BIM Reading 2

The required reading from the BIM Handbook continued to explain the tools within BIM and parametric modeling, as well as the different types of programs within the BIM family.  The tools and capabilities were discussed in greater detail, and how these were strengths and weakness for BIM.  I felt that these were useful "overview" sections, allowing one to gain an understanding of the specific software's purpose prior to use.  The main programs discussed were Revit and Bently Systems, which is to be expected.

The article I read, Improving the Construction Process With BIM, was about how the use of BIM was changing the industry, from an insiders point of view.  The article refers to the CABA, Continental Automated Buildings Association,  summer conference where productivity and BIM were discussed.  Statistics from the conference showed that 82% of companies in attendance felt that BIM was helpful the companies productivity.  However, this isn't all that unusual from an automated buildings association conference.  One of the more interesting parts of the article was from an organizational point of view and how that improved the designing process, allowing designers to spend more time designing, and less time organizing and keeping track of documents and specs.  This is something that was reinforced from the BIM tutorial.  I had forgotten how nice and intuitive the "project" window in Revit was, allowing for all aspects of the projects to be easily accessed and arranged.  The article also talked about companies creating their own objects and families for widespread use.  The article mentions manufacturers starting to accept BIM as the future and beginning to place their own products within the software. Overall, I felt that the article was a good link to the different A1 assignments.

BIM Part 2

BIM

          The second part of the BIM article from the BIM handbook provided a more detailed perspective about the various BIM programs available on the market today. Before examining the specific programs, several different criteria were mentioned. These included: user interface, drawing generation, ease of developing, scalability, and extensibility, just to name a few. User interface and ease of developing were parameters which when done well would help make the amount of time actually figuring out the software go down significantly. This would ultimately mean that the drafters could accomplish more drawings in the given amount of time. Drawing generation and scalability both had to deal with raw computing power. Some programs are saved in a file system which means smaller processing power is needed; while others create one large file which takes a lot of processing power to update and create. In addition, the extensibility of the program refers to its capability to design certain structures. Some programs, for example are better able to render complex curves and difficult to conceive structures, while others are unable to graphically show these curves.

            This first article I read on the subject matter was entitled “BIM at its Best.” This article goes through many of the different aspects of BIM and notes how they save both drafting time and construction costs for companies. Specifically, it was mentioned that there was a significant decrease in request for information (RFI) forms during construction. In addition, the number of change orders submitted throughout the construction process was greatly reduced due to the conflicts in design being addressed in the steps prior to the start of construction. Finally, because of these cost saving effects of BIM the article mentions how the software is nearly always paid for by project savings. After finishing this article, I thought to myself, why not purchase several versions of BIM? It appears that there are some factors that one program offers which would make it the better program to use for a specific project. For example, those which can render complex designs can be used for the more in depth projects. On the other hand, those which are very user friendly and not as in depth could be used for the projects on the smaller scale. Ideally, there would be a program which can handle all aspects needed for a successful BIM software, but it does appear that purchasing more than one version of the software might be worth the cost.

            The second article researched how often BIM classes are being taught at the college level. The presence of AutoCAD classes greatly outweighs those of BIM classes, which was not particularly surprising. Since the industry seems to have just recently adopted BIM into its list of prominently used software, it will take some time before academia can develop coursework and appropriate classes. It would not make sense for the schools to offer courses for a program which is not used in the industry, so it makes sense why there were few classes until now. It does seem like there are being more courses offered in the subject though, which is a good thing to hear. I am happy to be introduced to BIM while in school so I can gain exposure before entering the job market.  

BIM Discussion

The required reading from the BIM Handbook first discussed in general the capabilities of BIM software. It listed a number of capabilities in order of what the author thought was most important. Some of the areas discussed included user interface, drawing generations, ease of developing custom parametric objects, scalability, interoperability, extensibility, complex curve modeling, and multi-user environment. Then the handbook went on to discuss the different BIM software packages that are in use today. The first software was Autodesk’s Revit. Revit is able to import and export a number of different files and it is easy to get a general overview of how it works if you’ve never used it before. The one weakness that Revit has is that it has a small memory system that slows down for larger projects. It also doesn’t support complex curve modeling which was discussed previously as an important feature of most BIM software. Bentley systems and their architectural BIM tool were discussed next. When compared to Revit there is noticeable difference in the memory because of the way files are saved. Bentley’s interface is also a lot more difficult to easily understand. The handbook goes on to discuss other BIM software that I think aren’t used a lot in the industry. Revit and Bentley seem to be the most popular of the BIM software.

