Draftsmen do not decide how the model they create is being used. Engineer does not decide if the model they create will be used downstream. The decision to utilize building model or models beyond document production is always a management decision. It involves rethinking of responsibilities and processes. The starting point is to realise the value the building model can offer.
Value added Building Information Model
Traditionally 3D model is a tool to help to produce construction documents such as drawings, material lists and reports. However BIM has added value for the construction process beyond document producing tool. It’s a management decision to start utilizing this potential added value.
So what is the potential added value you ask?
I break in into three main items:
• Accurate good quality design early in the process
o Building can be made “more complete” from the design point of view
o Designs of different disciplines can be completed in one common 3D environment
o Constructability issues can be seen and solved while everything is still a computer model
• Communication tool
o Communication in 3D environment is more effective than using 2D drawings
o Modifications are easier to communicate and understand in a 3D environment
o Communication can be wider, more frequent and forward looking leading to a more integrated more efficient process and less errors.
• Information carrier
o Fragmented construction process is losing a lot of usable and important information on the way
o BIM keeps information up to date and easily accessible
o Information accumulated during the process
o Information is easily shared
o Process participants have better more complete information available leading to better and easier decision making
Don’t you want to have better design, better communication more effective construction process and decisions based on better information?
Still not convinced?
Statements from the people who have implemented BIM:
“The initial budgeted amount of bar was 459, compared to the actual tonnage of 358 tons (a 22% reduction in raw material needed) shipped to site. Further, with such predictable coordinated fabrication, the project realized a waste reduction of rebar to less than one-tenth of one percent for the project.”
When combining the net effect of the initial buyout cost savings with the 22% material savings, Weitz generated a total project savings of over $113,000 for rebar on Central Park Tower. The total reduction in fabrication and detail costs from this unit price procurement structure amounted to a total of 8.2% savings “We saved about 105 calendar days on the structure,” said Gregory P. Luth.
“Weitz was able to create a total model-based CIP detail/fabricate/erect process savings of $201,855 - $265,855. This was in addition to the (2) week reduction in construction schedule.”
The complete White Paper titled “Interrupting the Supply Chain” can be downloaded from www.tekla.com
Management Decision
One of the key tasks for the management is to always look the ways to improve – look no further – join the BIM wagon – for the benefit of your company.
Ari Nassi@Tekla
Friday, June 18, 2010
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
BIM Serial 005: BIM is a Management Decision
Draftsmen do not decide how the model they create is being used. Engineer does not decide if the model they create will be used downstream in the process. The decision to utilize a building model or models beyond document production is always a management decision. It involves rethinking of responsibilities and processes. The starting point is to realise the value that a building model can offer.
The added value of BIM
Traditionally, a 3D model is a tool to help produce construction documents, such as drawings, material lists and reports. However, BIM has potential to add value to the construction process beyond being a tool for producing documents. It is a management decision to start making use of this potential.
I divide the potential of BIM into three areas:
• Accurate, quality design early in the process
o Building can be made “more complete” from the design point of view
o Designs of different disciplines can be completed in a shared 3D environment
o Constructability issues can be found and solved on the computer before moving on to actual construction
• More efficient communication
o Communication in a 3D environment is more efficient than by using 2D drawings
o Modifications are easier to communicate and understand in an illustrative 3D environment
o Communication can be wider, more frequent, and more insightful, which leads to a more integrated and more efficient process with less errors
• The BIM as an information carrier
o Fragmented construction process is losing a lot of usable and important information on the way
o BIM keeps information up-to-date and easily accessible
o Information is accumulated during the process
o Information is easily shared
o Process participants have better and more complete information available, which leads to better and easier decision making
Wouldn’t you want to have better design, better communication, a more efficient construction process, and be able to make decisions based on better information?
Still not convinced?
Here are a few statements from the people who have implemented BIM in their projects:
“The initial budgeted amount of bar was 459, compared to the actual tonnage of 358 tons (a 22% reduction in raw material needed) shipped to site. Further, with such predictable coordinated fabrication, the project realized a waste reduction of rebar to less than one-tenth of one percent for the project.”
When combining the net effect of the initial buyout cost savings with the 22% material savings, Weitz generated a total project savings of over $113,000 for rebar on the Central Park Tower. The total reduction in fabrication and detail costs from this unit price procurement structure amounted to a total of 8.2% savings. “We saved about 105 calendar days on the structure,” said Gregory P. Luth.
