What I Understand Building Information Modeling (BIM) as !!

*Note: The study here dominants my understanding and my view regarding Building Information Technology (BIM), It may turn out to be *STILL DEVELOPING CONCEPT*. Your views and comment are highly open for discussion.

Understanding Domain

Building information modeling (BIM) is one of the most promising recent developments in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. With BIM technology, an accurate virtual model of a building is digitally constructed. This model, known as a building information model, can be used for the planning, design, construction, and operation of the facility. It helps architects, engineers, and constructors visualize what is to be built in a simulated environment to identify any potential design, construction, or operational issues. BIM represents a new paradigm within AEC, one that encourages the integration of the roles of all stakeholders on a project. In this paper, current trends, benefits, possible risks, and future challenges of BIM for the AEC industry are discussed. The findings of this study provide useful information for AEC industry practitioners considering implementing BIM technology in their projects.

The architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry have long sought techniques to decrease project cost, prolificacy, and quality, and reduce project delivery time. BIM simulates the construction project in a virtual environment. With BIM technology, an accurate virtual model of a building, known as a building information model, is digitally constructed. When completed, the building information model contains precise geometry and relevant data needed to support the design, procurement, fabrication, and construction activities required to realize the building and construction Platforms. After completion, this model can be used for operations and maintenance purposes. A building information model characterizes the geometry, spatial relationships, geographic information, quantities and properties of building elements, cost estimates, material inventories, and project schedule. The model can be used to demonstrate the entire building life cycle and each phase of analytical stages. As a result, quantities and shared properties of materials can be readily extracted. Scopes of work can be easily isolated and defined. Systems, assemblies, and sequences can be shown on a relative scale within the entire facility or group of facilities. Construction documents such as drawings, procurement details, submittal processes, and other specifications can be easily interrelated.

BIM can be viewed as a virtual process that encompasses all aspects, disciplines, and systems of a facility within a single, virtual model, allowing all design team members (owners, architects, engineers, contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers) to collaborate more accurately and efficiently than using traditional processes. As the model is being created, team members are constantly refining and adjusting their portions according to project specifications and design changes to ensure the model is as accurate as possible before the project physically breaks ground.

It is important to note that BIM is not just software; it is a process and software. BIM means not only using three-dimensional intelligent models but also making significant changes in the workflow and project delivery processes. BIM represents a new paradigm within AEC, one that encourages the integration of the roles of all stakeholders on a project. It has the potential to promote greater efficiency and harmony among players who, in the past, saw themselves as adversaries. BIM also supports the concept of integrated project delivery, which is a novel project delivery approach to integrate people, systems, and business structures and practices into a collaborative process to reduce waste and optimize efficiency through all phases of the project life cycle.

Applications of Building Information Modeling

A building information model can be used for the following purposes:

? Visualization: 3D renderings can be easily generated in-house with little additional effort.

? Fabrication/shop drawings: It is easy to generate shop drawings for various building systems. For example, the sheet metal ductwork shop drawings can be quickly produced once the model is complete.

? Code reviews: Fire departments and other officials may use these models for their review of building projects.

? Cost estimating: BIM software has built-in cost estimating features. Material quantities are automatically extracted and updated when any changes are made in the model.

? Construction sequencing: A building information model can be effectively used to coordinate material ordering, fabrication, and delivery schedules for all building components.

? Conflict, interference, and collision detection: Because building information models are created to scale in 3D space, all major systems can be instantly and automatically checked for interferences. For example, this process can verify that piping does not intersect with steel beams, ducts, or walls.

? Forensic analysis: A building information model can be easily adapted to graphically illustrate potential failures, leaks, evacuation plans, and so forth.

? Facilities management: Facilities management departments can use it for renovations, space planning, and maintenance operations.

The key benefit of a building information model is its accurate geometrical representation of the parts of a building in an integrated data environment. Other related benefits are as follows:

? Faster and more effective processes: Information is more easily shared and can be value-added and reused.

? Better design: Building proposals can be rigorously analyzed, simulations performed quickly, and performance benchmarked, enabling improved and innovative solutions.

? Controlled whole-life costs and environmental data: Environmental performance is more predictable, and lifecycle costs are better understood.

? Better production quality: Documentation output is flexible and exploits automation.

? Automated assembly: Digital product data can be exploited in downstream processes and used for manufacturing and assembly of structural systems.

? Better customer service: Proposals are better understood through accurate visualization.

? Lifecycle data: Requirements, design, construction, and operational information can be used in facilities management.