The first additional article I read is called BIM and Substantial Design, Building Analysis. This article discusses the benefits of using BIM to aid in the analysis of a sustainable building design. When analyzing a building done in AutoCAD or any other 2D program, a lot of human interference occurs which makes the analysis process costly and time consuming.  BIM is able to model a building in its early stages. This allows the building to be analyzed to see how the structure will perform. If it performs poorly, the design can be easily changed without affecting construction time. The use of BIM can insure many sustainable features in the end result of a building. Sustainable design and building greener is something that is beginning to be incorporated in every new building whether it’s LEED platinum or just has a LEED certification. The required reading discusses the capabilities of BIM but doesn’t touch on these capabilities too much.

The second thing I looked at this week was a video on cloud computing. I wanted to know a little more about it after our guest speaker last week touched on it in his presentation. It seemed like there are still some difficulties with cloud computing which were noticeable in the presentation last week, the lecturer’s discussion with a student, and from this video I found. The video discusses Intel’s vision for cloud computing by the year 2015. The way I understand cloud computing is that when you do something on one device like your computer, it automatically shows up on all of the other devices within the cloud such as, other computers, mobile devices and tablets. This could benefit the building industry greatly because clients and contractors would be able to see updated changes the minute they happened. This could greatly reduce the time for the design phase of a project.

BIM Reading - 2

The assigned reading was the remaining part of Chapter 2 from BIM Handbook. The first section discussed different capabilities within BIM tools such as user interface, drawing generation, ease of developing custom parametric objects, scalability, interoperability, extensibility, complex curved surface modeling, and multi-user environment. It describes each property by defining them and explaining what kind of abilities they offer. The reading also compares different BIM tools like Revit, Bentley Systems, ArchiCAD, Digital Project, AutoCAD - based Applications, Tekla Structures, and DProfiler by their history, capabilities, strengths and weaknesses. It is very informative in terms of learning about different BIM tools used today and which one has what kind of advantage over another. 

The first article I read "BIM at Its Best" looks at BIM tools from the perspective of contractors. According to an McGraw-Hill Construction survey of  Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) to see returns on investment from using BIM, a third of members using BIM to track returns on investment reported more than 100% return. The author reports that with returns like that the technology is gaining more use and now contractors are getting serious benefits when compared to a few years earlier. He gives some examples from members of AGC who have been using BIM tools in their projects and the benefits look great. In one project, Gilbane Building Co. says they received nearly 1,500% return on BIM investment. They made nearly $1.09 million in savings and spent $69,000 in BIM-related expense, detected 1,445 clashes before going to the field. The anticipated amount of requests for information went down by 43% and the field hours were reduced by 15%. The author shows another reward of BIM for contractors as the ease of data sharing between different firms in a project which saves on time, budget, and the number of people. I think the article is important in terms of seeing specific examples of contractors using BIM, making big savings and seeing the returns on investments from using BIM in their projects.

The second article I read "Pushing the Technology Envelope" gives a brief definition of BIM, how it works and how it helps. The author emphasizes the clash detection ability of BIM which detects possible conflicts during placement, scheduling, etc. and makes it possible to avoid them before starting the construction. He also mentions that BIM helps owners about making investments by allowing them to calculate and see short- and long-term cost and value analysis. The author generally focuses on the reasons holding back the majority of the concrete contractors from using BIM tools. He reports that only 10% to 20% of concrete contractors have  used BIM software. The reasons according to him and a contractor are BIM having been developed and marketed more generally designing purposes for architects and engineers than contractors. Additionally, the third dimension is not that important for concrete layout. Other reasons are the lack of allowable tolerances available for concrete, and too many number of variables in concrete design. The contractor also states that despite these factors, within 5 years BIM will differentiate the contractors. The article also talks about one new and one experienced users and gives their experiences with BIM. It was a good reading to learn about mainly concrete contractors part of the field. I didn't know nearly anything about BIM before the class and after reading other articles and lectures I was thinking BIM has really started ruling the field but it appears there are and will be some parts who  are behind the technology.

Sensor Information in BIM

In addition to the required reading from the BIM Handbook, I also read Real Time Power Monitoring & Integration with BIM (link). The BIM Handbook provided valuable information about a survey of some of the different BIM products available currently. They primarily discussed Autodesk's Revit software and some of Bentley's various BIM tools. As expected each of the software packages discussed has its own unique strengths and weaknesses.  Adoption of BIM in the AEC industry by the entirety of a design team is still a growing method of project delivery.  The additional article I read deals with monitoring end-use detailed energy consumption data is provided for each load level. The process used to develop this is called Real Time Power Monitoring (RTPM) System.  This data can provide engineers with valuable usage data that can be critically important to maximizing energy. The article goes on to estimate energy consumption savings in the range of $470 per year for the average US household by reducing their energy consumption by around 15% to 31%. It is further estimated that if 1% of US households were to achieve such energy through this program, the equivalent energy conserved would be the same as taking 535,000 cars off the road. The program looks to include both occupancy and electricity load sensors into construction and then be able to integrate this into the BIM model that was created when the building was designed. Having internet capable sensors would allow this information to send to the model stored online. Both end users and engineers could then monitor and tweak the electricity usage.

