Blog 2 - BIM with Architects and Engineers

Chapter 5 of the reading talks about the advantages and disadvantages of BIM for architects an engineer. The authors break this topic into three impacts of BIM in design- conceptual design, engineering integration, and construction-level modeling. The conceptual design phase consists of the initial concepts being put into place and creating the basic framework for the completed project and where the architects are the key player. Regarding this aspect, BIM often falls short in the architect’s eyes because of the learning curve associated with it (page 205). The ability for an architect to free hand designs gives them artistic freedom, but also imagine past what is known. Past free hand, architects rely on programs such as SketchUp that are not completely integrated with BIM yet. While this freedom of expression is important, the architects mainly hold issue with the learning curve – projects in the conceptual design phase rely on the leaders, and if the leaders find difficulties in using BIM software, the phase overall can’t utilize it. As for the integration of engineering, BIM like many other programs can take an inflow of more information, such as engineering designs, and integrate them within the designs already utilized by one person. While there are many programs that can integrate, BIM integrates much easier and often better (i.e. not losing information) that what is currently used. In terms of the construction-level modeling, this phase includes detailing, specifications, and cost estimation. These parts are the key strengths of BIM and is why BIM is currently the most successful regarding this. The use of BIM is especially successful in the IPD (Integrated Project Delivery) method and the design-build method as the architects and the engineers work more closely than in the tradition (design-bid-build) method. “Building information models now have distinct objects that can be easily counted, and along with volumes and areas of materials, can be automatically computed, almost instantaneously” (page 229) This technology behind BIM allows more accurate estimations and is one of the reasons it is especially successful with cost estimation. While utilizing BIM is successful in construction-level modeling the best right now, I believe that until the architects and engineers utilize BIM more will then show the best effects BIM has.

References:

(1)   Eastman, Charles M. et al. BIM Handbook: A Guide to Building Information Modeling for Owners, Managers, Desginers, Engineers and Contractors. Second Edition. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2011. http://web.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy2.library.drexel.edu/ehost/ebookviewer/ebook/bmxlYmtfXzM2NDIzOV9fQU41?sid=b9142b55-46d8-4f4c-9144-9219418803f1@sdc-v-sessmgr06&vid=0&format=EB&rid=1

Responses:

Harvin Bhandal – your discussion of chapter 2 brings up many of the great qualities BIM has and how useful it can be. I think it’ll be very interesting in the future when another program (other than Revit) will be able to be more “powerful” and a lot user friendly – it will help expand the system overall as well as making it more user friendly for others. BIM may be used and successfully used now, but with the improvements in the coming years, it will be interesting to see what changes about the pros and cons list you provided.

Tyler Madden – you bring up great points about BIM from a contractor’s perspective, but I think some of the points you bring up at the end are the most important. BIM is a useful tool for everyone as the author points out, and while it does need a lot of improvements that are necessary before it can reach its full potential, there also needs to be improvements on the contractor side. As you said, many contractors use minimal technology and up to date software and working with contractors to improve this will not only allow them to have an easier time using BIM, but also help improve their efficiency overall.

Jenny Fretta – I haven’t thought about the benefits of BIM from an owner’s perspective before, but you bring up many interesting points. An owner’s two biggest needs are a short schedule and the cheapest option while still being reasonable – as you point out, BIM makes both of these more possible.