting a 2D model into a 3D one. I believe that is where the benefit lies.
I want you to learn the original "technical skills".
What are your company's future prospects for utilizing SketchUP?
In the past, when only two-dimensional drawings were available, it was difficult to spatially capture the finished product. Although designers and planners were able to visualize the project to some extent, there were discrepancies between them and third parties. In addition, the accuracy of consensus building differed depending on the differences in the technical levels of the people involved. Now, by utilizing SketchUp's 3D models, these discrepancies are eliminated and the accuracy of consensus building is maintained at a certain level of quality regardless of the technical level of the parties involved.
The construction industry faces a chronic shortage of human resources, and working hours have become more limited due to reforms in the way people work. The number of young engineers joining the company is also decreasing, and the time available to learn technology is also limited. Under these circumstances, our major challenge is how to pass on technology. However, we believe that we cannot catch up with the conventional way of doing things.
This is why I am working on the use of SketchUp. However, simply acquiring the skills to create 3D models is meaningless. This is because it is impossible to draw the construction steps without knowing the construction techniques themselves. Even if you can draw the finished product, if you cannot draw the phases in progress, you will not be able to give advice to the construction staff.
Nowadays, YouTube and other video tools have become familiar to us. By using these tools together with SketchUp, a new form of training is possible. Specifically, the method is to shoot video of the process of creating a 3D model in SketchUp while dealing with each phase of the construction process, and then watch the video to learn the construction techniques from experience. In my opinion, this method is very effective for young people.
Modeling skills are obviously necessary, but there is no point in honing them alone. This is because unless one acquires the true technical skills of construction, he or she will not acquire the ability to utilize excellent tools such as SketchUp. The first step is to have young people hone their technical skills. This will be the first step to support the succession of construction technology in the future.
SketchUp 3D modeling of all areas around Shibuya station involved in the renovation
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