This increasing of use of sensors into BIM models will allow for more intelligent buildings. The use of BIM for facilities management and operation allow for energy conservation. This is a service that will quickly be demanded by building owners due to the fact that they could acquire large utility savings through a relatively minimal capital investment at the start of a project.

Week 4 Submission

The titles of the articles I read are listed below.

“Overview of the major BIM model generating systems”

“Parametric Design Based on Building Information Modeling for Sustainable Buildings”

The assigned reading was an effective overview of the previous reading as well as the several modeling systems used today. I thought this particular reading was efficient in how it described the programs. It provided an overall background detailing its capabilities and followed up with strengths and weaknesses of each program. This type of information made it clear about what each program had to offer and where it was limited. This information is extremely crucial and valuable when deciding on what program to select. I found it interesting that the article noted on the limited operating memory Revit has. That is a common issue I have when my Revit files are too large, and the computer and its software have difficulty running it. That is a major issue to potential users, especially if their projects are massive; however it’s user friendly application along with its massive online libraries are quite attractive to any designer. I myself have been an advocate for Revit for at least 5 to 6 years now and I hope to continue to use it. Other programs such as Bentley systems, ArchiCad, Digital Systems, and AutoCad were also identified by their strengths and weaknesses. I personally have not had much experience with Bentley; however in the limited time I have used it, I did notice its complex user interface which creates and extreme learning curve for its users. This article provides the necessary information to help identify and classify what program would best fit the user and their goal.

The second article I selected detailed the idea of providing a building with the ability to interact and adapt to its environment in order to be more efficient. And their way of modeling the building was with the use of the Revit program. Personally I feel that this is the future, having intelligent buildings with the capabilities of making decisions that would improve the overall functionality of the system. Imagine a building be able to take care of itself and save the owner money. The article touches on the idea of the envelope of the building changing to increase/decrease heating & cooling loads by the characteristics and design of the skin. In addition, the envelope systems of the Gemeinnützige Siedlungsund Wohnungsbaugesellschaft building “demonstrate the views that the envelopes of buildings may like the skins of living organisms to breathe, change form, and adapt to variations in climate (Michael Wiggington).” The article also details a concept of having the design of the roof change into hexagonal like patterns to increase the ability to absorb heat. The way to deflect heat would be to flatten out the roof design. Another concept was to provide the building with the ability to identify lighting conditions in the building compared with the current environment. The idea is that the building would have the ability to lower or raise lighting loads depending on the amount of natural light entering the building. The use of mechanical shades could be another component thrown in the mix of controlling lighting loads as well. What is so fascinating about this article is that these ideas could be in practice in the near future. This type of design and thinking is something that I will personally look forward to learning more about.

References

Michael Wiggington, Jude Harris, “Breathing in Berlin,”ArchitectureWeek 2003, 0903, pp. E1.1.

Bim Reading 2

The second half of the assigned BIM reading was mostly a comparison between the different BIM programs like Revit, Bently and ArchiCad and AutoCad. This reading clearly states all of the strengths and weaknesses of each program. If someone is curios to see which BIM program they should use, this reading is very helpful. Its very easy to understand and makes it clear on which program one should pick based on their needs. This reading also states which programs are the easiest to use. This is pretty important to me because I'm a BIM novice and have most of my experience in AutoCad. This reading suggests that Revit is the easiest to use, which after some experience with the prior project I found that to be true. This reading also explains the necessary computer power requirements to run each program. The reading suggests that a company uses all of the programs to achieve the most success. This is bit of reach because the cost and time it takes to learn all of these programs would be immense.

“Top 7 Reasons Why You Should Use Revit Building Information Modeling Software” is the second article I read. The article is about exactly what the title says. It gives you a breakdown of all the main reasons to choose Revit over any other BIM system. The main seven point in the article are as follows: 1)Preview the Future Home in 3D BIM Modeling, 2) Quick Changes to Design, No Repetitive Tasks, 3) Vast Library of Parametric Building Components, 4) High Quality Construction Document, 5) Accurate Estimation of Quantities and Cost, 6) Improved Coordination, 7) High Level of Flexibility. All of these are obviously very important to the industry. In particular this article tells about how future home owners can preview what their house looks like using Revit and they can change things easily and quickly if they don’t like it. Another very important thing that Revit does is it can give contractors and owner cost estimates based on the building design. This is a very important aspect because money makes everything happen. The coordination between different disciplines can be greatly improved using Revit’s simultaneous file updating system. Also Revit allows importation of many file types like DWG, PDF and JPEG’s. This shows the flexibility of the program and its user friendliness.

This second article is a good compliment to the first reading as it expands on some of the concepts mention in the assigned article. As far as "intelligent buildings" go, this article is more about "intelligent design". I think this article does a pretty good job convincing me to choose Revit over any other program.