IT & Software Modelling
Fixed target Overall fee
Commercial
Impact
The evolution of BIM will impact upon the share of this fee to contributors
Design &
Construction
Concept
Production Construction BIM
Activities
Design
Tender
Design
Companies
offering BIM as
Design Opportunity Construction BIM
a service
Europe &
Responsibility
MEP
Current UK Design
Gap
Specialist Contractor BIM
Trend
BIM
The Future
Collaborative Designer & Contractor Collaborative Development BIM
Approach
Figure 3: BIM usage and future path
> if other vertically aligned columns and connected team can ascribe technical descriptions to objects so
beams change accordingly; and that specifications and schedules can be viewed from
• Parametric design when fully available will allow the the model and produced from the model; and
project team to link calculation algorithms to objects • The model can also include information about
(a ventilation duct length) so that a change to one legislative issues such as planning consents, building
parameter in an object automatically changes other regulations, Health and Safety File and safety in design
parameters if that is what the team wants. For example, provisions.
adding a new branch air flow rate to a duct section can • The model can provide information through the Soft
automatically trigger a re-size to the duct section and Landings approach to enable informed operation of
the whole ductwork network. the occupied building.
Construction stage The challenge
Contractor expectations of BIM include the reuse of The concept of BIM has been with us for more
information from the design phase with additional than 20 years but there are still limitations in the
information embedded for fabrication, construction effectiveness and interoperability of software. The
sequencing, specifications, commissioning, legislation dream has not been fully realised yet. Architectural
Our industry
and costing (see Figure 3). Prior to construction a lot of and structural software products have been developed
consideration is given to the ownership of the building in advance of MEP software and this proves to be a
must work
model, responsibility for the model and how to deal major shortcoming of the approach. The availability of
with project with the construction information produced by the libraries of intelligent objects, the speed of operation,
partners to
selected package contractors. the availability of sophisticated calculation packages
A different model is often created to account for and the interfacing with calculation packages need
investigate the
the detailing of construction components by package input in order to realise the aspirations for BIM in the
opportunities contractors dealing with steelwork, cladding and in MEP field.
from BIM
particular mechanical, electrical and public health The building services industry must be fully
(MEP). prepared to work with project partners to investigate
• The project team can choose to ascribe information the opportunities available from Building Information
to objects about the sequence in which they can be Modelling to manage and exchange information and
constructed or installed, thus allowing the team assist with targeted improvements in the project
to consider effectively the construction sequence, process during design, construction and operation.
construction method, delivery requirements, lifting Given that the BIM is here to stay, and that
requirements, temporary works and temporary knowledgeable clients are already expressing
stability; expectations, the onus is on us to get the approach to
• The project team may also choose to deploy a 4D BIM right while the concept is still a relative newcomer
option – ascribing information about the construction/ to the industry. Industry leaders including building
installation of objects duration so that construction owners, designers, suppliers, contractors and operators
programmes can be generated from the model; must work with the software providers to grasp this
• Other object information, including a description, major opportunity to develop the collaborative approach
purchase cost and installation cost can also be ascribed, to design/construction/operation and deliver buildings
allowing quantities to be measured and costed bills that really work. l
of quantity can prepared. This level of use of BIM is
often called 5D;
Rob Manning is chief engineer – building engineering,
and Chris Hindle regional director – building engineering
• Drilling down into even greater detail, the project
at AECOM
52 CIBSE Journal January 2010 www.cibsejournal.com
CIBSEjan10 pp48-50,52 Software.indd 52 18/12/09 12:50:21
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