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Technology and digital transformation

We separate what we use on project documents today from what we are investing in for tomorrow. Project owners need to know exactly what their documents will be produced with.

Choose a starting point

What problem are you solving?

No need to choose equipment first. Start from the operating situation to identify the right work to survey, design or simulate.

New construction or home renovation

Arrange room requirements on a 0.5 m grid, screen functions and create a rendering before sending to CGD for detailed design consulting.

Open AI home design tool →

Build a new warehouse or expand an existing one

Fix the master layout, floor level, structure and cargo flow before choosing AS/RS, racking or AGVs.

See automated warehouse consulting →

Cold storage that needs more capacity

Check the warehouse envelope, loads, fire safety, refrigeration and operations together before increasing storage height or density.

See cold storage consulting →

A congested port, ICD or yard

Use peak-hour data to verify truck flow, gates, yards and dock doors; avoid designing to average throughput.

See port & ICD automation consulting →

Need to get more out of the same site

Evaluate smart parking options with structure, fire protection, ventilation and access roads — without separating equipment from the building.

See smart parking consulting →

A first discussion is most productive when you can bring the existing site layout, daily or peak-hour throughput, and expansion goals. If the data is not yet complete, CGD can work with the project owner to draw up a list of inputs to collect.

In use on current projects

Our daily toolkit

These are the tools that actually produce the drawings and cost estimates CGD signs off today.

AutoCAD

Technical drawings for all disciplines — architecture, structure, MEP, water supply and drainage, infrastructure.

SAP2000 · Etabs

Structural analysis and design of civil and industrial buildings.

3ds Max

3D models and renderings of design options for review and presentation to the project owner.

G8 · GXD

Preparing and checking cost estimates against the norms and unit prices in force at each point in time.

Beyond software, what determines quality is still Vietnam's construction codes and standards, updated with each new issuance, together with a cross-check process between disciplines before documents are released.

Quick explainer

BIM, Digital Twin and simulation — to put it simply

Three concepts are often used interchangeably in tender documents. Here is how we understand and apply them, with diagrams for quick comparison.

What is BIM?

Building Information Modeling — a data-rich model of the building.

2D documentation is a set of separate drawing packages: one for architecture, one for structure, one for MEP. Change something in one and you must remember to change it in all the others, and every time someone forgets, the drawings clash on site. BIM brings everything into a single 3D model in which each element carries its own information: material, dimensions, quantities, technical specifications. Change one column and the plans, sections and quantity schedules update automatically.

The biggest gain is not a good-looking 3D image, but catching an air duct that collides with a beam on the computer instead of after the workers have already erected the beam.

What is a Digital Twin?

Digital twin — a live model of a facility in operation.

A digital twin is a digital model of the real facility, continuously fed with data from sensors, cameras and warehouse management software. It differs from BIM in that BIM stops at handover, while the digital twin lives throughout the operating life cycle and always reflects the current state.

Because it runs in parallel with the real facility, the project owner can test a change first — adding a row of racking, changing truck flows in the yard — see the consequences on the twin, and only then decide to do it on site.

What is cargo flow simulation?

Test-running a facility's operations before it exists.

Simulation software runs trucks, cargo and equipment through the proposed layout under real throughput scenarios: what time trucks arrive in a rush, how long each truck spends at the dock door, how many days cargo sits in the yard. The results are operating figures: queue length at the gate, dock door utilization, and the yard area actually needed.

This is how to answer the questions static drawings cannot: how this layout performs on a peak day, and how many dock doors are just enough without excess.

BIM · Autodesk Revit

From Revit models to multi-disciplinary coordination

BIM is not just about producing 3D renderings. CGD's company profile describes coordinating architecture, structure, MEP and infrastructure to update drawings and schedules, check for clashes and support facility management. The applications grouped below are compiled from that profile; specific deliverables are confirmed according to the design brief.

