Let us go through the prologue. The world of engineering and applied technology is evolving in a tremendous pace with the effective introduction of virtual simulation and analysis technology throughout the sectors be it aerodynamics, fluid mechanics, thermal engineering, automobile, power, electronics, robotics, manufacturing or building-infrastructure construction. Just two and half decades back we first started to realize the potential use of advanced logical coding and languages and no wonder within consecutive decade we came out with a massive pool of computing tools and virtual analysis techniques which changed the concept of classical engineering forever and with a hyper effort on technology the trend has been being evolved ever since! The idea behind, have been always to do process & efficiency improvement in terms of accuracy, precision , automation and cost, design improvement, pre-phase visualization & accurate analysis of concept , design, execution & management of engineering process & product as well as to research and foresee the prospective next stage development of applied science and technology. And today we are equipped with dedicated and sophisticated software analysis tools (CAD / CAM, Design and 3D simulation modeling, thermal imaging tools, virtual information management software, forecast & scheduling software, command control software etc) and new technology platforms which have become integral part of everyday operation of almost all engineering & technology sectors throughout the world. Inevitably the construction industry, one of the largest contributing sectors to socio-economical inception worldwide has adopted its own format of virtual analysis techniques and process control tools. The term “Construction Information Technology (CIT)” is being proven defining factors for all current execution & next generation development of the construction engineering. The introduction of information technology to construction industry was done 20 years back and in last decade it has reached to its pinnacle with the birth of its best player namely “Building Information Modeling (BIM)” which has changed the face of construction engineering in a way that happened never before!
By definition “BIM” is the concept that gives us a consolidated platform that takes in, holds and delivers information to and from respective shareholders required in every phase throughout the lifecycle of a facility/building starting from concept to maintenance and eventually destruction! While the “CIT” covers the entire construction process, BIM plays its part of role starting from concept design till the end. Interestingly BIM does not cater only as information hub but the products of BIM add values to entire construction process very distinctively stage by stage. Obviously, these are advanced software platforms which record the concept scheme , design data and technical information, transforms them into indigenous virtual 3D models of the building service-wise and discipline-wise, does the design analysis, validation and up-gradation, does the clash coordination and constructability review, provide quantity estimation and produce shop drawings ultimately for execution. Moreover the virtual models are used to do time and cost analysis and also the tools for real time virtual simulation and visualization of site execution gives us the opportunity of construction project management. Above all the item wise information recorded in the model works as the effective database for maintainance of the facility for lifetime. It all started with visualization of a virtual 3D model and today we have sophisticated 9D model concept (including time, cost, data, and real time process management) that revolutionizing the construction industry in every way possible! BIM is a real package in construction - concept, engineering, management and all future process development.
Let us understand the global BIM trend Although the BIM has been introduced and implemented more than a decade now in Canada & USA , the markets that have begun adopting more recently such as UAE, Qatar, UK, Europe, Australia, Brazil, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore and New Zealand are being proven extremely prospective and “adopting the process of BIM more efficiently than more established regions in several key categories like of ROI, commitment to investment ,offering innovative new services and expanding the use of BIM to non-building projects like mining and manufacturing. Notably China and India are two major markets who started implementation of BIM very recently” and the process is growing exponentially in these regions despite very orthodox construction industry. In India major BIM implementation started with Delhi International Airport extension project and it was being adopted in a steady but rapidly increasing pace. Recently announced “The Nagpur Metro” construction mandates the use of 5D BIM which is very significant in terms of future Government policies in construction in India. The Indian real estate developers like Ambuja, Mani group, DLF group and industrialists like TATA group, ITC group; contractors like L&T, SPCL and many others have started using BIM extensively. The fact is "BIM usage is accelerating powerfully, driven by major private and government owners who want to institutionalize its benefits of faster, more certain project delivery, more reliable quality and cost. BIM mandates by US,UK and other Government entities demonstrate how enlightened owners can set specific targets and empower design and construction companies to leverage BIM technologies to meet and exceed those goals, also driving BIM into the broader project ecosystem in the process. Resulting BIM adoption in North America skyrocketed from 28% to 71% between 2007 and 2012, and the UK and other regions are poised for similar dramatic expansion. Adoption by contractors (74%) recently exceeded architects (70%) in North America and this group is increasingly showing leadership in driving BIM innovation, metrics and value." As per the latest survey by McGraw Hill Construction Report: i) Over next two years, contractors and designers expect the percentage of their work that involves BIM will increase by 50% on average globally. ii)BIM ROI increases directly with a contractor's level of BIM engagement in any market. iii) Contractors and Designers in all markets globally planning significant investments to expand their BIM programs over the next two years, including an increasing focus on internal and external collaborative procedures as well as mobile hardware and BIM software.
BIM benefits are the Genuine Requirement of the Industry. The optimization of design with increased accuracy, precision is now a regular phenomenon with the help of BIM. The basic virtual coordination and automatic limitless manipulation and opportunity of endless experiment without compromising the regular process enables us to achieve extremely time and cost effective system. When we can consider the Top benefit of BIM is to eliminate errors and omissions in the process of facility construction, this in turn also enhances other high-scoring downstream benefits such as reducing rework, construction cost and overall project duration. So as BIM engagement increases, the entire project delivery cycle is improved. Along with this down the line extremely efficient collaboration among Owner, Designer and contractor ensures the entire work flow to be improved thereby leading to ultimate goal of Business development. Inevitably BIM provides us the opportunity of marketing new business, offering new value added services and maintaining repeat business.
We have now the Intelligent BIM over Traditional BIM! Inevitably the traditional basic three dimensional BIM modeling and virtual coordination are quickly becoming routine. The never ending urge of the construction industry for integration of the process as well as agencies to achieve more holistic and realistic hand to hand raw benefit, have been driving BIM rapidly towards extremely efficient , accurate and job specific engineering solutions in design as well as planning, management and execution. This in turn leads to embracing innovative new effective services everyday that we could not imagine as reality even three to four years back. And this is where the idea of Intelligent BIM emerges. While traditional BIM is more focused on virtual construction and coordination, Intelligent BIM provide us more extensive feature of design data analysis, Cut sheet and report generation and automated data manipulation which reduces time frame in design almost by 20-30% comparative to Manual design. Moreover the automated reports generated from the intelligent model at different stages of the design not only enhance the accuracy and optimization but also increase the efficiency in terms of system performance and cost. Secondly, with the intelligent model we have the opportunity of Hyper realistic immersive visualization to communicate complex information among multiple parties throughout the project from concept to commissioning extremely efficiently which engage more effectively clients and prospects for a competitive age. Moreover we can use the simulation and analysis to optimize logistical planning and decision making as well as 100% accurate project tracking and monitoring at any phase of the execution. Interestingly the Intelligent modeling serves continuously even after the commissioning right through the life cycle of the facility working as the main database for facility management and equipment maintainance. Some of the recent innovative services involving Intelligent BIM are augmented reality to blend models with live camera views of reality; Laser scanning to capture existing conditions and integrate with models; Cloud modeling across the continents simultaneously to perform most integrated & ultramodern design practice in world.
Lastly, with BIM we are now at a cross road of effective blend of traditional and advanced engineering in construction. Practically, the cutting edge prospect of BIM application is taking us to a newer height that will address all future technological adaptation and innovation in building-infrastructure industry as well as other industries like mining and manufacturing. BIM is truly “the technology that revolutionizing the industry”.
Courtesy:
1. CCOM ESS BIM division
2. McGraw Hill Construction Report – 2014/2015
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