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What Is BIM, Really?: by Tryg Kruger

What is BIM

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155 views

What Is BIM, Really?: by Tryg Kruger

What is BIM

Uploaded by

r4kin
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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What is BIM, Really?

By Tryg Kruger

Generally, the term Building Information Modeling (BIM) is used to describe


the process of producing a 3D electronic model of a building. Though this
definition is woefully limited and oversimplified, it at least offers a starting
point at which we can begin to unfold (and unravel) a more comprehensive
and useful understanding of what is, in fact, a very complex subject.

Let’s begin by unpacking the term itself, which will help reveal the breadth
and complexity of the term’s scope:

Building: This term would seem to be rather obvious, and to some extent it
is. But it isn’t limited to just what’s included in a building’s envelope. It also
includes the site on which a building sits, along with relevant environmental
and geographical conditions (topography, soil, ground water, etc.), utility
services (electrical, telephony, water, sewer, etc.), parking lots and means of
ingress/egress, landscaping, site lighting and all physical and tangible
features of the edifice and site, up to their connection with public and
externally owned assets (e.g. incoming electrical service facilities that may be
owned or controlled by a utility, but provided by the building’s owner during
construction).
Information: This is data, pure and simple (which is not to say that what the
data represents is simple!). In any specific project, this can be a particularly
robust and comprehensive data set that includes virtually everything that can
be known about a project (materials, performance, schedule, permitting…

What is BIM, Really ©Tryg Kruger 2016 Page 1


you get the idea), or a subset tailored to a project’s specific requirements.
This is explained in more depth below.
Modeling: This is the most loaded of the terms, in part because the term
itself has become outmoded, and partly because the definition is somewhat
fluid. As mentioned previously, the term originally was intended to refer to
3D depictions of buildings and their internal systems, through which design
teams can detect conflicts between building and systems components and
resolve them prior to construction documents being released to the field. This
was originally accomplished by using standard CAD tools to extend 2D
depictions into 3D, and mimicked electronically the long-term practice in
process industries of building a physical scale model of a plant in order to
resolve clashes of major plant systems prior to their construction, thus
avoiding costly rework in the field.

3D modeling has been significantly successful in fulfilling this purpose.


Since the advent of Autodesk’s Navisworks 3D rendering product and its
adoption as a de facto industry standard application in the late 2000’s, users
of various CAD applications can collaborate efficiently with a robust set of
tools to accurately create, manage and visualize functional 3D models. While
the advantages this technology provides are yet to be fully exploited industry-
wide, the construction industry is moving swiftly towards universal adoption
of 3D modeling of all substantially sized commercial, industrial and
institutional projects. In fact, as of 2016, the United Kingdom is mandating
that all government construction projects include the use of BIM models as a
means of, among other goals, creating an internationally competitive
advantage for UK construction companies.

What is BIM, Really ©Tryg Kruger 2016 Page 2


As 3D modeling technology has advanced, however, new functionality and
opportunities have opened up through the application of BIM. Primarily,
these relate to the capture and use of project data as projects are developed
and designed.

Beyond the current typical use of BIM to resolve construction layout and
conflict issues electronically before they can reach the field, the technology is
now providing an exceptional new set of opportunities. Primarily, these
revolve around the ability, for the first time, to aggregate all data that is and
can be known about a building and the processes it houses into a central set
of databases which can be accurately visualized, manipulated, extracted and
managed in a central virtual location. This includes dimensions, materials,
products, performance data, cost and labor data, cut sheets, details,
maintenance and operations manuals, specifications, photographs, warranty
data, web and data hyperlinks, contacts, etc. Additionally, extracted data can
be used for statistical purposes, historical trending and performance, use in
other projects, process improvement, and virtually any purpose imaginable.

The implications are vast. For instance, accurate real world material data can
easily be extracted from a model and compared to estimating material take-
off data and can be used to refine estimating processes. Calculated electrical
properties, such as loading and demand, can be easily compared to actual
performance data through the medium of the model in order to refine design
processes and assumptions on future projects. Field scheduling can be refined
and material delivery can be aligned to reduce inventory float, material
returns, layout space and unproductive waiting time. Since field coordination
is minimalized or eliminated, accurate models of sub-assemblies can be

What is BIM, Really ©Tryg Kruger 2016 Page 3


translated into shop drawings and prefabricated, which offers significant time
savings. Without belaboring the point, the aggregation of data into tools from
which data from various sources can be easily extracted, manipulated and
employed offers an unparalleled opportunity of cost savings over time.

BIM, in order to realize its full potential, should be thought of more


accurately as Building Information Management. In fact, this term is
beginning to make inroads as the potential of BIM, realized and yet-to-be
realized, becomes more evident. The accretion of project data into a centrally
and easily accessible virtual location is central to the concept of Lean
Construction: it’s the best tool for smoothing out workflows, transferring
project information and eliminating process waste.

It goes without saying that the path forward is complicated. Construction


itself is terrifically complicated. Leveraging the advantages of BIM is and
will be disruptive, and necessitates new ways of thinking and new ways of
doing. Obsolete ways of thinking and doing, it goes without saying, will fade
into the recesses of history, much like lead pipes and blue-line machines.
There are better, more efficient and safer ways of doing things, and
companies and individuals that embrace and master the developing revolution
in our industry will prosper. Almost certainly, however, there will be
companies and individuals that fail to make the transition, and like drafters
who failed to master CAD, they will be displaced more quickly than most of
us currently imagine. Everyone has an existential choice to make; be a
disrupter, or be overwhelmed by the disruption.

What is BIM, Really ©Tryg Kruger 2016 Page 4

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