Architecture

Plans, sections, elevations
Scan-to-BIM and surface analysis
Model coordination, clash detection
Facade documentation

Structure & MEP

Piping model
Steel member extraction
Deformation analysis
Quantity takeoff and clash checking

Construction

Site survey
Multi-contractor coordination
Construction quality control
Prefabricated component verification

Civil / Survey

Design elevation checks
Infrastructure survey
Site volume and area calculation
Surface analysis; Scan-to-CIM

Operations management

Existing-condition drawings and as-built documents
Scan-to-BIM
Component information lookup
Support for renovation and maintenance management

Heritage buildings

2D/3D as-is recording
Scan-to-BIM
Surface analysis
Clash detection coordination; facade documentation

Revit is the environment for creating and managing BIM models; Navisworks supports model aggregation, coordination and clash review; Civil 3D is used for infrastructure design; ReCap processes scan and as-is data. Tool configuration and level of detail (LOD/LOI) depend on the contract scope.

Equipment — in partnership with Aubot

Fix equipment requirements before freezing the facility design

Aubot is the warehouse automation unit of CF Group. These are the equipment groups that typically accompany CGD documents, along with the work the construction documents must resolve around them.

High-bay storage

SC1000 stacking crane

Modular stacker cranes run on rails between two racks, eliminating forklift aisles altogether. They withstand deep-freeze environments, so they suit both ambient and sub-zero warehouses.

Load capacity	1.000 kg
Pallet	1000 × 1200 × 150 mm
Loaded lifting speed	~40 m/min
Loaded travel speed	~83 m/min
Position error	± 10 mm
Operating temperature	−25 to +45 °C

CGD's scope: Rack load-bearing structure, floor flatness and levels, rail tolerances. The ±10 mm positioning error can only be held if the slab and rails meet the design tolerances.

High density warehouse

4-way transfer AGV

Shuttles travel in all four directions inside the rack, allowing pallets to be stored tightly together while each one can still be retrieved individually.

Load capacity	1.000 kg
Pallet	1.000 × 1.200 mm
Travel speed	~1,5 m/s
Acceleration	1 m/s²
Lifting time	2 – 4 seconds
Positioning accuracy	± 5 mm
Battery life	4 – 8 hours · automatic charging

CGD's scope: Column grid and clear height must match the rack module from the master plan stage; they cannot be changed once the foundations are poured.

Goods-to-person

B300 AGV carrying goods

Autonomous vehicles carry pallets from the AS/RS straight to the workstation, eliminating manual pushing and manual forklifts.

Dimensions	840 × 435 × 170 mm
Load capacity	300 kg
Unloaded weight	110 kg
Lifting height	~80 mm
Maximum speed	~70 m/min
Navigation	QR code
Power supply	Pin Lithium 24V – 27Ah

CGD's scope: QR-code navigation means there is no need to embed magnets or cut into the floor — existing floors can be used, but floor flatness and charging station locations must be included in the overall layout.

Manufacturing plant

T500 towing AGV

Tows multiple carts at once through the narrow aisles of an existing factory; magnetic-tape guidance allows routes to be changed quickly.

Dimensions	1400 × 658 × 1470 mm
Weight	190 kg
Maximum towing load	500 kg
Navigation	Magnetic tape
Speed	~30 m/min
Power supply	DC 24V – 2 pin 12V/100Ah
Safety	Emergency stop button, laser sensor

CGD's scope: Turning radius and aisle width determine whether a route is feasible — this is a site constraint, not an equipment issue.

Automated parking

AGV parking

The AGV slides under the car tray, lifts the whole car and moves it into a parking slot. With no ramps or driver aisles, the same site holds more cars.

Vehicle load	≤ 2.500 kg
Car tray	700 kg → total 3,200 kg
Tray size	5500 × 2250 × 380 mm
AGV size	4014 × 1714 × 280 mm
Loaded speed	40 – 60 m/min
Stop accuracy	± 5 – 10 mm
Safety	LiDAR 270° · 10 mm obstacle crossing

CGD's scope: Floor structure carrying vehicle plus AGV loads, ventilation, fire protection, charging stations and entry/exit traffic organization — most of the design documentation lies here.

24/7 operation

AGV fleet and charging station

AGVs return to the charging station on their own based on battery level, so the warehouse runs continuously. The whole fleet is coordinated by a single software platform.

Charging mode	Automatic, based on battery level
Operation	Continuous, 24/7
Coordination	FMS fleet management system
Communication	Wireless between vehicles

CGD's scope: Charging station locations, routes and electrical capacity must be fixed in the overall layout from the planning stage, not added later.

