PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH - Building Information …Building Studio uses Bentley software to...

The 2014

CAD UserGuide to BIM

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Ihave been struck over the last coupleof years by the rapidly increasing forestof high rise cranes scattered across

the London skyline, grown from anabsolute scarcity just four years ago.They stand as proof of a rejuvenated UKconstruction industry and maythemselves act as a catalyst to the rapiduptake and utilisation of BIM.

It’s not just the UK Government’s rapidlyapproaching deadline for all publicprojects to be Level 2 BIM compliant by2016, or the growing health andconfidence in the economy - we are now

seeing real evidence that BIM utilisationdoes actually deliver the efficiencies thatwe in the design and build sector arelooking for. The focus now is on the otherparts of the equation, building operationcosts - which are estimated to be 80% of abuilding’s total life time costs - and thegrowing involvement of the supply chain.

In the following pages we will examinethese and other BIM issues andopportunities as discussed by some of thecompanies, architects and individuals atthe forefront of Building InformationModeling.

INTRODUCTIONThe utilisation of BIM grows apace - By David Chadwick, Editor, CAD User

CONTENTSDEVON DEVELOPEDJonathan Reeves of JRA and Justin Watts of Peregrine MearsArchitects Ltd. (PMA) utilise BIM on two projects in North Devon4NBSHow the new NBS plugin for Revit is helping users change the waythey coordinate information across construction projects

BUILDING STUDIOBuilding Studio uses Bentley software to deliver exceptional, large-scale projects with AECOsim Building Designer

PROJECT OVEArup sets out to prove that BIM can be used to design a buildingthat mimics the complexity of a human body

BIM FOR CLIENTSBenedict Wallbank of Smart BIM Solutions on why clients should beas interested in BIM as the construction side of the industry

FROM BIM TO FACILITIES MANAGEMENTBob Garrett explains the benefits to be gained from improving theprocess of moving information from construction to management

BIM AND THE COMMON DATA ENVIRONMENTIt's never too late for a reassessment of what BIM is, and howonline platforms can play an important part in the process

BIM AND SUSTAINABILITY: A GROWING PARTNERSimon Gillis, Technical Manager, Autodesk, explains why BIMshould be considered as an essential tool in sustainable design

SOFT LANDINGSSteve Cooper and Michele Mason of Conject explain the objectivesand benefits of Soft Landings

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THE CAD USER GUIDE TO BIM - 2014 3

The 2014

CAD UserGuide to BIMPRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH:

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Based in Barnstaple, North Devon,Peregrine Mears Architects Ltd. area small studio employing four

architects (two RIBA) and two technicianswith a focus on design quality andbuildability. As a practice we endeavour tocreate spaces that are a joy to be in,whether that is for living, working orrelaxing. The design tools we use areVectorworks Architect 2014 on a Macplatform, Artlantis, SketchUp and AdobeCreative Suite.

We are interested in both how a buildingsits in the landscape, and how itfunctions; to that end we see sustainable,environmentally conscious design as afundamental part of this approach, andfeel that all buildings should understandand enhance their context.

As a practice we are involved in a widerange of work sectors, and find as a resultof the approach we take that the tools weuse vary greatly from project to project.Like many smaller practices we have beenmaking the move away from the traditional2D workflow and embracing BIM on anumber of schemes in the studio.

We were delighted to win a majorcommission in 2013 to design two newbuildings for Petroc Further EducationCollege at their Barnstaple campus.

As architects with a keen interest ineducational buildings, we were pleased tobe brought into the project at concept /feasibility stage to help Petroc. Our initialwork looked to test and develop a numberof their sites on their North Devoncampus, to see if they would be eligiblefor the grant from the Skills Funding

Agency(SFA). As with

many centrally funded projects there werea number of imposed criteria that had tobe meet to ensure eligibility. For thisproject time was the greatest challenge!

As a practice we have been using BIM insome of our smaller projects for a numberof years, however this scheme enabled usto utilise the benefits we had seen in thoseprojects in one of our larger projects. As aresult the Initial site analysis was greatlyenhanced by the ability to quickly producea number of massing model conceptsaround the site. These models enabled usto test both the stakeholder’s (Petroc)reaction, and the local planningdepartment's views on the development.

By undertaking these quick 3D exerciseswe were able to develop the SFA bid withPetroc confident that the planningdepartment would support our proposals.As a result, the SFA application wasdeveloped further than previouslyanticipated, which we felt would enhance

Petroc'sbid - a

deciding factor insuccessfully winning the

bid, as during the considerationperiod for the grant the time

constraints on the project were reduced.Through having early conversations withthe planning department, andunderstanding that they would be broadlysupportive, we were able to analyse theprogramme for possible further timesavings, something that proved thebenefit of having massing modelsallowing us to asses site logistics and theimpact of construction techniques.

The project had two primary elements,the first being the demolition of a 1950'sbuilding which housed heavy engineeringmachinery. The building was inaccessibleto disabled students and did not providethe basic infrastructure required for thechanging needs of the curriculum. It waslong past its sell-by date, and so it wasproposed that it be replaced with a newLifestyle Building - the new home ofleisure and tourism services.

The second part of the project was torelocate the engineering services within anew building linked to an existingautomotive workshop. In both instances,the primary need was to provide highquality teaching and learning spaces, and

DEVON DEVELOPED

THE CAD USER GUIDE TO BIM - 20144

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Jonathan Reeves of JRA and Justin Watts of Peregrine MearsArchitects Ltd. (PMA) explain how BIM was used to collaborateon two projects in North Devon - new buildings for a FurtherEducation College and a smaller residential housing scheme

BIM model of residential scheme

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ensure that students' experience at Petrocis as relevant as possible to the workenvironment.

Due to the tight programme for thescheme, the client had to instruct thedesign team to work at risk whilst awaitingconfirmation that their funding bid hadbeen successful. To minimise that risk tothe client, regular cost reports wereproduced to make sure that the designwas not straying too far from the plannedfigures. Whilst initially appearing to berestrictive, this quickly became a positivedesign tool, as the various concepts wereswiftly modeled and measured. By havingfairly instant feedback it ensured time wasnot wasted on schemes that wereunviable, and it also ensured that thedesigns put forward were moreconsidered as we knew we would have toconvince the QS as well as the client!

Once confirmation was received thatfunding for the scheme was in place, welooked to quickly develop the massingmodel into basic floorplans. This enabledus to develop the brief with Petroc andtheir partners in local industry, and alsoenabled us to hold a series of designworkshops with the teachers where theirknowledge and opinions could be sought.

We found that the ability to switchbetween 2D and 3D representation wasvery useful at this stage, as many of theparticipants who were in the designworkshops were unable to fullyunderstand the implications of some oftheir suggestions, and a simple 'fly

through' helped to clarify the issues.

In addition to the benefits for the staff,the by-product of the massing modelbeing automatically updated ensured thatthe meetings we were having with theplanning department were always movingforward. Because of the prominentlocation of the site, the planning officerduring these meetings asked for anumber of contextual views from keyvantage points to be submitted for theplanning application.

To address this issue, we utilised theterrain massing tool in Vectorworks inconjunction with the topographical survey,which enabled us to produce a largescale 3D model of the site and the widerarea very efficiently. From this model wewere then able to agree upon a number oflocations around the town and develop"before and after" views.

This exercise was a huge help in theplanning process and in particular at thepublic exhibition that was held. Theseviews also became a significant designinfluence as many parts of the buildingwere pushed and pulled in response tothe model. As a result, an angular formwas developed for the lifestyle building,which required a degree of structuralgymnastics. Working with the structuralengineers for the project, the proposedstructural solutions were tested on theshared model and the benefits /drawbacks of each solution wereinterrogated much more efficiently thanwith a traditional 2D workflow.

A prime example of this was when it wasagreed, due to logistical constraints that asteel frame solution would be progressedrather than an in situ concrete frame. Byvirtue of the scheme being developed inthe BIM environment, this change wasundertaken relatively quickly with minimalimpact on the team. In tandem with thestructural engineer’s input, the mechanical& electrical engineer was able to adviseand interrogate the information andprovide us with a more fluid workflowduring this critical phase of the project.

Jonathan Reeves of JRA was tasked withproducing CGI images for both buildingsfor the public exhibition. In the past,projects that utilised traditional 2Dworkflows often required a standalonevisualisation model to be created - bothcostly and time consuming to ensure themodel matches the current plans. Due tothe inbuilt cross compatibility ofVectorworks 2014 we were able to exportour model for use as a base for all therequired CGI's for the scheme.

