Project incorporates planning, estimating, and teamwork
A group of nine second-year Electrical Construction Design & Management students is getting ready to put their knowledge, training, and problem-solving skills to the test for an intensive student competition hosted by ELECTRI International.
NECA Student Chapters from across the country are participating in the 16th Annual Electrical Contracting Innovation Challenge, which is challenging teams to put themselves in the role of an electrical contractor and deliver a construction proposal for a Trimble Phase 2 project using Building Information Modeling (BIM).
Just like in the real world, the Dunwoody students are using industry standard software to create a BIM execution plan for the project. This includes a detailed work assignment log, a prefabrication plan, and installation drawings. In addition, the students are using Revit to model the electrical systems, with coordination in Navisworks and Trimble Connect, to leverage technology solutions offered by Trimble for office and field construction professionals.
The Dunwoody team includes students, Amar Ahmed, Paul Biason, Alistair Davis, Jack Ergen, Josh Hadden, Jason Hedberg, Corey Kreitlow, Elizabeth Remer, and Mason Ross. Nate Swanson and Polly Friendshuh are serving as faculty consultants on the project. Other Dunwoody students have participated with the ECIC team by accompanying them on tours and joining them for training sessions.
“This experience has equipped me with invaluable insights into project management, which I foresee as instrumental in shaping my future endeavors in the project management field,” said Hedberg, who serves as the team lead for the project.
The project also challenges teams to reach out to companies and professionals in the industry to gain insights and advice on putting together a plan for a project of this scope. The Dunwoody team partnered with local electrical and construction companies, including: Hunt Electric, MRL Company, Graybar, Egan Company, Baer Manufacturing, Greiner Construction, and J. Becher & Associates.
“Engaging in meetings with industry experts, I’ve honed my proficiency in utilizing a diverse array of Trimble and Autodesk software,” Biason said, adding that this experience has been invaluable in allowing him to better familiarize himself with the software professionals need in the workforce.
Due to the magnitude and scope of the ECIC project, the team divided themselves into five main work groups to complete the project, delegate the workload, and highlight their individual strengths – estimating, media, Building Information Modeling (BIM), pre-fabrication, and the project summary.
Within the team, all the members work on the estimating, led by Hedberg. Davis is handling the media portion, and the BIM team includes Ahmed, Biason, Remer, and Ross. The pre-fabrication group consists of Ahmed, Biason, Ergen, and Ross, and the project summary is managed by Davis, Hadden, and Remer.
“I’ve played a pivotal role in expanding our BIM team, meticulously incorporating additional members, and implementing a rigorous quality plan to ensure data integrity and accuracy,” said Ahmed.
The submission deadline for the competition is May 3. For more information on how to support your Dunwoody students in this competition and to see the progress they are making, follow them on LinkedIn and Instagram.
“This competition offers us an unparalleled opportunity to immerse ourselves in the dynamic world of electrical construction,” Davis said. “By combining theoretical knowledge with practical experience and industry collaboration, we are poised to help shape the future of the field.”