What is BIM?
Building Information Modeling (BIM) is widely recognised as
a mature design methodology in the building and manufacturing industries. The
application of BIM is rapidly accelerating as owners and engineering service
providers are increasingly recognising the benefits of the intelligent data
that can be used within 3D modelling.
a mature design methodology in the building and manufacturing industries. The
application of BIM is rapidly accelerating as owners and engineering service
providers are increasingly recognising the benefits of the intelligent data
that can be used within 3D modelling.
A common perception of BIM is that it is one element or one
product, this is not necessarily true. It is a process and a way to manage information
efficiently. It is a way for information to be collated, shared and stored
using 3D modeling, this information becomes intelligent data which can be used
to consult, design, build and maintain assets.
product, this is not necessarily true. It is a process and a way to manage information
efficiently. It is a way for information to be collated, shared and stored
using 3D modeling, this information becomes intelligent data which can be used
to consult, design, build and maintain assets.
BIM models not only contain 3D geometry, they are rich indata which are:
- Intelligent
– dynamic engines help define relationships between
objects and keep changes consistent and coordinated - Knowledge based – can
be constrained by things like regional design codes and criteria as well as company
standards - Scalable – able to
aggregate huge amounts of data from multiple sources - Visual – enable better
analysis, simulation and communication
The benefits of BIM are being recognised globally as
governing bodies are beginning to implement regulations and standards to
encourage the use of BIM on building and civil infrastructure projects.
How does BIM fit into
Civil Infrastructure?
Civil Infrastructure?
For any Infrastructure project be it existing or new there
are a lot of factors that are incorporated during the progression of the
project. Such as:
are a lot of factors that are incorporated during the progression of the
project. Such as:
- Existing
conditions – ground surveys, utilities and services, geotechnical
investigations, property surveys. - Analyisis
– watersheds, drainage, structural, utilities, estimates, traffic, sight lines,
clash detection. - Standards
– NZTA, Austroads, regional authorities, company, drainage, lighting, etc. - Planning
& Consultation – multiple concept designs. - Design
– 3D design model and calculations - Cost
– materials, time management, staging, quantities, etc. - Document
Control – reports, drawings, revisions, etc. - Construction
– on-site changes, as-built surveys, etc. - Maintain
– asset management.
These factors can be difficult to manage and collaborate on
especially when clients, consultants and contractors are in different offices
or on site. BIM is designed to make these factors manageable and collaboration
becomes a constant throughout the lifecycle of the project. This makes the ability
to spot design problems at the early stages of a project easier and allows
changes to be made in the office rather than on-site.
especially when clients, consultants and contractors are in different offices
or on site. BIM is designed to make these factors manageable and collaboration
becomes a constant throughout the lifecycle of the project. This makes the ability
to spot design problems at the early stages of a project easier and allows
changes to be made in the office rather than on-site.
A large amount of hardcopies are produced at each stage of a project
and all this information is located in various places within an office or in
several offices, sometimes that information can be lost or hard to locate. BIM has the ability to store, record and issue all the
information as a 3D model and with data management tools such as Vault.
and all this information is located in various places within an office or in
several offices, sometimes that information can be lost or hard to locate. BIM has the ability to store, record and issue all the
information as a 3D model and with data management tools such as Vault.
Even at the end of a project BIM can still be used to
maintain the assets, as long all the information has been entered correctly
throughout the project. Bad data in = bad data out. Autodesk has various cloud
based tools that can be used for site inspections. Analysis and simulations can
be run using information such as traffic data to show potential future needs.
maintain the assets, as long all the information has been entered correctly
throughout the project. Bad data in = bad data out. Autodesk has various cloud
based tools that can be used for site inspections. Analysis and simulations can
be run using information such as traffic data to show potential future needs.
BIM Processes and
Workflows
Workflows
To implement BIM effectively, you’ll want to create a
project execution plan. For smaller projects, such a plan might be fairly
simple. On a large project with many stakeholders, a highly detailed plan may
be necessary to keep everyone pointed in the same direction. Why do you always
need a plan? With BIM, you design with intelligent objects. You need to know
what intelligence the objects should have from the start of the project. Also,
when you share designs that are based on intelligent objects, a change can
ripple through the whole design.
project execution plan. For smaller projects, such a plan might be fairly
simple. On a large project with many stakeholders, a highly detailed plan may
be necessary to keep everyone pointed in the same direction. Why do you always
need a plan? With BIM, you design with intelligent objects. You need to know
what intelligence the objects should have from the start of the project. Also,
when you share designs that are based on intelligent objects, a change can
ripple through the whole design.
A basic project execution plan should:
- Outline
how much intelligence to add to key model objects; for instance, a grading
plan that will be used for GPS-guided grading will require a higher degree
of precision
- Define
how and what data will be used over the life of the asset
- Delineate
how and when data will be transferred between project participants
The model should be detailed enough to support all intended
uses over the life of the infrastructure asset. Because the data can be used
for so much more than traditional 2D or 3D CAD data, you may find yourself
asking new questions at the beginning of projects. For instance:
uses over the life of the infrastructure asset. Because the data can be used
for so much more than traditional 2D or 3D CAD data, you may find yourself
asking new questions at the beginning of projects. For instance:
- Will
the model be used for fabrication in addition to documentation?
- How
will the model be used in construction?
- What
else can I use the model for? Analysis, simulation, optimization? What
have I always wanted to do that I couldn’t with
2D or 3D CAD-based design approaches?
- When
and how will we share data with other disciplines on the project? Daily?
Weekly? Monthly?
- How
frequently should we coordinate models contributing to the project?
Having a well-defined plan will help keep your team on track
as they master BIM. Consider enhancing your project plan with a process for
capturing and sharing milestones in the BIM implementation process. When your
team sees and shares the benefits of BIM, it will be easier for them to appreciate
the work they put into defining standards and processes up front. For instance,
the first time an engineer moves a profile and the related model elements and
subsequent documentation updates automatically can be a transformative moment.
No matter how much you understand and read about BIM, it’s those “aha moments”
that drive home why the industry is moving to using intelligent models.
as they master BIM. Consider enhancing your project plan with a process for
capturing and sharing milestones in the BIM implementation process. When your
team sees and shares the benefits of BIM, it will be easier for them to appreciate
the work they put into defining standards and processes up front. For instance,
the first time an engineer moves a profile and the related model elements and
subsequent documentation updates automatically can be a transformative moment.
No matter how much you understand and read about BIM, it’s those “aha moments”
that drive home why the industry is moving to using intelligent models.
Extract taken from: Autodesk BIM for Infrastructure
implementation white paper.
implementation white paper.
Conclusion
Follow a clear plan, this will help you implement BIM for
infrastructure successfully. The steps to help you should include:
infrastructure successfully. The steps to help you should include:
- Plan to educate staff on BIM; implementing BIM
will require a new way of thinking, as it differs significantly from a traditional
CAD-based process - Identify the standards and rules that need to be
defined - Account for software and hardware needs; to make
the most of a move to BIM, consider technology that allows you to move project
information from planning to preliminary design to detailed design to construction
without rework or redundancy - Establish a project plan for each BIM
infrastructure project that outlines lifecycle data needs and processes for
sharing the model - Document and refine processes
Extract taken from: Autodesk BIM for Infrastructure implementation
white paper.
white paper.
As operators become accustomed to integrating models into their
operations and maintenance plans, they are beginning to specifically ask for
BIM deliverables.
operations and maintenance plans, they are beginning to specifically ask for
BIM deliverables.
Please contact CADPRO if you have any queries about BIM.