“Weitz was able to create total model-based CIP detail/fabricate/erect process savings of $201,855 – $265,855. This was in addition to the (2) week reduction in construction schedule.”
A complete white paper titled “Interrupting the Supply Chain” is available at www.tekla.com
It’s a management decision
One of the key tasks for the management is to always look for ways to improve. Well look no further. Join the BIM wagon now for the benefit of your company.
Ari Nassi@Tekla
The added value of BIM
Traditionally, a 3D model is a tool to help produce construction documents, such as drawings, material lists and reports. However, BIM has potential to add value to the construction process beyond being a tool for producing documents. It is a management decision to start making use of this potential.
I divide the potential of BIM into three areas:
• Accurate, quality design early in the process
o Building can be made “more complete” from the design point of view
o Designs of different disciplines can be completed in a shared 3D environment
o Constructability issues can be found and solved on the computer before moving on to actual construction
• More efficient communication
o Communication in a 3D environment is more efficient than by using 2D drawings
o Modifications are easier to communicate and understand in an illustrative 3D environment
o Communication can be wider, more frequent, and more insightful, which leads to a more integrated and more efficient process with less errors
• The BIM as an information carrier
o Fragmented construction process is losing a lot of usable and important information on the way
o BIM keeps information up-to-date and easily accessible
o Information is accumulated during the process
o Information is easily shared
o Process participants have better and more complete information available, which leads to better and easier decision making
Wouldn’t you want to have better design, better communication, a more efficient construction process, and be able to make decisions based on better information?
Still not convinced?
Here are a few statements from the people who have implemented BIM in their projects:
“The initial budgeted amount of bar was 459, compared to the actual tonnage of 358 tons (a 22% reduction in raw material needed) shipped to site. Further, with such predictable coordinated fabrication, the project realized a waste reduction of rebar to less than one-tenth of one percent for the project.”
When combining the net effect of the initial buyout cost savings with the 22% material savings, Weitz generated a total project savings of over $113,000 for rebar on the Central Park Tower. The total reduction in fabrication and detail costs from this unit price procurement structure amounted to a total of 8.2% savings. “We saved about 105 calendar days on the structure,” said Gregory P. Luth.
“Weitz was able to create total model-based CIP detail/fabricate/erect process savings of $201,855 – $265,855. This was in addition to the (2) week reduction in construction schedule.”
A complete white paper titled “Interrupting the Supply Chain” is available at www.tekla.com
It’s a management decision
One of the key tasks for the management is to always look for ways to improve. Well look no further. Join the BIM wagon now for the benefit of your company.
Ari Nassi@Tekla
Sunday, April 18, 2010
BIM Serial 004: BIM for the Project Manager
Following the construction process set out in my earlier columns, today we arrive to the construction site and look at how BIM may help the Project Manager. We join the project at a stage when the Project Manager has become engaged in it and begins managing the tasks in hand.
Project Manager’s journey towards BIM
Let’s leave the ultimate ideal BIM process aside for the time being and study what a Project Manager can do today in a new project he/she gets involved in. Most probably one or more of the project disciplines have already used 3D tools and created some 3D models for this project. The Project Manager should ask around for models from the Architect, Consultant and Fabricator. No matter what software was used to produce those models, most modelling applications nowadays include free and easy-to-use viewers. Alternatively, native models may be exported to some common format like IFC or 3D PDF. Let’s assume that we have managed to acquire an earlier model or models.
At the minimum, those models can be used to understand the construction – easier and more illustrative than relying only on 2D drawings. The models can also be used as a communication tool when the Project Manager needs to discuss issues with an architect, engineer or any other stakeholder. If we are lucky, the received model or models are the source of the official 2D drawings and thus accurate and up-to-date. Even if this is not the case, the model can still serve as a reference and communication tool. What is mentioned above does not require any changes in the work process, tasks or responsibilities. 3D models by nature support the existing process and make project managers’ work easier and more efficient. Whether this can be called BIM may be debated, but at least it is a first step towards a BIM process. “Step by step towards BIM”; in my opinion this is a very good approach. It is easier and safer to proceed in small steps than to try make the giant leap in one go. Eventually, moving from today’s drawing-based process to a fully integrated BIM process is a giant leap and will change the way people work, process building information and perceive their roles and responsibilities.
Visual scheduling
When proceeding beyond using the model just to support producing 2D drawings and for communication, the next natural step is to start adding status and timing information into it. Creating an erection sequence in 3D to animate the actual construction process looks impressive and is very useful. What really happens – once again – is that we move from working in a 2D drawing-based environment to work in 3D. It’s much easier to notice any problems or mistakes in the logistics when you look at a 3D animation instead of Gantt charts and drawings. The building information model becomes the central database for the most important project data, and 2D drawings will only be used to support the process.