Overall, using BIM software on thisproject from inception through to planningand beyond has been a great learningexperience for our studio, enabling us totake concepts from small scale projectsand testing them on our largercommercial work. The cross platformcommunication and instant updatesenabled us to develop two complicatedmixed use buildings which had to respondto complex site levels within a timescalethat would not have been possible usingtraditional workflows.

CGI or proposed Petroc lifestyle building Contextual model of residential scheme


Some of the forms of the buildings andthe tight timescales made modeling achallenge, however it also enabled us todevelop a building that sits well in itscontext and develops a series of spacesthat will provide light and space, enablingthe college to match their buildings to theiraspirations.

Although the use of physical models andsketching will always be a big part of thecreate process, the development of BIMtechnology now adds another dimensionto the service we provide. BIM enables usto develop and explain our ideas furtherand quicker than we previously could,whilst also enabling collaboration to occurmuch easier. In the future we hope that theincrease of BIM in the marketplace willenable us to collaborate on many moreinteresting projects.

COLLABORATIVE DESIGN FORRESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTThe second project was undertaken byJRA and PMA, in an equal collaboration.JRA's Founder and Director, JonathanReeves, explains that they useVectorworks Architect as the main tool forall 2D CAD, 3D Modelling and also BIMmodelling - again on Mac platform andsupported by Solibri, Cinema 4D, Artlantis,and Photoshop. Jonathan says thatVectorworks, as a cross-platform solution,is ideal for small to medium sizedpractices and projects. It’s ease of use,and its powerful toolset make it veryproductive for all the main tasks within thearchitectural design process - fromconcept design right through to productioninformation and marketing brochures etc.

Jonathan Reeves Architecture, which hasbeen using BIM techniques for a numberof years, is on the latest release ofVectorworks Architect 2014 (and now2015) and uses those capabilities onprojects of all types and sizes in the SouthWest of the UK, especially in the countiessurrounding its base in Ilfracombe, Devon,where they not only provide architecturalservices but also professional VectorworksCAD training, sales and BIM visualisation

services for architects.

As a small practice that often collaborateswith other architects and developers,being able to work efficiently andcommunicate ideas clearly in threedimensions has always been important toJonathan, since graduating with a Mastersdegree in Architecture and Computingfrom Sheffield University. It was followingworking in this way by providing the BIMTraining, 3D modeling and visualisationservices for the Petroc Project, that a newcollaborative relationship was establishedbetween the two practices. Together, theyhave since won a competitive bid for anew development of 12 townhouses inIlfracombe, which they are currentlydeveloping.

For this project, a survey wascommissioned in 3D form, and a 3D sitemodel produced using the VectorworksArchitect Terrain modelling suite with thesurveyor's data. This allowed the existingsite to be accurately modelled and initialmassing studies of proposed buildingforms to be produced - very useful forexploring early stage design options fordiscussion with the client and planners.

Once a basic strategy had been agreed,detailed proposals were developed withslabs, walls, parametric doors, windowsand roofs, allowing plans, elevations,sections and 3D perspectives to beproduced directly from the BIM model.Also, because of the sensitive nature of thesite within conservation area, the planningofficer asked for a number of contextualviews from key vantage points.

Once again the benefits of BIM wereexploited to produce a convincing conceptdesign that persuaded the client early on,enabling them to be fully engaged. Many ofthe design meetings were spent aroundthe computer or projector screen, directlydiscussing the 3D model, which could beviewed from any angle. This allowed forsome changes to be easily made on the fly,for example by replacing wall styles to seewhat different materials would look like.

Another of the key advantages of BIMworkflows are the speed and efficiency ofproducing full sets of coordinateddocumentation and 3D views, in a way thattraditional 2D drafting does not allow. Thismeans it is possible to offer much more forless when the commercial pressure is on,making a practice more competitive.

However, as interoperability andcollaboration are the essence of effectiveBIM, Vectorworks includes a range ofoptions, including IFC 2x3 and gbXML filehandling, the ability to exchange 3DNURBS models with Rhinoceros 3D,simple importing of concept models fromSketchUp or downloading of thousands ofmodels from Trimble's 3D warehouse. Itcan also import and export the latestAutoCAD and earlier files and export 3Dmodels to Google Earth.

It is envisaged that, as the project movesforward, BIM model sharing with suppliersand consultants will be a key goal, usingIFC as an open and reliable dataexchange format check via Solibri modelviewer. As both practices were usingVectorworks, file exchange using dropboxand the Vectorworks Cloud Services wasstraightforward.

Another substantial benefit for the clienthas been the ability to start planning howto generate interest in the development byusing the perspective views of thescheme, prepared for planning, which willmake marketing the project much easier.

In fact the client/ contractor was soconvinced they have acquired a vacantshop opposite the site, and now plan tocreate a marketing suite in the shopwindow displaying the visuals and perhapssome animations to help sell the scheme,which will result in the architects beingcommissioned to create this additionalmaterial, creating a win-win for both client,design team and [email protected]@mearsarchitects.comwww.jra-vvectorworks-ccad.co.ukwww.jr-aarchitecture.co.uk/architecture


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Think Rail and Transit.See Bentley!

© 2014 Bentley Systems, Incorporated. Bentley, the “B” Bentley logo, ProjectWise and MicroStation are either registered or unregistered trademarks or service marks of Bentley Systems, Incorporated or one of its direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiaries. Other brands and product names are trademarks of their respective owners.

Enabling BIM from Concept to Reality!Crossrail, London’s new $22 billion railway and currently the largest construction project in Europe, is leveraging the value of BIM across all disciplines and its supply chain. From concept to reality, the Crossrail team uses a range of integrated software from Bentley for design, collaboration and asset information management, to increase productivity, reduce risk, save time and effort, on this world class railway of tomorrow.

Fully integrated: BIM encourages cradle to grave thinking and information management.

Collaborative 3D information model helps identify and solve constructability issues early.

Why not use proven BIM enabling software from Bentley on your next project?

www.Bentley.com/OnlyBentley

Images Courtesy of Crossrail Ltd

THE YEAR ININFRASTRUCTURE

2014 CONFERENCENOVEMBER 4 - 6, 2014

HILTON LONDON METROPOLELONDON, UK

Crossrail_Rail_Ad_A4_0814.indd 1 8/6/2014 5:16:17 PM

The free to use plugin which NBShas developed is a great exampleof how cleverly connecting

technologies can deliver a result whichis greater than the sum of its parts. Itsimply and elegantly links Revit, theNational BIM Library and NBSspecification to deliver an informationeco-system which allows accurate andeasy coordination of projectinformation.

For over 40 years, NBS has been thebackbone of how the UK constructionindustry specifies projects. Its namewas born out of its very heritage, theNational Building Specification. Theyare the de facto standard forspecification. But in the last 10 years aquiet revolution has been happening atNBS, which is emerging as one of thekey players in the world of BIM.

NBS is helping to do for BIM what itdid for specification all those years ago.It is shaking off the perception that it is

just about specification, but ratherabout information businesses usingtechnology as a delivery mechanism. Itstarted with the launch of NBS Create,its BIM specification tool and thedevelopment of the National BIMLibrary. Recent weeks have also seenNBS develop a national BIM objectstandard and win the key £1 millioncontract to develop the digital BIMtoolkit for the government's BIM TaskGroup.

THE NBS NATIONAL BIM LIBRARYThe NBS National BIM Library providesa comprehensive, free to use source of1,000s of generic BIM objects as wellas detailed proprietary objects frommore than 60 manufacturers. Thisservice is already used by over 10,000registered users and its content isgrowing exponentially.

NBS Create is the company's flagshipnew specification software tooldeveloped for use with BIM projects.

The plugin for Revit connects these twoservices, with Revit giving users notonly direct access to NBS BIM objectsand the NBS specification guidancewithout having to leave your Revitworld. It also provides some impressiveadditional functionality which will saveusers significant time and deliver bettercoordination of critical projectinformation. NBS talks about an'information eco-system'.

The BIM objects come in many levelsof detail; from generic concept objectsused as placeholders to more detailedgeneric construction, then ontoproprietary manufacturer objectspopulated with detailed information.Information within the objects definesphysical characteristics as well as itsgeometric shape, and allows it tobehave in a 3D model exactly as itwould in real life (windows opening in anumber of different ways, doors rotatingon hinges etc.). Component objects arebuilding products like doors and

NBS PLUGIN FOR AUTODESK REVIT


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We take a look at the new NBS plugin for Revit and how it is helping users change the way theycoordinate information across construction projects

Associating a doorset component Access to NBS specification clauses by clicking on theobject in Revit

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windows that have fixed geometricshapes, whilst layered objects have nofixed shape or size, such as roofs,walls and ceilings. Other criticalinformation such as performance andmaintenance data are also containedwithin the objects.

