Building information modeling is a building design technology that starts with creating an intelligent 3D model.
The most advanced BIM software system includes a database of all related building information and intelligent data - including construction sequencing, cost, and lifecycle management information - that allows for document management, collaboration, and simulation throughout the lifecycle of construction projects.
The idea here is simple - if everyone involved can see exactly what a site is going to look like and have all relevant information available in one centralized, actionable repository, it can help the team in many ways, as mentioned below:
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Exploring the design options
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Create visualization that helps stakeholders understand what the building will look like
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Develop the design documentation.
Modern building information modeling systems don’t just provide digital versions of physical plans - they provide a single source of reality that all users can view, alter, and improve upon for smoother design, construction, and operation.
Importance of Building Information Modeling:
BIM is no longer just a nice thing to have in many areas. According to the U.N., the world's population will be 9.7 billion by 2050. In this context, the global ACE industry must be more deliberate and efficient in its construction designs, creating spaces that meet the rising global demand and provide smarter, more efficient construction solutions.
To this end, more governments are mandating the use of BIM for public contracts, and an ever-increasing number of private clients are beginning to take note.
How Does BIM Work?
A BIM can be used throughout the completion of a construction project's lifecycle to bring clarity and efficiency to a building’s construction.
Planning: BIM software can inform, guide, and simplify project planning by allowing users to use reality capture and real-world data to understand how a building will really look in its natural environment.
Design: The design phase can be the most complex of any construction process, requiring conceptual design, analysis, and extensive documentation. BIM data can provide comprehensive modeling that can organize the construction process and provide important information about a design’s performance. It can also inform logistics, simplify scheduling, and ensure that all relevant personnel have access to the correct information throughout this process.
Construction: BIM project specifications and shared documents can largely guide and simplify fabrication through this phase.
Operation: When it comes to operations and maintenance, BIM’s information-rich models and asset data can support operations, maintenance, refurbishment, extension, and even demolition.
What Can BIM, or Building Information Modeling, Do?
Determine Building Project Specifications:
With a BIM model, you can specify modeling to write, manage, and publish your construction project specifications. You can import all relevant documentation from various data sources and personnel.
With a building information model, you can use spec modeling to write, manage, and publish your project specifications. You can import all relevant documentation from various data sources and personnel, thereby increasing collaboration and getting a more consolidated, accurate view of the complete construction project specifications. Finally, structured templates can also help ensure compliance with corporate styles and previously determined specifications.
Understand the Site and Design Possibilities:
When it comes to the site’s environment and existing conditions, a lot can go unnoticed without visualization. Using BIM’s point clouds, digital photography, and visualization capabilities, you can better understand existing features and surroundings. You can also use this data to innovate further and identify any shortcomings in your existing design.
Easily Manage Your Data:
Using BIM’s preconfigured data templates and customizable data structure, you can ensure that you meet project requirements and that you can conduct effective analysis. You can also share up-to-date, complete data documentation with all relevant personnel to optimize construction delivery and streamline facility operations.
Get Comprehensive Building Design and Analysis Information:
You can better coordinate design and execution with your team working in one shared environment. Specifically, integrated information models and analysis allow for better engineering, design, and asset performance predictions. This is particularly true if you integrate your BIM with existing tools like an engineering document management system (EDMS).
With Accruent's Meridian, you can enhance document management efficiency, guarantee safety and adherence to regulations, promote extensive collaboration across your company, and gain a unified hub of asset information by leveraging Meridian's specialized and robust EDMS.
Manage Deliverables from One Centralized Location:
With BIM's design modeling views, hyperlinks, and drawings, you can ensure that drawings are up-to-date, accurately represent your design, and that the right people have all the engineering calculations, equipment documentation, and support they need to build and operate.
You can generate production drawings and databases for manufacturing using a model. This ultimately allows for increased use of prefabrication and modular construction technology, which can ultimately diminish waste, reduce labor and material costs, and help sidestep common issues like:
Poor coordination: With BIM, you can better coordinate contractors, designers, architects, and other relevant personnel.
Clashes: You can also detect MEP, internal, or external clashes before construction begins, thereby reducing delays, last-minute changes, and the amount of rework required.
