BIM Handbook - Chapter 5

Chapter 5 of the “BIM Handbook” discusses how Architects and Engineers utilize and benefit from Building Information Modeling (BIM) software. Some of the benefits this chapter describes include drawing consistency and 3D modeling, which makes it easier for designers to review their designs for crashes between building systems and provide a strong, consistent base for additional analysis, simulations, and cost estimations. Architects and Engineers use BIM software to design and model from the conceptual design through engineered specifications and construction documents. One of the major advantages of BIM software the authors describe is how the software organizes great amounts of information and data about the building, including details about many of the components. This is true whether the designers are working on “big box” franchise stores that the authors describe as requiring little information or an extravagant, intelligent building that requires specifications of many technical services throughout the building.

Even though BIM software is capable of documenting valuable, detailed information for the building and its components, many firms rely on BIM software strictly for generating typical contract documents. These drawings serve as the basis for engineers and expert consultants to design the associated systems. Utilizing the software as a drawing tool also makes the information available for data exchange with supplementary software, but currently there are often different file type requirements between different software. This additional software often includes tools for analyzing and simulating structural and mechanical systems, as well as lighting or acoustical components. Utilizing the BIM software to generate smart schedules with consistently updated quantity and dimensions simplifies the cost estimation process by quantifying material or equipment specifications and requirements.

                  This tool is changing the industry for Architects and Engineers by proving its worth, even though it often requires additional training. Maximizing the ability of the software often requires firms to hire additional personnel. These are people that serve to train their coworkers and manage integrating the BIM model with additional software or other consultants and the working procedures for the model. These changes and the capability or producing more information makes many opportunities for designers to produce better information for their clients. This textbook suggests additional services, such as estimating performance data and operating costs or detailed modeling for as-built drawings, code reviews, fabrication. The benefits from this software make it evident that BIM will be utilized in the future for documenting, drawing, and modeling building information from schematic design to the specified details.

Sources:

Chuck Eastman et al., BIM Handbook: A Guide to Building Information Modeling for Owners, Managers, Designers, Engineers and Contractors (Wiley, 2011)

Comments:

                  With references to Chapter 2 of the BIM Handbook, Maissoun discusses the use of parametric modeling as a BIM tool in her post. The post does a good job of explaining what parametric modeling is and how it is used for BIM production. With current technology, it is easy to create a model and define a set of rules that can modify the shape of the model as an input is changed. This principle is what makes Revit so useful, with its utilization of “Families”, which are typically constructed from applying parametric modeling systems. Building these Families can be difficult, but if it is an object that is used frequently, it quickly becomes useful and efficient. Once a system of rules has been defined for a Family, the object, or model, can be modified by just changing the associated input values. This tool greatly benefits production from BIM software because many of the Families are modified three dimensionally and can produce several, accurate drawings with the use of one model and proper views. It is interesting that Boeing does similar modeling for their large products to run simulations that benefit their design process. I have never encountered major flaws with the speed of Revit, but I have not worked on projects larger than 220 MB. Though this could be an issue, I assume that with how quickly technology advances, especially in areas of computer memory and power, the size of Revit files will not be an issue for long. Computers, and their associated networks within design teams, will advance so that a 220 MB Revit file does not slow the processing. Even with delays, the BIM tools can be utilized very effectively for very productive model managing.

                  Maria’s post discusses the Chapter 3 concept of interoperability of software that is available to our industry. The ability to transfer data from the model and to various analyses software, and oftentimes back to the model, would be very beneficial for design teams. The model can be designed in Revit and then accurate analysis can be performed on the model, so that there are no input issues into the analysis software. The analyses from these kinds of software are only as good as the data that is entered. The exporting packaging file types you discuss sound like work-around solutions that are used to help different files from different software communicate better. In my experience, these have worked well and are likely to become utilized more throughout the industry. IFC (Industry Foundation Classes) is one that I recognize, but not read into deeply. If it is “a standard interoperability system”, then it will be very useful to better integrate the systems because there have not been defined standards in the past. Establishing these standards and each software achieving a way to translate to and from the IFC format will allow the software to communicate accurately with each other, with only the minor convenience of exporting and importing when there are necessary updates. There have been steady improvements for much of the technology that we are using and I expect this trend will continue, increasing the interoperability between software and further integrating the design process.

Andy addresses Chapter 4 and how BIM modeling can benefit owners and facility managers. Utilizing BIM allows the owners to see more of the design through the planning process. Seeing the Architect’s modeled data on the building allows them to communicate and collaborate more effectively. This communication moves the design to better suit the owner’s requirements early in production to reduce the amount of large, expensive changes during construction. Additionally, the building performance can be improved by integrating accurate BIM data into many types of analysis software. This accuracy helps designers to remove unnecessary redundancies that cost the owners, but do not benefit the building. BIM benefits project managers by greatly organizing the information from the design team. BIM also helps project managers to see the project as a whole, enabling them to dictate the individual requirements to contracting teams. Eventually, all of this data needs to be moved to the facility manager. Combining this data into one model makes this very easy. Facility managers can digitally see how the components of the building are put together, so that they can strategize an effective plan of how to manage the building’s assets.