NBS has developed a consistent wayto develop BIM objects that givesdesigners the confidence to includethem in their models, working withmanufacturers to accurately representtheir products in a virtual environment.NBS also looks at data associated withthe product to determine the relevantspecification and IFC properties thatallow it to be categorised, or comparedwith similar products.

New intelligence has been added toobjects such as heating boilers to makelife even easier for the designer. Boilers,for example, need a certain amount ofclearance for them to work properly andto allow access for servicing. Itsattributes can be extended to include arequired clearance space, shown in the3D model as a transparent box aroundthe boiler. Similar tools can be used forelectronic devices like beaminterruption detectors.

The library provides a level playing

field for smaller SMEs, providingaccess to the same types of BIM objectas their larger competitors. However, ifthey wish to subscribe to NBS, thewealth of information available isimmeasurably increased. Instead oflimiting access to just the geometricand performance capabilities of the BIMobject, subscribers have access toobject classification data, manuals,performance details, installationguidance - in fact everything about theBIM object that could possibly berequired for any type of installation orusage.

INTEGRATION OF SPECIFICATIONThe concept of linking an object’sspecification with the designinformation preceded BIM by somemargin. In 1973, when NBS waslaunched, the core principles werearound having specification clausesthat were annotated from the drawings.

Library information forty years agowas delivered in the form of books,standards and catalogues on abookshelf. The basic premise hasn'tchanged through all of the interveningyears, except that the latest technologymakes the job quite a bit simpler andfaster. And the development of BIM,which works on exactly the same

principles, confirms the wisdom of theirefforts.

THE NBS PLUGIN FOR REVITFirstly, the plugin enables Revit users toeasily and quickly search, browse andselect NBS National BIM Libraryobjects from the cloud directly withinRevit via a simple drag and dropwindow. There is no need to leave yourRevit world.

Secondly, the plugin also gives usersaccess to the world of informationwithin their NBS subscriptions, helpingusers to make the right selectiondecisions at the right time. All thisinformation is made available withinRevit at your fingertips. For exampleguidance on a partition in a kitchenwhich would require fire andperformance specifications, a referenceto current British Standards, and thedifferent building requirements youneed to adhere to for installation ineither a home or a stadium. Set withinthe partitions, the doors need to bespecified as to type and durability, thetype of primer or sealing coat theyneed, and any corrosion protectionrequired.

Thirdly, and this is a real time saver,using the plugin, users can push out an

Search for specific BIM objects from the National BIMLibrary then drag and drop directly into your model

Coordinating information and checking conformity is simplethanks to the Association and Validation report

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outline specification directly from theirRevit model into their NBS Createsoftware at the push of a button. Thisnot only populates the specification butforms an association between theobject in the Revit model to thespecification clause in NBS.

Why make the association? Linking allobjects within the Revit model to theNBS specifications, ensures that theyconform to the latest buildingperformance and other standards - andreports the fact by showing, with greenticks, whether they have been properlyassociated, or synchronised with theirspecifications. It means that users caneasily coordinate and verify that theirdesign and specification match upwithout the need to laboriouslymanually check every item.

If the model is edited, by changingcomponents, upgrading theperformance of a boiler, for instance, orreplacing a set of doors with another,the 'Verify Association' routine has to beimplemented again. Failure to do thiscauses the check list to show a red tickagainst that object. This provides a veryvisual, quick and easy tool for checkingconformance of the model with allcurrent standards and regulations.

Another new and requested feature

that the plug-in provides is the ability topreview the specification withoutopening NBS Create, or even taking outan NBS licence. The Viewer also hasimproved hyperlink functionality,enabling links to clauses associatedwith objects to be clicked to bring upthe detail.

Tagging materials and 2D objects isnow possible, not just on systemcomponents and objects, but oncomponent elements, such as wall tiles,plasterboard or insulation. Moreimportantly, tagging of objects in theRevit Family Editor with NBS codes - abig ask of users - is now possible withjust a click of the button.

If a designer's office has its own BIMobjects, it can add the NBS parametersrequired to enable integration with thespecification by using the NBS Revitplug in. This may be done by clickingthe NBS button within the AutodeskRevit Family editor. Another usefulreference for the designer creating theirown objects is the new NBS BIM objectstandard which was launched on 24thSeptember.

LIMITATIONSThis plugin for Revit does have somereal gutsy functionality, which will be a

real time saver for users. There aresome areas where we feel NBS couldimprove on. At the moment thecoordination of information between theobjects in Revit and the specificationonly goes so far. For example, it willpick up differences in bath type but itdoes not pick up whether if the lengthof the bath is different.

A second useful feature would bealerts to the user when the objects theyare using are out of date - either a newversion of the object is available fromNBS or the manufacturer has replacedthat particular object in the market.

You can download the plugin and theBIM object standard fromnationalbimlibrary.com and also see awealth of other BIM articles, videos andguides on www.thenbs.com.


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Associating a layered object type Access NBS Guidance and essential standards directly withinRevit via the NBS plugin

Associating NBS clauses to your owndesign office objects is simple and fast

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For further information on how Tekla can assist with BIM implementation and other consultancy services we offer, please call 0113 307 1200.

a www.tekla.com/uk

DO BIM BETTER WITH TEKLA

With the almost daily BIM announcements by clients, contractors and suppliers identifying their increased efficiencies and greater value by adopting BIM, not to mention the Government drive towards adoption by 2016, Tekla recognise that forming a BIM strategy alongside responding to CE Marking and ISO requirements can seem a daunting task. We can help with the implementation of BIM within your organisation - advising on making the right business decisions, getting the most from your software and help with workflow procedures to ensure you are ready for the challenge ahead.

When Gerard Outram, CEO ofBuilding Studio, founded hisbusiness in 2007, he did so with

an eye to the future. "As a start-up businessowner I knew the 3D world was a wave ofthe future, and Bentley offered a greatplatform to help Building Studio meet ourvision. Over time, we've moved to newiterations of Bentley's 3D design software -AECOsim Building Designer - and it's been a fantastic platform for growing ourbusiness."

Based in Sydney, Australia, Building Studiouses Bentley software to design and delivercomplex buildings for corporate,institutional, and government clients. Thecompany is well known for producingcreative, rigorously tested solutions thatmeet each client's unique needs andaspirations. To date, the company's 20employees have used AECOsim BuildingDesigner - and, more recently, ProjectWise -to design, document, and build more than90,000 square meters of buildings.

INVESTING IN PRODUCTIVITY ANDINNOVATIONOutram knows the value of Bentley'splatform having spent 12 years working withit alongside competitor products, whichgave him a solid basis for comparison."With Bentley's 3D software we couldinnovate faster and achieve a very high levelof productivity. AECOsim BuildingDesigner's BIM workflow also enabled us tocreatively explore designopportunities knowingwe would have

seamless integration with the documentproduction workflow. When I considered mypersonal productivity using different tools, Iconsistently got better results usingAECOsim Building Designer. So, from thatpoint of view, there was no question whichdesign software I wanted to deploy."

But Outram considered other factors aswell, such as how the product workedtechnically and the total cost of ownership. "Ireally liked the federated data model builtinto Bentley products," he explained."Construction projects contain an enormousamount of data that places significantdemands upon IT systems. I knew thatwhen starting my business, I couldn't makethe investments in heavy-duty serversneeded to achieve the performancelevels we'd need using softwarebased ona single database.Bentley's federated modeloffered a great solutionthat could get usstarted and growwith the business."

He alsoknew thatBentley

offered the most sophisticated 3D modelingcapabilities and visualisation tools. "Wecould quite literally model anything - and notbe limited in any way by the software," notedOutram. "At the same time, we could quicklyreel off 10 or 20 different renderings ofvarious views of a design - good qualityimages that really help clients understandthe design and feel like they are a part of thedesign process."

Without AECOsim Building Designer,Building Studio would need to use separateteams to create 2D drawings, 3D models,

and lastly the renderings, which wouldinvolve a much more labour-

intensive process.

COLLABORATING ONBIGGER, MORE

COMPLEX PROJECTSWith AECOsim Building

Designer deployedacross the

business,Building Studio

has been ableto work

faster andwin far

bigger,more

BUILDING STUDIO


Building Studio uses Bentley software to deliver exceptional, large-scale projects with AECOsimBuilding Designer, ensuring design quality while maximising productivity

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Image courtesy of Building Studio

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challenging projects than would beexpected from a young company. Forexample, one project Building Studio wonwas a research center for a university inSydney.

