Our In our Corner series features articles and case studies of companies in our industry focusing on how they are changing and improving the construction industry in Aotearoa and further afield.
This article is from Atlas Industries who provide BIM modelling and documentation services to support accurate and efficient as-built delivery for complex infrastructure projects and property portfolios.
Building the Digital Future: How Atlas Industries Delivers Efficient and Accurate As-Built Solutions for Complex Infrastructure Projects and Property Portfolios
Delivering accurate as-builts for major infrastructure projects and large-scale property portfolios is a critical yet complex challenge—one that directly impacts project handover, regulatory compliance, financial closeout and long-term asset management for main contractors and asset owners.
Atlas Industries (Atlas), a global multidisciplinary partner specialising in BIM modelling, documentation support, and project delivery services for the architecture, engineering, construction, property and energy and resources industry streamlines the as-built process to improve efficiency, reduce risk, and ensure the highest standards of accuracy and compliance.
Streamlining As-Built Delivery for Major Infrastructure Projects
For main contractors delivering large-scale infrastructure projects such as rail and road networks, the timely and accurate completion of as-built documentation is critical. Government clients require precise as-builts to finalise project handover, and in turn, the release of retention and bond monies back to contractors depends on meeting these stringent requirements.
Rail infrastructure projects, in particular, present significant challenges due to their complexity, extensive networks, strict compliance standards, and the need for seamless integration with existing systems. Delivering accurate architectural, structural, MEP, civil and landscape as-builts can require thousands of as-constructed updates to be applied to IFC stage drawings and associated models as they are being issued by the design consultants at a time when the data is frozen.
This process demands a meticulous approach, including the thorough assessment of thousands of red line mark-ups (RLMUs), continuous updates to drawings and associated 3D models, and validation of BIM models against digital and jurisdiction-specific compliance standards. Additionally, teams verify as-built models using laser scan and point cloud data, update and integrate asset information, and actively participate in coordination meetings.
However, a project’s incumbent design team often face challenges in delivering as-builts efficiently. Project demands, resource constraints and shifting priorities can impact the timely and accurate delivery of as-built drawings and associated models.
The Value of a Dedicated As-Built BIM and Documentation Resource
Many main contractors across Australia, Southeast Asia, the UK, and the Middle East are addressing these challenges by integrating dedicated multidisciplinary BIM and documentation resources as an extension of their project team to deliver the as-built requirements. This approach enhances efficiency, reduces time pressures, and mitigates cost risks, ensuring that as-builts are delivered to the highest standard.
Over the past five years, Atlas has successfully completed more than 10 major as-built projects in Australia, primarily in rail (heavy and light) and road infrastructure, with a combined construction value of approximately AUD$30billion. This has involved the precise delivery of over 35,000 drawings and 1,000+ models across multiple software platforms, alongside the validation of 500,000 data entry lines.
Case Study: Delivering Precise and Efficient As-Builts for Rail Infrastructure
On a major rail project in Australia, Atlas assembled a multidisciplinary team of 35 architects, engineers and digital technicians to deliver over 3,500 as-constructed drawings and approximately 48 updated models using multiple software platforms. Working within the contractor’s compressed programme, the team delivered around 740 drawings per month during peak periods. Throughout the project Atlas developed BIM tools, maintained strict adherence to documentation protocols, including BIM Execution Plans, and updated data to fulfill final Asset Information Model (AIM) specifications. A flexible resourcing model allowed the contractor to scale up and down the as-built delivery team as needed.
Atlas consistently delivers this scope with precision, on schedule, and often ahead of deadlines. By partnering with Atlas, main contractors have been able to provide their end clients—typically state and national government agencies—with as-built documentation earlier and with greater accuracy. Importantly, this has expedited the release of their retention and bond monies.
Digitising Property Portfolios with Precise As-Built Models
For property owners managing asset portfolios, inaccurate or incomplete digital records of their assets can pose a major challenge. Buildings evolve through renovations, tenant modifications, and infrastructure upgrades, yet accurate documentation can often fail to keep pace. The lack of reliable as-built data can result in owners adopting a reactive rather than proactive approach to asset management, impacting renovation planning, space utilisation, energy efficiency, regulatory compliance, and facility management (FM) system integration. Additionally, reliance on costly, time-consuming on-site surveys further compounds inefficiencies.
