BIM the New CAD; Putting Information at the Heart of Building Construction Projects




Changes that BIM - Building Information Modeling, has brought in construction industry are much bigger as compared to the transformation that CAD brought about in traditional drawing practices. While CAD got introduced as a tool for producing engineering drawings, BIM has been putting information at the heart of construction projects, empowering every stakeholder who utilizes that information, transform the project environment at large.

CAD to BIM transformation

CAD – Computer Aided design process had unpredictable ways and means of coordinating data across the construction projects. To eliminate the hassles and leverage BIM benefits to its fullest, CAD clubbed with Autodesk Revit and VectorWorks, were introduced; and became favorite of tens of hundreds in no time. This new avatar of CAD facilitates more prominent data management in throughout the construction project environment. 

BIM the new way of processing and collaborating information with data weaved in the 3D model; enables the merging of specific models created by various disciplines to offer a complete overview of the project. Information is added straight to the model clubbed with materials, size, functions, time and other related data. Earlier, the design process in the construction industry highly depended on the efficiency of drawings and particulars to temporary workers, from concept design to final construction and beyond. However with BIM, it is all about bringing the information and various elements together, so as to frame a logical arrangement of data.

For a few years, each foundation had its own meaning of BIM; i.e., the UK BIM Task Group characterized BIM as “value-creating collaboration through the entire life-cycle of an asset, underpinned by the creation, collation and exchange of shared 3D models and intelligent, structured data attached to them”. So if put simply, BIM places data administration and information trade at the heart of the design procedure. 

With the increase in the site or the building, the amount of information also increased alike, leading the engineers and contractors to handover information overload to clients, this was no good. Ideally the client is supposed to receive the right amount of information with right data. Addressing this challenge by introducing two new roles with newer project management responsibilities was not a big task for those working on BIM modeling.

BIM Information Manager & BIM model Managers

With information manager walking in, integrating BIM across the project lifecycle and ensuring everyone involved in the project are following the protocols, was implemented. Secondly BIM model managers ensured that all models are logically shared by all those involved in the construction project, and coordinated throughout the project lifecycle.

Intellectuals it seems had predicted the kind of penetration BIM would have in the AEC industry and this would have lead them to announce in a report way back in 2011, government stated its objective that by 2016 it would need collaborative 3D BIM on all government projects. The statement was the part of Government’s plan to modernize the construction industry, with the absolute aim of achieving a 20% cost cutting in construction and operation of new building. Significant to attaining this goal is the employment of Building Information Modeling to generate more effectual construction sector. 

Conclusion

Like any new procedure, change requires significant investment, particularly in an industry as divided as building construction. The streamlined and savvy BIM process offers cost impoverishment and change in the quality of construction. The sooner that building construction companies focus on BIM, the more noteworthy the advantages will be.

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