BIM based construction vs. traditional construction process

There was a time when none of the advanced technologies were applied in building construction and that was the most difficult phase in the growth of construction industry. Construction was all about architect and few engineers along with a lot of laborers. In those days everything used to be done manually by architects and engineers in construction site. And the only instruments available to architects and engineers were pencil and paper. Architects used to visit construction sites many times for taking measurements and all the building related calculations used to be done manually by them.

One of the most strenuous tasks was developing construction drawings which literally used to take a long time and multiple changes used to be made in those drawings because of human errors. One of the most noticeable problems was to make changes in the drawings, sometimes architects and engineers had to start the drawings from scratch.

Preconstruction stage was not that important during that time as it is today since everything used to take place directly onsite. It always used to take more than the expected time to complete the project because architects used to face a lot of rework situations which used to consume extra time.

But with the passage of time CAD and BIM technology came into picture which completely transformed the construction process. CAD technology is optimized for developing highly accurate construction drawings by construction industry professionals. The best part is that multiple changes can be made on these drawings without putting much efforts and time as per design requirements.

These CAD drawings are further utilized for creating 3D building information models. The data in CAD files is optimized by BIM modelers by importing these files in Revit to develop 3D models. Revit models are considered highly effective for building construction since they appropriately describe the design of the building.

By optimizing 4D and 5D BIM models building design teams can further improve the building process because with their assistance time and money required to complete the project can be known in advance. All these pre-construction activities helps in improving onsite construction process. 

Growing potential of BIM

BIM as a technology is growing day by day. The basic purpose of utilizing BIM in construction projects is to safely tackle the digital information that is optimized in construction. BIM technology is improving continuously which is ultimately responsible for seamless construction. In other words new features and tools are added to BIM software so that engineering services that are executed in pre-construction stage can be improved.

Since the time BIM first appeared, a lot of improvements have been made in its functioning. For example in the beginning its users were only aware about 3D BIM models, but slowly it evolved to 4D and 5D with the addition of extra dimensions. The addition of new dimensions helped in conquering new heights, such as all the stakeholders would now know in advance the time and money required to complete the project. This greatly transformed construction activities since contractors started optimizing this information for improving productivity by utilizing minimum resources to get maximum output. 

Slowly and gradually construction of green buildings also became possible with BIM, wherein BIM software tools are  fully utilized by architects and engineers to develop better performing designs for different building systems. This became possible when architects and engineers started performing energy analysis for the building designed by them. Energy analysis is done with the help of modeling software such as Revit, wherein the already created models can be converted into energy analytical models and building’s future performance can be measured in terms of energy consumption.

BIM can now optimize laser scanning technology in construction projects and this is a huge development. Laser scanning technology is used in the execution of renovation projects, wherein the entire building can be scanned in a very short period. The data which comes in the form of ‘point cloud’ is then used to create BIM models of as-built structure. Construction drawings such as floor plans, sections, elevations etc, can be extracted by architects from this BIM model, which assist them when they start working on the structure.

In this way the power of BIM to influence new areas is increasing continuously, and we might see new developments soon in feature for improving construction.  

How does BIM help in designing better performing MEP systems?

To design better MEP systems, purpose-built BIM software was required by architects and MEP engineers and their demands were fulfilled when Autodesk came up with Revit MEP. This software dramatically revolutionized the MEP workflows. The computable models generated by optimizing Revit MEP, helped in the collaboration and unification of design development team. Digital 3D models generated in Revit’s integrated digital environment are highly potential of capturing all the concrete and crucial information concerning the building systems.

These computable models consist of highly reliable, consistent and well integrated design information that is optimized by MEP engineers from time to time, to improve the quality of MEP systems.

Revit digital environment: 3D models of building systems are developed in Revit MEP’s digital environment. This digital environment is optimized by MEP engineers to develop better designs for MEP systems. This provides huge platform for the unification and collaboration of team members who can share huge information among each other that is vital for design development.

Conventional 2D drawings are optimized by MEP engineers to create 3D digital models.

Collaboration of team members in Revit MEP is very convenient. With its assistance members of different MEP disciplines can integrate for designing better MEP systems. Revit server helps them in saving a central model in a location which is accessible to the entire design development team. Revit environment allows different team members to save a file of this model in their workstations. By utilizing this file they can work independently and can alter the design if they feel it is necessary. The changes made by them are saved and stored in the central model and other members can easily track these modifications. This helps in increasing design understanding among design team, which further helps in making the design better.

Also energy analysis can be done for MEP systems by engineers. They can make use of the information that is stored in 3D models generated by them. Revit’s tools allow engineers in carrying out energy analysis by fully analyzing the kind of material used in designing these systems. Depending upon the conclusion of analysis, new design options can be explored by engineers to develop high quality MEP systems. 

The changing architectural designs

Choosing best or going for the best available option is a basic human tendency. Same has been in case of building architecture. History is the best source to refer the kind of transformations that have been made in architectural forms of buildings. Just flip through the pages and you can find numerous changes in architectural forms from time to time. Every civilization and era had something new to offer. Be it Stone Age, Bronze Age or Iron Age they all contributed largely in the changing architectural designs.

One can still find ruins of ancient architecture in various archaeological sites and compare them to modern architecture. A huge change in every aspect can be found between them. The change that occurred slowly and gradually in this context has been possible due to various reasons such as changing mindset of people with time and their inquisitiveness to discover better lifestyle.

With the passage of time architecture developed as a profession and it is studied prestigiously by people. The development of architecture as an engineering trade grew very fast and it produced the so called ‘master builders.’ Master builders are nothing but architects who are solely responsible for constructing modern buildings with the assistance of other engineers such as structural, mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineers. An architect is fully involved in planning, designing and construction of buildings.