Digitising property portfolios through advanced as-built services provides a structured and efficient asset management solution. By leveraging 3D laser scanning, BIM, CAD/PDF conversion, data verification, and asset tagging property owners can generate accurate, data-rich models that enhance operational efficiency and strategic decision-making. These digital models can integrate with asset management platforms, improving maintenance workflows, streamlining operations, and enabling evidence-backed renovation and compliance strategies.
Furthermore, as-built models can be enhanced with real-time data and intelligence extracted from the physical building and its interacting environment, transforming them into responsive digital twins. These digital replicas enable predictive analysis through ‘what-if’ scenarios, allowing for data-driven decision-making and the implementation of optimised solutions directly within the physical asset.
Case Study: Advancing Asset Management at Hong Kong International Airport with As-Built BIM Models
As a demonstration of the value of precise as-built models, Atlas was appointed to deliver the first stage of the Airport Authority Hong Kong’s (AAHK) digital twin initiative—an as-built, asset-rich BIM model of Hong Kong International Airport’s Terminal 1. The objective was to develop a comprehensive digital model to support asset and facilities management while serving as a visualisation and working tool for future development and expansion.
Atlas was tasked with delivering multidisciplinary as-built BIM models at Levels of Development (LOD) from 350 to 500 for 700,000 m² of existing buildings. The project required the meticulous integration of thousands of reference documents, including architectural, structural, and building services as-constructed drawings, site photographs, data schedules, point cloud data, and panoramic imagery.
Atlas was tasked with delivering multidisciplinary as-built BIM models at Levels of Development (LOD) from 350 to 500 for 700,000 m² of existing buildings. The project required the meticulous integration of thousands of reference documents, including architectural, structural, and building services as-constructed drawings, site photographs, data schedules, point cloud data, and panoramic imagery. An initial gap analysis of the 2D reference materials revealed varying levels of accuracy, necessitating a thorough validation process. Atlas subsequently delivered a fully federated LOD 500 as-built BIM model, encompassing architectural, structural, mechanical, electrical, public health (MEP) services, Special Airport Systems, and associated civil and underground utilities.
Over the course of the two-year programme, a team of 60 worked concurrently on the model to deliver a rigorous data validation process, reviewing over 10,000 folders and 500,000 files, amounting to 391GB of information. They generated and aligned more than 3,000,000 BIM geometries, ensuring precision and consistency. Furthermore, an asset classification system was implemented, tagging over 600,000 elements within the 3D models using custom automation tools developed by Atlas to expedite the process. Working closely with AAHK’s maintenance teams, Atlas incorporated COBie asset information for each element and supported the integration of the model into an asset management system with a Geographic Information System (GIS) framework to establish a comprehensive static state of the as-built model.
Future-Proofing Assets with Precise As-Built Models and Drawings
As-built documentation is a critical enabler of project closeout, financial recovery, and long-term asset management. For main contractors delivering major infrastructure projects, ensuring the precise and timely delivery of as-builts is fundamental to meeting government compliance requirements and securing final project payments. Meanwhile, property owners stand to gain significant operational efficiencies and risk mitigation through digitised as-built models that enhance asset visibility and lifecycle planning.
By integrating dedicated as-built BIM and documentation expertise, contractors can streamline the as-built process, mitigating resource constraints and ensuring accuracy at scale. Similarly, digitising property portfolios with structured, data-rich models empowers owners to transition from reactive asset management to a proactive, strategic approach.
With proven experience delivering large-scale infrastructure as-builts and supporting property owners in digitising their asset portfolios Atlas is uniquely positioned to help clients navigate these complexities. In an era where accuracy, efficiency, and digital integration define success, investing in robust as-built solutions is not just best practice—it is a competitive advantage.
About Atlas
Atlas is a leading design delivery solution provider to the architecture, engineering, construction, property, and energy and resource industry providing high quality and cost effective architectural and engineering BIM modelling, documentation support, and project delivery services.
Atlas has their main operations centre located in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, with a satellite office in Manila, supported by business development, technical and project managers in the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Asia. Their extensive project experience also includes the Middle East, Japan and North America.Atlas helps their clients deliver projects across all major sectors, including aviation, commercial, education, healthcare, hospitality, industrial and technical, rail, infrastructure, mixed-use, residential, retail, leisure, sport and culture.
Contact: Neil Barr, New Zealand New Business Director neil.barr@atlasindustries.com
