Purpose

This LOD framework guides customers on best practices for selecting the appropriate BIM level of detail and schedule levels for planning in ALICE. This LOD framework helps customers accelerate time to value with ALICE during schedule development depending on the project phase, available data, and value objectives.

Learning objectives

1. A standardized approach for communicating 3D model LOD and schedule levels in ALICE
2. Enable project teams to plan and manage with ALICE from concept to construction
3. Enable project teams to build rapid prototype models for planning in ALICE  

Key Terms

Important definitions in the ALICE universe 

ALICE is a Dynamic Level of Detail system 

• Contractors and owners work with limited information to guide projects from conceptual design through construction, using historical data to budget and forecast future costs, duration, and delivery milestones. The ALICE platform helps contractors and owners make data-driven decisions from the early stages through detailed coordination, pull planning, and production control.
• ALICE supports planning from conceptual level 1 schedules (1-2 hours to develop) to fully coordinated level 4 schedules (several days or weeks to develop for more complex projects).
• By digitizing building methods and best practices into Recipes in ALICE, templates can be created to automatically generate cost and resource-loaded level 2 schedules using your recipe database. 
• Development of level 3 and 4 schedules will generally require additional data and coordination with the project team (typical of a well-planned project). These details may be developed in the preconstruction, buyout, and construction phases depending on the project delivery methods.
• Legacy CPM software is limited in its ability to manage Level 4 detail schedules, which is why field execution schedules are often managed outside of the master CPM schedule (as a different CPM schedule or in excel.) ALICE makes managing execution-level schedules significantly easier and provides a bridge in communication between the field, project management, and scheduling departments.  

BIM Level of Detail (LOD)

• Defines how much detail is included in the model element
• BIM LOD is often thought of as input to the element

Important note:

Please don’t let waiting for a 3D model stop you from starting your project planning with ALICE. We have preloaded templates by segment and conceptual planning models that can be used to Quick Start your project and accelerate time to value. Your Customer Success team is also available to help you quickly develop the models required to meet your project objectives.

• Notes on BIM Level of Development 
  • The degree to which the element's geometry has been thought through
  • Usually used for construction coordination, shop drawings, and fabrication
  • ALICE eliminates the requirement to develop expensive and time-consuming LOD 400 models (typically used for fabrication).
  • We recommend starting with rapid prototype LOD 100 models and not taking your ALICE model beyond LOD 350 for ease of use and adaptability (don't worry, you won't miss the essential details we'll add in the recipe)

Schedule Level Definitions 

• This refers to the details of activities in an issued schedule
• See the table below for a summary of schedule-level definitions 
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User Defined Fields in ALICE (UDFs)

• UDFs in ALICE are used to import or create metadata that can be assigned to model elements and used in recipes 
• UDFs are used to import project data instead of modeling exact geometry or quantities in 3D.
• Examples of UDF metadata that can be imported to elements in ALICE
  • All relevant metadata
  • Material quantities (sf, lf, cy) 
  • Length, height, width, etc
  • Production rates
  • Cost codes
  • Resources
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