Chapter 6 BIM in the Construction Industry (Borrelli)

Chapter 6 BIM in the construction industry

Robert Borrelli

B2

BIM modeling is an incredibly helpful tool that can save both time and money on a construction project. One important benefit of having everyone on a project contribute to the BIM model would be to avoid any clashing. Without a modeling tool like BIM, many clashes are not detected until the build process has already begun. Reworking clashes this late can cause serious time and cost issues.

Another major advantage to BIM would be the ability to create a more accurate cost analysis. A computer-generated design helps a contractor know exactly how much material is going to be needed to complete a project, which makes it easier to calculate the correct cost for the material. Having an accurate 3D model isn’t the only benefit to BIM, however. The program is also capable of analyzing performance levels of different components on the build. This could include knowing the structural loads that will be exerted and even the heating and cooling loads for HVAC systems. Data like this can improve structural stability and give an insight into the type of components that need to be used to fulfill the needs of the building.

Another helpful tool that BIM has is the ability to list the specifications of every single component that is planned to be included in the building. This becomes especially important when working with electrical equipment. Certain electronics can only be powered in a certain voltage and current range, so it is extremely important to know the specifications of all electronics to ensure proper functionality.

BIM is also an incredibly powerful tool to track the process of a project. Status of completion and scheduling can be assigned to each component to create a visual representation of what is done and what still needs to be done. Another advantage to computer generated model design as opposed to sketching a design is the fact that different elements of the project can be placed in layers. This allows a contractor or designer to get visuals of only the layers they want while hiding unnecessary layers. This can be helpful when modeling temporary structures that are only there for the construction of the project such as scaffolding. The ability to hide and show different layers on a project gives the user a greater ability to understand and present the parts of a project that are important to them.

Sources:

[1] Sacks, Rafael. BIM Handbook: A Guide to Building Information Modeling for Owners, Designers, Engineers, Contractors, and Facility Managers. Wiley, 2018.

Andy Kuriatnikov:

I completely agree that using BIM to store data about components is a very crucial step to make the job easier for many workers down the road. Having arrays of data saves both time and money throughout all the steps of the construction process.

Hailey Ihlow:

It may be very easy for people to think that BIM is simply the solution for everything in this field, but as you said, there are still some specified areas where BIM falls short. While it may be great to try and code a solution that works in BIM, many companies do not have the money or expertise to create a solution.

Nana Lin Rasmussen:

Interoperability is extremely important in any field considering there is never just one solution that will work in all scenarios. I agree that increasing interoperability is going to be a massive part of the future of Architectural Engineering.