B1: The Future in BIM, 3D Printing, and Structures

BIM/Future

An article in 2014 on McGraw Hill’s website (link provided below) discusses the benefits of BIM and where it can go in the future. Contractors that McGraw Hill surveyed replied that BIM is an extraordinarily helpful tool and its benefits are further increased when collaboration is involved. Specifically concerning a return on investment (ROI) on a project, when contractors use BIM, ROI increases. ROI further increases when contractors have BIM collaboration, which means several BIM programs specializing in different areas of the project communicating with one another and being compatible with one another. What the future holds for BIM is simple according to these surveyed contractors. BIM excels at making a detailed and reliable model from the office environment but is more difficult to take that model into the field. Therefore, tablet and cloud integration into BIM programs would drastically improve the mobility of BIM and further increase its usefulness.

http://www.aconex.com/blogs/2014/01/global-state-of-bim-construction-market-data.html

3D Printing/Structures/Future

An article on CNET describes how 3D printing can be used for construction purposes to build a bridge over a small canal using steel materials. This 3D printer is able to create full scale objects out of metal that has the same properties of normally manufactured metals. The exact procedure of construction of the bridge would involve the use of two 3D printers working in tandem on opposite sides of the bridge. This would require constant communication between the two printers in order for them to be aware of the other printer’s location at all times. The benefit to using two printers simultaneously would be to cut down on time and to reduce the stresses on the bridge during construction. This plan represents what the future holds for 3D printing in terms of construction. Using high-tech and advanced printers to communicate with one another while producing manufacture grade materials.

http://www.cnet.com/news/gravity-defying-3d-printer-to-print-bridge-over-water-in-amsterdam/

**Edits**

Comment on Danielle Schroeder's blog: http://ae-510-ay15-16.blogspot.com/2016/01/b1-group-b-schroeder.html?showComment=1452567176311#c7833413725249195921


Comment on Cathlene Farnelli's blog: http://ae-510-ay15-16.blogspot.com/2016/01/b1-group-b-cathlene-farnelli.html#comment-form