Implementation Guide and Case Study
FEATURED PAPER
By Luis Arguelles
Virginia, USA
1.0 What is VDC?
Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) is a project management methodology for construction projects of various sizes. VDC was created in Stanford University’s Center for Integrated Facility Engineering (CIFE) in 2001. It is worth noting that with the advent of AI and advances in computing power, this methodology is significantly more enabled than when introduced. It is important to define the meaning behind the acronym, and to differentiate VDC from another BIM level (as BIM is a part of VDC and not its synonym). Virtual refers to the design and use of a digital twin of the project and leveraging the information it provides for planning and construction as well. Design and Construction refers to 2 phases of a construction project that are commonly separated, hinting that VDC is a wholistic approach to project management for construction.
The framework for VDC is divided into 3 categories answering each of the following questions:
- Why is the client doing this project?
- What needs to be achieved by the project team
- How is the project team accomplishing the project objectives)
First, to answer “Why”, a correct VDC implementation should establish 2-3 specific client objectives. Second, to answer “What”, project objectives need to be established. Last but certainly not least, to answer “How”, the 3 main pillars of VDC need to be implemented and designed. These 3 pillars are BIM (Building Information Modeling), PPM (Project Production Management), and ICE (Integrated Concurrent Engineering) which should be used to interconnect BIM and PPM. For each of these 3 pillars , we need to establish 2-3 production metrics to measure the project’s performance on that specific pillar as well as 2-3 controllable factors, these factors are decisions we can control and manipulate to steer the project towards the production metrics. The main elements to a correct VDC implementation have been outlined in the following diagram.
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How to cite this paper: Arguelles, L. (2024). Virtual Design & Construction – Implementation Guide and Case Study; PM World Journal, Vol. XIII, Issue VIII, August. Available online at https://pmworldlibrary.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/pmwj144-Aug2024-Arguelles-Virtual-Design-and-Construction-implementation-guide.pdf
About the Author
Luis Arguelles
B.S. Civil Engineering – Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (PUCP)
M.S. Project Management – Boston University, USA
Luis Arguelles graduated in December 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (PUCP), specializing in construction management. He began his career at V&V Bravo, where he modernized project management and production control for large scale residential construction projects. Using advanced techniques from a certification in “Virtual Design and Construction” (VDC) at Stanford University and a “Lean Construction” implementation, de reduced production variability by 20% and improved concrete pouring time by 31%, increasing reliability to the schedule and budget and more.
Promoted to Corporate VDC Coordinator at V&V Bravo, Luis expanded these practices to the whole project portfolio and standardized BIM/VDC implementation guides for the company. He then pursued a master’s in project management at Boston University, graduating with a GPA of 3.9/4. While at BU, he worked as a research assistant contributing to a new course design and managed risk for construction projects.
Currently, Luis is a Project Manager at Bella Home Construction in Virginia, overseeing 15 to 20 luxury real estate projects annually. He focuses on planning, scheduling, subcontractor coordination, and risk management, significantly enhancing project reliability and performance. He also obtained the state certification and license of “General Contractor (Class A)”.
Luis aims to earn the PMP certification and considers starting a consulting firm to optimize construction processes with advanced technologies like BIM and VDC. He was recently invited to participate in the “B’yond PM Podcast”; and to lecture at Boston University, highlighting his impact on the construction industry.
