Understanding BIM beneficial to today’s busy contractor

Phc News recently conducted an exclusive Q&A with Sarah Hodges, Autodesk’s senior industry marketing manager, on the benefits of Building Information Modeling (BIM).

phc: Why is it essential for plumbing & specifying engineers to move toward BIM? What is the breadth of benefits that BIM offers?

Hodges: Using a model-based design approach with Building Information Modeling (BIM), mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineers can benefit from integrated design, analysis and documentation features that support the engineering design process. Benefits of BIM include the ability to make a change anywhere and have that change replicated everywhere to ensure coordinated and consistent designs and documentation. This is akin to using an Excel spreadsheet where one data input changes the entire model.

BIM enables MEP engineers to design with greater accuracy and to improve efficiency by designing building systems to better meet architectural and owner demands, as well as the needs of the building in terms of energy consumption. BIM enables engineers to design more accurately, to analyze for optimum performance and to deliver coordinated and consistent documentation and 3D intelligent models to owners and project stakeholders. With BIM, the intelligent information inherent in the 3D model helps MEP engineers to more effectively and efficiently design and deliver building systems.

phc: How computer savvy does a BIM participant need to be? In other words, is training or some sort of online training involved?

Hodges: BIM is not a technology. It is an integrated process built upon coordinated, consistent and computable information that enables a project to be explored digitally prior to construction. It is a different way of working.

Autodesk’s design software, combined with the BIM process, facilitates an improved way of working collaboratively, using a model created from coordinated, and consistent design information. This process enables earlier decision-making, better documentation, and the evaluation of alternatives for sustainable design or improvements using analysis before construction begins. Autodesk BIM solutions provide an integrated way of working based on 3D intelligent models. A change anywhere results in a change everywhere, creating an intuitive way of working. Design professionals have quoted in the past that Autodesk BIM solutions work the way you think, exemplifying the intuitive nature and ease of which the information inherent in the model can be used for different design decisions.

phc: Can you explain the dynamic of compatibility between the engineer/architect, builder and contractor?

Hodges: This is a fascinating social dynamic. Historically, the architects and design teams would create some wonderful design concept only to throw it over the wall and “dare” the contractor to build it. The relationships were very antagonistic. This is old school and no longer a sustainable way to work. BIM encourages and enables much better teamwork among all the disciplines. Complementing BIM, Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) encourages all parties to take greater ownership in the project. This shared ownership can often provide better costs, on time delivery and higher quality, which means a better project, has been delivered to the building owner.

phc: It has been said that BIM usage reduces risk in the project. How?

Hodges: There are many ways that BIM can reduce risk. We’ll mention just a few to start the conversation:

• BIM is an integrated process that vastly improves project understanding and allows for predictable outcomes. This visibility enables all project team members to stay coordinated, improve accuracy, reduce waste, and make informed decisions earlier in the process — helping to ensure the project’s success.

• Using tools like the Revit BIM Portfolio and Navisworks risk is mitigated in many ways. Identifying clashes with Navisworks early on, means that you can identify errors, clashes and reduce expensive and time consuming RFIs, meaning you accept failing on the desktop and not in the field. It allows you to schedule work so that only the right personnel is on site, allows team to prefabricate MEP and reduce the number of site injuries. Using Conceptual Energy Analysis features in Revit Architecture and Revit MEP means you can do earlier energy analysis and build a more sustainable design early on.

• By using Revit and Navisworks models, visualizing the project enables workers and owners know exactly what the project will look like (virtual fly throughs) and there is less risk of miscommunication, less chance of litigation. It is this accurate communication of design intent that delivers a huge benefit.

phc: What is the future of BIM? Any new developments?

Hodges: Let me touch on two areas. First, BIM has expanded beyond the focus of just buildings and now includes the civil engineering and infrastructure realm. The same principles that have improved the design and construction of buildings is now applicable for water, waste-water, power, smart grids and utilities, land development, road and highway projects. Second, the whole concept on considering the entire “building lifecycle” is now being rolled into BIM. Eighty percent of the cost of a building, over its lifetime comes after the building is constructed. This means the costs savings coming from electricity and water use, improved energy efficiency and maintenance are significantly greater financial considerations. High performance buildings are efficient buildings, delivering greater value to the owners and occupants.