The assigned reading provided an overview of BIM technology and the evolution and capabilities of object-based parametric modeling. Additionally, the article talked about some of BIM's shortcomings, such as scalability. While scalability is a issue on the computer and design side, I believe that BIM has several much larger industry setbacks that are not fully addressed in this article.
First and foremost is the integration of technology in industry. Even a design firm which prides them self on fully using BIM for every project is still victim to this setback. For example, a structural engineer routinely has to take an extra step export his drawings to the primitive and inconvenient PDF format just to share drawings with contractors. After exporting to the PDF file, several drawings are printed on huge pieces of paper, often in multiple copies, even before the drawings are ready for construction. Any developer who has ever sought out local governmental approvals knows that most of these agencies often request several copies of these incomplete drawings. In a fully integrated BIM world, the engineer would only need to update his drawings on a BIM file which could be stored "in the cloud" and instantly downloaded on a variety of devices, such as iPads or computers. Obviously this is technology that already exists, but has yet to implemented in the construction industry.
One of the articles that I read was titled "7 questions project managers should ask about BIM." This article asks certain questions that any design team member should know about a project before using BIM. It also addresses a few more limitations about BIM. For example, if a structural engineer is using BIM for his designs, he really needs to know a lot of information about the other disciplines before doing the design work. In other words, structural loads in certain building areas depend largely upon what type of mechanical or architectural loading is necessary. Consequently, it doesn't make sense for a structural engineer to use BIM to create detailed designs very early on in the design process. Adoption of BIM at wrong time in the design process could lead to inefficiency and increased costs.
The second article I read was called "NIBS BIM initiatives." This article talks about the need for a set of standards regarding BIM technology. While one may be able to argue that there are de facto BIM standards, such as using BIM according to software in compliance with Revit's interface, this organization argues that creating BIM standards will "merge data interoperability standards, content values
and taxonomies, and process definitions to create standards which define
"business views" of information needed to accomplish a particular set
of functions as well as the information exchange standards between
stakeholders." I think that adoption of a concrete of BIM standards will only help to unite the industry and expedite the transition in to this advanced technology. I also found this article interesting because it talks about the different stakeholders that BIM may affect, many of which I never even thought about. For example, the article states that realtors, mortgage brokers, and appraisers may be able to use BIM technology to gather information about the building, site, and area demographics. While I never thought about these applications, it just goes to show that BIM technology is only in its infancy and has potential to change the industry even more than it already has.
This is a similar topic to the article I read 'BIM Getting Bigger'. As BIM technology advances the amount of data and information that it can process also increases. This is making BIM models more difficult to handle and share between groups. Like you said, drawings regularly need to be converted and printed for a contractor or engineer to take the information into the field. Using BIM models in this way is highly inefficient. To be able use BIM to its full potential new technology and processes should be integrated to increase the ease of use.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you said about the required article failing to address the large industry issue. New technologies always take time to catch on in any industry, which causes the use of old outdated methods in addition. I believe that this is really the only issue not addressed in the required reading. The cloud is most likely the way BIM will be used in the future, and be able to be directly loaded on site. I believe this is true however I do not feel we will ever move away from hard paper copies. If we did, the entire construction field would need to understand BIM and be able to use it effectively, as they no longer can write questions on plans and send them to the engineers. The questions would need to be presented on the actual file, which also creates another problem, giving access to write on the master building file to everyone working on the project.
ReplyDeleteYour remark about how if a structural engineer wants to use BIM to create his design is one that I do not fully agree with. I agree that he needs to understand the concepts of the other systems, yet as long as the MEP engineers give the necessary information, how much space they need, that he would be able to create a “hole” in the building in which he could say the equipment was going. Also most large scale projects, all engineers work together regularly to ensure that there are no conflicts, generally using BIM.
The big and small applications are both needed for complete potential. I just read an article that went very deep within the creation and modeling of small mechanical equipment. Its explained how the smaller we go into modeling the better the larger model can be. For example, the addition of complex equations or algorithms catering to the sizing and location of very small components within a small mechanical piece of equipment that then goes into the small area of the room it operates in that then is a part of the large building is very important to the database creation. I know this may be a bit off topic but it gives some sort of support to both arguments.
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