B2-BIM for Contractors

From the reading of the Chap 6, I learnt the BIM will bring lots of benefits to the contractors. In the building construction phase, there are several different types of the cooperation methods which include design-build, design-bid-build or the Integrated Project Delivery. The BIM will provide the different benefits to different approaches.

In the construction process, there are many steps like schedulding, cost, and planning. This is a complex and many parties involved process. If we used the traditional software or the methods to work,  like CAD drawings, it will cost extra time and resources. For example, in my previous coop experience, we have to print out our design drawings and mail it to the subcontract. The subcontract had to mail us back their shopping drawings with the equipments specification information to confirm. Then after we confirmed, we need to mail back the confirmed paper drawings one more time. During this period, mailing the paper drawings cost lots of time.

But when the contractor used the BIM, they can get information from the BIM model. Like the detailed building information, specification information associated with each buildings, analysis data related to performance levels and the project requirements, design and construction status. The contractors will be able to get information very effectively and easy instead of the traditional paper  mailing method.

The BIM model for the contractors can start with the beginning with design team. The design team provide the 3-D model and the contractors to add the details to the model to make model visualised to owner and use the model to do the further work. Or the design team provides the 2-D drawings to the contractors, they manual entered the drawing to the 3-D model and to do the further work.

BIM model will be able to export and work with other estimating software for planning, costing, scheduling. The BIM today, it can put the unit contrate information in the software to estimate the total concrete cost for contractor. For the BIM in the future, it might including the different concrete transportation cost, contrate work planning depend on the weather information.

4-D BIM model is a great tool to help contractor to do the construction planning. For example, the model will be able to show the foundation, steel erection. Also, it can review the site crane reach, clearance and conflicts. It will help the contractors to know the status of the site and fo the planning work.

In summary, the BIM tool will be able to help contractors to develop work easy and quick. To use the BIM is a future requirement skill for the contractor.

Sources:
Eastman, Charles M. BIM Handbook : A Guide To Building Information Modeling For Owners, Managers, Designers, Engineers And Contractors. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2011. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost). Web. 24 Jan. 2017.

Comments to Classmates' Posts:

Yosep Bak (link)
From the reading of your post, I learnt the benefits to the owners. Before reading your post, in my mind, the BIM is more important for the design team or the contractors who are the technical people. But after reading, I feel like it is as important as owner, especially for the owner who can't read the CAD drawings, the 4-D and 3-D visual image will help them to understand the building. 
Samuel Kim (link)
From Samuel's post, I learnt a brief history about the BIM which is great for me. BIM was worked as Constructive Solid Geometry (CSG) and Boundary Representation (BREP) in the early history time. Also, the compare 2009 and 2013 the BIM files, which has 2700% increase which really give a strong feeling about the BIM is tool for the future. 
Ziyang Lin(link)
From your post, I learnt that the General Service Administration(GSA) has made a standard for models that could be considered as a BIM preliminary concept design. Also, the example about the requirements are including “floor slabs defined with target thickness and floor-to-floor distances also applied to depict roofs” and “north arrows for building orientation” in BIM is cool.