BIM AND THE ACCESSIBILITY OF THE INFORMATION

One of my preferred quote is by George Bernard Shaw: “The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place“.

I don’t know whether the Author developed such conviction attending a design coordination meeting or in a different circumstance. However, that quote well describe one of the most depressing issue that happen working in the construction industry (and probably in any industry) whatever is your role and responsibility: lack of communication.

There is another successful motto saying “there is no I in team”. Well, just remind that there is an I in BIM which stays for Information.

I had a very recent conversation with a friend and colleague of mine and my point was that among designers (architects, engineers) and in Academia the focus has mostly been on the M of BIM (Modeling) where in the industry as a whole (including Owners, Contractors, builders) the accent is more on the I (because is it here you consider costs). The Model is just a way (one of the way) to bring, to check, to coordinate the Information and control the costs.

However, we should not overestimating the importance of the Information per se. The information, although accurate, if not properly shared or buried among thousand of other information, is pretty much useless. On the other end, too much information is dangerous too, as much as information shared at the wrong time or with the wrong recipient. Most depends on habits and behaviours and, as it has been told, "Of the three key components to successfully integrating BIM, behaviours are the most difficult to change" [BIM and Construction Management:proven tools, methods, and workflows, by Brad Hardin and Dave McCool, John Wyley & Son, 2015].

Starting from a very basic level, there is a common conviction that making a drawing and dropping an email is enough to communicate. But, communication presumes that an exchange has taken place and, beside the content, the focus should be be both on the sender and the recipient, otherwise the all mechanisms falls.

The DIKW pyramid shows the relationship between Data, Information, Knowledge, and Wisdom.

In very short words: Data is the rough matter (input), Information is processed data (output), Knowledge requires communication to get eventually Wisdom, where choices are defined.

It is a process.

Information without knowledge means nothing, and you can’t make decision without knowledge.

For Russel L. Ackoff, "knowledge transform information into instruction" and wisdom, as "evaluated understanding", "is the ability to increase effectiveness" [Organizing Knowledge: An Introduction to Managing Access to Information, Jennifer Rowley; Richard Hartley (2006) - Ashgate Publishing]. All these concepts are consistent with BIM approach.

Obviously, the information must be correct, unambiguous, complete and accurate, but overlooking the way the information is transmitted, the instruction could be wrong and this, in the construction industry, happens all the time.

Moreover, the process D>I>K>W, from a BIM perspective, has to be seen not as a linear function but as reiterative process. A single piece of the mechanism would be at different stages Data or Information, part of the Knowledge process (instruction) or result of a Wise choice (evaluated understanding). A floor plan enclosed with a planning application reflects the complexity of a process and it comes at the end of it (W), but is less than rough matter (D) for the installer of a glazing system. Per se, that drawing could be correct, complete and accurate, but simply it doesn't contain useful information for who has to provide that specific service.

Having a clear understanding that the same document plays different roles along the time, and fully understanding the difference between Data and Information, is crucial for BIM and the process of knowledge (how the information is delivered and shared in form of instruction) is a matter of communication that must be part of the BIM strategy.

We are not talking about the information linked to or embedded within the model or cloud stored files as a solutions. Let’s for a moment forget about the M in BIM, and let’s thing about the accessibility of the information of standard documents like pdfs, drawings and spreadsheets and their printed copy.

Without full accessibility of these kind of documents (which are used every day on site) there may be the information (somewhere) but it will be never the knowledge.

要查看或添加评论,请登录

Carlo Bughi的更多文章

  • WHEN TRADITION MEETS TECHNOLOGY

    WHEN TRADITION MEETS TECHNOLOGY

    The New Bulgarian Orthodox Church in London If you ever find yourself near the Royal Albert Hall, take a short walk…

    5 条评论
  • 12mx12w=100K

    12mx12w=100K

    The perfect formula 12 months of design, 12 weeks of works on site, for around a 100k budget. These are the numbers…

    17 条评论
  • Designing for the XXI century

    Designing for the XXI century

    In 2021 I celebrate 20 years as Architect. Time for a balance.

    3 条评论
  • BIM unveiled: a Client's Guide

    BIM unveiled: a Client's Guide

    The advantages of BIM are not so clear to many professionals in the field so, no wonder if clients (private and…

    2 条评论
  • NOVATION vs INNOVATION

    NOVATION vs INNOVATION

    Once upon a time the architect. This is the substance of Rab Bennetts’ article on AJ last year about novation.

    1 条评论
  • BIM and efficiency of the design process

    BIM and efficiency of the design process

    01 Who does benefit from process efficiency? The introduction to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)…

  • DESIGN MANAGER ROLE AND DYSFUNCTIONAL PROCESSES

    DESIGN MANAGER ROLE AND DYSFUNCTIONAL PROCESSES

    I was told by a high-level professional manager working world-wide that, generally speaking, UK management is…

  • BIM: small practice, big deal | SUSTAINABILITY

    BIM: small practice, big deal | SUSTAINABILITY

    Since the Government decided to implement BIM in public works, architects and construction companies started taking BIM…

  • BIM, boom, Baum

    BIM, boom, Baum

    [first published in Paesaggio Urbano | Urban Design 5-6bis.2012] Building Information Modeling, Timber construction…

  • Colour and metadesign [1 of 4]

    Colour and metadesign [1 of 4]

    The human perception of colours and our appreciation of them has been well described by Josep Albers in Interaction of…

社区洞察

其他会员也浏览了