Before buying equipment

AGVs, smart warehouses and green warehouses: decide based on operating needs

Technology only delivers efficiency when the facility, cargo flows and data are ready.

When should an AGV survey be done?

When movement flows repeat, volumes are stable enough, and the site can standardize aisles, pick-up/drop-off points, charging and safety.

What must be finalized first?

Column grid, clear height, floor flatness and load capacity, locations of reserved infrastructure provisions, and the peak-hour operating model.

Where does a green warehouse start?

Roof load capacity for rooftop solar, building envelope, natural lighting, drainage and backup power capacity for equipment/charging.

CGD does not sell equipment. Our role is to verify investment conditions, turn operating requirements into design parameters and get the facility ready for the technology.

Read: Smart warehouse — design first, equipment later →Read: Green warehouse →

From operational data to investment decisions

Compare technologies against the same brief, not rendered images

A high-capacity system may still not solve peak hours. CGD sets each equipment option against its impact on the facility, lifecycle cost and ability to keep operating when one link stops.

High-bay warehouse (AS/RS)

Input data: pallet/SKU mix, hourly inbound/outbound orders, peak season, usable height, floor load and land area.

Options to compare: standard racking, shuttle, AS/RS crane; same capacity but different footprint, height, number of aisles and real throughput after accounting for pallet transfers, in/out points and lifts.

What CGD checks: structure, building envelope, fire protection, electrical, maintenance zones; access to goods when a crane or line is down. Equipment is finalized only after review with the technology partner.

See automated warehouse consulting →

Multi-story AGV parking

Input data: vehicles per hour, vehicle size and weight, acceptable waiting time, number of floors, access and land area.

Options to compare: self-drive ramps, lifts, trays and AGVs; the number of parking spaces must come with car drop-off and retrieval times during peak hours, not just land savings.

What CGD checks: floor load, handover bay, ventilation, fire protection, power/charging, rescue and vehicle retrieval when the AGV or lift is out of service.

See smart parking consulting →

AI images help visualize options, but do not confirm capacity, safety or feasibility. Try designing an AS/RS warehouse or AGV parking lot · Preliminary budget estimate. Final specifications and operating commitments must be checked against the equipment supplier and technical documents.

Facility assessment falls within CGD's consulting scope.

Software platform

Software layers determine whether equipment runs in sync

From ERP/OMS to WMS, WES (when needed), WCS and FMS: it must be defined which system issues orders, which controls the equipment, and who is responsible for integration and error handling.

WMS

Warehouse Management System

Manages inventory, storage locations and inbound/outbound orders; receives data from the project owner's ERP/OMS.

WES

Warehouse Execution System

Balances order sequence, resources and capacity by zone; needed when multiple automated flows compete for throughput.

WCS

Warehouse Control System

Sends commands down to conveyors, lifts, stacker cranes and PLCs; feeds equipment status back to the upper layer.

FMS

AGV Fleet Management System

Plans routes, coordinates to avoid conflicts, and tracks the position, battery and charging stations of the AGV/AMR fleet.

Proven capability

What Aubot has delivered

We present our partners' figures so that project owners can judge real capability, rather than just listening to technology pitches.

Clients	Location	Period	Scope
Sumitomo Corporation	Vietnam · Philippines · Cambodia · Indonesia	2020 – 2025	185 AGV for warehouses, factories and high-traffic production lines
Being Holdings Group	Japan	2025 – 2026	75 AGVs for multi-service distribution centers

This is an Aubot project, not one built by CGD. CGD handles the construction around the equipment: structure, MEP, water supply and drainage, fire protection and floor levels.

Design constraints

Five handling-equipment figures that the site layout must accommodate

Container yards and ICDs are not designed around ordinary trucks but around the handling equipment that will operate in them. These parameters come from the manufacturer's published technical documentation for electric container forklifts, together with the consequence of each figure for the drawings.