"We were approached by one ofAustralia's biggest tier-one contractors toredesign a 45,000-square-meter biologyresearch building," commented Outram."We used Bentley software to model everyspace and feature of the building andcreate the plans and images thatconvinced the university our alternativeproposal was the best way forward. Wewere able to solve the architectural andtechnical problems that were driving up thecost and complete the design withinbudget, and deliver 3D documents provingit. We ultimately won the contract as aresult. Even though we are a small firm,Bentley's platform enables us to producethe number of documents of a larger firm -and compete against those firmssuccessfully."

In many cases, Building Studio projectsinvolve collaborating with large contractorsand other third parties. Stated Outram:"With AECOsim Building Designer,collaboration is simplified in part becausewe can easily import third-party design filesand translate them into a readable format.Exporting to other platforms is also easy viathe IFC export interface."

BOOSTING QUALITY ANDPRODUCTIVITYAECOsim Building Designer has alsodelivered expected benefits in terms ofhigher design quality and productivity. "Inmy previous experience, it would take twoto three people to complete the designand documentation of a 7,500-squaremeter building using a 2D methodology,"explained Outram. "But when we did ourfirst project of this size using AECOsimBuilding Designer, it took just one personsix weeks to complete the developeddesign. During constructiondocumentation the productivity gainswere also extraordinary - and theycontinue to be."

Building Studio also sees far fewer errorson site because of the quality of the BIMmodels the team can create. Outramexplained, "I can run a smaller team duringthe site review process by leveraging ourmodel to complete the job down to thesmallest detail." For example, the LanternBuilding project, which involved additions toand reutilisation of a heritage buildingalmost 150 years old, required installation ofan eight-meter-high suspended glass wall.

With an accurate survey provided by thecontractor, the design team modeled theheritage building, the glazing, and allsupporting steel work within a structuraltolerance of less than 20 millimeters. Thesecomponents were manufactured offsite,delivered, and installed with no cutting orerrors. "AECOsim Building Designerenabled us to model this high-risk aspect ofthe project precisely and ensure theconstruction went beautifully," noted Outram.

WORKING SMARTER WITHPROJECTWISEOver time, Building Studio has taken onincreasingly complex projects - andmodeled them to a greater level of detail."This has enormous benefits in terms of thequality of our design and documentation,but at a certain point, we reached theperformance limits of our hardware,"explained Outram.

"I bought the fastest servers, networkingswitches, gaming workstations with solidstate disks, fast RAM, and graphic cards -all pushing the limits of Intel specifications.And yet the complexity of our models,which is what makes them so useful for usand our customers, was slowing down the whole process."

So Outram decided to work smarter, usingProjectWise. "We deployed ProjectWisebecause it handles data files in a differentway," he explained. "It caches the files onlocal workstations, which significantlyimproves drawing load and opening times.For example, file opening times werereduced from three minutes to 30 seconds.The time savings alone - replicated

hundreds of times a day for each designer- recoups between two to three hours eachday as productive work time.

"The alternative - making sure BIM modelsare lightweight - requires running twodesign teams: one that creates the BIMmodel and another that creates drawingsheets using a traditional 2D process. Butthis means also losing the productivity anddesign coordination benefits of BIM. Iwanted to ensure we realised the fullbenefits of BIM provided by AECOsimBuilding Designer."

TAKING COLLABORATION TO THENEXT LEVELThe internal productivity gains offered byProjectWise are just the beginning forBuilding Studio. "We have a vision forProjectWise as the central information hubenabling collaboration in the cloud withthird-party resources and customers, thushelping Building Studio expand,"commented Outram. "With ProjectWise, theactual drawings designers create can nowbe stored in the cloud for easycollaboration. At the same time, we cangive clients, contractors, and otherstakeholders secure, highly controlledaccess to the drawings, without having torepost the files to another system. Thissaves us time and effort.

"The workflows built into ProjectWise allowus to control what people see, how theysee it, and how they use it. For us, this is ahuge competitive advantage relative tofirms using a more traditional informationsharing process."

SUPPORTING A VIRTUOUS CYCLEWith projects characterized by greatdesign, exceptional speed, quality, andinnovation, Building Studio has earned arock-solid reputation. "We are proud of theconsistent, really good feedback wereceive from clients. It feeds a circle ofhappy employees, contractors, andsupporting consultants. The efficient BIMsolution provided by Bentley reallyunderpins all aspects of our work," statedOutram.

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What exactly is BIM?Is it a term for abuilding

methodology that wouldhave evolved naturally

anyway, because ofthe need to share

information in abuilding projectthat encompassesdifferenttechnologies, inmuch the sameway that a

language, English, isa means of sharing

information andexperiences between

different people? Or is it aprocess that can be defined

within a project that facilitates thesharing of information by establishingstandards and protocols, enabling modeldata to be recognised by each of thedisciplines involved, and by establishingthe means by which that data can beshared?

The difference between the two may bepure semantics, but that does not detractfrom the very real benefits that BIM hasalready brought to the constructionindustry. And, in the same playful waythat we can discuss the philosophy ofBIM, the technical practicalities of theprocess can be explored on amazinghypothetical projects that would beunachievable outside of BIM. Such aproject is Project OVE, from Arup.

Project OVE, is a virtual replication ofthe human anatomy, that really

exemplifies the potential of BuildingInformation Modeling. What originallystarted out as an internal project byArup, known for its creative approach tobuilding environments such as railwaynetworks or gravity-defying skyscrapers,has now evolved into something fargreater. Arup wanted to capture bestpractice examples of BuildingInformation Modeling's benefits toconstruction projects, and involvedenthusiastic professionals from the UKBIM community to push the industryforward and generate an appetite forchange.

PROJECT OVE As a result, OVE was born. Standing 170meters tall on his full steel skeleton, OVEbreathes, sweats, gets hungry and has aheart and brain. OVE's hypotheticalhome town is Las Vegas and his sizecompetes with Arup's high-rise projectssuch as the Gherkin, while the greatpyramid of Giza barely touches hisshoulder. As a structure, OVE is a mixtureof a commercial and a residentialbuilding, with his legs containingapartments, torso holding offices andobservation desks and head hosting thecontrol centre and the board room. He isthe embodiment of implementing BIM toconstruction projects with elaborategeometries, unorthodox designchallenges and unique aesthetics.

To be able to accurately model thehighly complex steel structure thatrepresents OVE's full structuralskeleton, Arup chose Tekla Structures,as they normally do with all of theirconstruction projects.

PROJECT OVE


With the assumption that the structure of a building is ascomplex as that of the human body - or the other way round -Arup sets out to prove that BIM can be used to design abuilding that mimics the latter - facilitated by BIM

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THE HIP BONE CONNECTS TO THEBACK BONE - STEEL SKELETONUPHOLDS OVE'S POSTUREOVE's character was created with twomain principles in mind. In the firstinstance, Arup wanted to keep thegeometry as true to human anatomy aspractically possible. Secondly, theydecided to create the character using BIMsoftware and processes that could bereused in real life projects. OVE becamemore than a replication of the humanbody: he is equipped with data-rich MEPsystems representing the respiratory andcirculatory systems, while the architecturaland accurate structural outputs give OVEhis dashing looks. To include all of this, itwas necessary to use software that doesnot limit the choice of other tools neededin the workflow.

To protect his major organs and hold hisproud upright 170 meter posture, OVE wasgiven a structural steel skeleton completewith legs, a waist and a spine. The keychallenge in creating a static buildingresembling a human was to establish abalance, which real humans commonlymaintain through movement. OVE's height-to-base dimension ratio is much smallerthan is customary in skyscrapers. Thismeant mapping out how all muscles,bones and ligaments operate in unison andtransforming them into building elements.

Creating OVE's skeleton from the earlyconceptual model to the detailed design,took two engineers and two technicians acouple of weeks - leisure time snatchedoutside of their regular and demanding

day jobs. The full structural model is awonderful product of design collaboration,the high levels of interoperability betweensoftware packages and a detailed studyand devotion to the human form andmodeling.

The structural design loop consisted offour key phases. The starting point waslaser scanning a human model to create apoint cloud and converting it to primaryparametric inputs for the diagrid scheme.This was followed by the structural analysisphase, after which Arup moved intocreating an accurate, deliverable BuildingInformation Model.

