White paper reveals how planning teams can visualise construction sequences and identify clashes before they become on-site problems
Elecosoft, a leading UK-based provider of construction software, has announced the publication of a groundbreaking white paper: Model-Based Planning: The Future of Integrated Construction Delivery.
This comprehensive, deep-dive guide has been developed in direct response to the UK construction sector’s unacceptably low productivity levels, introducing model-based planning and how it addresses the roadblocks associated with traditional approaches to project delivery.
High-level benefits of Active 4D model-based planning include faster and more accurate construction and engineering planning through automation and real-time visualisation, resulting in earlier identification of issues and opportunities.
This report couldn’t come at a more appropriate time. With the latest ONS figures showing output was flat in Q1 2025, and little sign of improvement in Q2, it tackles the productivity problem head-on. It attempts to understand why projects are often delivered later than planned or at a far higher cost than the initial estimate and identifies a critical need for innovation in planning methodologies.
Persistent challenges
At its core, the white paper provides construction professionals with practical guidance on adopting model-based planning, including understanding organisational goals, building foundational knowledge, and establishing integrated workflows to achieve meaningful productivity improvements.
Crucially, the white paper also examines how traditional planning methods, reliant on disconnected data and static Gantt charts, create information siloes and fragmented processes that hinder project success.
These limitations lead to costly problems for engineering and construction firms, including:
- Time-consuming manual data entry that diverts resources from value-adding activities.
- Disjointed workflows requiring constant manual updates between design and planning teams.
- Expensive feedback loops where issues are discovered too late in the process.
- Reactive rather than proactive management of project timelines and resources.
The answer lies in model-based planning, which effectively addresses these persistent challenges by incorporating information-rich 3D models directly into the planning process.
Integrated and intelligent planning
Model-Based Planning: The Future of Integrated Construction Delivery definitively proves that, by adopting model-based planning, project teams can visualise construction sequences, identify clashes before they become on-site problems and maintain a single source of truth for all stakeholders.
For engineering and construction firms, the benefits outlined in the white paper translate to measurable business outcomes.
- Faster planning process efficiency.
- Earlier identification of sequencing conflicts, reducing costly on-site rework.
- Enhanced risk management through comprehensive visualisation of the entire construction process.
- Improved resource allocation and supply chain coordination.
- Better stakeholder communication through intuitive visual representations of project timelines.
These advantages are particularly significant given the construction sector’s skills shortage highlighted in Access Group’s 2024 Construction Industry Challenges report, which identified planning expertise as a critical gap. Model-based planning helps firms maximise the effectiveness of their existing talent while reducing the expertise barrier for new team members.
Stepping into the fourth dimension
Taking this a step further by adding the dimension of time, Elecosoft’s Asta 4D technology, featured in the white paper, delivers significant productivity improvements. It does this by automating schedule creation and maintaining continuous synchronisation between schedules and Building Information Models (BIM).
This creates a live, two-way connection ensuring plans always reflect the current state of the project. It represents the next generation in planning technology, with the power to boost productivity as the UK stands on the brink of a building boom.
As Andrew Norrie, Head of Business Development at Elecosoft, says: “Model based planning has the power to transform communication across construction projects – but unlocking that potential requires more than just technology. It also demands a culture that values collaboration, transparency and the open sharing of information across disciplines.
“Can we get there? We must, as the white paper makes crystal clear. When visual models become the central medium for communication, teams gain a clearer, shared understanding of the project. This not only improves stakeholder alignment but also drives faster, more confident decision making at every stage.”
The full white paper is available for free download at www.elecosoft.com.
*Please note that this is a commercial profile.
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