B2 - Group A - BIM Tools and Parametric Modeling - Arthur McCloskey

      Perhaps the greatest advantage to Building Information Modeling is the use of object oriented modeling and parametric modeling.  Until the development of this type of modeling, computer aided drafting programs relied exclusively on geometric based modeling, where the user would input direct geometry and properties.  The disadvantage to this is quite clear when considering drawing edits, alternate views, etc.  With non-parametric modeling, each view or drawing or object must be individually constructed, and interactions between all model components are more difficult to convey.  Chapter 2 of the BIM Handbook (BIM Tools and Parametric Modeling), cites these reasons for the push for BIM in the building industry.  Since the advancement of BIM from simple 3-D modeling in the 80's to some of the first BIM programs (TriCAD, Calma, GDS), and finally to this new age dominated by Revit, BIM's unique form of modeling has created a smarter way to design that moves beyond simple drawings to the modeling of actual objects in tandem.  [1]

      The theme of this class is the streamlining of technology to create a better industry.  We seem to continually discuss what makes technology "smart," and I think BIM is an excellent example of that.  Or Shani with wrote an interesting article that highlights the trends in technology, with special emphasis on artificial intelligence.  [2]  To call BIM a form of artificial intelligence is a stretch, but I think the history of AI and BIM are strikingly parallel.  The minds that conceived the idea of AI are the inspiration behind BIM, that our modeling software is not just a program meant to portray, but one to construct and interact, developing an "intelligent model" that is not just a collection of lines and shapes, but a system of fully integrated components.  In a way, it is no different from AI, but instead of large collections of data from sensors, BIM uses parametric objects to constitute its thinking.

      To understand the real benefits of parametric modeling, I think its best to take an example.  Professor Ramesh Krishnamurti at Carnegie Mellon University describes a pretty basic one.  With BIM, objects can be immediately exported to schedules and quantity takeoffs.  This is particularly useful for project managers and contractors, who no longer have to manually compute takeoffs for sheetmetal, structural wood, etc.  Parametric modeling creates a fully integrated design and construction process.  The point of modeling, Krishnamurti argues, is to reasonably recreate a proposed or existing construction.  BIM creates a way to look at a virtual model for what it is, a compilation of objects, not a agglomeration of shapes. [3]

Responses to Others:

Hayley Selden - I really enjoyed reading your blog post this week.  I am going to work for a GC after graduation, so the effects BIM has on contractors is of utmost importance to me.  I think that BIM has such a benefit to contractors.  Instead of just having a collection of 2-D plans, contractors can have the whole model, which helps them fully realize the design and make conscientious choices on procurement, labor, etc.

Kerianne Vogler - As I said above in Hayley's post, the effect on contractors that BIM has is really profound.  It is particularly useful, as you said, when creating quantity take-offs, but, like you said, still requires the use of estimators.  I don't think BIM will ever replace humans in this particular aspect, but it will definitely cut down on human error.

Egla Qori - Your post was particularly interesting, as interoperability really wasn't something I've every heard of.   This concept is so important as we go forward, because the better buildings can be in exchanging information, the better we can understand the needs.  I think the Main Building here is a particularly bad example, as we never seem to know the source of a problem.  Perhaps if this was a design consideration at the time, we would be able to maintain and sustain better.

[1]  Eastman, Charles.  BIM Handbook: A Guide to Building Information Modeling for Owners, Managers, Designers, Engineers, and Contractors.  2nd Edition.  2011.  Web. Available: http://web.b.ebscohost.com/ehost/ebookviewer/ebook/bmxlYmtfXzM2NDIzOV9fQU41?sid=4b36a05f-c301-4337-95c1-7ab9e4e9a765@sessionmgr120&vid=0&format=EB&rid=1

[2]  Shani, Or.  From Science Fiction to Reality: The Evolution of Artificial Intelligence.  Wired.com.  Web. Available: https://www.wired.com/insights/2015/01/the-evolution-of-artificial-intelligence/

[3]  Krishnamurti, Ramesh.  Parametric Modeling with Building Information Models.  Special Topics in Computational Design.  Web. Available: http://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/ramesh/teaching/course/48-749/