The benefits of using BIM throughout thestructural design process were significant,starting with the streamlined parametricdesign that permitted accelerated creationof the model around the point cloud of thescanned human model, and the ability toestablish that the constructed BIM modelwas fit for purpose. Whilst it would havebeen nice to see such an edifice beingbuilt we can, at least, satisfy ourselves thatthe design is capable of construction. TheMEP system that replicated the internalorgans and life-signs of the body, ofcourse, would necessitate somemodification to accommodate inhabitantsof the structure, rather than permitting it to'sweat'! Pedestrians walking beneath itwould not appreciate being half drownedby 'droplets' of sweat on a hot day.

The process did, however, illustrate theadvantages of proper collaboration andinteroperability between applications using

differing design technologies, doing sowith reduced drawing output, andminimising the possibility of errors withcommon data sharing. That, in turn,reduced the incidence of mark-ups andfacilitated the creation of schedules forultimate fabrication or construction - allvalid BIM benefits.

According to Jonathan Lock, Associateand CAD/BIM Manager in Arup, with theprimary assistance of Joe Dukelow,Structural CAD technician, the entireproject team was looking for a solution thatcould turn the generic model into aBuilding Information Model ‘fit for purpose’in a cost and time efficient manner. As aresult they turned to Tekla software fortransforming OVE's skeleton into buildingelements with fabrication-ready level ofdetail. Because of the high incidence ofstructural engineering within the model,Arup saw Tekla as the perfect applicationto meet their objectives.

Explaining the BIM process used increating Project OVE, Jonathan said "Youcan model anything in all packages, it'sjust about choosing the most efficient forthe type of project and understanding theworkflow and deliverables. For structuralengineering, the most suitable andefficient for us was Tekla!" Although it musthave been a fun project to work on,Jonathan emphasised that they have hadwonderful feedback from the industryabout Project OVE and the lessonslearned have created huge opportunitiesto improve real-life projects.www.arup.com

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Many people think that BuildingInformation Modelling (BIM) affectsonly design and construction

teams and is not something about whichthe construction industry client need beconcerned. BIM might be used to increaseefficiency, reduce waste and carbonconsumption, enhance collaboration andpromote truly integrated design anddelivery solutions during the building,design and construction phase of a project,with the UK Government taking measuresto promote the adoption of the BIMprocess throughout the constructionindustry, but they could argue that theprivate sector client should just sit back andreap the benefits of more competitivetender returns from the supply chain.However, only 20% of the cost of a facilityrelates to its design and construction. Theremaining 80% of a buildings cost residesin its operation.

Achieving savings after a facility has beencompleted, therefore, has adisproportionate affect on its lifetime cost (a5% saving in operation equating to a 20%saving on the cost of construction).

To be able to drill into operational costsrequires the delivery of consistent and

structured digital asset information,available to the owner-operator for post-occupancy decision-making. It needs to beclearly defined by the client in requests forproposals (RFP's) and appointmentcontracts.

Clients with a long-term interest in theirfacilities understand this, with the UKgovernment taking a leading role inensuring the provision of consistent assetinformation on publicly procured projects,specifying the information set to the supplychain using an established internationalmodel - COBie. COBie was, of course,created to provide a means ofcommunicating information about facilities,enabling clients to take full and responsibleownership immediately on buildinghandover.

Whilst government procured projects aremandated to adopt the new strategy, astuteplayers within private client groups realisethat as the wider industry adopts these newtechnologies, they too will benefit fromreduced cost and risk, and those whoretain responsibility for their assets (thoseinvesting in PFI/PPP type projects forexample) are actively redefining theirdeliverables to include asset information.

Such information sets can only beproduced efficiently by generating most ofthe data from a Building Information Model.

Of course, not all construction clients havelong-term interests in their assets;developer clients commission manyprojects with the sole object of selling orletting their new developments. Why dothey need BIM deliverables? Just aspotential tenants have recently understoodthat better sustainability ratings have abeneficial effect upon running costs andfactor this into their decisions, it seemslikely that good quality structured data forthe management of assets will do likewise.Clients who can deliver such structureddata will, therefore, have a sales advantageover those who cannot.

Other advantages are also available to theclient using the BIM process and itsconsistent project data. Models can beanalysed from the feasibility stage andtested more accurately than under a 2Dprocess to approve the outline businesscase. BIM can also provide increasedprogramme (4D) and cost (5D) certainty atan earlier stage than under a traditionalprocess providing a degree of comfort tothe developer, not previously available.

BIM FOR CLIENTS


Benedict Wallbank of Smart BIM Solutions explains why clients should be as interested inspecifying BIM as the construction side of the industry

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Exploded view of the Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre,Sheffield, UK - Bond Bryan Architects

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18

ArchiCAD 18 offers a streamlined workflow solution, keeping architects in the creative design flow with as little disruption as possible. The integration of CineRender, MAXON’s world-class CINEMA 4D rendering engine into ArchiCAD 18, brings high quality, photo-realistic renderings to a much wider range of designers. ArchiCAD 18’s brand new Revision Management solution is integrated into the entire BIM workflow, providing solutions for 2D, 3D or any kind of hybrid workflows. Is also offers a smooth, PDF-based workflow and improved PDF-based data exchange by introducing BIM-related intelligence and data hierarchy into PDF files.

For further information on ArchiCAD 18 contact Graphisoft

at www.graphisoft.com or call 01895 876222

Copyright © Graphisoft UK Ltd. All rights reserved world-wide. All other company and product names may be tradenames or trademarks of their respective owners. Image: Cairns Family Health and Bioscience Research Complex, Canada architects Alliance www.architects alliance.com Photo © Ben Rahn / A-Frame

Importantly, consistent digital data acrossportfolios enables clients to compare datafrom project to project in a more detailedand accurate way, with BIM, in the longerterm, enabling a wider variety of projectprocurement models to be consideredfacilitating "open book" information, andproviding greater trust and certainty toConstruction Management contracts.

HOW TO IMPLEMENT BIM?How does a client become a "good" BIMclient, once it is decided that BIM may beof benefit, and what needs to be done toensure that the design and constructionteam deliver good quality usable data?

ANALYSE NEEDSExamine current business workflows,establish key problem areas and identifythe key potential benefits of BIM to yourbusiness. Map BIM solutions to theproblem areas and to the "quick wins" (inorder to maximise return on investment).Audit existing skill levels within yourbusiness and produce a subsequent gapanalysis.

DEFINE BIM DELIVERABLESBIM for BIM's sake is pointless and mayeven add to project overheads. Thetemptation to add a vague "catch all"clause to appointments, such as "Theconsultant will supply a BIM", should beavoided. A consultant, for example, mightargue that a bit of modelling andvisualisation work can constitute BIM. Aclient, however, cannot reasonably expectthe issue of usable BIM informationwithout first clearly defining what isrequired. In all likelihood, differentcontractors and consultants will beemployed on different projects for thesame client.

To take full advantage of BIM deliverablesacross their portfolio, clients need the BIMinformation provided from all projects tobe consistent. The astute client will,therefore, give careful consideration todefining clear and unambiguous BIMdeliverable requirements for all theirdesign and construction teams to execute.

BIM DEPLOYMENT PLANSDetail the key activities and a road mapdefining the process of rolling out BIM forthe business, selecting and sourcing bestin class, fit for purpose, technology anddeveloping the required skills. The BIMDeployment Plan should map the adoptionof BIM practice over a defined timescale,normally starting with trial projects, whichcan be used to validate new processes asthey are adopted. The plan should alsoidentify BIM training needs focused on thebusiness, the department, the user, and thetechnology.

SUPPLY CHAINS BIM CAPABILITIESPrior to embarking upon projects with BIMDeliverables, particularly if certain membersof a clients existing supply chain areregarded as key, an audit of their BIMcapability may be carried out. An audit canhighlight client expectations to supply chainmembers and identify areas where theymay require additional skills, hardware orsoftware.

APPOINT FOR BIM DELIVERABLESOnce deliverables have been determinedand deployment planned, the Client mustensure that the supply chain will providewhat is required of them. There are threekey documents that need to be drawn upby the client to ensure that their supplychain can be held to account: 1. BIM appointment clauses for Framework

Agreements.2. A high level Employers Information

Requirement (EIR) protocol.3. A pro-forma for project based BIM

Execution Plans (BEP).

BIM CLAUSES FOR APPOINTMENTSAND FRAMEWORK AGREEMENTSAdditional clauses should to be added toappointments dealing with BIM roles andresponsibilities, the appointment andidentity of the Collaborative BIM Manager(probably the Lead Consultant for designdevelopment and the Contractor for designexecution) and BIM Managers (one fromwithin each contributing organisation),developing a project BIM programme andadherence to the requirements set out in

the EIR and BEP.

