Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a new approach to design, construction, and facility management in which a digital representation of the building process is used to facilitate the exchange and interoperability of information in digital format. BIM is beginning to change the way buildings look, the way they function, and the ways in which they are designed and built. BIM can avoid the damage caused by many variances between specifications and drawings and also between pages of a set of drawings
Building information modeling covers geometry, spatial relationships, light analysis, geographic information, quantities and properties of building components (for example manufacturers’ details). BIM can be used to demonstrate the entire building life cycle, including the processes of construction and facility operation. Quantities and shared properties of materials can be extracted easily. Scopes of work can be isolated and defined. Systems, assemblies and sequences can be shown in a relative scale with the entire facility or group of facilities. Which specification is the most economical over the building’s life cycle?
BIM goes far beyond switching to a new software. It requires changes to the definition of traditional architectural phases and more data sharing than most architects and engineers are used to.
BIM is able to achieve such improvements by modeling representations of the actual parts and pieces being used to build a building. This is a substantial shift from the traditional computer aided drafting method of drawing with vector file-based lines that combine to represent objects.
The interoperability requirements of construction documents include the drawings, procurement details, environmental conditions, submittal processes and other specifications for building quality. It is anticipated by proponents that BIM can be utilized to bridge the information loss associated with handing a project from design team, to construction team and to building owner/operator, by allowing each group to add to and reference back to all information they acquire during their period of contribution to the BIM model. For example, a building owner may find evidence of a leak in his building. Rather than exploring the physical building, he may turn to his BIM and see that a water valve is located in the suspect location. He could also have in the model the specific valve size, manufacturer, part number, and any other information ever researched in the past, pending adequate computing power.
Definitions of Interoperability
Interoperability is viewed with both a narrow and broad perspective by the construction industry. From a purely technology-based view, interoperability is the ability to manage and communicate electronic product and project data among collaborating firms.
However, many build team members also see interoperability at a cultural level. Beyond the technology, interoperability is often defined as the ability to implement and manage collaborative relationships among members of cross-disciplinary build teams that enables integrated project execution.
These perspectives are interrelated and can be symbiotic. Interoperability of technology enables efficiency at a practice level. If all members of a build team can freely exchange data across different applications and platforms, every member of the team can better integrate the project delivery. Many firms are already moving toward more collaborative teams, especially with the expanded use of design-assist and design-build on projects. As teams become more integrated, they are increasingly demanding technology solutions that benefit those relationships.
Definitions of BIM
Like interoperability, Building Information Modeling (BIM) can be defined from both a technology and process point of view. The National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) in its National BIM Standard defines BIM as “a digital representation of physical and functional characteristics of a facility. As such it serves as a shared knowledge resource for information about a facility forming a reliable basis for decisions during its lifecycle from inception onward.” This database contains the physical and function- al characteristics of a structure composed of intelligent objects rather than lines, arcs, and text. BIM can render multiple views of data including 2D drawings, lists, text, 3D images, animation, as well as elements of time/scheduling (4D) and cost (5D).
As noted above, BIM is also a way to share data throughout the entire lifecycle of the structure. This data can include the initial design data; geospatial information; financial and legal data; mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) layout; building product specifications, environmental and energy modeling results; and other information that can be used collaboratively by architect, engineer, contractor, and owner (AEC/O) professionals during the project life cycle and by facilities managers after the project is completed.
BIM and Interoperability
Factors Influencing the Use of BIM
Interoperability issues are gaining attention with increased use of BIM. In addition to using BIM to create 3D design, these models are a rich database of the physical and functional characteristics of a facility. In order to optimize the use of BIM, it is critical that much of this BIM data be shared between build team members. As a result, interoperability of
68% Less Time Drafting More Time Designing
49% of Owners Demanding It On Their Projects
technology is an important factor. Re-entering data from a BIM into another application or platform used by the build team creates wasteful and costly duplication
BIM’s Ability to Improve Communication with Clients/Others in Design and Construction Process
Parametric
Modification of Designs With BIM
Opportunity to Reduce Construction Costs
Improved Interoperability
Reduced Number/Need for Information Requests
Improved Document Version Control
Improved Budgeting/Cost
Opportunity to Reduce Construction Time
Clash Detection Capabilities of BIM Tools
Reducing Insurance Claim
Because of BIM
Improved Scheduling Capabilities with BIM Tools
Compliance Code Checking
Safer Worksites Because of BIM
BIM is a digital representation of physical and functional characteristics of a facility. As such, it serves as a shared knowledge resource for information about a facility, forming a reliable basis for decisions during its life- cycle from inception onward.
