Building Information Modeling (BIM)

In addition to the proven time and cost efficiencies, there are a plethora of other benefits that BIM delivers. Building information modeling is widely adopted across the construction industry, and more specifically for development of retail facilities and commercial properties. With BIM for retail design and development, developers get help during tender and bidding stages.

It is interesting how point cloud models of various buildings, sections of buildings and landscapes can be easily obtained by using sophisticated laser scanners. However, these point clouds cannot be used right away for Revit family creation or BIM. Expert intervention is always required in order to convert these point cloud models into surface models that can be used for BIM.

You must have heard this often, that 4D BIM construction management is the best when implemented during the construction planning and design phase. However, what if you have not implemented it during this stage? Is it still helpful?

The job of a quantity surveyor is integral to the construction project. A quantity surveyor is partly a legal expert, partly an engineer and partly an architect. The demand for quantity surveyors is on rise in the Middle East. BIM adoption is gaining immense traction for large projects in UAE, and quantity surveyors are also increasingly depending on BIM. The reason why BIM for quantity surveyors is so popular is because, it makes quantity surveyors job efficient.

The use of BIM has grown exponentially in the construction industry for the past few years. Most of the developers and construction firms have adopted BIM, and those who have not, are definitely contemplating its adoption.

Building information modeling extends a collaborative approach where everyone involved in a construction project can enjoy the benefits. Now clearly, BIM offers benefits for architects, engineers, property owners and contractors, however can it help surveyors derive substantial benefits?

Building Information Modelling (BIM) can be defined as a set of structured information that associates with corresponding geometry. Using BIM building construction details and project information can be accessed in a highly visual format.

The present scenario in the construction industry is such that, every professional and every expert has to embrace the new working methods that have evolved due to industry wide digital revolution. It may be BIM 3D modeling, or 4D BIM for construction scheduling, and further adoption of constructible models for cost estimation, sustainably, lean construction up to 7D BIM for facility management.

BIM is touted as the future of construction and companies are blindly following the trend of BIM adoption and implementation. However, BIM adoption is not as easy as it sounds, and not strategizing BIM adoption can lead to projects going downhill. There can be several initial drawbacks when you make this switch, and dealing with these initial glitches with head firmly placed on the shoulders is important.

The first thing an architect or an engineer requests for, when contracting renovation or refurbishment projects for existing structures is - the design detailing and record drawings of the building. However in most of the cases these drawings do not exist.

Structural engineers might have often heard of the saying that ‘earthquakes do not kill people, buildings do’. It is so true, and we have learnt this the hard way. Recently Nepal experienced one of the worst earthquakes. Buildings got razed from the face of earth and there were several casualties reported. While we cannot prevent earthquakes, it is definitely possible to ensure that the damage caused due to this natural disaster is minimal. This is possible via earthquake resistant buildings and cities.

BIM has reached a plateau of popularity and is here to stay. Today, professionals across the AEC industry are vying to implement BIM for higher collaboration, better design visualization and higher levels of project management. If you surf through construction magazines or popular building design and development websites, you will observe that building information modeling is the trending topic across all these platforms.

Revit Autodesk, is building design software that is specifically built for building information modelling (BIM). It includes features for architectural, mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) and structural engineering disciplines. Revit is not facility management software - however it provides several tools that allow users (facility managers) to explore, track and manage facility information. These tools support facility managers in their use of BIM to analyse spatial information, track inventories, perform cost analysis and so on.

Why did this technology, so popularly known as 3D laser survey, for infrastructure, landscapes and buildings germinate, and why did it become so popular across the AEC industry. The primary reason here is because the popularity of using BIM for ‘as built structures’ increased.

The benefits of BIM across a construction project’s lifecycle and across the operational stages post occupancy, have led to the world-wide adoption and popularity of virtual design and construction technology. Moreover the adoption and implementation of BIM has also been propelled by various government mandates that promote the use of BIM for large scale projects, skyscrapers, and infrastructural development projects and government buildings. Now, it is time for construction product manufacturers to embrace 3D BIM modelling and take that giant leap.

Building and construction industry has been passing through an evolutionary phase – There are countless technologies that are entering into the arena; in fact, most of them have been instrumental in changing face of the industry. Of these numerous technologies, Building Information Modeling or BIM has proved to be ‘the game-changer’ in all sense. This process of creating a digital prototype of a building has improved the flow of data through the building process, and, therefore, ensure extreme efficiencies.

If ancient architects and engineers would have had BIM or Building information modeling at their disposal; leaning tower of Pisa would look as in the image below. In fact, the world would have been deprived of a marvelous architectural wonder!

The development of a city is defined by the kind of buildings and infrastructure it has. Now these buildings and infrastructural facilities have to be designed based on the geographical, social and climatic conditions of the place they are built in. One of the most important aspects of building design includes development of structures that are safe, functional and restorable.

If you think of Building Information Modeling and all you probably know about it is 3D visualizations, then you know only a part of the story. And this might precisely be the reason why you have not yet adopted BIM for construction projects.

An MEP design team faces several challenges during the design phase. What are these challenges? Can these challenges be overcome with BIM intervention? Integrating MEP model with the construction and operation of a building is a major challenge. Some of the important points that need consideration for MEP BIM integration include – Space allocation during design phase, fulfilling spatial requirements for MEP systems and individual equipment etc.

However, NBS (they are closely monitoring the BIM growth rate for the past five years) annual BIM survey furnishes rather surprising results.The survey reveals that adoption rates have fallen from 54% (last year) to 48% (this year). Is this really a sign that BIM has lost its luster? Or is the industry experiencing the late majority phenomenon, where everyone is waiting for early adopters to set the stage?

Often, lack of the up-to-date information or having the wrong materials is the reason why construction projects fail to deliver what they promise. Having access to BIM Coordination & Fabrication 5D Cost Estimation can help you optimize your projects, gain control over the work flows and drives your project towards success. So how can this happen? The answer is BIM.

Buildings are the primary energy guzzlers and account for nearly 40% of energy consumption globally. However, the scenario will soon change, as there is growing awareness of sustainability amongst the architects, engineers, developers, owners and the AEC industry in general.

Essentially everyone, i.e. every firm involved in the business of construction should use BIM – whether big or small. Big firms have bigger projects; they also have more money to invest into latest technology and means of construction, so that they can survive and succeed in the international market place. However smaller firms are still skeptical about investing in BIM.

Architects and Engineers are, nowadays, looking forward to use BIM for designing, constructing and commissioning buildings that leave minimum environmental impact; it can be in form of energy efficient building design, or ‘a facility with reduced carbon emissions or a building that makes effective use of local materials.