Vela Systems, a developer of mobile field software for the AECO (architecture, engineering, contractor and owner) industry, today announced that Skanska USA Building is using Vela Systems’ mobile field software as part of the construction process of the new $998 million, 2.2 million-square-foot open-air stadium at the Meadowlands in New Jersey that will serve as the home for both the New York Giants and the New York Jets.
Skanska is managing the design-build contract, using Vela Systems to track the roughly 3,000 RFID-tagged pre-cast concrete pieces that will form the seating bowl for the stadium. As the pieces move through the four phases of the production process, RFID information is fed into Tekla Structures, a BIM (building information management) solution from Tekla Corporation that covers the entire structural design process from conceptual design to detailing, fabrication and construction. With this combination, Skanska is able to gain a view into the supply chain and can visualize the status of each piece of the project in the BIM system with up-to-date information from the field. The New Meadowlands Stadium is the first project in the U.S. to combine field software, Tablet PCs, RFID and BIM for integrated production management.
Skanska estimates this combined solution will accelerate the construction schedule by 10 days, which translates into $1 million in savings. This is possible because the more accurate, up-to-date production information allows for better understanding of:
– What materials have been fabricated;
– Whether materials have passed quality assurance;
– When materials have arrived on the jobsite; and
– Which materials have been incorporated into the structure.
The status of each of these queries is vividly apparent through the use of different colors in the Tekla 3D model of the structure, which adds a fourth dimension of information. In short, Skanska never has to ask whether pre-cast concrete components are ready for the following week’s work – the answer is always readily apparent on the computer screen.
Vela Systems is the leading developer of mobile software that streamlines field administration for the AECO industry. Vela Systems’ software, which has been used on more than 300 projects from Las Vegas to Dubai, replaces the notebooks and tubes of drawings traditionally used on construction sites with specialized software installed on rugged Tablet PCs. Vela Systems puts entire file cabinets of documents that were formally stored in trailer at the fingertips of people in the field. Vela Systems’ modules accomplish specific tasks such as materials tracking, field reports, punch lists and safety inspections, saving Vela’s customers at least 10 hours per week per user and accelerating project delivery by as much as two days per month.
Vela Systems fulfils the promise of RFID by combining it with a powerful field management software suite which enables AECO organizations to use the information conveyed by RFID tags. RFID is used like a ‘rugged bar code’ to track individual pieces through the construction process. Unlike bar codes, RFID tags still function while covered in dirt, paint, and may be scanned even in direct sunlight.
“Skanska has previously delivered a number of successful design-build stadium projects, including Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts and Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas,” said David Campbell, VP at Skanska. “In our experience, close cooperation among all members of supply chain is an absolute necessity for success. By bringing Tekla’s BIM solution together with Vela Systems field software and RFID, Skanska has brought new efficiencies to production management on this project. Vela Systems’ mobile field software is the vital glue that binds this solution together.”
“At Vela Systems, we’ve been amazed with the number of innovative ways in which our customers have used our mobile field software,” said Tim Curran, Vela Systems’ CEO. “Whether they are using Vela Systems to manage safety inspections, account for the cost of quality, ensure punch list items are completed, or tie RFID to BIM, our customers are improving quality all while saving time and accelerating project delivery.”
About Vela Systems, Inc.:
Vela Systems is The Leader in Field Software for the AECO Industry™. Vela Systems software streamlines and accelerates all field processes in construction and capital projects. By replacing their field notebooks with Vela software and Tablet PCs, Vela’s customers save 5-10 hours per week per user, accelerate project delivery by two days per month, capture the true Cost of Quality™ and reduce litigation risk through standardized documentation. Vela’s suite of modules includes field reports, safety inspections, work lists, punch lists, schedule updates and many other critical field activities. Industry leading architects, engineers, contractors and owners agree that Vela Systems helps them Work Faster, Collaborate Easier, and Finish Sooner™. To see how Vela’s customers are improving construction delivery from Las Vegas to Dubai, please visit www.velasystems.com or call 888.VELA.SYS.
About Skanska USA Building:
Skanska USA Building Inc. is a leading national and local provider of construction, preconstruction consulting, general contracting and design-build services to a broad range of U.S. industries including life sciences, healthcare, education, high-tech, aviation, transportation and sports and entertainment. Skanska USA Building also provides pharmaceutical validation services to clients. The company, part of the Skanska AB global group of companies, is headquartered in Parsippany, New Jersey, and has approximately 4700 employees.
