Beyond Complexity: Systems Engineering in Construction

In this episode of the AEC Business podcast, I sat down with Lennard van Wijk from Relatics to discuss Systems Engineering in construction; what it is and why you should use it in your next project.

Managing Complexity

Lennard van Wijk is a consultant at Relatics, a Dutch software company that develops a platform of the same name to support Systems Engineering in construction projects. He has fifteen years of experience working in Systems Engineering, the last five as a consultant at Relatics and has assisted numerous project teams in organizing and consolidating disjointed information.

Relatics is the leading Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) software application for construction projects. Used in over 2,000 projects worldwide by more than 70,000 professionals, Relatics provides a comprehensive platform to access all project information and manage the increasing complexity and interdependencies between disciplines.

What Is Systems Engineering and Why Should You Care?

Systems Engineering is an interdisciplinary approach to designing, integrating, and managing complex systems over their life cycles. While it has its roots in the aerospace and defense sectors, Lennard emphasized that Systems Engineering is now applied to construction projects around the world, and is becoming increasingly essential as the complexity of these projects grows.

Construction projects are becoming increasingly complex, integrated, and subject to greater accountability than ever before. Systems Engineering provides a structured methodology to ensure that all requirements are not only clearly defined and agreed upon, but also demonstrably fulfilled throughout the project’s execution.

Model-Based Systems Engineering introduces a digital, structured layer that links every stakeholder action to the original project intent. It revolutionizes how we plan, track, and deliver projects. Since all project information is linked together, the impact of changes and events becomes immediately clear. As a result, nothing stays overlooked which helps teams to deliver healthy construction projects.

Why Now?

Traditional construction management often suffers from fragmented documents, unclear responsibilities, and miscommunication. These problems are especially critical during changes that impact several participants and systems.

Several trends are also driving the adoption of Systems Engineering, including design-build-maintain contracts, tightening regulations, and increased project complexity.

In the EU, the public sector is estimated to account for around 45 percent of the total construction output. Public infrastructure projects require rigorous performance-based delivery, which is challenging to achieve without collaborative information management.

The Value of Systems Engineering

Systems Engineering has proven to offer significant value during challenging construction projects. It establishes a transparent chain of requirements from initial specifications to handover. It also enhances change management and version control, providing traceable decision-making for audits and accountability.

Because a construction project is a networked, multi-company endeavor, fluent collaboration between partners is critical. Systems Engineering provides value for every stakeholder, from clients to individual on-site workers.

The Relatics Way

Relatics is a cloud-based service that stores project elements in a semantic database and allows you to create meaningful relations between the elements. Lennard pointed out that you can also continue using your existing tools, such as SharePoint for document management, Primavera for planning, and BIM software, and integrate them with Relatics.

Imagine a bridge project involving civil, mechanical, and safety systems. Relatics gets involved early in the project to set up the Systems Engineering model. This includes mapping client expectations, technical specifications, and verification plans.

As the project progresses, designers, contractors, and operators input and track information directly in Relatics. Each requirement is linked to its proof of fulfillment, such as a test result or a BIM model component.

The Outcome

Professionals who have worked with Systems Engineering and Relatics on one project recommend it for the next. They’ve seen how the project data is constantly up to date, how potential risks are spotted early on, and how there are fewer surprises during handover.

Most importantly, the client gets what they wanted and paid for.

Lennard admits that this level of transparency and trustworthiness does require extra attention from the project participants. However, the benefits far outweigh the efforts many times over.

Not Just for Experts

Lennard has one key message for anyone considering System Engineering and Relatics: You don’t have to be an expert or consult an expert to obtain the information you need. Everyone can do it by themselves.

“It is teamwork. It’s like sports. So, you win as a team,” Lennard states.

Find Out More

If you’re interested in Systems Engineering for construction, download a whitepaper on the topic. To learn more about Relatics, visit https://www.relatics.com/ and follow their LinkedIn page.