[ Spotlight: BIM ]
BIM-enabled working allows useful 3D information about objects to be shared by project partners
non-graphical information is an important feature of BIM, and it can range from air change rates, thermal performance, energy use/carbon emissions, and repair and replacement cycles and costs. BIM objects can be: n Used into the operating stages of a building; and n Stored, re-used and refined on other projects. As such, these virtual objects will start to assume
real value to both clients and the project team. Product manufacturers will want to provide customers with comprehensive virtual object information, because project teams are more likely to specify products where the associated objects already do the information spade work for them.
A key output of the technology is communicable
‘virtual objects’. BIM-enabled working allows useful 3D information about these objects to be shared by project partners, at the different stages of design, construction and building operation. These digital ‘objects’ contain rich graphical and non-graphical information, including how they relate to other objects (parametrics). The communication of diverse,
The ECA is asking building services contractors to highlight...
1) Any significant concerns about the evolution of BIM or being involved in BIM projects – for example: n Software (compatibility, cost, etc.); n Software information (manufacturer’s objects, etc.); n PQQ activity (excessive or unrealistic questions or schemes); nCustomer pressure to attend proprietary BIM courses and buy specific software;
n Any contractual and intellectual property issues; n Training and competency issues; n Downgrading of specialist input/work/margins; and n The behaviour of buyers in subsequent BIM projects.
2) The main benefits from being involved in BIM projects – for example: n Clear advantage when pre-qualifying; n Early involvement in the project; and n Higher volume of profitable work.
3) The main issues the ECA should raise with government and other key stakeholders on the involvement of building services contractors in BIM.
nThe ECA’s main contacts on BIM are: Paul Reeve (BIM supply chain issues and feedback on the above),
paul.reeve@
eca.co.uk; and Giuliano Digilio (technical issues and BIM competencies),
giuliano.digilio@eca.co.uk
COBie BIM can allow valuable operational information to be compiled into formats that help facilities operators to manage their buildings more efficiently. Enter COBie, a data standard that allows extensive data from BIM models to be exchanged with a client, notably at the handover of operations and maintenance (O&M) information. COBie was selected by the government as its ‘future proof’ option (COBie and the emerging BIM standards are meant to be compatible**). Useful data, notably about ‘costs’ and ‘carbon’, is exchanged using COBie spreadsheets. This is an interim step to Level 3 BIM, which will support the open exchange of all project data.
The BIM horizon – watch out for: nCulture change – BIM requires active and open
supply chain collaboration. The All Party Group report says that using BIM will be ‘a massive cultural shock in some areas of public procurement’.
nDevelopment costs – Both in the entry and design phase and in staff awareness and training. The costs may be high for those who need to work with numerous proprietary BIM technologies.
n ‘BIM hype’ – Overselling BIM capabilities and benefits, and mixing up the problems and benefits associated with Level 2 and 3. Few companies have gone public about their actual experience of BIM – and there is little hard evidence about the benefits and who accrues them. The government pilot projects should reveal plenty of pros and cons.
nConfusion over the interoperability of systems/data – Not all software/ICT platforms use IFC-compliant information standards yet.
The government has set up the BIM Implementation Task Group to help clients operate in a ‘BIM-enabled’ world. Industry and clients are also working together to develop documentation and standards for various components of the BIM process. A publicly available specification (PAS) (the forerunner to a British Standard) – PAS 1192-2:2012 – documents the delivery of BIM-enabled design and construction information. It is in the pipeline, and a version covering asset management and operation is set to follow. The ECA is representing members’ views on
56 ECA Today November 2012
©Arup Group Ltd
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