BIM, AI, ESG and 2027

Precon's focus before the emphasized PnL. Many in the Architectural profession particularly are still 'stuck' there - focusing on how to make more rather than just 'sustaining' and saving up a little for rough patches or expansion where it makes sense. If we aim to sustain, ESG(Environmental and social Governance) is as much or more of?bottom line as equally or more important than 'gains over last quarter'. Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) in stock are detrimental to the 'soul' of the Architectural process forcing focus on the wrong things. Responsible Architecture leads us to consider other aspects of waste, carbon footprint, emissions, energy consumption, LCA(Life Cycle analysis cradle to grave and recycle), ESG,and a much broader canvas of site and context for access and interaction in the economic and jobs landscape. Now, AI further complicating the landscape, as what it currently 'enhances' will be able to replace by some time in 2027. Given current acceleration of processing power, software, AI, ML and deep learning algorithms combined with advances in Robotics will soon be capable to replace virtually every job.

We can take it and use it to make the world a better place if we choose NOT to commoditize it or sell it, but protections must be put into place as bad actors abound.

No longer can Architecture afford to pass the idea of a building to a contractor to interpret, we must provide the building in is context and prove insights to it's performance and prove on the operations of the structure, those insights were correct. "Design intent" is being replaced with "design build"(D/B) all too late, and partners with contractors, subs, sand other discipline to how the building is built. This?closer coordination and increased accuracy requires a Building modeling?platform to manage that information effectively. Currently Revit is the only to we have that can for that enhanced by the interoperability provided in the cloud in ”FORMA” cityscapes and ACC (Formerly BIM 360)

This invites an entire new class of operators needed to head up the data management and grow of information, enter the BIM team. Director of BIM, BIM managers, BIM?technicians and operators each name and train the next levels and mentor the next generations and iterations of teams to train and direct to keeping projects on target.

I have shifted from traditional Architecture to implementation of tools to automate and implement Architecture.

Managing data there is a realization of the magnitude of the interactions of that information and the people needed to create it. That creation, at a cost of greater attention to detail and understanding of structure and how buildings go together, has been pressuring Architecture to resume the role of master builder for the past 15 years now, yet we continue to resist. Even the approximate 18% monetary and efficiency gains of effectively implemented BIM, time and waste savings haven't been enough to dissuade Architects from the pen and drafting board mentality(I believe those numbers can be higher with modular construction). We speak a good game of using new technologies, but when it comes down to it, we suffer relegating ourselves to making Architecture a commodity in lieu of a profession.

If we are serious about saving the world and all it entails, BIM D/B allows us tracking and managing the enhanced data and precision yielding more effective platforms utilized for more accurate carbon footprint, embodied carbon, energy analysis, environmental analysis, staging, quantity takeoff and estimating, tracking, managing, everything.?

Combining oversight of accurate measurement of the time to complete granular aspects of the project a bonus benefit of enterprise resource planning or ERP may also?be used to create accurate predictions of build types and build times, along with more accurate estimating of time to evolve from concept to construction documentation in the preconstruction phase.?

Inside a consistent, more global standardized system, projects that are created from the same basic data building blocks can be upcycled and managed as details or entire macro-components with sheets, schedules and everything for quick rebuilds of similar business lines or similar construction, all baked oh with the idiosyncrasies and tagged for use in specific municipalities, states, code sections, regions or countries.

AI Can help manage those pieces and work towards re-applying those parts and lessons learned to provide all with the places to work, live and relax more effectively than ever before, but unless we all agree to get on the same page and move forward, AI will plow the profession under as if people never existed.

'Missed the beat - lost the rhythm', and now we're going to have to run... just to catchup.