EMPLOYERS INFORMATIONREQUIREMENTS (EIR)The EIR is a high-level protocol documentthat sets out the BIM standards anddeliverables required by the client from thesupply chain on all their projects. There isnow an emerging set of industry-wide UKstandards relating to BIM, and as far aspossible it makes sense for a client toadopt these. In particular the use of IFC'sas the format for the delivery of modelinformation; a classification system(possibly Uniclass2) for the identification ofbuilding elements; BS 1192:2 for theorganisation and sharing of BIMinformation; BS EN ISO 4157:1:2:3 for thelabelling of spaces, floors etc; AEC CADStandards for the organisation of BIMsoftware, CIC BIM level of detail andindustry-wide work stages should beconsidered.

For FM & O&M information it would alsobe worth considering defining your ownCOBie requirements, since much effort hasbeen put into these by the UK governmentclient, by BIM authoring tools for output ofCOBie information and by FM tools for theinput of COBie information.

BIM EXECUTION PLAN (BEP)This is a project-based protocol documentdrawn up by the design team as asubsidiary to the EIR and will include suchmatters as: Model Assembly Diagram BIM Management Structure File Structure Data Back-Up Software Matrix Key Common Data for Co-ordination

and Orientation Model File Sharing arrangements Level of Detail Change Control

The client might choose to supply a pro-forma BEP for completion by theCollaborative BIM Manager and the designand construction team on each [email protected]


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ContaCt ExCitECh to disCuss how wE Can build on thE bEnEfits of biM for your organisation through dEsign.build.ManagE.

Building Information Modelling is changing the way the construction industry works: in design, in construction and in facilities management. Excitech is a leader in BIM with experience in delivering BIM solutions and supporting BIM projects by providing consultancy, training, software, systems and support.

Unique in our knowledge of the whole building life cycle; from review and planning through design to construction and on into facilities/asset management.

we call this dEsign.build.ManagE.

Design Technology Centre,8 Kinetic Crescent,Innova Business Park,Enfield, Middlesex, EN3 7XH United Kingdom

P: 0345 370 1500 I: +44 (0) 1992 807400F: 0845 370 1400 W: www.excitech.co.ukE: [email protected]

building on

biM

Last year Excitech held a webseminar entitled "The BIMImperative" which focused on the

importance of Building InformationModelling for the managers of buildingsand other assets. Those registering forthe event included an almost equal mixof those in design (architects andengineers) and construction companiesas well as the targeted owners andfacilities management organisations.

On the positive side you might see thismix as being expected as they all wantto share the potential opportunities BIMoffers; or it might be seen as a symbol ofconfusion as to who BIM is for. So, let'sput that to rest first by explaining my ownview, which is that BIM is for all! To quoteone of our consultants, "BIM is about theproduction and management of long lifemulti-purpose data for managed usewithin the lifecycle of a facility", and toexpand upon one of my own themes,"central to BIM is 'information', and notjust because it is the middle word".

So, as in the step from design toconstruction, there are benefits to begained from improving the process ofmoving information from construction tomanagement: hence from BIM to FM.

BIM IN FM?Before tackling this information transfer

process, let's address whether it shouldactually be BIM in FM? In other words,why not use the building informationmodels already produced? These couldcontain all the plan and assetinformation including links to externaldocuments and even be enhanced tostore extra data such as maintenancerecords etc. There is potentially much togain from this approach as it mightmean the original and full buildingrecords are updated with changes, andit avoids the risks of moving data fromone system to another.

However, there are problems with thisapproach too. The current software toolsfor managing the building informationmodels (and there are usually multiplemodels) during the design and buildstages are designed for people in thoseindustries - with their specialist skills.This does not make them suitable forfacilities managers with a different set ofspecialist skills. Similarly, the data is notas well structured as an FM systemswould be for connection to external datasuch as room booking, humanresources, health and safety etc. Nordoes it contain the sort of FM functionsdescribed already.

Hence, while the information fromdesign and build is key, the tools forthose stages are not yet suitable for the

management stage. So we needprocesses for moving information fromBIM to FM.

BIM TO FMFirstly, let's set ourselves the goal toimprove the typical information transferfrom the design and constructionsystems to our facilities managementsystem. Our goal should be to deliverinformation:

Which is more complete Is electronic rather than paper based Which provides for easy transfer from

our BIM systems to our FM systems.

Our expectation should be to save timeand save money - as well as to end upwith a better facilities managementoperation from the start and for thewhole life of the asset.

FROM BUILDING INFORMATION MODELLING TO

FACILITIES MANAGEMENT


Bob [email protected]

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In our experience there are three ways inwhich this can be achieved, but thestarting point is an assumption that themain contractor has all the relevantinformation to transfer - as would normallybe the expectation. This includes thebuilding models, the handover/verificationinformation and the equipmentinformation including manuals,maintenance schedules etc. These may ormay not have been combined into asingle integrated package.

Bespoke MappingOur first suggested method is bespokemapping of the data. This is what Excitechwould have recommended historically andin many cases would continue to do so.This allows a broad range of softwaretools and data formats to have been usedin the design and construction stages -and a range of different FM systems to beused in management.

By building a custom data mappingsystem working with the data formats foreach system we can derive what isneeded precisely and effectively. Acustom method such as this might beexpected to be expensive, but it shouldcost a lot less than starting from scratchby surveying and manual data entry.Furthermore, the earlier you lay out theplans to do this the more effective it canbe and the more appropriate to theindividual requirements.

Standard Intermediate FormatA more recently introduced process seesthe introduction of a standard format fordata between the two systems. So theauthors of the design and constructionsoftware need to enhance their softwareto output this special format, while theauthors of the FM systems need toenhance their software to receive it.

Such a format is COBie, which anyoneinvolved in new Government contracts willbe becoming aware of. In its most easilyunderstood form it is an Excelspreadsheet of multiple related tabswhere each tab has a defined purpose

and each field within each tab has adefined set of data. This means data canbe added and checked, even manually,although of course Excel only allows asingle user at a time.

Common software is gaining COBieutilities and COBie as it is used is beingrefined as the realities of the quantity ofinformation to be entered, reviewed,analysed and transferred are recognised.

Vendor specific TransferThe third method is to rely on the softwareauthors to develop direct connectionsbetween their software. Thus softwareauthor A might export data directly intosoftware vendor B's system. Or Vendor Bmight grab data from Vendor A's software.

This might be seen as the simplest froma user perspective as no interveningformat is needed. However, it might in turnreduce the flexibility with which an FMsystem can be populated with information,and reduce the range of software whichmight be used if the vendors do notprovide the function to allow such transfer.

Verification and ArchiveOf course, as part of any of thesepotential processes the data to betransferred should be confirmed as beingreal, checked and complete. It can bevery easy in BIM to assume that all thedata stored is valid when maybe it wasjust default object information which has

not been updated to reflect reality.

One final point on this: we would stillrecommend that the original design andconstruction information is provided to theclient for archiving in case reference tothis is needed in future. This might be anextension, or identifying new materialrisks, or indeed for reference indeconstruction. How this archiving is bestdone could be the topic of another wholearticle and more, so we won't go into thisnow.

EMPLOYER'S INFORMATIONREQUIREMENTSEach of the methods described is anoption, indeed in some projects a mixmight be chosen. So how do you choose?

The starting point for deciding the bestprocess must be for the eventual owner ordeveloper to identify their requirements: tolook at what information they are going towant at the completion/handover of theproject for their ongoing management.The new term for this is the "Employer'sInformation Requirements" as describedand named by the Government BIM TaskGroup and equally worth consideration forany project. The first version of this mightbe simply stating what is required, but thiswould then be refined by discussion withthe design and build partners todetermine and agree the detail.

CONCLUSIONAs I hope we have made clear, thetransfer of as-built information to the futureasset owner and manager is going to bemuch better. The owner/manager is goingto gain not just the benefits BIM canprovide in design and construction stagesbut also better deliverables for theongoing management. In the experienceof Excitech in projects where ourconsultants have taken the role of "BIMManager" or "Information Manager", thekey to this is the consideration at an earlystage of what is required, working with thedesign and construction partners to agreeand specify this in documents such as the"Employer's Information Requirements".

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There is no doubt that BIM isrevolutionising the delivery ofconstruction projects, enabling the

industry and its clients to move frominefficient, paper-based processes withinfragmented project teams towards theseamless flow of structured data betweencollaborators who are incentivised todeliver whole-life value.

The BIM technology to achieve this, andits associated structures and processes,is still in development. But with the UKgovernment's 2016 implementationdeadline fast approaching, onlineplatforms are likely to play an importantrole in successful BIM collaboration,because they allow data from manydifference programs to be shared acrossdifferent organisations, and because theycan be adopted and scaled up relativelyeasily and cost-effectively.

