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.

For the March 21st ACEC-CA meeting at Haggin Oaks, Mr. Pete Ghelfi, a Director of Engineering of the Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency (SAFCA), provided an update on flood control improvements in the Sacramento area.  He reviewed:

• Progress that has been made on Florin Creek and the benefit the project is having on flood insurance for residents,
• Background and status of the American River Common Features Project that is nearing completion,
• Status of the work on Folsom Dam Joint Federal Project, and
• Work to protect Natomas where $400 million of approximately $780 million of improvements on 42 miles of levees have been completed.

In conclusion, Mr. Ghelfi discussed the cost of achieving a 200-year level of flood protection for the Sacramento area being estimated at approximately $4 billion and that a little more than $1.5 billion has been spent to-date.

The March Meeting also held the honored distinction of being our second successful golf event, following a lunch program.  Great weather, fine company and  a beautiful golf course all made for a great afternoon!

The ACEC-CA Sierra Chapter again donated $1,500.00 and hosted a booth at the Annual Sacramento Regional Science & Engineering Fair that took place on Friday and Saturday, March 21st and 22nd at Rosemont High School in Sacramento.

This annual event includes emerging scientists and engineers from Sacramento, El Dorado, Placer, San Joaquin, Yolo, Yuba, Sutter, Solano, and Amador Counties. Many of these impressive young students are our future engineers, scientists, technology experts, and mathematicians.

This regional competition showcases achievement by middle and high school students, supported by devoted parents, teachers, sponsors, mentors, and members of the public. Top winners of the nearly 400 student participants advance to the California State Science Fair, and the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair.

The Sierra Chapter Directors are pleased to be able to continue to lend our support to our regions youth. Director Kelly Birkes, with Rick Engineering Company, manned the ACEC both and fielded questions from these inquisitive emerging engineers and scientists.

MSE GeoChallenge is a student run design competition in which a model retaining wall is fabricated using paper sheets. This wall is designed to hold back a series of different loading scenarios including a dynamic load to simulate earthquakes. The team will provide a short presentation at the start of our April meeting.