Building Information Modelling Technology and the Construction Sector
Construction projects are a complex process involving the input and cooperation of many individuals with various skills, such as architects, engineers, contractors, tradespeople, construction workers, and business professionals. All these individuals must work together to ensure the timely success of any successful construction project, such as Ancoats Gardens in Manchester.
This is where building information modelling (BIM) intelligent software comes into play, enabling them to better collaborate on:
- Structure design
- Construction
- Operation
The BIM prevents incompatible plans from developing if these various workers were to act independently and then later get together to discover that they are at odds with each other. Commercial building projects are particularly complex, so collaborative teamwork is essential for the project’s smooth operation.
If issues are discovered after the construction has started, it can incur a financial cost for “change orders.” This is a document that outlines any changes to the project that differs from the originally agreed-upon plan. Change orders are just one of the various documentation available that records adjustments made during the construction process.
The salient advantage of BIM intelligent software is the ability to provide real-time collaboration for all parties involved in the project, resulting in better outcomes for cost and efficiency and the streamlining of the whole process. The overall usefulness of this technology has led to BIM being one of the fastest-growing trends in the construction industry, as the sector continues to leverage technological innovation to reduce costs and save time and resources.
Building Information Modelling in Construction
Much more than just a drawing, the intelligent BIM software creates a comprehensive and realistic model of the relevant building, which incorporates all the building’s information and properties. Anything that someone wants to find out about the facility is available at the touch of a button.
To illustrate how this may be utilized. If, say, an architect wanted to change an aspect of the design slightly, and the BIM software then flagged this as a structural issue, a project engineer could rectify this change by working on a different view of the same model.
The BIM software allows for multiple views of the same building simultaneously, all done in real-time, allowing all those involved in the project to be fully updated and aware of how things are progressing. Deciding to add more oversized windows to the building would mean, as an example, more light getting in, and this would also mean necessary changes in the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) for increased cooling capacity. More light coming in would result in more heat energy coming in.
The Main Advantages of BIM
Can identify potential problems before construction commences. Early detection of incompatible designs can prevent expensive alterations once construction has started.
Optimized scheduling can be used, resulting in the project elements being better coordinated.
Intelligent modeling can identify opportunities for automation within the construction phase. If could automate specific jobs could automate particular jobs, that would save time and would also free up workers and resources to focus on other aspects of construction.
It can also improve worker safety from BIM intelligent software by giving workers all their tasks. With greater situational awareness, onsite workers can better manage risks and potential hazards.
Another significant advantage of BIM software is controlling the entire working process by promptly providing automatic workflows. Any changes made will automatically appraise every one of these changes and automatically update the process for everyone.