Parameter	Typical value	Impact on design documents
Right-angle stacking aisle width	11,3 – 13,6 m	Determines the yard module and the spacing between container rows. Get it wrong and the equipment cannot turn in the yard.
Turning radius	8,0 – 11,9 m	Determines the corner radius of internal routes and the width of turning areas.
Axle load when loaded	up to ~102 tons/front axle	This is the figure that determines the pavement and yard subgrade structure; it is not an ordinary truck load.
Lifting height	1,2 – 15,1 m	Determines the clearance under overhead lines, canopies and overpasses in the yard.
Battery capacity and fast charging	535 kWh · 300 kW charging	Electric equipment changes the power supply question: the plan must include substations, cable routes and charging post locations.

This table is design input data, not an equipment sales pitch. CGD does not distribute machines — we take the specifications of the equipment the investor has selected to produce the site layout, pavement structure and power supply plan.

Digital capabilities & development roadmap

Technologies CGD uses and is developing

CGD's capability profile documents BIM/Revit experience; Digital Twin, logistics flow simulation and AI are the next development directions, chosen according to the needs and data of each project.

BIM — Building Information Modeling

The CGD competency profile documents BIM applications with Autodesk Revit, Navisworks, Civil 3D and ReCap in design, model coordination and survey data processing. The scope of handover is determined according to each project's requirements.

Architectural, structural and MEP models in a single file, with clashes detected before work starts on site
Quantity take-offs drawn directly from the model, reducing discrepancies between drawings and cost estimates
Hand over the model to the investor for further use in the operating phase

Digital Twin

NVIDIA Omniverse and Bentley iTwin platforms, working toward digital replicas of warehouses and yards for operations.

Simulate warehouse and container yard operations before construction
Monitor the facility's condition in real time once it is in operation
Platform for condition-based maintenance instead of scheduled maintenance

Cargo flow simulation

AnyLogic, FlexSim and other supply chain simulation tools to verify throughput capacity.

Test peak-load scenarios before fixing the site layout
Calculate the number of dock doors, gate lanes and yard area from actual volumes, not from average ratios
Compare layout options with data, not gut feeling

AI in design and document management

AI assistant supports document review, standards comparison and project document management.

Check cited codes and standards against the versions currently in force
Cross-check quantities between drawings, design reports and cost estimates
Quickly search the many thousands of pages of documents in a multi-year project

From design to operation

Building design and automation plans must go together

An automated warehouse does not start with choosing a robot vendor. The range of operating requirements and equipment dimensions must be known in advance to design the column grid, clear height, floor load and vehicle routes. These constraints can hardly be changed once the basic design is fixed.

How CGD works: we compare technology scenarios in parallel with the building design, reserving the right clearances, loads and provisions for future infrastructure. The investor can select the AS/RS, conveyor or autonomous vehicle supplier at a later stage, within the verified range of requirements.

The ecosystem CGD works within includes a company specializing in warehouse robots and automated storage systems, so the equipment proposal can follow straight after the basic design is approved — within the same set of documents, with no need to start over with a third party.

End-to-end digital transformation — three phases

PHASE 1

Standardization

Template libraries, layer and file naming conventions, and cross-checking procedures between disciplines. This is the least glamorous part, but it decides whether BIM works.

PHASE 2

Multi-disciplinary BIM coordination

Organize architectural, structural, MEP and infrastructure models according to project requirements; use clash detection and version control to keep documents in sync.

PHASE 3

Hand over the model for operation

The model does not stop at the acceptance date but is handed over to the investor for further use in operation, maintenance and renovation.

Frequently asked questions

Three questions investors often ask

Does CGD use BIM and Revit?

The CGD capability profile describes BIM applications in design consulting, project management and construction supervision using Autodesk Revit, Navisworks, Civil 3D and ReCap. Implementation status, level of model detail, outputs and scope of coordination must be confirmed by CGD according to the requirements and contract of each project; BIM delivery is not assumed for every project.

Why would a mid-sized consulting firm invest in Digital Twin?

Because CGD's clients are logistics companies — they read project documents through an operator's eyes. A digital twin answers the question a 2D drawing cannot: how will this facility run at peak load?

What specifically is digital transformation here?

Three layers: design tools (BIM), operational data (Digital Twin and simulation), and document management (AI-assisted standards lookup and cross-checking). No layer creates value on its own if internal processes are not standardized — so phase 1 is standardization.

LET'S TALK SPECIFICS

Do your project documents require BIM?

Send us your technical requirements and we will tell you straight which parts CGD can do right away and which need additional coordination.

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