When BIM (Building Information Modeling) was initially introduced, it took construction to new heights by allowing industry workers to see the assembly of a building from all angles. To this day, BIM allows trades to better coordinate before arriving at fabrication and means less rework, less material waste, quicker installations and the ability to pre-visualize issues in the field. However, even with the ability to find and resolve issues ahead of time, there are circumstances when BIM doesn’t function the way that it should.
When BIM doesn’t do its job, it might help to ask the following questions:
- Was the design well thought out?
- Did the design consider the constructability of the building?
- Has the maintenance of the building been considered?
The lack of addressing these issues may potentially cause contractors to encounter unforeseen issues during coordination; this includes everything from maintenance clearances, equipment access, valve access, light and grill installation, hangers, and cable tray access. When we don’t account for the constructability and maintenance of a building, it simply causes more rework in the field. This is why it is crucial to allot enough time to coordinate the building properly and ensure that all parties are on the same page for the BIM job. This involves everyone from the architect and engineer, the general contractor, subcontractors, fabrication teams, field teams, and operations teams.
Another consideration in the BIM process is to ensure that the information you have is precise. When renovating, we typically lack accurate field information because digital models consist of straight lines and perfect conditions. Often, the existing building’s structure have long settled and nothing is perfect. On the upside, new technologies are allowing us to scan structures for more accurate depiction of existing buildings.
Again, even with technological advancements, you must have all parties on board for the coordination to be successful. What I mean by this is that BIM alone isn’t enough. Beyond the building model, BIM is a holistic process which involves consideration of the entire project lifecycle, from evaluation to operations and maintenance. The various teams from the design to installation to the maintenance of the building must be on the same page for a virtual building to efficiently come to life.
