BIM

Week 2 Discussion

Prior to reading the assigned article, I had a very limited knowledge of the BIM software. I was aware that there were subtleties, between BIM and traditional CAD programs, but the article really opened up my eyes. For example, I found out that BIM is parametric modeling where one does not draw every member or connection individually, but instead defines specific rules for the program to follow. This allows the user to only have to input the parameter once instead of having to manually create every member/location for each instance. In addition, I was impressed with the program’s ability to resolve conflicts automatically, such as ensuring adequate space between rebar for aggregate to fit and also to make sure that pipe and beam members do not intersect one another. However, it seemed that some of the drawbacks could be seen when creating a basic structure. In these cases, where not too many members are being designed, the process of laying down the parameters to create a building takes more time than simply creating the building the conventional way.

In the first article I read, “Building Information Modeling and Green Design,” the topic of discussion was using BIM for environmentally friendly reasons. Modeling is a fantastic way to test out various methods without having to expend valuable resources. One good example of this can be seen in the US federal courthouse in Seattle, where BIM was used to model air temperatures. After the modeling was completed, it was determined that displacement ventilation was needed. In addition, the modeling showed where to place these vents so they would be most effective and make the most efficient use of their supplied power as well. The article also mentioned the Pearly River Tower, which incorporates wind turbines and photovoltaic panels. Without BIM, the engineers would have had to make educated guesses as to where to place the cells and turbines so as to help reduce the cost of energy the most. Prior to reading this article, my knowledge of BIM was limited to construction purposes but it is clear now that BIM is also a tool for environmental sustainability.

The second article, “Growing Pains” mentioned some of the drawbacks of BIM. While BIM is a widely accepted program, with over “160% growth” in the past two years, it lacks some of the user friendly aspects which are necessary to its ultimate success. For example, it is noted that for every hour that a team puts in for design, an additional three must be included for dealing with the characteristics and performance of the model. These delays can cause tremendous cost overages when they are summed up and taken into account. In addition, it mentions that BIM would have to be significantly more streamlined for it to be included for smaller and more basic structures. Only larger projects would be able to absorb the costs for using the BIM software into their price points without a huge impact being noticed. While there are apparent drawbacks in the program, they appear to be minute in the grand scheme of things.