Hole in One with BIM

Written by Experience Building

Published Fri 19 Jun 2009

The introduction of an advanced 3D CAD system from Autodesk and NTI CADcentre has hit a veritable hole in one for Halborg Golf has become an increasingly popular sport in Denmark and in recent years golf-loving Danes have been able to play their sport in practically every corner of the country. In some cases, prestigious golf course projects have been able to attract foreign star architects such as Robert Trent Jones, Jr. and Kirby Bates Golf Design. Although the financial crisis of the past year has managed to knock the wind out of the most elaborate Danish golf course projects, there’s no doubt that the country is confident that the sport will only grow in popularity.

For Halborg Landmåling (HLM), it is not the love of the game that matters most, but the enthusiasm while involved as a surveyor on several of the largest projects. The introduction of a new, advanced 3D CAD system combined with a thorough knowledge of golf course design, has placed HLM in a key strategic position as one of the preferred partners for developing golf courses. 

“Working with Autodesk software has meant that we have won many more orders than anticipated, and this has given our two-year-old company an enormous boost,” says HLM co-founder, CAD technician Nikolaj Halborg Sørensen – who runs the company with his father and brother from offices in Jerslev and Rødovre. “We previously worked with other types of 3D CAD software but it hasn’t been until now that we have actually had the ability to realise the potential of our projects by working in a completely digital 3D world. We have quite simply become a better collaborative partner for our customers, and the engineers and developers we are in close contact with, and that’s a great benefit for everyone.”   

World’s best golf courses  

Some of the golf projects HLM has worked on include Royal Golf at the Bella Center in Copenhagen, Ledreborg Golf, and not least, Denmark’s biggest budget project to date Lübker Golf Resort – which the American magazine Golf has praised as the ‘Best New International Golf Course 2008’. HLM’s work typically consists of a 3D survey, proportioning, estimating, and visualising the various parts of the golf course. The data, calculations and visuals from Autodesk’s software has already proved a real asset to builders and developers involved in the schemes.
 

AutoCAD Civil 3D and the use of modelling enables accurate costing – not only of landscaping and construction but also ongoing maintenance of the golf course 

For example, there is a major price difference between the grass that is used on fairways, roughs, semi-roughs, test locations, and on the green. In addition, in several of the most inclined areas it is necessary to use spray-sown grass (consisting of a mixture of grass, fibre and fertiliser). It’s the most expensive type of grass available and with a factor of five between the least expensive and most costly, it is vital for budgeting purposes to calculate the costs of sowing the courses.  

Lübker Golf Resort is a full 27-hole course with a 9-hole Academy course and driving range and here, size alone can mean that a calculation error could prove very costly. This may also be the case with path systems and the drainage system that HLM typically proportions, in order for it to fit precisely into the actual earth surface conditions and to take into account any natural considerations that the local authorities may define.  

“We collaborate closely with M J Eriksson which is the developer that suggested we take a closer look at Autodesk Civil 3D – they also use it for their own projects. We provide a wide range of data to them, that we collect and register – either manually in the field or with the help of GPS-controlled machines – for digital processing in Civil 3D later on. In the largest projects, we cover several hundred hectares; yet when colleagues handle similar tasks using competitive 3D products they often encounter major problems with their software. Civil 3D has a completely different method of handling large amounts of data and this gives us a great deal of flexibility and a much easier method for exchanging data with our partners. It makes a world of difference when everything is on an even keel,” explains Sørensen.  

Simply smarter with Civil 3D  

According to Sørensen it is crucial that Civil 3D behaves the way it does. “The layer structure is simply smarter, all functions are easy to access despite the program’s size [and] it is very user friendly. Other software on the market has an endless number of extra steps before you are on track with a specific task. We usually have very long days when we’re working on a new golf course but since we introduced Civil 3D we have actually been able to have some time off in the evenings. 

“We can generally make drawings in half the amount of time than we could before and the results all have an unbelievably smooth finish. This means it’s possible for us to easily see which are greens and which are fairways,” says Sørensen. The results have proved very convincing when we’ve delivered them to our collaborative partners.” And that certainly helps generate enthusiasm for Autodesk’s products. 

Speed advantage  

The most recent project HLM is associated with is Royal Golf at the Bella Center, just south of Copenhagen, where the company handled all the survey work for the course expansion. This included drainage and pipes in the new 18-hole loop as well as creating terrain models, measuring the size of the greens and documenting the different types of grass. This all has to be prepared to meet stringent regulations. To make the overview easier, HLM works with various layers. GPS-data is in one layer, shading in another, and the line itself that goes between points is in a third layer.This way of working has a major advantage:

HLM has come a ‘fairway’ with AutoCAD Civil 3D and is finding that drafting times are being halved and that results have a smooth finish

“If you close all layers minus shading, we can very easily calculate the size of the total area of the greens,” explains Sørensen. “This only takes a few minutes, but it is of great value to the builder and the developer, since they’ll get a cost price on green areas and an estimate for fertiliser so they know the cost of course care and maintenance. That is the basis for us winning new business, and at the same time local authorities require that we work in 3D, so we’ve really seen the advantages of working with Civil 3D very quickly,” concludes Sørensen.  

Next generation

NTI CADcenter has planned a training course for HLM to ensure it gets the most out of its new CAD system, and there is a clear correlation between success and companies that have adopted 3D.  

“The advantages harvested by HLM are impressive but not unique,” states NTI CADcenter chief consultant Pia Christoffersen as he evaluates the situation. “We expect to see the market change sharply during the coming years, as Civil3D gradually replaces the many AutoCAD licences still being used. I think a quantum leap will occur when more and more technology-hungry graduates who are studying today and are trained in Civil 3D enter the labour market. Companies such as HLM that are already using the software are at a distinct advantage. It will definitely contribute to attracting new employees,” says Christoffersen. 

“When you look at the difference Civil 3D has made to HLM in enabling them to work visually with 3D models and data intelligence, I think it’s clear we’ll soon see a new digital wave roll out into the sector,” adds Autodesk’s Hans Olav Michelsen. “And because so many landscapers are familiar with the user interface in AutoCAD, it won’t take much time and energy to get started with Civil 3D. Of course, it will take some time before everyone in the field has switched to 3D, but I’m convinced that in the long run we’re well on our way to a complete digital terrain model.”  

Find out more by visiting the following sites:
www.halborglm.dk
www.autodesk.com/civil3d