According to a study conducted by McGraw-Hill Construction, around 71 percent of the AEC companies in North America are using building information modeling (BIM) technology, as of 2012. Among the companies using BIM, nearly 50 percent have been using it for more than five years, while around 40 percent are implementing it in more than 60 percent of their projects.
Another survey, conducted by Design Master Software Inc. in 2012, among 74 engineers and designers from the US, Canada, and several other countries, revealed that around 62 percent of the respondents are already using 3D-BIM. Moreover, around 75 percent of those who are not using this technology said that they expect to use it on more than half of their projects during 2013, 2014 and 2015, while another 30 percent said that they will use 3D-BIM in all their upcoming projects in the next three years.
According to the report “The Business Value of BIM” by McGraw Hill Construction, around 58 percent of the architecture firms in the United States were using Building Information Modeling (BIM), as of 2009. With more and more construction firms using BIM to their advantage, it is always a good idea to be more informed about the benefits offered by BIM. Contrary to common misconceptions, BIM is not just a technology, but a better approach towards designing, construction, and management of a construction project. Here, we will take a look at some major benefits of using BIM, so as to understand why this is a better approach towards building.
Benefits of Using BIM in Construction Projects
Effective utilization of BIM helps reduce manual errors, decrease costs, increase productivity, and improve quality of a construction project. Be it designing, construction, and management, BIM contributes to each and every phase a project in order to make the process easier, error-free and more effective. Following are the three major benefits of using BIM.
Did you know that designers of the very first automobile dubbed the invention as “horseless carriages” since they were reluctant to change their mindset and accept a revolutionary technology? Similarly, designers of steel frames covered them in masonry so that they looked like already-known bearing wall structures. It took them years to utilize the expressive capability of steel that is quite prevalent in designing buildings today. There are scores of other examples where almost every industry has tried to dismiss an innovative solution and attempted to shape it according to familiar practices. But eventually, true innovation conquers all. The AEC industry is also undergoing a similar phase with BIM technology. Nevertheless, scope and future of BIM services is resplendent with opportunities galore. Let us get a sneak peek at what the future holds for Building Information Modeling.
Building Information Modeling – The Future Ahead
The increased awareness about green energy efficient homes has led to an amplified interest in Building Information Modeling services as the means to achieve this. The drivers of adopting green technology include energy efficiency, environmental health and generating less waste. With BIM technology, AEC firms can build facilities with Green House Gases (GHG) control, carbon regulation and zero emissions.
Companies such as Toyota and Boeing in the manufacturing sector have been using digital design models for decades and now seem to have become masters in the art of collaborative projects. For the construction industry to reach that level where collaborative thinking is second nature, the industry needs to expand its view and come out of its safe haven. Clashes between architects and engineers, or between contractors and suppliers are not uncommon. Building Information Modeling, with its very core of collaboration, attempts to bridge these gaps between different stakeholders. Slowly and steadily, the AEC industry is also moving on to that plane where an integrated approach is fast replacing the traditional methods.
Building Information Modeling
Integrated practice is the key to collaboration in any domain. An integrated approach is when all the stakeholders involved in a construction project life cycle – architects, designers, engineers, contractors etc. work together. Throughout the whole building life-cycle, they can, together, do their bit of value addition towards the final structure. Such a collaborative way of functioning offers enhanced quality and efficiency for all building processes, thereby resulting in achieving cost effectiveness as well as client satisfaction, which is crucial to any project.
Here is a 90-minute recording of a panel discussion that was held at Autodesk University 2011 uploaded on Youtube by geoExpressions. The session focused on exploring BIM and GIS from a variety of perspectives including technology; data accuracy, access, integration and analysis; collaboration and efficiency; and a look to the future.
GRAPHISOFT BIMx is an innovative, interactive, BIM communication tool for architects setting new standards for design communication and presentation in the AEC industry. BIMx now turns the iPad/iPhone into a full-fledged interactive building model explorer device as well. This is a demo video from GraphiSoft :
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Autodesk’s intelligent model-based design software can help cities plan, design, build, and manage more efficient, sustainable infrastructure. View this new video story of urban renewal and learn how Building Information Modeling (BIM) supports better informed decision-making and helps achieve greener outcomes more quickly, easily, and cost-effectively.
You have probably seen Susan Smith’s AECWeekly on this topic. Here is a video from Autodesk:
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