Like Professor Mitchell wrote in his post on intelligent building, the term intelligence refers to adaptive computer technologies used to enhance any system or process throughout the building life cycle. These adaptive technologies have been applied to every phase of the industry, from coordination in design to facilities management. Applying 3D modeling to building design has streamlined aspects of the construction and maintenance phases through 3D visualization. BIM provides coordination models for clash detection, scheduling, quantity takeoffs, and estimating. Projects modeled with BIM software can be adapted throughout the construction phase to provide the owner and facilities maintenance with an As-Built model. Many owners now require this deliverable for more efficient and cost-effective building operation. Pumps, fans, and valves can be tagged with specific parameters such as material, size, and location for future maintenance.
BIM reduces the number of iterations throughout the design development phase. The use of adaptive computer technologies minimizes clashes between systems and the need for major rework late into the design of the project. There are significant cost benefits for owners on projects using BIM processes, since the software streamlines collaboration between designers of different disciplines. BIM is used to design high performance buildings with accurate cost estimates from the 3D model throughout the design. This gives owners more feedback early on in the project when client criteria has the greatest impact. Facility managers see reduced operational costs from as-built equipment specifications used for testing and balancing. Facility managers are given a say in the design of building systems through an integrated design method and shared perspective.
BIM can be used to provide the owner with energy analysis, building system simulation, and cost estimation at every stage of the design configuration. This helps the owner, developer, and building operators meet their goals of increased efficiency and sustainability for complex spaces and building systems [Table 4-1]. BIM may be most advantageous as a modeling tool for owners to visualize plans and ensure project parameters are met.
Another advantage is integrated project delivery (IPD) through building information modeling. Designers from multiple disciplines can work in the model at the same time, which increases the value of the project information in each phase for each member of the design team. The central model is a tool that supports collaboration instead of a piece-by-piece approach to design development [153]. Since the BIM-based integrated design process also allows more designers and engineers to refer to the same model throughout the project development, errors are resolved quickly and more reliable estimates are provided to the owner early on in the design development phase.
1. Hardin, Brad and Dave McCool. BIM and Construction Management: Proven Tools, Methods, and Workflows, 2nd edition. Indianapolis: Wiley, 2015. Print.
2. Chapter 4, BIM for Owners and Facility Managers - http://web.b.ebscohost.com.ezproxy2.library.drexel.edu/ehost/ebookviewer/ebook/bmxlYmtfXzM2NDIzOV9fQU41?sid=765df376-0982-4740-ab82-fefeb0ac7526@sessionmgr120&vid=0&format=EB&lpid=lp_151&rid=0
Comments:
Danielle,
I agree that the most valuable applications of building information modeling are the conceptual design and analysis phases of the project. Revit and other BIM software are most useful for 3D visualization of complex coordination between systems. Like you said in your post, this software can be used for system integration and analysis. Having a simulation and 3D model leads to increased energy efficiency, reduced costs, and better design practice. It especially improves collaboration between architects and engineers, since each designer has a better understanding of the other’s building system from a central 3D model.
Alex,
Your post did a great job of explaining ProjectWise and its benefits to the building design industry. I used Revit MEP during my past co-op and one of the most useful features is the central model that everyone can access. Each designer works in a local copy of the file but can sync their changes to the central model throughout the day, similar to GoogleDocs. I agree that a key component is file format, since design firms so often transfer models between software to analyze different aspects of the project. If the model is unreadable to common CAD programs, it cannot be imported and adds time to the overall design process.
Alexis,
ReplyDeleteYou made an excellent point by mentioning how BIM can ease and improve the maintenance of a building. As I read somewhere in chapter 4 of the book Bim handbook, some programs are even able to integrate the manuals for equipment installed in the project. BIM for the management of facilities still needs too evolve but its potential capabilities are impressive. Image how great will it be to be able have the entire project into a single management BIM program and it being able to alert you when a certain fan, compressor, or single screw driver needs fix or replacement. It is really important that these management BIM programs allow easy editing of the facility for possible changes or extensions of the project.
Alexis,
ReplyDeleteI liked how you mentioned that the use of BIM for IPD is a large benefit of BIM modeling. I believe that the use of BIM as a collaboration tool is its largest benefit. The ability for the owner, maintenance manager, and building design and construction disciplines to quickly and easily collaborate improve the quality of the design and empowers the collaborators to develop solutions to conflicts between systems, often leading to a better solution then otherwise possible. The other benefits support the usefulness of BIM as a collaboration tool, through better better visualization of the building so that problems can be identified and the information in the model is the same for everyone so they can more easily and accurately communicate despite the potential distance between them.
Alexis
ReplyDeleteThank you for your post. I find it interesting how BIM is a very capable software, especially how it can be used to provide the owner with energy analysis. In my opinion, this aspect of BIM software is very important, because owners now are striving for more energy efficient buildings. Moreover, as you mentioned and as we learned in CMGT 361, the IPD delivery method using BIM is very helpful, because as long as all the parties are involved in the project and share information among each other, the team will have a better organizational structure.