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. 

B2- BIM for Architects and Engineers

BIM for Architects and Engineers

BIM has large impact on the way architects and engineers work in the architecture and construction related industry. Comparing to the old tools architects and engineers used, BIM is more like a conceptual design method rather than the traditional drafting functions of CADD. BIM provides consistency across all drawings and reports in one or more projects. Furthermore, BIM provides direct and efficient functions to analyze and simulate for the design process at all phases of the project, which save tons of labor and time. We could conclude two major technological advantages BIM contains: parametric design tools and interoperability. We could also view the influences BIM brings to us in three perspectives.

Conceptual Design

Conceptual design involves the development of the building program in terms of spatial area, functions, types of construction and the basic assessment of its functional and economic viability. The initial conceptual design process is tremendously important to the overall project. The initial decisions made for the project could strongly determine the cost, complexity of the construction, time to deliver and other essential components. SketchUp, Rhino, and BonZai are the three main 3D sketching tools that implement BIM functionality. They all have their advantages but they still have a lot of limitations. None of these tools currently provides a smooth workflow. They all need certain amount of work to create modelling conventions to be followed, which is very inefficient. General Service Administration(GSA) has made a standard for models that could be considered as a BIM preliminary concept design. For example, 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”. BIM could provide fast assessment and feedback based on simulation and analysis tools to help with conceptual design. It will even provide “almost real-time” feedback in the future.

The Integration of Engineering Services

After the conceptual stage, the system require detailed specification. Structural and mechanical systems require sizing and calculations. This process is done by the collaboration with engineers, specialists and designing organizations. BIM tools will be most efficient tools when used by system designers and fabricator subcontractors. BIM will amplify the advantages of design-build and IPD delivery methods for building systems.

Construction-level Modelling

BIM provides the integration of design and construction. It minimizes the errors could occur during the transfer process. The design of the process of construction is as important as the design of the built product itself. Therefore, we need experts who have extensive construction knowledge to involve at the early stage of designing.

Reference

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

Abdullatif Alkandari

You described the benefits of BIM in detail and you focused on the owners and facility managers’ perspective. You emphasized on BIM could reduce work time and it is a more accurate method to be used. However, I am wondering what are the drawbacks of BIM? Also, what is the current status of BIM in the market, is BIM fully developed to replace all the old tools and methods?

Alexander Koo

Thank you for summarizing the Chapter 2 of BIM Handbook for us. Your words are very easy to understand. You also explain BIM tools, BIM platform, and BIM environment in detail. However, I am still a little confused about BIM platform and BIM environment. What are the differences between these two terms?

Hayley Selden

I love how you included your personal experience in the blog. You mentioned that the clash detection of BIM helps to reduce the amount of work and time for everyone involved in the project. I also agree with you that contractors are also very important roles during the design phases since they are the ones who actually construct and make every design happen in the reality.

B2 - Yuxiao Zhou - Chapter 6 - BIM for Contractors

BIM give a lots benefit for contractors. First, BIM can save time and money and reduce the error and conflicts. But for current situation, Architects and contractors work separately, contractors need to wait architects finish design which will increase the project time and money. The graph list below shows typical organization of project team.

This chapter also tell us what contractors want from BIM. In traditional organization of project team, contractors need to wait architects finish their model and start cost estimates, detailed schedule and coordinated drawings which may increase money, time cost and increase error. By using BIM, contractors can offer their suggestion during design process with architects and start their work which it may reduce the project cost without quality and sustainability lost. It also makes architects and contractors share their work by using single BIM model, it is a very big benefit for architects and contractors. There is a list for what BIM can provide.

l   Detailed building information

l   Temporary components

l   Specification information associate with each building component

l   Analysis data related to performance levels and project requirements

BIM also have a benefit for contractors is clash detection. By using BIM-based clash detection, it can run an automated 3D checks simply, it also can allow contractors to selectively check clashes between specified systems. Contractors also can perform a clash detection during the entire design phase with any level of design phase. It makes architects and contractors discuss design during any time and have their own suggestions, it reduce the error and save the time.

In conclusion, I think BIM for contractors can allow contractors participate the design during any phase and make their suggestion to architects which means both team can start their work in same time. This benefits reduce the time and money cost and it also reduce the error of design and increase the accuracy of the design.    

Reference

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.

http://web.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy2.library.drexel.edu/ehost/ebookviewer/ebook/bmxlYmtfXzM2NDIzOV9fQU41?sid=4a222441-900f-4d47-82d3-86bb3250aa50@sessionmgr4009&vid=0&format=EB&lpid=lp_263&rid=0

Comments
Mengnan Yang (https://ae-410-510-ay16-17.blogspot.com/2017/01/b2-bim-for-contractors.html)
We are in the same group and I totally agree with you. The BIM can allow contractors start their work with architects at beginning of the design.

Sarah Maminski (https://ae-410-510-ay16-17.blogspot.com/2017/01/sarah-maminski-team-b2-blog-post.html)
I really like you talked about the simulate function. In large building design, if you choose any subjects manually, you may miss some subjects and may cause error for the building. This can really reduce the error and save the time for manual check.

Yosep Bak(https://ae-410-510-ay16-17.blogspot.com/2017/01/yosep-bak.html)
Budget estimation is really important for owners and facility managers. By using BIM, owners and facility managers can have data for budget and have time to discuss with architects and contractors instead of wait for all the work done. It can have time to change the design and model, it save time and money   

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.