After gathering data on 32 major projects, Stanford University’s Center for Integrated Facilities Engineering reported the following benefits of BIM (Well currently I do not have a link but will update soon):

? Up to 40% elimination of unbudgeted change,

? Cost estimation accuracy within 3% as compared to traditional estimates,

? Up to 80% reduction in time taken to generate a cost estimate,

? A savings of up to 10% of the contract value through clash detections, and

? Up to 7% reduction in project time.

Role of BIM in the AEC Industry (This piece of information may be open-ended I understood this role from others and tried to pen here): 

Current and Future Trends

In this section, the role of BIM in the AEC industry and its current and future trends are discussed based on the results of two questionnaire surveys. McGraw-Hill Construction published a comprehensive market report of BIM’s use in the AEC industry in 2008 and projections for 2009 based on the findings of a questionnaire survey completed by 82 architects, 101 engineers, 80 contractors, and 39 owners (total sample size of 302) in the United States. Some of the key findings are as follows:

? Architects were the heaviest users of BIM—43% used it on more than 60% of their projects—while contractors were the lightest users, with nearly half (45%) using it on less than 15% of projects and only a quarter (23%) using it on more than 60% of projects.

? Eighty-two percent of BIM users believed that BIM had a very positive impact on their company’s productivity.

? Seventy-nine percent of BIM users indicated that the use of BIM improved project outcomes, such as fewer requests for information (RFIs) and decreased field coordination problems.

? Sixty-six percent of those surveyed believed the use of BIM increased their chances of winning projects.

? Two-third of users mentioned that BIM had at least a moderate impact on their external project practices.

? Sixty-two percent of BIM users planned to use it on more than 30% of their projects in 2009.

The report predicted that the prefabrication capabilities of BIM would be widely used to reduce costs and improve the quality of work put in place. As a whole, BIM adoption was expected to expand within firms and across the AEC industry. 

Another Body named Kunz and Gilligan conducted a questionnaire survey to determine the value of BIM use and factors that contribute to success. The main findings of their study are as follows:

? The use of BIM had significantly increased across all phases of design and construction during the past year.

? BIM users represented all segments of the design and construction industry, and they operated throughout the United States.

? The major application areas of BIM were construction document development, conceptual design support, and pre-project planning services.

? The use of BIM lowered overall risk distributed with a similar contract structure.

? At the time of the survey, most companies used BIM for 3D and 4D clash detections and planning and visualization services.

? The use of BIM led to increased productivity, better engagement of project staff, and reduced contingencies.

? A shortage was noted of competent building information modelers in the construction industry, and demand was expected to grow exponentially with time.

The results of these surveys indicate that the AEC industry still relies very much on traditional drawings and practices for conducting its business. At the same time, AEC professionals are realizing the power of BIM for more efficient and intelligent modeling. Most of the companies using BIM reported in strong favor of this technology. The survey findings indicate that users want a BIM application that not only leverages the powerful documentation and visualization capabilities of a CAD platform but also supports multiple design and management operations. BIM as a technology is still in its formative stage, and solutions in the market are continuing to evolve as they respond to users’ specific needs.

BIM Benefits: A classic Case Studies

Savannah State University, Savannah, Georgia

This case study illustrates the use of BIM at the project planning phase to perform options analysis (value analysis) for selecting the most economical and workable building layout. The project details are as follows:

? Project: Higher education facility, Savannah State University, Savannah, Georgia

? Cost: $12 million

? Delivery method: CM at-risk, guaranteed maximum price

? BIM scope: Planning, value analysis

? BIM cost to the project: $5,000

? Cost-benefit: $1,995,000

For this project, the GC coordinated with the architect and the owner at the predesign phase to prepare building information models of three different design options. For each option, the BIM-based cost estimates were also prepared using three different cost scenarios (budgeted, midrange, and high range). The owner was able to walk through all the virtual models to decide the best option that fit his requirements. Several collaborative 3D viewing sessions were arranged for this purpose. These collaborative viewing sessions also improved communications and trust between stakeholders and enabled rapid decision-making early in the process. The entire process took 2 weeks, and the owner achieved roughly $1,995,000 cost savings at the predesign stage by selecting the most economical design option. Although it could be argued that the owner may have reached the same conclusion using traditional drawings, the use of BIM technology helped him make a quick, definitive, and well-informed decision.

BIM Future Challenges

The productivity and economic benefits of BIM to the AEC industry are widely acknowledged and increasingly well understood. Further, the technology to implement BIM is readily available and rapidly maturing. Yet BIM adoption has been much slower than anticipated. There are two main reasons, technical and managerial.