A major task for a Project Manager is reporting. Showing progress and planned activities by using 3D animation is impressive and easy to understand even to a client who may not be a construction professional but needs to have a clear understanding of how the project is proceeding.
Site coordination
In addition to modelling the actual building, BIM can also be used to visually plan and coordinate site activities like scaffolding, cranes, and work groups. The Project Manager can plan and optimise the usage of the cranes to follow the progress of the construction.
A literally groundbreaking benefit can be achieved by integrating the building and terrain models. A terrain model can include surface shape, soil information and information of any existing cables or pipes in and around the construction site. The end result is a complete 3D computer animation of the construction site from breaking the ground up to the day when the building is completed and handed over to the client.
Dear friends, BIM is here. If you start implementing it now, you can still gain some benefits over your competitors who are bound to do it sooner or later. In a few years time, BIM will be a must and general practice in every project.
My next column will conclude the construction process by looking at what BIM has to offer for building maintenance and facilities management.
Ari Nassi@Tekla
Project Manager’s journey towards BIM
Let’s leave the ultimate ideal BIM process aside for the time being and study what a Project Manager can do today in a new project he/she gets involved in. Most probably one or more of the project disciplines have already used 3D tools and created some 3D models for this project. The Project Manager should ask around for models from the Architect, Consultant and Fabricator. No matter what software was used to produce those models, most modelling applications nowadays include free and easy-to-use viewers. Alternatively, native models may be exported to some common format like IFC or 3D PDF. Let’s assume that we have managed to acquire an earlier model or models.
At the minimum, those models can be used to understand the construction – easier and more illustrative than relying only on 2D drawings. The models can also be used as a communication tool when the Project Manager needs to discuss issues with an architect, engineer or any other stakeholder. If we are lucky, the received model or models are the source of the official 2D drawings and thus accurate and up-to-date. Even if this is not the case, the model can still serve as a reference and communication tool. What is mentioned above does not require any changes in the work process, tasks or responsibilities. 3D models by nature support the existing process and make project managers’ work easier and more efficient. Whether this can be called BIM may be debated, but at least it is a first step towards a BIM process. “Step by step towards BIM”; in my opinion this is a very good approach. It is easier and safer to proceed in small steps than to try make the giant leap in one go. Eventually, moving from today’s drawing-based process to a fully integrated BIM process is a giant leap and will change the way people work, process building information and perceive their roles and responsibilities.
Visual scheduling
When proceeding beyond using the model just to support producing 2D drawings and for communication, the next natural step is to start adding status and timing information into it. Creating an erection sequence in 3D to animate the actual construction process looks impressive and is very useful. What really happens – once again – is that we move from working in a 2D drawing-based environment to work in 3D. It’s much easier to notice any problems or mistakes in the logistics when you look at a 3D animation instead of Gantt charts and drawings. The building information model becomes the central database for the most important project data, and 2D drawings will only be used to support the process.
A major task for a Project Manager is reporting. Showing progress and planned activities by using 3D animation is impressive and easy to understand even to a client who may not be a construction professional but needs to have a clear understanding of how the project is proceeding.
Site coordination
In addition to modelling the actual building, BIM can also be used to visually plan and coordinate site activities like scaffolding, cranes, and work groups. The Project Manager can plan and optimise the usage of the cranes to follow the progress of the construction.
A literally groundbreaking benefit can be achieved by integrating the building and terrain models. A terrain model can include surface shape, soil information and information of any existing cables or pipes in and around the construction site. The end result is a complete 3D computer animation of the construction site from breaking the ground up to the day when the building is completed and handed over to the client.
Dear friends, BIM is here. If you start implementing it now, you can still gain some benefits over your competitors who are bound to do it sooner or later. In a few years time, BIM will be a must and general practice in every project.
My next column will conclude the construction process by looking at what BIM has to offer for building maintenance and facilities management.
Ari Nassi@Tekla
Thursday, March 18, 2010
BIM Serial 003: From a computer model to the real building
So far we have discussed the BIM concept in general and what does BIM mean to a consultant or an engineering office. Now it is time to make the move from the computer model to the real world.
