Always hit the second ball first

Any golfer who gets the chance to practice on a quiet course by dropping a second ball and repeating a shot will notice it is usually better, much better than the first attempt. You end up wishing you could always hit that second shot as your first.

There are parallels for this observation in construction project management. A repeat project is usually able to avoid the problems of the original and for example layout improvements can be made based on real world experience. This is usually put down to the Learning Curve as aspects of the project are mastered and the impact of design decisions and assumptions play out in the real world.

But what if there was a way to do a dry-run and spot issues before they happen, wouldn’t that help improve the project outcomes? This is at the heart of why at DDK, we create a 3D model that can be physically explored at concept stage using a VR head-set to see issues in the virtual space before they are committed through design to become reality. This does require discipline, like the golf shot it is not easy to observe something unless you are attempting to do something specific. Working through the proposed operating procedures, step by step can identify areas for improvement. Assessing the model from a specific perspective i.e maintenance access, flushes out issues that are expensive to experience in the real world. Not surprisingly, if you put the effort in it works. After all this is how aircraft like the A380 were designed to make sure they work from a component to a sub system to an airframe level.

We call our 3D model a Digital Twin and its function during the project execution is to manage the impact of changes and adjustments and in this way, it is constantly taking the second shot first.

The digital twin model enables us to refine, test and further refine the design, planning and scheduling of each project so that potential problems within the build can be designed out in advance.

Sometimes it is possible to hit that second ball first.