BUSINESS RESOURCES + TOOLS
Understanding BIM beneficial to today’s busy contractor
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PHC NEWS recently conducted an exclusive Q&A with Sarah Hodges, Autodesk’s senior industry marketing manager, on the benefits of Building Information Modeling (BIM).
phc: Why is it essential for plumbing & specifying engineers to move toward BIM? What is the breadth of benefits that BIM offers? Hodges: Using a model-based
design approach with Building Information Modeling (BIM), mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineers can benefit from integrated design, analysis and documentation features that support the engineering design process. Benefits of BIM include the ability to make a change anywhere and have that change replicated everywhere to ensure coordinated and consistent designs and documentation. This is akin to using an Excel spreadsheet where one data input changes the entire model. BIM enables MEP engineers to
design with greater accuracy and to improve efficiency by designing building systems to better meet architectural and owner demands, as well as the needs of the building in terms of energy consumption. BIM
enables engineers to design more accurately, to analyze for optimum performance and to deliver coordinated and consistent documentation and 3D intelligent models to owners and project stakeholders. With BIM, the intelligent information inherent in the 3D model helps MEP engineers to more effectively and efficiently design and deliver building systems. phc: How computer savvy does a BIM participant need to be? In other words, is training or some sort of online training involved? Hodges: BIM is not a technology. It
is an integrated process built upon coordinated, consistent and computable information that enables a project to be explored digitally prior to construction. It is a different way of working. Autodesk’s design software,
combined with the BIM process, facilitates an improved way of working collaboratively, using a model created from coordinated, and consistent design information. This process enables earlier decision- making, better documentation, and the evaluation of alternatives for sustainable design or improvements using analysis before construction
Historically, the architects and design teams would create some wonderful design concept only to throw it over the wall and “dare” the contractor to build it. The relationships were very
antagonistic. This is old school and no longer a sustainable way to work.
begins. Autodesk BIM solutions provide an integrated way of working based on 3D intelligent models. A change anywhere results in a change everywhere, creating an intuitive way of working. Design professionals have quoted in the past that Autodesk BIM solutions work the way you
e Continued on p 60
phc march 2011
www.phcnews.com
Image courtesy of Autodesk
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