Modelled to the last detail
In a typical construction process, the engineer is responsible for the conceptual design covering the materials to be used, their amounts, sizes and general arrangement. In other words: construction documents. However, before we can start actual fabrication or construction, somebody still has to define all the details like exact reinforcing bar arrangement, connection details for the structural parts, details for the HVAC etc. Not surprisingly this phase is called detailing. A detailer adds to the model all the bolts, stiffener plates, creates rebar pending schedules, and may also utilise building information models from different disciplines to detail, for example, connections between HVAC and structural elements.
Once the detailing has been completed, the model looks “as-built,” including even the smallest details. Since the model becomes very much like the building to be built, some issues to affect its construction will most probably become noticeable. This is one of the main benefits of BIM: these issues are found out in the model and not at the construction site, which often happens in a conventional drawing-based process.
A very important criteria for selecting a BIM application for fabrication and construction is to make sure that it is capable of holding all necessary building details. The application should not become slow or its data files impractically big no matter how complicated or large a building is.
From the model to the real world
So now the building is nicely modelled to the last detail. All the constructability issues within and between disciplines have been solved. It is time to start building for real.
The traditional process is to print out hundreds or thousands of drawings and deliver those to the contractor. The main contractor then uses these printed documents to build the building either at the constructions site or using various subcontractors like fabricators of pre-casters.
The BIM process aims to make the design and the construction more integrated:
1) In addition to the drawings, the model should be one – and actually the most important – deliverable from the consultant to the contractor. Let’s leave the legal and responsibility issues aside for the time being.
2) The 3D BIM environment should be used as a basis for all communication between the consultant and the contractor. It is much easier than looking by 2D drawings.
A modern fabrication facility includes computerised (CNC) fabrication machinery and IT-based material management. A BIM must integrate with those to avoid “print out and key it,” as far as possible. CNC data shall flow directly from the model to the controls of the fabrication machinery. The same applies to the information transfer between the model and the material management and procurement systems. Every “print out and key in” phase creates a risk to make mistakes. Another big benefit of BIM.
BIM integration does not end at fabrication. Information shall also flow directly between the model and construction site equipment used to measure and control the physical locations. Let’s return to the work on site in more detail in the next issue of Roof&Facade.
Ari Nassi@Tekla
Modelled to the last detail
In a typical construction process, the engineer is responsible for the conceptual design covering the materials to be used, their amounts, sizes and general arrangement. In other words: construction documents. However, before we can start actual fabrication or construction, somebody still has to define all the details like exact reinforcing bar arrangement, connection details for the structural parts, details for the HVAC etc. Not surprisingly this phase is called detailing. A detailer adds to the model all the bolts, stiffener plates, creates rebar pending schedules, and may also utilise building information models from different disciplines to detail, for example, connections between HVAC and structural elements.
Once the detailing has been completed, the model looks “as-built,” including even the smallest details. Since the model becomes very much like the building to be built, some issues to affect its construction will most probably become noticeable. This is one of the main benefits of BIM: these issues are found out in the model and not at the construction site, which often happens in a conventional drawing-based process.
A very important criteria for selecting a BIM application for fabrication and construction is to make sure that it is capable of holding all necessary building details. The application should not become slow or its data files impractically big no matter how complicated or large a building is.
From the model to the real world
So now the building is nicely modelled to the last detail. All the constructability issues within and between disciplines have been solved. It is time to start building for real.
The traditional process is to print out hundreds or thousands of drawings and deliver those to the contractor. The main contractor then uses these printed documents to build the building either at the constructions site or using various subcontractors like fabricators of pre-casters.
The BIM process aims to make the design and the construction more integrated:
1) In addition to the drawings, the model should be one – and actually the most important – deliverable from the consultant to the contractor. Let’s leave the legal and responsibility issues aside for the time being.
2) The 3D BIM environment should be used as a basis for all communication between the consultant and the contractor. It is much easier than looking by 2D drawings.
A modern fabrication facility includes computerised (CNC) fabrication machinery and IT-based material management. A BIM must integrate with those to avoid “print out and key it,” as far as possible. CNC data shall flow directly from the model to the controls of the fabrication machinery. The same applies to the information transfer between the model and the material management and procurement systems. Every “print out and key in” phase creates a risk to make mistakes. Another big benefit of BIM.
BIM integration does not end at fabrication. Information shall also flow directly between the model and construction site equipment used to measure and control the physical locations. Let’s return to the work on site in more detail in the next issue of Roof&Facade.
