Week 3 - BIM I

The assigned reading gave me a better appreciation for the immense amount of work that goes into creating these modeling programs and objects within the program. I had never considered how the layout and behavior of objects within a program had to be drafted to account for all building codes. Manipulating objects in a model is such an easy tasks but its interesting to read about how much definition in terms of distances, angles, rules and if-then conditions must be establish for an object family so it can be so easily implemented in a model. I also found the section about the levels of quality of BIM models very interesting because I could see high levels of complexity not being necessary in many cases.  It can be advantageous to have the option of a weaker model available as a cost savings measure.

The first article that I read, called Build Smarter, Faster and Cheaper with BIM, focused on how stakeholders in the design, construction, ownership and operation of buildings all benefit from the elimination of construction inefficiencies as a result of using BIM. It focused on the transfer of information throughout a building’s life-cycle. BIM allows for more accurate energy modeling, designing buildings with zero carbon emissions and reduce construction and facility waste so that LEED certification can be easily accelerated and achieved. BIM software also allows for effective code complacency checks, validating if a design passes all building code requirements. It also allows for simultaneous design and documentation which eliminates the pressure of data management for designers. Conflict detection in BIM is also useful as it lowers the number of RFIs and change orders caused by human error in planning in designing. Also, having a single model that tracks all aspects of the project means that all stakeholders are working with the same information. I strongly believe the sharing of information among stakeholders would have immense benefits for everyone involved in the project. So long as everyone is working with compatible software and model file types, having a single model would ensure no one is working with conflicting documents and all information is readily available when needed.

The second article I read, called Commissioning BIM, described the process a facility owner or engineer should go through when preparing to commission a BIM model to be made for their facility. The writer recommends that the commissioning begin with the owner doing enough research to not only determine what benefits they are looking for but also to locate any background data they can provide to the design team to make the most accurate model possible. Each of the different scanning options were listed according to their level of detail and the writer discussed how a less expensive method like a measuring wheel could be used for areas of a building with low amounts of detail and then a laser scanner used for the more detailed sections in an effort to save money. Most importantly the writer explains that a facility owner needs to justify the level of detail and cost of the model with the benefits it will provide. I chose to read this article because I was interested in how a facility owner would go about commissioning a BIM model for an older building.  Everything I have read on BIM so far makes it seem like a relatively easy tool to implement if its used from the very beginning of a building’s life, before designs even begin. Unfortunately this article, though it mentioned researching all available data on an existing building did not discuss much about how successful the design of a BIM model for an older building can be, especially since in many cases accurate records are not kept of all as-builts, building maintenance and equipment installation. I definitely plan to look into how BIM would work for older buildings for the reading assignment next week.