The government strategy paperpublished in March 2011 defined fourmaturity levels of BIM, based not only onthe level of technology used to design abuilding, but the level of collaborationwithin the process. These are:

Level 0 Unmanaged 2D CAD, withdata exchanged in paper or electronicpaper form

Level 1 Managed CAD in 2D or 3Dformat, with data shared via acollaborative tool to provide acommon data environment (CDE) witha standardised approach to datastructure and format. No integration ofcommercial data

Level 2 Managed 3D environmentwhere each discipline creates its ownmodels, and all project information isshared electronically in a CDE.

Commercial data managed byenterprise resource planning softwareand integrated into the BIM by aproprietary interface or bespokesoftware. May use 4D constructionsequencing and/or 5D costinformation

Level 3 Fully integrated, collaborativeprocess with models shared betweenthe project team on a web-enabledBIM hub, compliant with the IndustryFoundation Classes (IFC) open datastandard. Will use 4D constructionsequencing, 5D cost, and 6D projectlifecycle management information.

By 2016, all centrally procured public-sector projects must be delivered usinglevel 2 BIM.

WHAT IS A COMMON DATAENVIRONMENT? A CDE is defined in British Standard1192:2007 as "a single-source ofinformation for any given project, used tocollect, manage and disseminate allrelevant approved project documents formultidisciplinary teams in a managedprocess". It may use a project server,extranet, a file-based retrieval system orother suitable toolset.

The UK Construction Project InformationCommittee, an advisory group responsiblefor disseminating best practice throughoutthe industry, stresses that BIM is about"creating a shared knowledge resource".BIM offers a means for different disciplinesto work together to develop a single,integrated model, rather than producingdesigns and associated informationindividually.

The benefits of a CDE include:

Reducing or eliminating the checking,revision and reissues cycle

Project team members can extractselections of the latest approved datafrom the shared area of the CDE

Reduced need for coordination checksbecause coordination is a by-productof the detailed design productionprocess

Information can subsequently be usedfor construction planning, estimating,cost planning, facilities managementand many other downstream activities

Shared information reduces the timeand cost in producing coordinatedinformation.

In effect, the whole asset can beconstructed virtually, with everyoneworking from the same documents. Fornow, however, this remains a distantprospect for most. It will take time for BIMknowledge and expertise to extendthroughout the supply chain, and for alldisciplines to deliver data in a BIM-compliant way.

It is a common misconception that"doing BIM" involves using a particularsoftware product. The industry alreadyuses a diverse range of proprietarysoftware to create, access, view,manipulate and interrogate BIM data, toexchange data between applications, torun analyses, to display information onvarious devices, and so on. The reality isthat most professionals will need to usemultiple programs in BIM-related work.

Extrapolated across a typicalmultidisciplinary project team, the BIMsoftware ecosystem may involve dozensof programs, not all of which will be ableto exchange data with each other.

BIM AND THE COMMON DATA ENVIRONMENT


It's never too late for a reassessment of what BIM is, and how online platforms - such as the onesupported by 4Projects - play an important part in the process

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In practical terms, working in a CDE islikely to involve using a collaborationplatform, such as 4Projects or 4BIM byViewpoint, as a data management serverto share information. This would beconsulted periodically to reconciledifferences between multiple models, with4D construction sequencing and 5D costinformation held in separate but linkedrepositories.

Proficiency in software use and dataportability are only two aspects of workingin a CDE. Industry professionals will alsoneed to develop working practices withintheir companies, and then between theircompanies and other members of theproject team to manage their inputs toBIM. As 2016 draws nearer, some of theseprocedures and processes are alreadytaking shape. Early adopters have begunto modify their internal structures andmethodologies to accommodate BIM, andtheir experiences have informed the workof the government's BIM Task Group andassociated pan-industry processrecommendations.

ONLINE COLLABORATION TOOLSAND BIM BIM technologies and processes have notemerged in isolation. Since the 1990s, theUK construction industry has beenevolving more collaborative approaches toproject delivery itself. In particular, the

influential government-commissionedreports by Sir Michael Latham and SirJohn Egan in 1994 and 1998 respectivelymade a number of recommendations todrive the industry to a more efficient, lessadversarial form of contracting.

Recent experiences have shown thatwhile technology can be both an enablerand a barrier to collaborative working, it isonly a minor element compared withachieving the necessary change in peopleand processes. Simply adopting a newtechnology is not enough to promotecollaborative working - evidence showsthat it is more important to adaptprocurement processes and contracts inorder to help team members worktogether to maximise value for the ultimateowner of the built asset.

The expansion of the internet since thelate 1990s has also led to an importantchange in the way that companies buyand use software. Rather than buying afixed number of copies of a programwhich are installed on individualcomputers and managed by in-house ITstaff, companies can effectively rent thesoftware they use on a monthly or annualbasis and outsource the management andother overheads to the software provider.This is delivered via the internet towherever it is needed, with the company'sdata stored securely in remote servers.This model is known as software-as-a-

service (SaaS), and it is one aspect ofcloud computing, where data andprograms reside in a network of remoteservers rather than a fixed location. When online project collaboration tools

such as 4Projects by Viewpoint firstemerged, there was considerable inertiato overcome from the constructionindustry. Individuals and organisationswere often reluctant to move away fromtraditional, largely paper-based forms ofcommunication. They were familiar with in-house applications and hesitant aboutoutsourcing and entrusting documents,drawings and data to software providers.They questioned the security and reliabilityof browser-based technologies, and theownership and legal admissibility ofelectronically stored information.

Since the early 2000s, however, SaaShas become increasingly accepted.Vendors have proved robust andfinancially viable, and the technologiescould, as promised, manage dataproduced by numerous different softwaretools. Project platforms have expandedbeyond their original role of storing anddelivering project documentation tosupport complex work processes,integrate with back-office programs, anddeliver information via mobile devices,among many other advances. Thesesystems have now been identified assuitable platforms to manage the CDErequired by BIM.

The 4BIM common data environment makesit easy to allocate and track the delivery ofproject information

Example of viewer location in the 4BIM model

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According to a recent manifestofrom the New Sustainable EnergyAssociation, the UK could save

£12.2bn a year between now and 2050 ifit focuses on delivering greener buildings.Traditionally, it's the environmental factorwhich has driven sustainable building, butnow businesses are also recognising thefinancial benefits.

An example of this is the Government'sinitial 2016 zero-carbon mandate for allnew homes, which was focused onpromoting green policies andsustainability. However, there is now alsopolitical recognition and backing for thebusiness and economic value ofsustainable buildings, with the same zero-carbon standard being applied to all non-domestic structures by 2019.

To achieve the initial 2016 mandate, thegovernment also simultaneously createdthe BIM Task Group. It recognised that byusing BIM technology it could helpreduce investment costs and the impacton the environment by up to 20% byevaluating considerations such asbuilding materials, air leakage, build costsand householder experience. We're still atthe stage where the construction industryis working out exactly how BIM can beused to design and create structures thatare sustainable in every sense of theword, but there's already been a greatdeal of progress in this area.

DESIGN AT THE CORE OFSUSTAINABILITYAt the core of sustainable building isdesign, and it's important for designers toramp up their knowledge of sustainablepractices. In the 1980s there wasn't somuch consideration about sustainabilityor cost of use - we built big shiny glass

towers and fitted expensive and inefficientair-conditioning systems as anafterthought to make them habitable. Butnow, as the clean tech market matures,technology has developed and BIMmakes it much easier to designsustainably, without comprising onaesthetics.

Some industry practitioners haveembraced BIM as a logical next-stepprocess in aiding sustainable design andconstruction of eco-friendly buildings.However, although BIM has gainedtraction in recent years, its pairing withsustainability is still only an emergingtrend, and there remains confusion witharchitects and engineers as to thebenefits it can deliver. But there are manyreasons why BIM should be an essentialtool in sustainable design. Itsfundamental processes - simulation andvisualisation - enable professionals tobecome more efficient and make moreinformed decisions. It also enhancescost-effectiveness by, for example,reducing wastage of time andmaterials.

BIM IN PRACTICEMore and more building projects areputting sustainability at the forefront ofdesign and using BIM tools, such asenergy simulation, in the constructionprocess. At a basic level, BIM incorporatesvisualisation software so that architects areable to create photorealistic renderingsthat outline the physical, real-world spaceavailable. This enables them to efficientlydesign the building and include space-saving concepts such as mobile workingareas, desk sharing features andtelecommuting, which not only reduce thesize of the area built but also achieve acorresponding decrease in energy usage.

