Building Integrated Modeling (BIM) has had a dramatic impact on the way buildings are designed from concept to construction. Using BIM, designers are more capable of considering every aspect of a building holistically, instead of trying to imagine how three-dimensional systems will interact, using only two-dimensional space to design in. The utilization of BIM leads designers to consider architectural, structural, MEP (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing), and constructability of a building, which allows architects and engineers to catch design flaws before they become a major issue for the project.
The utilization BIM creates a centralized model system where separate engineering disciplines can work in the same model, and see issues that arise from other design considerations. By the engineering disciplines having more communication in the early phases of project design, this can avoid potentially costly, and time-wasting problems that could arise later in the design or construction phases of a project. BIM supports engineering integration by creating a "workbench integration" of tools used interdisciplinarily, for architects, engineers, CMs, and subcontractors to all have access to.
Depending on the project's contract, the design process can look very different from project to project. In a "standard" design-bid-build contract procurement, the architect, engineer, and construction manager may work very little with each other and take a few considerations for the difficulties across disciplines. However, BIM can really lend itself to newer types of contract procurement such as design-build or integrated project delivery (IPD) method, where the disciplines all work more closely together. These are especially useful when through the same models, an architect or engineer can take a concept model, and through considerable development of specifications and details, form a working construction model. Having all necessary information in a centralized model can limit the confusion of which documents are the correct draft to build from. Utilizing BIM through the construction phase also can specify specific workflows depending on the building type and any considerations needed for a specific project.
As with any major technology shift in any industry, the hardest part of implementing BIM for architects and engineers is the industry-wide adoption. This crucial step is hypothetically easy, but much more difficult in actuality. The technology for BIM can be out there, but if architects and engineers aren't ready to learn and implement the software to its fullest potential, it will be implausible to see that the benefits possible for this industry.
Source:
Eastman, Chuck, et al. BIM Handbook: A Guide to Building Information Modeling for Owners, Designers, Engineers, Contractors, and Facility Managers, John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated, 2018. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/drexel-ebooks/detail.action?docID=5447327.
Comments:
Comments:
Amanda,
I liked your insights on the role of Facilities Management using BIM to track their projects and manage costs of building maintenance. BIM seems like such a good tool for owner and Facilities Managers to use in the maintenance of their buildings, especially as the life expectancy of buildings extend as well. I think what would be most beneficial for owners and FMs is if there was an easy way to make models for buildings that already exist, with all the details and specifications of new buildings, so that larger companies with many buildings could manage all of the buildings on the same platform.
I liked your insights on the role of Facilities Management using BIM to track their projects and manage costs of building maintenance. BIM seems like such a good tool for owner and Facilities Managers to use in the maintenance of their buildings, especially as the life expectancy of buildings extend as well. I think what would be most beneficial for owners and FMs is if there was an easy way to make models for buildings that already exist, with all the details and specifications of new buildings, so that larger companies with many buildings could manage all of the buildings on the same platform.
Ina,
I believe that the concept of interoperability is what will continue to help the integration of BIM systems to older buildings that have were built before BIM was a technology. For instance, I work at a hospital, and all of our buildings that predate 2015 do not have any Revit models associated with them because it was before that technology was really popular. But if we could take the CAD files and translate them to Revit retroactively, it would be a lot easier than having to redraw the entire building from scratch in Revit.
Spencer,
I really like your section on the history of modeling because I think it is important to understand where we have come from in order to appreciate what we have now. I think that having perspective for when we are frustrated that software isn't working the way we expect it to, or if we are having trouble modeling a certain thing using it, that these are technologies that didn't exist 50 years ago. The development of these softwares are always evolving and I'm sure that as our professional careers progress, we will see all sorts of changes that we cannot even imagine now.
I really like your section on the history of modeling because I think it is important to understand where we have come from in order to appreciate what we have now. I think that having perspective for when we are frustrated that software isn't working the way we expect it to, or if we are having trouble modeling a certain thing using it, that these are technologies that didn't exist 50 years ago. The development of these softwares are always evolving and I'm sure that as our professional careers progress, we will see all sorts of changes that we cannot even imagine now.