The technical reasons can be broadly classified into three categories :

1. The need for well-defined transactional construction process models to eliminate data interoperability issues,

2. The requirement that digital design data be computable, and

3. The need for well-developed practical strategies for the purposeful exchange and integration of meaningful information among the building information model components.

The management issues cluster around the implementation and use of BIM. Right now, there is no clear consensus on how to implement or use BIM. Unlike many other construction practices, there is no single BIM document providing instruction on its application and use. Furthermore, little progress has been made in establishing model BIM contract documents. Several software firms are cashing in on the “buzz” of BIM and have programs to address certain quantitative aspects of it, but they do not treat the process as a whole. There is a need to standardize the BIM process and to define guidelines for its implementation. Another contentious issue among the AEC industry stakeholders (i.e., owners, designers, and constructors) is who should develop and operate the building information models and how the developmental and operational costs should be distributed.

To optimize BIM performance, either companies or vendors, or both, will have to find a way to lessen the learning curve of BIM trainees. Software vendors have a larger hurdle of producing a quality product that customers will find reliable and manageable and that will meet the expectations set by the advertisements. Additionally, the industry will have to develop acceptable processes and policies that promote BIM use and govern today’s issues of ownership and risk management.

Researchers and practitioners have to develop suitable solutions to overcome these challenges and other associated risks. As several researchers, practitioners, software vendors, and professional organizations are working hard to resolve these challenges, it is expected that the use of BIM will continue to increase in the AEC industry.

In the past, facilities managers have been included in the building planning process in a very limited way, implementing maintenance strategies based on the as-built condition at the time the owner takes possession. In the future, BIM modeling may allow facilities managers to enter the picture at a much earlier stage, in which they can influence the design and construction. The visual nature of BIM allows all stakeholders to get important information, including tenants, service agents, and maintenance personnel before the building is completed. Finding the right time to include these people will undoubtedly be a challenge for owners.

The Indian Scenario:

It has now been seen as a place where the working labor is comparatively cheap, efficient, good grasping scale. It's often seen in the firms of India that the projects are been outsourced by other countries. Just like Singapore, Dubai, Uk they tend to share contract to the Indian firm which is responsible for the deliverables. Countries like the UK and many more have started using BIM and have made in mandate in their construction industries.

On the other hand, there are huge companies that have actually started working in BIM. In fact, executed many in the past using BIM. they did observe and replicate the ease of using BIM and are now getting more inclined. Architects, Civil Engineers are getting inclined towards the new thing to make a great foundation for future Construction Industries. 

So, due to the adoption of BIM in other countries, it seems that initial learning can be great on those lands and it may take around 8-10Years for India to get fully equipped with BIM. This still remains a major reason for Abroad studies for the Indian student pinned to the same field. 

Thus,

My Conclusions are based on the knowledge I have about Building Information Modeling.

Building information modeling is emerging as an innovative way to virtually design and manage projects. Predictability of building performance and operation is greatly improved by adopting BIM. As the use of BIM accelerates, collaboration within project teams should increase, which will lead to improved profitability, reduced costs, better time management, and improved customer-client relationships. As shown in this paper, the average BIM ROI for projects understudy was 634%, which depicts its potential economic benefits. At the same time, teams implementing BIM should be very careful about the legal pitfalls, which include data ownership and associated proprietary issues and risk-sharing. Such issues must be addressed upfront in the contract documents.

BIM represents a new paradigm within AEC, one that encourages the integration of the roles of all stakeholders on a project. This integration has the potential to bring about greater efficiency and harmony among players who all too often in the past saw themselves as adversaries. As in most paradigm shifts, undoubtedly there will be risks. Perhaps one of the greatest risks is the potential elimination of an important check and balance mechanism inherent in the current paradigm. An adversarial stance often brings a more critical review of the project in a kind of mutual guarding of each participant’s interests. In the early stages of BIM, constructors worked from architectural plans since digital models were not shared by architects to contractors. The construction modelers inevitably discovered errors and inconsistencies in the plans as they created the building information models. This brought about a natural redundancy as the construction model put the design to this virtual building test. With a more trustful sharing of architectural drawings, which can easily be imported and serve as the basis for the building information model, there may be a loss of this critical checking phase. In other words, when all players see themselves as being on the same team, they may cease to look for and find mistakes in each other’s work. In the past, a lack of critical review has been at least one of the component ingredients of building failure.

The future of BIM is both exciting and challenging. It is hoped that the increasing use of BIM will enhance collaboration and reduce fragmentation in the AEC industry and eventually lead to improved performance and reduced project costs.