What Is VDC? BIM, People and Construction Planning
VDC connects project models, people and work processes to explicit objectives. Learn how to define a useful workflow, run a decision-focused review and measure its results.
Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) is a management approach that connects digital project models, team organization and work processes to project objectives. Its purpose is to help people make and carry out better-informed decisions about design, construction and operation.
Stanford's CIFE describes VDC as using multidisciplinary digital models to support project planning and management. Its research also discusses the integration of BIM, Integrated Concurrent Engineering (ICE) and Project Production Management (PPM). CIFE: VDC education, CIFE: VDC elements and production metrics.
How is VDC different from BIM?
BIM concerns the development and collaborative management of asset information. VDC uses that information alongside the organization of people and work to pursue project objectives. Reducing BIM to “software” misses its information-management role; calling every model-production task VDC misses the wider management work.
For a first introduction to models, properties and information exchanges, read What is BIM?.
Three connected areas of work
- BIM: information and models that help the team understand the asset and its interfaces.
- ICE: collaborative working sessions bringing the relevant participants together to address decisions.
- PPM: attention to how work flows, including dependencies, resources and constraints.
For practical scoping, ask what decision is needed, who must participate, and which information and work steps support it. Buying a model viewer alone does not answer those questions.
A coordination example
Illustrative example, not an EZ-VDC case study. A team must release a ceiling zone for installation. The model shows a duct route, cable trays and structure, but several interfaces remain unresolved.
First, define the objective: reach the agreed coordination status before the zone's release date. Then identify the people who can resolve the design questions and the current inputs they need. In a working session, review alternatives and assign actions. After model updates arrive, check the changes and record unresolved items before the responsible team decides on release.
The model supports the discussion. The meeting supports a decision. The follow-up makes the decision actionable. If any of those steps is missing, the team should be able to see the gap.
What should a VDC scope include?
- 1Project objectives and the decisions the service will support.
- 2Required models, documents and information exchanges.
- 3Named authoring, coordination, review and decision roles.
- 4A meeting and update schedule tied to project milestones.
- 5An issue workflow with ownership, due dates and closure evidence.
- 6Measures and reporting that the team can actually maintain.
- 7Handover requirements and responsibilities after the service ends.
An existing project may already have much of this in place. Identify what needs support instead of replacing useful processes unnecessarily. See the BIM Execution Plan guide for the information-delivery part of the setup.
Where does 4D planning fit?
When the decision depends on time, connect the relevant model elements or work zones to schedule activities. A 4D review can help compare sequences and communicate access constraints. Its conclusions depend on the schedule, geometry and assumptions represented; an animation is not a validated construction plan by itself.
Review the 4D planning guide before requesting a simulation.
How should you measure results?
Start with a baseline and a defined measure. Examples include the time needed to resolve coordination questions, actions completed by their agreed dates and unresolved issues at a package review. Record the scope and method so comparisons remain meaningful.
A lower clash count is not automatically improvement: it may reflect changed test rules or fewer submitted models. Likewise, a potential avoided cost is not a documented saving. Claims about money or time saved need project evidence and an attribution method.
Questions before hiring a VDC consultant
Do we need VDC if we already have a BIM team?
Possibly, if the gap is coordination leadership, decision workflows or planning across teams. If you only need extra modeling capacity, define that narrower service instead.
Can VDC support NEC or IPD projects?
Yes. EZ-VDC provides BIM/VDC support for both. The delivery process should be aligned with the project's actual requirements and responsibilities. Read the NEC information-delivery guide and the IPD collaboration guide.
What should we send to scope the work?
Share your project stage, team structure, current models and processes, milestones and the decisions causing difficulty. Our BIM and VDC consulting service can help define a focused engagement.
Let's talk about your project.
Share the intended use, available information and target date. We can help define the scope and deliverables for your BIM or VDC work.