Ari Nassi@Tekla
Thursday, February 18, 2010
BIM Serial 002: BIM arrives to the Engineering Office
In the June issue of Roof and Facade’s BIM Corner, I wrote about how Building Information Modelling (BIM) helps to integrate the fragmented construction processes, bring cost savings and improve efficiency. Let’s now have a closer look on what are the major benefits you can expect from BIM based design.
Faster take-off
Most architects use 3D tools and can provide a 3D model, in some format, to support their architectural drawings. Engineers may utilise this information and use it as reference models whilst creating the structural engineering model, or directly convert it into an engineering model thus integrating the work process between the architect and engineer.
Automatic drawing and material lists production
Models produced by the BIM process are not “drawn”, but actually contains all the construction components and material as a computer-model simulation. From this model you can automatically print out all the required drawings and material lists. All the measurements and material lists will be correct since they are extracted from the accurate finite model. And the best part is still to come – any changes you need to make, and you know there will always be changes, all you need to do is to simply amend the model, and all the related documents, including drawings and material lists, are automatically updated.
Easier Analysis & Design (A&D)
Now that you already have the model, which you have created for conceptual design, there is no need to create another one for Analysis and Design (A&D). Within applications such as Tekla Structures all you need to do is to simply apply loads into your conceptual model and run the analysis by using your preferred A&D software from an extensive list of applications. And the benefits do not end here, since your loads are intelligent objects in the building information model they will stay there and can be reused at any time. When you modify the model, loads connected to the structural parts will follow the modifications and the re-running of the analysis results is easy at any time.
Design coordination in 3D environment
You may integrate your structural, HVAC, piping and other models into a single environment which becomes real-life working 3D model of the complete building. You can navigate around the structure, check any construction details and consider the overall constructability. This is much easier and interesting than trying to do the same based on a pile of 2D drawings. Communication is a major part of design coordination and your BIM model becomes the preferred communication tool, where you can view the model on the meeting-room wall or share it over the internet. Even complicated issues are easy to convey when discussed within the 3D model.
So what is the end result? Faster and higher-quality designs, where you can detect and correct all mistakes and most of the constructability issues, which would become very costly if only noticed a few months later at the construction site. In other words structural engineer has added more value to the design compared to the traditional drawing based process and his/her role has become more important.
Any comments or feedback you may have on my BIM Corner writings, please drop me an email.
Next time we will look how BIM can benefit the construction process downstream in fabrication.
Let’s BIM!
Ari Nassi / Tekla
ari.nassi@tekla.com
Faster take-off
Most architects use 3D tools and can provide a 3D model, in some format, to support their architectural drawings. Engineers may utilise this information and use it as reference models whilst creating the structural engineering model, or directly convert it into an engineering model thus integrating the work process between the architect and engineer.
Automatic drawing and material lists production
Models produced by the BIM process are not “drawn”, but actually contains all the construction components and material as a computer-model simulation. From this model you can automatically print out all the required drawings and material lists. All the measurements and material lists will be correct since they are extracted from the accurate finite model. And the best part is still to come – any changes you need to make, and you know there will always be changes, all you need to do is to simply amend the model, and all the related documents, including drawings and material lists, are automatically updated.
Easier Analysis & Design (A&D)
Now that you already have the model, which you have created for conceptual design, there is no need to create another one for Analysis and Design (A&D). Within applications such as Tekla Structures all you need to do is to simply apply loads into your conceptual model and run the analysis by using your preferred A&D software from an extensive list of applications. And the benefits do not end here, since your loads are intelligent objects in the building information model they will stay there and can be reused at any time. When you modify the model, loads connected to the structural parts will follow the modifications and the re-running of the analysis results is easy at any time.
Design coordination in 3D environment
You may integrate your structural, HVAC, piping and other models into a single environment which becomes real-life working 3D model of the complete building. You can navigate around the structure, check any construction details and consider the overall constructability. This is much easier and interesting than trying to do the same based on a pile of 2D drawings. Communication is a major part of design coordination and your BIM model becomes the preferred communication tool, where you can view the model on the meeting-room wall or share it over the internet. Even complicated issues are easy to convey when discussed within the 3D model.
So what is the end result? Faster and higher-quality designs, where you can detect and correct all mistakes and most of the constructability issues, which would become very costly if only noticed a few months later at the construction site. In other words structural engineer has added more value to the design compared to the traditional drawing based process and his/her role has become more important.
Any comments or feedback you may have on my BIM Corner writings, please drop me an email.
Next time we will look how BIM can benefit the construction process downstream in fabrication.
Let’s BIM!
Ari Nassi / Tekla
ari.nassi@tekla.com
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