Visualisation can also be used to test outvarious sustainable methods prior toconstructing the building, by incorporatingdetails of the surrounding areas into 3DBIM software. For example, New York-based architects SHoP were able to makechanges at variousstages of the

BIM AND SUSTAINABILITY: A GROWING PARTNERSHIP


By Simon Gillis, Technical Manager, Autodesk

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design process of the BotswanaInnovation Hub because they used amodel-based design prior to construction.This meant that following a series ofreviews by a number of architects andstructural engineers, they came up withthe best sustainable practices for thebuilding, which included changing theparking structure to reduce the amount ofsteel needed - reducing the structuralcosts by up to five per cent. They alsoanalysed the impact of sun on the

building, implementing ampleoverhangs to shade and keepthe building cool and formed a

living roof, which collects rainwater for reuse.

The process is not limited to new builds; itcan also be applied to existing structuresto improve sustainability. In a retrofit, thebuilding is captured with a camera, satelliteimages or a laser scan, and architects runenergy simulations that detail how thebuilding could optimise its energy usage. Asimple retrofit example is installing a 'coolroof' to reduce cooling loads during the hotweather, which can be achieved by eitheranalysing the roof type or consideringplacements of rooftop photovoltaics (PV).The design software has isolation valuesembedded that can identify where the sunand its shadows are at every hour of everyday of the year predict whether coolrooftops or PV panels offer better costsavings.

As BIM can be easily scaled up, it canalso be used in large projects, such asassessing and designing entire cities. Forexample, Vancouver built a simulatedversion of its entire city by combiningterrain files, building footprints, satellitephotos and GIS data into a 3D modellingprogram. With this information it canidentify how shifts in population affectdensity and how the landscape wouldchange due to new infrastructure projects,identifying if there are any opportunities fora mass building energy retrofit to improvesustainability.

These are just a few ways that BIM can

be used in designing and constructingsustainable buildings, but they aptlyhighlight beneficial ways in which theprocess is enabling the architectural,engineering and construction industry todesign eco-friendly and sustainablebuildings, mapping the way for the cities ofthe future. Using such digital tools allowsfor construction to be simulated before astructure is built or adapted, permittingobservation, analysis and discussions thatlead to the best economic and sustainabledecisions possible for the project. And nowthat BIM can be used in the cloud, it's somuch easier for architects, engineers andcontractors to collaborate, which reduceserrors and increases efficiency.

FUTURE GAZINGTo reach the economic savings mappedout by the New Sustainable EnergyAssociation, planning for the future isessential and BIM enables professionals tobe innovative while mitigating the risks oftrying something new and unpredictable.As these sustainable building practicesbecome more mainstream, more data willbe collected which will make it easier toincorporate best practices and keyprinciples into structures of the future. Thisis important not just in terms of the initialdesign and build costs but, moreimportantly, the running costs and returnon investment on the build, as owners lookfor the most energy efficient solutions.

As seen by the various initiativesundertaken by the government, not onlythrough the zero carbon mandates butalso planning policy statements,sustainable will become the norm.Designing for green should no longer bean afterthought; it's time to embrace it atthe start of the process. Depending on thebuild, whether a new design or retrofit, thesustainable attributes will be varied but theoverall benefits of BIM will remain thesame. Ultimately, BIM allows for a moreinformed approach to design andconstruction, ensuring that projects arecompleted on time and on budget, andutilise the best sustainable practicesavailable to them.

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Recently we have noticed anincrease in the number of UKconstruction projects being

procured in line with Soft Landingsprinciples. Soft Landings is a framework,created by BSRIA and the UsableBuildings Trust. It proposes that aConstruction Client is actively involvedthroughout the planning, design andconstruction phases and into what formany construction organisations is newterritory; an aftercare stage.

The objective of Soft Landings is to helpconstruction clients obtain the assets andoutcomes they require, and it is closelyallied with BIM. Information technology isa key enabler to achieving theseoutcomes, but technology on its owndoes not deliver sustainable businessbenefits - it is not a silver bullet. It requireseffective working practices/processes andusers willing and able to make them work.

THE HIDDEN GEM OF SOFTLANDINGSSoft Landings is a hidden gem because itis a logical and sensible set of updatedworking practices, designed to helpensure design, construction andhandover are all focused on delivering theasset a Client requires. Its design meansit should help BIM to be beneficial in morethan just the design phase.

A Soft Landings project utilises the datasets created in the design andconstruction stages, often with thecontractor holding the aftercare contract,taking on additional responsibility for fullyunderstanding, documenting andmanaging the asset for a period of timepost-completion. So far our customershave experienced Soft Landings periods

of between 2 and 5 years.

HOW CONJECT CLIENTS WILL BEABLE TO DELIVER SOFT LANDINGSWe're doing this by focusing on threeareas:

First, by investigating ways to supporttheir onsite commissioning demands,typically through delivering flexibledata capture and inspectionfunctionality through tablet devices

Second, by implementing an FM-based digital dataset of thecompleted asset (a CDE) with IFCand COBie integration capabilities

And finally providing an FM system,linked to the digital dataset, to helpmanage end-user support calls andFM processes.

Government Soft Landings is the 'goldenthread', where the use of an asset iscentral to the entire process of the designand construction of a building, as well asits utilisation. Increasing projectpredictability enables the cost of an assetthroughout its lifecycle to become moremanageable (80% of costs reside in theduration of an asset's built life, versus20% in its design and construction).

At a recent conference, the keynotespeakers discussed the interplay of BIMwith GSL. The points we noted of greatestinterest to our clients were as follows:

WHAT ARE THE GOALS OF BIM &GSL? GSL and BIM are frameworks that worktogether to formalise a culture of inclusionin the construction and management ofany built asset, integrated usingtechnology as the enabler and facilitator

to deliver optimal use from built assets.

The UK government plan is that thetransformation of the constructionindustry by 2025 will be a key driver ofeconomic growth with aggressive targetsset at 50% faster delivery; 50% loweremissions; 33% lower costs; 50%improvement in costs.

You can't mandate for organisationalculture: Organisations must change fromwithin to open up and be willing to reformingrained ways of working to result in truecollaboration and a user-focus.

How do you achieve open collaborationvia existing contracts? The currentbenchmark collaborative contractsincluding NEC3 and JCT will needconsiderable revision to deliver the needsof BIM. A challenge of GSL is integratingnon-construction job functions intoconstruction processes from the outset;the benefits of early collaboration forproblem avoidance are what BIM & GSLare all about. Our aim at CONJECT is toprovide our clients with integratedsystems to support all phases of anasset's lifecycle.

The question is, however - as majorcontractors are either using BIMprocesses or will soon move to it, will BIM(and therefore GSL) result in a two-tierconstruction market - split between thoseusing big data, and those not?

The good news is that much of what isincluded in GSL are things that shouldalready be done; it's not just a whole loadof new requirements being handed downfrom on high. www.conject.com/uk

SOFT LANDINGS


Steve Cooper and Michelle Mason of CONJECT explain theobjectives and benefits of Soft Landings

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© 2014 Viewpoint, Inc. dba Viewpoint Construction Software. All Rights Reserved.

Without BIM, your projects could be in trouble. And so could your business.

VIEWPOINT CAN HELP.The UK government has mandated that all public sector contracts to utilise BIM by 2016 - so if you’re considering BIM, now is the time. 4Projects® by Viewpoint with 4BIM is a collaborative software solution for building, infrastructure and energy. 4BIM makes it easy for clients, contractors, consultants and their full supply chain to manage and control their collaborative BIM requirements without expensive IT infrastructure or licenses - saving time and money.

See this and all our construction software solutions at www.4projects.com

4Projects.com +44 (0) 845 330 9007 #viewpointcanhelp

BIM YOUR WAY TO SUCCESSLet us help you get ahead of the game!

This event is about getting to grips with BIM. Our aim is to show you how other companies are using BIM on small projects then provide interactive workshops, templates, etc so you can start to introduce BIM in your current projects and get ahead of the game when the Government specify BIM for all government procured projects from 2016.

Tuesday 7 October 2014Time: 09:30-15:00 hoursCavendish Conference Centre, London W1G 9DT

What you will achieve

Build up your knowledge from a BIM Template –

Interactive Workshop – Ongoing Consultancy

Speakers include:

Professor David PhilpHead of BIM Implementation, Cabinet Offi ce

Plus: Barbour ABI - BPR Architects - NBS - SCIA

To book visit our website

FREE entry.

Register at www.bimvectorworks.com

Win a 23” wide screen

displayWorth over

£200

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