Progress Monitoring

This article introduces new functionality inside Cintoo containing a complete workflow for running the process, all the information about the parameters, use cases and tips to provide better user experience. 

Watch a short tutorial video here: Progress Monitoring (MVP)

What is Progress Monitoring? 

In the context of the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry, Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Computer-Aided Design (CAD), progress monitoring refers to the process of tracking and evaluating the progress of a construction project in real-time or near-real-time, using digital models and data. 

Cintoo Progress Monitoring - a tool to compare model data to scan data and calculate with a certain tolerance the difference between two sources. Get the result in a form of a .csv report with coverage information and deviations. 

To use Cintoo Progress Monitoring (CIPM) functionality a special permission Manage progress monitoring report is required.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Workflow

1. Prepare the data - visualize the scans to compare in Work Zone Explorer or Resource Explorer.
Only the scans visualized in the viewport would be used for the process. If some parts of the scan is not needed, they could be just excluded from the visualization. 
This allows to have the as-built basis of the comparison.


2. Select a model in Model Explorer or a model element from Model Content Explorer to compare with scans visualized in the previous step. To enter settings menu click Progress monitoring button at the bottom.


3. Provide a name in Report filename. 
Please note that following special characters are not allowed: \ / : * ? “ < > 
The name of selected model or model element is provided in the display. 
Choose tolerance value in Model to scan tolerance distance field. Be aware of units. This value defines the limiting distance used by CIPM algorithm to localize closest scan data around the model in 3D. The bigger the value - longer the time to generate a report.
Measurement units depend on project settings. Tolerance limit is 12 mm and 0.5 inches.
Click Start to launch report creation process.


4. The report is saved in the active Work Zone from which it was created. An email notification upon completion is sent to the user. Click on Browse your project to open a project in Data Tab.

Output file is provided as .cipm or Cintoo Progress Monitoring file. 


5. Report should be downloaded in .csv format to be further used outside Cintoo by clicking on Download button. The name of the file matches the name chosen for the .cipm file. Additionally, tolerance value and project units are added to the name.


6. Report measurement units and precision depend on corresponding fields in Options menu for the project. Changing each of these parameters affects output .csv file, so .csv file could be generated multiple times with different units and precision.


CIPM file structure

Downloaded .csv file has the following structure:

  • Model Element id - unique identifier of the model element within a CIPM run
  • IfcGUID - IFC global unique ID for a specific model element (if present)
  • GlobalID - Global ID for a specific model element (if present)
Note: IfcGUID and GlobalID come from the software where the model was created.
  • Model Element Name - model element name from Cintoo project 
  • Coverage by Scan Data (%) - showing volume percentage of the model covered by scan data based on Model to scan tolerance distance defined in CIPM run settings 
  • Maximum Distance to Scan Data - maximum distance across the model element to scan data measured in project units  
  • Average distance to Scan Data - average distance across the model element to scan data measured in project units  
  • Minimal distance to Scan Data - minimal distance across the model element to scan data measured in project units

Example of the formatting of the data in MS Excel

 

Additionally, it’s possible to see parameters of the CIPM run (model element and Model to scan tolerance distance) as well as output coverage, distance numbers for the whole run by clicking on Information.

Use cases 

  • Use Coverage estimation parameter to identify different stages of construction (for example, Not built, In progress, Completed). With this information data becomes more descriptive with a tie to the real situation on site. 
    Feel free to use MS Excel to filter by Coverage estimation column, for example low coverage data or on the contrary highest coverage. 
     
  • Based on distance data from the report, define model elements that should be verified inside a Cintoo project. Use search functionality in the Model Content Explorer panel to find data with the model element name. 

    Additionally, by typing "id:" before inserting Model Element ID from the generated CIPM report find the exact model element in model tree by clicking on either arrow or Enter.

Tips 

  • Diversify CIPM runs by different parts of the model - plumbing, electrical etc. This isolates model elements within a designated CIPM run providing cleaner results and improving the following analysis.
  • Use search capabilities of the Model Content Explorer by id to find specific model elements that have certain coverages or distances that might be interesting.
  • Tolerance value should be based upon the initial data that is used (scan and model). For bigger elements, like walls, bigger values could be chosen, for more precise comparisons choose smaller values.
  • Accuracy of results highly depends on quality of scan data and technology used to capture.
  • Copying IfcGUID or GlobalID (if existing) from CIPM report helps searching for model elements directly in CAD software.
  • Increasing both number of scans and the size of the model increases the amount of time spent on report creation.

Extended workflows