B2 - Adrian Kuzniarowicz Group E

For this week’s discussion post, Group E was instructed to read Chapter 6 of BIM Handbook: A Guide to Building Information Modeling for Owners. In Chapter 6 of the guide, the author writes about the various applications which BIM technologies are used for by contractors in the field.

The utilization of BIM technology in the construction field has tremendous impacts on the cost, time, and constructability of most construction projects. In design, BIM is utilized by all members of the project team to accurately model and integrate the components of the construction process. The implementation of BIM technology in the construction process allows for a better planned construction process with a reduced number of potential conflicts. Projects that benefit from interdisciplinary BIM models are typically ones that include IPD, or Integrated Project Delivery. IPD is a joint contract that requires architects, designers, general contractors, and trade contractors to work together from the start of a project.

In today’s construction field, BIM technologies can be utilized for a number of applications, including the following:

·         Clash Detection, Quantity Takeoff,  Cost Estimating,Construction Analysis and Planning, Integration with cost and schedule control and other management functions,  Etc.

In the past, contractors have been deemed with the task of performing manual quantity take-offs, estimates, and schedules, which became a very tedious and time consuming process. As time has progressed, contractors have recognized the importance of team communication and collaboration early into the project and how the implementation of BIM technology can simplify the organizational tasks which must be completed by contractors prior, during, and after the construction sequence. By considering the importance of team collaboration for the creation of useful BIM models, the number of errors in a project can be significantly reduced compared to previous construction projects which did not use BIM.

This guide presents an informative take on the importance of the emergence and utilization of BIM technologies in the construction field. The chapter on contractor implementation of BIM technologies presents good examples of applications and expectations of how BIM software impacts a contractors methodologies. The chapter demonstrated various different applications where BIM software is utilized in construction which I had no idea about. I found the chapter very interesting and informative considering BIM technology will only continue to advance and be implement in construction and design all over the world.

Comments:

  Kate Flint:

Kate,

From your post, it seems that your chapter on the implementation of BIM by Architects and Engineers pointed out many of the same things as my chapter on the implantation of BIM by Contractors. Similarly to Chapter 5, Chapter 6 stressed the importance of BIM in the early phases of the design process. I found that for a contractor to have an accurate BIM model, there must be collaboration between disciplines early in the process. In regards to your co-op experience, I have seen the same problem with tradesman not wanting to get on board. I believe that this is because they just want to get in and out of the project to get paid as fast as they can.

 Laura Worley

Laura,

In your last paragraph you mentioned the importance of the feature of clash detection in BIM software. I don’t know how extensively Chapter 2 touched on the subject, but in Chapter 6 on the Contractor implementations of BIM, the topic is discussed very extensively. It really gives you a good idea of how important BIM is when considering a fully integrated building design. I also agree with your statement of the importance of BIM in determining load paths through a structure. I have also used BIM for this and it has proven to be very beneficial.

Reference:
Eastman, Charles M. 2011. BIM Handbook : A Guide to Building Information Modeling for Owners, Managers, Designers, Engineers and Contractors. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost), EBSCOhost.