BIM Part 2

The BIM handbook is a great reference for any BIM beginner.  The first half of chapter two was a great introduction into how BIM is structured.  The second half of the chapter discussed the different types of BIM applications which are on the market today, as well as a few oldies.  I found the discussion of the different BIM applications to be incredibly useful.  It outlined some basic strengths and weaknesses of some of the most popular BIM applications.  This comparison will allow me to anticipate possible errors when trying to convert files from one type to another.  One limitation of this handbook would be its relevance to present day BIM applications.  For example, the handbook discussed the strengths and weaknesses of Revit 9.1 which was released in 2006.  In five years, I'm sure the programs have been updated. 

BIM has many potential applications in the Architecture, Engineering and Construction industries.  The first article I read (http://proquest.umi.com/pqdlink?vinst=PROD&fmt=6&startpage=-1&vname=PQD&RQT=309&did=2526918321&scaling=FULL&vtype=PQD&rqt=309&cfc=1&TS=1328045419&clientId=18133) discusses the role that BIM plays for facilities management.  The article is from the perspective of the building owner.  The article discusses the criteria an owner should expect from an accurate and useful BIM.  One key point is how the owner should define a clear set of criteria that he wants the model to perform within.  An owner should know that BIM can greatly improve a building’s energy efficiency by allowing greater control of HVAC systems.  However the potential savings should be compared against the overall cost of creating the model. For example, a laser scan of the current condition will accurately depict the in-place locations of components.  This allows for easy updating of the building and will introduce a high level of accuracy to the model, but it can be incredibly expensive depending on the building’s characteristics. Overall, an owner must also compare the time it takes to create the model to the level of detail that will produce a given output.  They must make sure that all costs of creating the model are included to make an informed decision.

The second article http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/BCRC?srchtp=adv&c=1&ste=31&tbst=tsVS&tab=2&aca=nwmg&bConts=2&RNN=A241945047&docNum=A241945047&locID=drexel_main discusses the role that high definition laser scanning can play in building renovations.  The first building was a 35,000 sq ft college building that included a very complex HVAC system.  In order to accurately depict the HVAC system, the contracted enlisted the help of an engineering firm that specialized in laser scanning.  They estimated that without the scan, an accurate model of the HVAC system would have taken at least 2 months and cost tens of thousands of dollars.  Instead, the high def laser scan produced 5.5 BILLION points of information and took only ONE week to collect the data (an additional 2 weeks were spent detailing the 3-D model with colors, etc.).  This technique, in my opinion, is the future of building remodeling.  While the initial cost can be high, the payouts can be huge.

The future of BIM is barely on the horizon.  With each year’s version, BIM applications are reducing bugs and expanding their capabilities and this trend is likely to continue.  The capability of accurate models to predict cost savings will become important to owners as resources become more competitive.  Ideally, every new building should have a BIM included in the final product, but even without it, the use of high definition laser scanning will enable older buildings to reap the benefits of BIM.