Better Management of Design Information: The beauty of building information modeling is that you can plan and visualize an upcoming project using 3D visualizations and space-use simulations before you begin construction. This means that all relevant parties can experience a space during preconstruction, reducing delays, construction schedule setbacks, or changes later on.
BIM's "database-first" modeling also allows designers, construction teams, engineers, and architects to access and edit relevant building information using their familiar graphical formats - all within one dataset. This simplifies the editing process and prevents inconsistencies when everyone accesses their own discrete files.
This visibility and collaboration lead to better productivity, more informed planning, and an increased ability to explore design alternatives. This can also lead to an increased asset lifecycle and lower maintenance costs throughout the project lifecycle.
This is crucial for building owners and operators, as they are often left out of critical stages of construction projects, causing them to miss essential data required for facility management, such as inspection requirements. Learn more about how BIM benefits building owners.
Especially when opening a new facility, proper handover of engineering and BIM data is crucial when it comes to operations and maintenance to track warranties, ensure compliance, manage budgets, and more. Learn more about BIM and project handover from Accruent's Rudi Pieters, an expert with over 20 years of experience in engineering document management:
Improved Scheduling:
AEC organizations can streamline design and documentation processes using building information modeling and quickly update them based on new information, changes, or site conditions. They can also better plan and communicate their schedules.
This can ultimately drastically reduce or eliminate construction schedule setbacks, helping ensure on-time or early project completion.
Clarity Amongst Stakeholders and Involved Parties:
Digital building information modeling allows for better coordination, analysis, data management, and visualization between all relevant parties. This will enable teams to share information, coordinate, plan, and update for complete inside and outside coordination.
Additionally, the cloud capabilities of many BIM systems allow users to update information in real time, no matter where they are. That way, drawings, and models can be viewed on-site and on mobile devices, ensuring up-to-date access to project information at any time.
Increased Ability to Renovate and Retrofit Projects
By offering improved collaboration with internal teams and external contractors and increased access to relevant information, a BIM can allow experienced team members to work with builders, thereby providing better control and improved design execution.
Additionally, visualizations allow for better aesthetics and optimal construction decisions. This can improve initial construction and allow for better renovations and retrofit projects.
Reduced Cost and Mitigated Risk
One study by McKinsey found that 75% of companies that have adopted BIM reported positive returns on their investments. Specifically, costs can be reduced in the form of:
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Reductions in tender risk premiums
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Lower insurance costs,
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Fewer variations
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Fewer opportunities for claims,
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Reduced wasted and unused materials,
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Reduced labor costs due to better documentation and communication
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Less outdated information
Safer Construction Sites
BIM software can also help you identify potential hazards and plan your on-site logistics before you begin construction. Additionally, a robust BIM offers visual risk analysis and safety evaluations. This can help avoid physical risks and ensure safety throughout a project's execution.
Increased ROI
Using building information modeling, you can avoid many AEC costs, including.
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Interoperability costs, including the cost of manual data entry and data duplication
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Delay costs like lost revenue and idled employees
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Operation and maintenance costs, like lower staff productivity and the cost of information verification.
You can also experience savings in F.M. with tenant chargebacks and understand what assets you have.
Connection to IoT and Advanced Analytics
Increased IoT Capabilities
By and large, the construction industry is woefully behind in IoT capabilities and advanced analytics. Indeed, while construction sites generate massive amounts of data, the vast majority of that information is not even recorded, let alone measured or analyzed for insight.
Advanced BIM technology can change this and bring IoT capabilities to a construction site. This could lead to many benefits, allowing for more efficiency:
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Equipment monitoring and repair
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Inventory management and ordering
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Energy usage
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Safety protocols
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Quality assurance policies
Better Analytics
Better digitization and data capture throughout the construction planning and design process have allowed firms to capture more information than ever before. The insights gained from this data can improve.
Improved Maintenance of Regulations and Standards
Because building information modeling has shown such positive results and ROI, governments around the world have begun to mandate the use of BIM for public infrastructure projects. In U.K., for example, BIM level 2 is mandated on public projects, and you can see similar mandates In France, Germany, Finland, Spain, and even the U.S.
It is essential for construction companies, engineers, designers, and other relevant personnel to be aware of these regulations and comply.
