In our last article we introduced the California Land Surveyors Association (CLSA) Central Valley Construction Committee. We gave some background on the committee, described its goals, listed its recently completed work, and talked about its current work-in-progress. In this article we will introduce the concept of “level of control” for digital design files discussed in one of the Committee’s first preliminary standards.

“Level of Control” For Digital Design Files

How is “level of control” as it relates to digital design files used during construction defined?

On many project’s today the design team will provide the contractor or another third party involved in the construction of a project digital design files. Typically these files are provided “as-is” and the contractor or third party assumes all the risk in their use. In this scenario, the approved hard copy plans “control” construction. This means that the information shown on the hard copy plans will control over information contained in the CAD files. This is likely the model the industry will continue to operate under for the foreseeable future. However, this model is not likely sustainable over the long run. As more projects are built using digital design files, the files (and their quality) will become more important than information shown in the hard copy plans.

“Level of Control” has three (3) elements:

1. Control: The first element addresses the relationship between the hard copy plans and the digital design files provided to the contractor. In the event of a conflict between the hard copy plans and the digital design files, which will control construction? Will errors in the digital design files be treated with the same seriousness as errors in the hard copy plans? Will it be considered an error if the hard copy plans are missing information contained in the digital design files? Will it be considered an error if the digital design files are missing information contained in the hard copy plans?

2. Intended Use: What is the intended use of the digital design files provided to the contractor. Are they provided “as-is” with no intent to control construction? Are they provided as an aid to construction? Are they provided to control construction? Does the control of the digital design files apply to only a portion of the project, or are they intended to guide construction on all phases of the project?

3. Support: What level of support will be given by the design team for the digital design files during construction? What process will be followed to resolve conflicts between digital design files or between the hard copy plans and the digital design files? Will the design team have a responsibility to provide corrected and updated digital design files during construction? Will the design team be required to provide final digital design files that reflect the project improvements as actually constructed?

Possible Levels of Control

There are a few different levels of control that we can reasonably expect will be provided for digital design files moving into the future. They are listed below in ascending order of control. In Level 1 the digital design files have the least amount of control. In Level 5 they have the most amount of control.

Level 1:

• The digital design are provided “as-is”. The contractor uses these files at their own risk.
• The approved hard copy plans control over the digital design files in all circumstances.
• The design team will be providing no support for the digital design files.

Level 2:

• The digital design files are provided for contractor use during one or more phases of construction, or on at least a portion of the project.
• The approved hard copy plans control over the digital design files in all circumstances.
• The design team will be providing limited support for the digital design files. This includes responding to contractor request for information about the digital design files. The design team will not have an obligation to provide updates to the digital design files unless there is a correction made to the hard copy plans.

Level 3:

• The digital design files are provided for contractor use during one or more phases of construction, or on at least a portion of the project.
• The digital design files have the same level of control as the approved hard copy plans. A mistake, omission, or error in the digital design files is treated in the same way as a mistake, omission, or error in the approved hard copy plans.
• The design team will be providing full support for the digital design files. This includes responding to contractor request for information about the digital design files. The design team will provide updates to the digital design files when needed, even if the hard copy plans are not revised.

Level 4:

• The digital design files are provided for contractor use during one or more phases of construction, or on at least a portion of the project.
• The digital design files have a greater level of control than the approved hard copy plans and will control construction. A mistake, omission, or error in the digital design files is treated in the same way as a mistake, omission, or error in the approved hard copy plans.
• The design team will be providing full support for the digital design files. This includes responding to contractor request for information about the digital design files. The design team will provide updates to the digital design files when needed, even if the hard copy plans are not revised.

Level 5:

• The digital design files are provided for contractor use during one or more phases of construction, or on at least a portion of the project.
• The digital design files have a greater level of control than the approved hard copy plans and will control construction. A mistake, omission, or error in the digital design files is treated in the same way as a mistake, omission, or error in the approved hard copy plans.
• The design team will be providing full support for the digital design files. This includes responding to contractor request for information about the digital design files. The design team will provide updates to the digital design files when needed, even if the hard copy plans are not revised. The design team will provide a final set of digital design files that represent the actual construction condition of the project after construction is complete.