It’s not just architecture they grew over time; the same applies to all other engineering disciplines as well. The field of structural engineering has also gone through tremendous changes. And this assisted architects in developing innovative architectural designs that can be supported with strong structural frame.

The latest development that has engulfed entire AEC industry is Building Information Modeling. BIM is nothing but a process that is applied by architects and engineers throughout the world to execute construction projects. The last 40 years have been very crucial for architectural design, since some of the most vital software have been developed during this time which helped in seamless construction.

Modern architects can explore hundreds of design options with the assistance of BIM software, and can accurately check their productivity. In this way architects were able to develop high quality architectural designs. 

BIM reduces errors and promotes collaboration of team members

BIM which is an acronym for Building Information Modeling is vastly embraced by construction industry as an efficient tool to reduce on-site errors and for promoting collaboration of people working on project. It is considered as one of the most efficient instrument to document the construction methods. It helps in saving valuable information needed in the building process by architects and engineers. It can also be considered as a visualization tool which assists in integrating the physical and functional features of a building and this collaborative approach helps all the key members involved in the building process to work together.

By implementing BIM on building projects architects, engineers, contractors, project managers, and even owners can work collaboratively. This becomes possible, because the teams involved can work together on a single BIM model generated with Revit. This collaborative approach helps in reducing redundancies and errors while improving project growth.  Since the precise picture of BIM model is available with all the stakeholders’ it encourages them to work efficiently. The most important aspect of this approach is that it assists in saving time and money of the firm working on the project.

There are many advantages of using Building Information Modeling in the execution of construction projects. BIM services have become crucial parts of per-construction activities. Most of the pre-construction engineering services are executed with the support of BIM software such as modeling services. 3D BIM models are considered very important by architects and engineers who are responsible for executing actual on-site construction of the building. The kind of information stored in these models is considered highly crucial because of its accuracy. These 3D models developed with the assistance of Revit are optimized by BIM modelers to extract significant construction documents. All these documents are referred by engineers when they start building the structure.

Construction documents extracted from coordinated model are of much higher accuracy, since this model is already checked for interference and inconsistencies. 

BIM is not limited to modeling alone; it is used as a planning and execution tool for construction projects. 

How does BIM assist in Architectural modeling?

Architectural modeling has become a very crucial part in the execution of architectural projects. One can hardly observe any construction process taking place without first executing modeling services for it. If in case the final construction process starts  for a certain project without generating a 3D model for it, chances of facing errors and complications are very high.  Not just that, when the errors occur rework takes place and this helps in  increasing the overall project cost along with increasing the time taken to complete a project. So it’s a total loss for the contractors and the owners as well if they start constructing a building without making its model first.

Architectural BIM Project

The application of BIM has many advantages for the architectural, engineering and the construction industry.

Architectural modeling services are executed with the assistance of BIM software Revit.

To execute the modeling services for the architectural projects it is significant to have all the necessary input in place. So the process of modeling cannot go ahead until and unless the accurate and precise CAD drawings are developed. And the CAD drawings cannot be generated without the specification provided by the architects. So the process begins with the rough sketches and specification by the architects which are then given to the CAD technicians to come up with the architectural drafting documents. These specifications are reviewed by the CAD drafters various times until and unless a proper understanding is gained by them regarding the architectural design of the building.

After completely understanding the design the CAD drafters develop the architectural drawings. The drawings which are generated in the drafting process include floor plans, elevations and sections, etc. and they give the detailed description of the building design.

When all the required inputs are generated for the modeling process it is handed over to the BIM modelers and they develop 3D architectural model with the assistance of Revit. This 3D architectural model can be further upgraded to 4D, 5D and 6D with the addition of new dimensions in it. The more the dimensions are added to the 3D BIM model the more information rich it becomes.

The 4D and 5D architectural BIM  models help in estimating the time and money needed to complete the project. This ultimately makes the entire process proceed smoothly. 

How do contractors and the builders go about a construction process?

A lot of things need to be in place before going ahead with a construction process. Usually the builders and the contractors who come up with their own properties for the selling purpose have to deal with many difficult situations. Their involvement in the building process never stops until the structure stands erected in front of them and till it is finally sold. They have to cope up with the government approval of the property and the approval of the finances for its construction.

Following is a brief method apart from coming up with an idea of construction, that is undertaken by the contractors and the builders to reach their goal.

Planning regarding finalizing the site:  Deciding upon the location of the project is very important. The finalization of the construction site depends upon the various factors such as, the kind of project it is like the commercial or the real estate etc. depending upon the nature of the project a site is fixed for its construction.

Planning regarding the budget: The contractors also have to plan their budget in advance and depending upon that they proceed with the rest of the activities. One cannot blindly go ahead with the building project without deciding their budget.

Next comes hiring an architect:So once the place and money is decided then comes the time of hiring an architect or architectural services. The building plans are discussed among the architects by the contractors. They tell the architect what is that they want to build or construct and the architect plans the construction of the building.

The first thing that an architect does is to come up with an architectural design of the building.

Contractors haunt for hiring an engineering service providing company: This is the company which is hired by the contractors to provide them with the rest of the preconstruction engineering services such as architectural, structural, and MEP services.

The service providing company delivers the contractors with all kind of CAD design and drafting services, BIM Modeling Services, architectural services, coordination and clash detection services etc.

The Actual onsite construction process: Once all the preconstruction services are delivered along with the 3D models the actual onsite construction process begins. The process is successfully completed with the assistance of high quality preconstruction services delivered by the service providing company.