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Why BIM?Building Information Modeling

What is BIM?

Building Information Modeling (BIM) is more than a new technology; it is an innovative approach to the entire design, construction, and maintenance process. Many of the agencies and organizations involved in the building industry have their own definitions of BIM, but they all have a similar feel to that of the National BIM Standard definition:

BIM is a digital representation of physical and functional characteristics of a facility. As such, it serves as a shared knowledge resource for information about a facility, forming a reliable basis for decisions during its life-cycle; defined as existing from inception onward.

How does BIM enhance the design process?

During the project study and design phases, BIM allows you to quickly create and review multiple design scenarios and easily convey those options to the client while maintaining a single model. BIM offers many tools to create schematic massing models, as well as detailed construction-ready models, without losing any of the design intent along the way.

The current 2D design process relies on passing information from the design team to the construction document team, creating new drawings at each phase. By having all project information contained in a single, continuously updated database, it is easier to manage data accuracy and integrate all project aspects during the design phase. This leads to better specifications, estimations, schedules, and compliance, as well as the ability to produce detailed 3D models and simulate construction. Some additional items BIM will help with include:

Earlier and more accurate visualization of a design.

Automatic low-level corrections when changes are made to design.

Accurate and consistent generation of 2D drawings or 3D renderings at any stage of the design.

Earlier collaboration of multiple design disciplines.

Easier checks against design intent.

Utilizing BIM on a project institutes a shift in the traditional project workload. With BIM, much more work is done earlier in the project. By shifting more work to the schematic design and design development phases of a project, changes can be made with a smaller impact on costs. Traditionally, more effort went into the construction documents phase, where design changes are typically much more expensive. The graph below indicates the preferred process versus the typical process. BIM greatly increases the ability to follow the preferred process.

How can construction/contractors take advantage of BIM?

While BIM was initially developed with a focus on the design world, it has quickly gained favor among contractors and construction managers. Construction is a team sport, and BIM is dramatically reshaping the way project teams work together to increase efficiency and enhance outcomes for all. This process is driving the most transformative evolution the construction industry has ever experienced. The use of BIM and 3D modeling facilitates the optimization of lean construction techniques and principles.

In a recent McGraw-Hill Construction BIM Report, 45% of users report they are utilizing BIM tools at moderate levels or higher. In 2009, 62% of BIM users will use it on more than 30% of their projects; and nearly half (45%) of all current adopters will advance to become heavy BIM users (using it on at least 60% of projects), up from 35%. Some of the benefits for contractors utilizing BIM include:

Assisting with scoping during bidding and purchasing.

Coordinating construction sequencing (even if just for two trades).

Identifing collisions (e.g., identifying ductwork running into structural members).

Visualizing what is to be built in a simulated environment.

Making fewer errors and corrections in the field.

Higher reliability of expected field conditions, allowing opportunity to do more prefabrication of materials offsite, which is usually a higher quality at a lower cost.

Those contractors using BIM will almost universally tell you the number of benefits they continue to discover seems endless. There are so many processes we think of in the context of a 2D-based mindset. As we shift to a model-based process, contractors continue to find innovative uses for BIM.

We offer clients the option of construction management services. This integrated design/build approach fits perfectly with BIM technology. This software and production method will improve the exchange of building information throughout the building design and construction process. - Les Hewitt, Retired Senior Vice President/Principal

Working with a 3D model increases coordination and collaboration among disciplines, reduces conflicts among systems, and allows us to make design decisions faster and earlier in a project. - Adam Meeker, AIA, Senior Architect/Associate

BIM helps the contractors to visualize a building before and during construction

How do clients/owners benefit from BIM?

From the owner’s perspective, BIM offers the promise of a high- quality project, as well as time and cost savings. The 3D models enable project owners to gain a better understanding, early in the design process, of how their final project will look. Design issues can be addressed early on with the prime consultant. If revisions are made, the database and model are updated as necessary, and changes are automatically integrated throughout the process. This should lead to fewer surprises, errors, and omissions. For owners doing multiple similar projects, BIM offers the ability to communicate similarities and differences to the design and construction teams. The result is consistency across all projects. In addition, if the owner takes control of BIM when the project is completed, the owner benefits by having more detailed models and schematics on hand for ongoing operation, maintenance, and renovation of the project.

Are agencies or organizations requiring the use of BIM?

In 2003, the Office of the Chief Architect (OCA) of the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) Public Buildings Service spearheaded the National 3D-4D-BIM Program. To date, OCA has led a pilot program with over 30 projects that incorporated a variety of BIM technologies to address different programming, design, and construction challenges faced by GSA capital projects. In addition, OCA is assessing and supporting BIM applications on over 40 ongoing GSA projects across different regions. For all major projects (prospectus-level) receiving design funding in fiscal year 2007 and beyond, a spatial program BIM will be the minimum requirement.

Along with the GSA requiring BIM to be a major part of the design process, several other federal agencies and large companies are requiring BIM as part of the design process. Some examples include:

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Naval Facilities Engineering Command

U.S. Coast Guard

Wisconsin Department of Administration

Michigan

Grand Rapids Lansing Kalamazoo Farmington Hills ph. 616.575.3824 ph. 517.882.0383 ph. 269.375.3824 ph. 248.324.2090

OhioCincinnati ph. 513.469.2370

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Leveraging BIM (using Autodesk Revit specifically) will require some new thinking and should enhance communication and coordination between disciplines. With the help of our IT Department, Graphics Task Force, CAD Support Group, and new BIM Task Force our transition will be smooth and deliberate – helping us deliver exceptional client service! - John Condie, P.E., Senior Vice President/Principal/

Senior Electrical Engineer

FTC&H has made the transition from CAD to BIM a top priority. The firm views implementing BIM technology as a means of achieving the next boost in productivity and improved communication. - Les Hewitt, Retired Senior

Vice President, Principal

BIM necessarily provides the “ideal”… contractors, architects, engineers, and suppliers who are communicating, on the same page, and working toward the same goal. An excellent product for all! -Charles Wesley, Construction Manager

How is FTC&H utilizing BIM?

FTC&H realizes that BIM is the future of design and construction. During the past 18 months, FTC&H has invested heavily in software, hardware, and training to help bring FTC&H to the forefront of this new design and construction process.

As the use of BIM increases within the design and construction industry, it will lead to a revolution in project delivery. Many are already referring to this revolution as leading to the fully collaborative project team. The theory of full project collaboration generally envisions the entire team–owner, architect, engineers, consultants, construction manager, and specialty contractors–being involved from the project’s inception by “sitting together at one table” in developing the project design. Essentially, the team constructs the project virtually in 3D with the use of BIM. This full project collaboration allows for increased speed of delivery, enhanced economics for the project, and true lean construction—all at levels not yet experienced in our industry.

FTC&H has the unique ability to realize the full potential of BIM because we have all disciplines, including construction, under one roof. This integrated services approach helps us utilize everything the model has to offer, from the preliminary design phase all the way through construction. Over the past year, we have created models on several types of projects, including:

University facilities

Hotel prototypes

Big-box retail

Municipal water treatment plants