B1 - Group B - Yasmina Shields

Building information modeling (BIM) technology in the construction industry offers a number of benefits to facilitate the design and construction process. Some of its applications include 3D renderings, incorporating fabrication and shop drawings into the model, code reviews, cost estimating, construction sequencing, forensic analysis, and facilities management (yielding the BIM model still useful after construction is complete). Also by simulating a virtual model of a building, BIM software can also be used to run a clash analysis between mechanical and structural systems—which helps to avoid construction issues, in turn reducing unforeseen costs (savings of about 10% of the contract value have been made through clash detections, according to Azhar’s “Building Information Modeling (BIM): Trends, Benefits, Risks, and Challenges for the AEC Industry”).

In high school I was told that BIM was the technology of the future, next “big thing,” while interning at an architecture firm. Five years later while on co-op for a general contractor, I found that most of my coworkers had not even heard of it; a few were talking of incorporating it in future projects, but it did not seem to be gaining much ground. The technology is readily available, yet there still exists managerial and technical concerns. The main challenges that are hindering widespread use of BIM is that no standardized process nor defined guidelines for BIM use exists, and ways to reduce the learning curve of BIM trainees need to be considered.

As a fundamental building material in construction and the most used substance on earth (other than water), concrete is a large emitter of CO2, with about a ton of CO2 being released for every ton of cement produced. Dr. Behrokh Khoshnevis of USC has developed Contour Crafting system, which works like a conventional 3-D printer—building up layer by layer—but instead uses a fast-drying concrete mix. The concrete material is precisely extruded with near-zero waste, needing less concrete and reducing its negative environmental impact. This is similar to the 3-D printed buildings that companies such as WinSun are developing, as mentioned in blog posts by Danielle Schroeder and others. Contour Crafting is also an automated process, making construction less labor intensive and safer. Another added benefit is that complex formwork is no longer needed using this technology in order to make non-rectilinear walls.

Source: http://www.sculpteo.com/blog/2015/10/07/3d-printing-construction/

I have a particular interest in sustainable structures, and thought it worth mentioning Team Orange County’s entry in last year’s Solar Decathlon in this post. Their net-zero-energy, under 1,000 square feet house is mechanically managed by a radiant heating and cooling system along with a rooftop solar panel capture system, and collects storm water for garden use. They also included in their entry a personal 3-D printer and thermoplastic recycling system that allows the user to break down printed objects that are no longer needed around the house, and reuse the material to produce new household tools or parts for home repairs.

• Azhar, S. (2011). "Building Information Modeling (BIM): Trends, Benefits, Risks, and Challenges for the AEC Industry." Leadership Manage. Eng., 10.1061/(ASCE)LM.1943-5630.0000127, 241-252.
•  Khoshnevis, Berok (2014). “Contour Crafting: The Upcoming Revolution in Construction.” Lecture. Autodesk Building Solutions. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3JdXPjQTMs
•  http://www.solardecathlon.gov/2015/competition-team-orange-county.html

Comments to other students:

Cristian Almendariz

William Whitesell