Chapter 5 BIM

BIM software has endless applications when designing a building. Computers are at the point where nearly any aspect of a building, whether that is its performance, the environment, the efficiency, and the aesthetic are all modeled with BIM software. This allows the engineer to predetermine the flaws and fix or reduce any errors. This makes the design more reliable and preferred. This is a classic example of "Measuring twice, cut once".
With BIM multiple variations of a building can be displayed and optimized without ever having to construct anything. Before if a design was flawed, it would be noted for the next time they build something similar and now the functionality of the building is known before the construction even starts.
For this to be a possible element in the design needs to have attributes. So if you are simulating the airflow of the HVAC system you need to know the certain rating on the blower, the installation in the house, the efficiency of the windows to hold temps in, even the angle of the sun and the amount of sunlight plays a factor in some BIM models.
Since these ratings and attributes of multiple elements are all determined by different types of engineers and architects the BIM software is all multidisciplinary. This allows the electrical engineer to input the schematics of the wiring into the blueprint the architect made and the construction management to determine the materials and their ratings. This allows a balancing game between the needs of the building. So if the building wants to be a LEED-certified building the designers can keep increasing the rating of the windows and installation, for example, to get the building to that standard of LEED and then they will not have to go any higher than that to save cost.
To connect this back to AI I am sure there are already developments for BIM so that you can input the criteria for any aspect of the building and the computer will search through databases of materials and determine the cheapest, most efficient and most available options for all components of the building but that may not be for a little while longer.

Brian,
I just read an article last week about how smart devices were having the same issues where they could only be used by one platform. This is obviously slowing the growth of smart devices so Amazon, Apple and Google finally, and for the first time decided collectively to make all their smart devises a certain level of compatible. This is always good to promote the growth of technology and good to see it happening with BIMs. This will allow more engineers to have inputs and work out solutions especially is multiple types of engineers that all use different BIMs can gather all of the simulations into one system. With simulations the more data and computing power the better.

Pritesh,

It is pretty cool you got to work with some BIM systems during your coop since that is such a major part of the industry now. I will be using BIM models at my next coop and simulating where the electrical components of a building will be and modeling the lighting of rooms.

Cory
I agree with what you are saying. It is pretty obvious that any option that reduces cost prevents errors and tests Performace, as well as other applications, is a huge advantage to have. The communication is also a huge part and BIM and technology, in general, make so many ideas more clear when there are virtual reality versions of them first.