A basic premise of BIM is collaboration by different stakeholders at different phases of the life cycle of a facility to insert, extract, update or modify information in the BIM to support and reflect the roles of that stakeholder. The BIM is a shared digital representation founded on open standards for interoperability.
The U.S. National BIM Standard promotes the business requirement that this model be interoperable based on open standards.Integrated Practice/Integrated Project Delivery (IP/IPD) leverages early contributions of knowledge and expertise through the utilization of new technologies, allowing all team members to better realize their highest potentials while expanding the value they provide throughout the project life cycle.
Through an integrated project delivery method, owners, designers, and builders can move toward unified models and improved design, construction, and operations processes.
Productivity
Productivity levels within the construction industry have been a source of intense debate in recent years. As construction values have risen to record–high levels, productivity within the industry has come under scrutiny. Paul Teicholz, Ph.D., of Stanford University suggests that while overall industrial productivity has significantly increased in the United States, construction industry productivity is on the decline. Teicholtz claims that while total non-farm productivity more than doubled between 1964 and 2004, construction productivity dropped by nearly 20% during that time.
Impact of Interoperability on Productivity
Associated with concerns about productivity, owners and industry groups are troubled by the level of waste resulting from a lack of interoperability. The industry generally perceives lack of interoperability as an impediment to improving productivity.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST, www.nist.org) set off alarms about the issue in 2004, estimating that lack of interoperability costs the U.S. capital facilities market—including commercial, institutional and industrial—facilities $15.6 billion per year. On a global basis, that would equal more than $60 billion. The study estimated that between 0.86% and 1.24% of construction spending is directly related to inadequate interoperability. Owners bore nearly two-thirds of those costs.
The industry perceives that the problem is much greater than the NIST study suggests. On average, build team members surveyed for this report estimate that about 3% of project costs are related to software non-interoperability. Within today’s $1.2 trillion U.S. construction market, which represents all construction sectors, such an estimate would equate to $36 billion in annual waste. In the $4.6 trillion global market, that would extrapolate to $138 billion.
Key Players There are several key players who generate large amounts of data that need to be shared among build team members during a project’s lifecycle. Within the dynamic, continual exchange of information on a typical project, one team member’s data will often affect the work of the entire team, requiring constant updating of facts, figures and analyses.
Architects
■ Generated at a related to the physical and functional characteristics of a facility’s design.
■ Plans and drawings are often updated throughout the project lifecycle, reflecting changes in budget, schedule and design elements.
■ Nine out ten often share high to moderate levels of data. ■ See software incompatibility as the biggest obstacle
to data sharing.
■ Estimate that lack of interoperability contributes3.3% to project costs.
Engineers
■ Generate data related to the design of a facility’s systems and analysis of its characteristics.
■ Data from analysis can often lead to changes in design, affecting schedule and budgets.
■ Data from building systems, such as mechanical,electrical and plumbing, are used to detect potential spatial interferences between systems that could lead to costly change orders.
■ Three-quarters share high to moderate levels of data. ■ See software incompatibility as the biggest obstacle
to data sharing.
■ Estimate that lack of interoperability contributes 3.6% to project costs.
Contractors
■ Generate data related to scheduling,building product quantities, cost estimating and project management.
■ Establish and update schedules and costs information that can affect the design of a project.
■ Three-quarters share high to moderate levels of data. ■ See software incompatibility as the biggest
obstacle to data sharing.
■ Estimate that lack of interoperability contributes 2.9% to project costs.
Owners
■ Need regularly updated data about budgets and schedules as it is adjusted throughout the project lifecycle.
