already before the global crisis to which we are facing at the moment, many voices specialized expressed the need to revolutionize many industries, including construction industry, a sector traditionally reluctant to incorporate new methodologies and collaboration, and generally unreceptive to innovation processes.
has been debated long and hard about these modern technologies, mainly in Anglo-Saxon countries (USA and UK) and for about 10 years or so of all the terms that pointed to the improvement and modernity exist especially one that has moved to my mouth worldwide, the BIM (Building Information Modeling). I would compare the trend to use this term for any activity related to the construction softaware with the use, sometimes abuse, of terms such as sustainability, eco-efficiency, 'green', etc. So
plastic and for the layman, would say that the BIM is a methodology, supported primarily by specific software and 3D , based on the use of a single virtual model that encompasses all the tasks associated the construction process. This term begins to take on major importance during the recent period of unprecedented construction boom, hardly imaginable before, from the finding that despite the economic boom produced little progress toward improving the productivity of the sector.
All in greater or lesser degree, we are aware of the many processes that are repeated daily in most projects that do not add value, rather the opposite:
- 2D drawings. In projects of increasing difficulty of traditional techniques and the translation of a software project 2D 'dumb' prevent clear review of the information in support and do not prevent the appearance in the work of a host of conflicts of greater or lesser degree ( economic, time or quality).
- Repeating tasks. The different teams involved in the drafting of 'portions' of the project, usually start their work from scratch, unnecessarily prolonging the time of writing project, increasing costs and fees, etc.
- The construction process as a 'leak-proof containers. " Different teams hold attitudes 'tight' and 'tight' relative to other participants, because this mentality is deeply rooted but amplified by the low compatibility of the methodologies and technologies.
- Lack of records management. Sending the information in electronic copies by email or CD. In a constructive model where players increasingly showing up in the construction process, it is impossible to monitor whether the information disseminated is accessible worldwide, if all the teams work with updated information, etc.
- RFI and CO (or whatever it is, Request for Informations / Change Orders) The construction process needs to spend huge amounts of resources to the management of a large number of visits for project questions and changes being projective implementation. The process traditionally addressed leads us almost irreversibly to the appearance of conflicts in progress that require all our energies to its resolution, as well as diminishing the degree of satisfaction of different stakeholders, especially the client or owner. Most software
'dumb' is not prepared for the effective management of such modifications, which often incur high in various organizations, which is of large deviations in both project cost and on time. I could probably go on listing
well known situations, and that the catalog is extensive.
In these situations a methodology based on a BIM model 'real' provides:
- a single centralized model, accessible to all or part of the organization and the participants of the construction process, as deemed appropriate, and that includes all the information relevant, not just geometry. Indeed, in a BIM model can be stored in a 3D model and associated information of all kinds. Each model element we know its characteristic properties (Weight, length, area, mass, etc ,...) but we can assign all kinds of information such as cost, date of execution, maintenance plan, etc. In short, everything that we can imagine and that is really useful for managing the construction process.
- a pattern displayed in 3D. It is almost obvious comment, but the spatial interpretation of a project displayed in 3D allows the easy location of conflict and instant understanding of the project. Subsequent articles will deal with '3D virtual meetings' and 'analysis of 4-D' profundizaré more about the advantages of the 3D model behaves.
- 'Intelligent software' or programs object-oriented design, where the changes made to a model element change automatically links with the other elements that are in contact, and are automatically transferred to all levels generated. Most of this software can generate a report of changes also allows complete traceability of the project.
In summary I would like to display an image that we have prepared to illustrate the BIM process applied to a construction company, where the CORE or core of the methodology is occupied by the 3D model itself:
From the point of view of a end customer, the simplified diagram of tasks that can be managed with a BIM methodology would be:
(source: Tekla Structures)
Ultimately we believe that certainly needs a process of revolution in the way to understand the construction process and this new way of understanding the construction passes irrevocably by the adoption of BIM tools and methodologies. And not only is an advantage for companies that lead this new way of understanding the process, but a vital necessity for the very permanence of companies in the market.
also undoubtedly both society and the economy current are characterized by changing and increasing speed of these changes. On paper the BIM methodologies are already being overtaken by new ways of understanding the relationship between the different actors involved in a construction project, where I highlight in particular the concept of building new IPD (Integrated Project Delivery). From 2D to 6D has passed quickly. Social networks bring us anywhere in the world and put us in contact with potential partners so far did not know. The tools 'on the cloud' allow us to easily share the fruit of our expertise and our work, and allow us to access it at any time, anywhere. Ready
therefore to adapt our organizations to this new society.
