Building Information Modeling (BIM) software AEC studios use at different design and construction stages. BIM can produce accurate data required by various departments to ensure a smooth workflow. Architectural design services also use BIM data to identify problems and devise innovative solutions. Thus, the software proves to be beneficial in a wide range of applications, from construction to engineering.
Architects and engineers often classify BIM as a virtual model that allows multiple disciplines and systems to collaborate through a virtual process. BIM centralizes data from different sources, such as architects, contractors, engineers, suppliers, and subcontractors.
Even though they work as a team, they have individual roles when updating the application with relevant data from each discipline. BIM creates harmony among different disciplines at different stages that were unseen before.
Engineers can create 3D models of a building much before contractors start the actual development. While making the 3D models, engineers can identify any clashes among disciplines and immediately eliminate them before the project breaks ground.
AEC companies have noticed that using BIM can reduce unbudgeted alterations by 40%. It also saves 7% on project completion time and 10% on project overall value.
BIM or CAD?
Both BIM and CAD are essential tools for engineers to create building models. Computer-aided Design (CAD) is a drafting and design tool. Engineers use CAD to create, modify, analyze, and optimize a design. By using architectural CAD design services, engineers improve their productivity and facilitate better communication through documentation. ArchiCAD and AutoCAD are the most well-known drafting programs.
BIM, conversely, uses actual elements to produce physical components of a design. Engineers and architects use Revit, the most renowned and reliable BIM software, to create realistic designs. For example, engineers can use lines to draw a wall using CAD. However, they can draw a realistic wall to depict the wall when using BIM. They can even show doors and windows if necessary.
Engineers only need to move the walls if they want to change the room’s dimensions. Based on the data in BIM, the other elements in the room, including doors and windows, will also be resized without the engineer moving each component individually. Thus, architects can create a more detailed model using BIM than CAD.
Later, engineers can generate CAD drawings using BIM models. CAD drawings allow them to fix building components so that engineers can later export them to other applications or perform analysis.
Why Engineers Choose BIM over CAD:
As mentioned earlier, BIM allows building documentation services to produce a complete visualization of how a building will look before the construction starts. BIM offers an extensive view, from the dimensions of the walls to the aspect ratio of the other elements in the building. Also, there is no denying that BIM rendering looks pretty, too.
However, here are some of the functional advantages of choosing BIM over CAD:
- Identifying and rectifying errors much before the project starts
- Accommodating changes easily, like changing a door’s size or a room’s dimensions
- Detecting clash whenever a small change is made and updating each involved party in case of any change in the design
- Using 3D models to optimize processes and get a better understanding
Ownership of BIM Data:
Since BIM requires collaboration between multiple disciplines, ownership is not restricted to any specific individual. For instance, while architects use BIM to design an area, engineers put data related to cables and other equipment. Manufacturers update the price data for the materials, and contractors add relevant information from their end.
While BIM allows all parties to work together, it also poses a massive risk for them. Without a single software owner, no one is responsible if things go wrong. Collaboration in BIM comes at a price.
Currently, providers of architectural CAD design services sign contracts with each related party. Ownership of BIM data is a complex process that differs for each project. Hence, there is no one-solution-fits-all regarding data ownership in BIM.
Conquering the Barriers to Adopting BIM:
The AEC industry has already been slow to adopt the groundbreaking BIM software. Now that the industry has caught up, it is also time to overcome the barriers. Only if all involved parties agree and work together can the industry conquer the barriers to adopting BIM.
The one significant barrier to adopting BIM is its price. The extensive program comes at a high stake, so most SMEs in the AEC industry cannot afford to invest in BIM. Besides, these organizations need more certified and skilled BIM experts.
Even though expensive, building documentation services can gain from implementing BIM in their system. They can also collaborate with firms that have BIM-trained experts who are handling multiple projects.
Collaborating with such AEC companies can enhance productivity and reduce a specific company’s expenses.
Changes Stakeholders Should Consider for Successful BIM Implementation:
BIM implementation is possible when all stakeholders are committed to working harder. For example, some Scandinavian countries and UK governments have already made BIM mandatory for public projects.
Many small AEC firms collaborate with remote AEC partners with skilled professionals to provide BIM support. The AEC industry in the USA is still developing and will need strategies to implement BIM.
Some architectural design services providers regularly train their staff to keep them updated on the latest BIM trends, which ensures they can provide more extensive service when they collaborate with SMEs.