■ Require data related to operations and maintenance of a facility for use after a project is completed.
■ Seven out of ten share high to moderate levels of data. ■ See software incompatibility as the biggest obstacle
to data sharing.
■ Estimate that lack of interoperability contributes 2.5% to project costs.
Building Product Manufacturers
■ Generate data related to building products such as dimensions, weight, appearance, cost, warrantees and future maintenance.
■ Data affects costs and design.
Practice
In response to increasing owner demand, architects, engineers, construction managers, contractors, and specialty disciplines are forming strategic alliances and working in new and innovative ways. For articles and other resources relating to changes necessary in practice and business culture that support Integrated Practice go to the IPD Practice page.
Technology / BIM
Integrated project delivery brings into play new technologies, especially those bridging across building design, construction, and operations boundaries. The use of integrated project delivery and Building Information Modeling (BIM) will advance integration of the design and construction processes, allowing greater predictability of project outcomes.
Key Players There are several key players who generate large amounts of data that need to be shared among build team members during a project’s lifecycle. Within the dynamic, continual exchange of information on a typical project, one team member’s data will often affect the work of the entire team, requiring constant updating of facts, figures and analyses.
The American Institutes of he Architects (AIA) has proposed a contract for developments that design and build with the use of 3 3D models.
The Associated General Contractors (AGC) has proposed a different contract for projects using 3 D models. Many other building industry groups are advocating the AGC version.
The General Services Administration (GSA) is in charge of developing and managing Federal buildings has their own version.
Building Information modeling (BIM) is an emerging approach to the design,analysis, and documentation of buildings. BIM is the management of information throughout the entire life cycle of the design process, from early conceptual sketches through construction administration, and even into facility management. Information includes all the inputs that are used in a building design: number of doors and windows, cost of materials, the size of heating and cooling equipment, the total energy footprint of this building, et. al. This information is captured in a digital 3D model that is shown as coordinated documents, is shared across disciplines, and serves as design management tool. The BIM method will radically change the way buildings are designed and built. The expectation of a building is changing. We are shifting from 2D drawings to on demand simulations of building performance, usage and cost. I have always felt that “value engineering” means “less for less”. With BIM we are able to check the life cycle cost of almost material that is called for in the design. This cross discipline means models can be sent directly to fabrication at the outset of design \, by passing the need for traditional shop drawings. Energy analysis can be done at the outset of design, and most critically, construction costs become much more predictable.
BIM has changed how designers and contractors view the entire development process. With BIM. a parametric 3D model is used to generate traditional building abstractions such as plans, sections, elevations, details, and schedules. These are interactive representations. Working in a model-based framework guarantees that a change in one view will cause changes in all other views of the model.
3D models improve understanding of the building, and its spaces. A variety of design options can be shown to the owner and other members of the development team.
The key difference between BIM and computer-aided designCAD) is that traditional CAD systems use many 2D documents to explain a building. Because these documents are created separately, there is no correlation or intelligent connection among them. A wall in plan view is represented with two parallel lines with no understanding that these lines represent the same wall in a section. The probability of uncoordinated data is very high. The BIM model is a centralized database model, it puts all the data in one location and then cross links that data among the different objects. This model is interdependent and shares intelligence.
If a change is made in a CAD set of drawings, the designer must change each page. The BIM manages the changes for you.
In 2D drawings you draw two lines to represent a wall. In BIM, to draw a wall you use the interactive tool called Wall. This wall tool asks for width, height, bearing or non-bearing, demolish or new, interior or exterior, fire rating, and materials.The wall interacts with other walls to automatically join geometries and clean up connections, showing how the wall will be built. Similarly, if you add a door to his wall, it more than four lines and an arc, it is a door in plan and elevation. A single flush door can be 32″, 34″, or 36″, It can be painted or solid wood. All of these sizes and colors can be part of the same brand, with different parametric values applied.
BIM can bring the design, construction, and management of buildings into the twenty-first century. It takes teamwork and the same goal for all to eliminate the adversarial relationships that have plagued the building of structures for many generations.