Potential of Building Information Modeling (BIM) system
M. R. Oliveira Engineering School of São Carlos University of São Paulo (EESC – USP), Brazil
ABSTRACT: The aim of this study is to understand the benefits of nD model as regards the projects coord i- nation and their implications to information management, decision-making team, data sheets generation, schedule implementation, etc. This paper contents a review based on bibliography and on tutorial practice ex- perience. Better understanding of the need to change design identifies how BIM application can dynamically change design management.
1 INTRODUCTION walls, windows. There is underutilization of the software resources. Usually the complex designs of The information management generated in the mechanical engineering are simulated by models project process must receive a re-adjusted by new that mimic the behavior of the object and the draw- technologies to be implemented on time, with quali- ings are the only automated projections for project ty and low cost (Aound et al., 2005). documentation. The architecture and engineering as- Project process ranges from the architectural con- sume as new trend the use of this complex tool in a cept to the Post-Occupancy Evaluation of the object more rational way. used to build feedback for new projects. The BIM Currently the use of modeling is well applied to technology allows the integration of the various attract customers. The model simulates three dimen- building components into geometric, spatial and pa- sions in the construction volume, cladding and rametric, the 3D model simulate all object life cycle landscaping, but most often is not linked with the (Crespo & Ruschel, 2007). technique. The 3D model, as in its electronic ver- This tool asks for changes on the way to design sion, is endowed with information of its compo- and represent the ideas (Koo & Fischer, 2000). The nents, is the abstraction project volume developed data should be precisely presented, which is a com- on the "electronic clipboard". plex task and consumes much time in initial stages, but this range of information is trans-formed into spreadsheets, drawings, process simulations which 1.2 Parametric Objecs helps the work systemic management. The BIM system requires the modeling compo- The tools of computer-aided design (CAD) offer nents to have real properties: aggregate size, mate- features such as automated design and communica- rials, purpose, specifications, manufacturer and tion tools for project sharing, database and virtual price, in addition, the component also allows the re- model. But the fragmented information from CAD lationship to other components, such as the compo- drawings has been an obstacle to information shar- nent 'wall' which allows the user to add components ing (Fu et al., 2006). To avoid the fragmentation, the as 'window' and 'door' (Crespo & Ruschel, 2007). nD modeling can get into action. The wealth of information provided by the use of Here are different uses of CAD tools and devel- parametric objects enables automatic extraction of opment of this tool: nD model or BIM system. different representations of the constructive element, not needing to redesign it: plant, cutting, lifting, and quantitative are automatically generated. Robinson (2007) describes the modeling system 1.1 CAD as electronic clipboard and electronic of full component information to form a single mod- model el which is the most appropriate for managing in- Usually CAD drawings are the digitization of the formation in construction and generate documents. design done by hand. Abstract lines represent doors, The various components are modeled without detail and their parameters - size, material, relationship 3 POTENTIAL OF BIM SYSTEM with other components - can be defined and refined during the design process when decisions are done. The development of BIM technology is ongoing. Not only the improvement of technology, but also the use of the tool is growing. According to Birx
1.3 The final product modeling (2006), the transition period of the CAD geometry In the BIM process using the technology, there is use for CAD BIM will take at least a decade to be a reversal of the process developed by the CAD sys- accomplished. tem, but, instead of a series of 2D drawings, it builds The constant search for tool improvement and use a virtual model of the building, using objects that by different professionals provides a range of appli- simulate the form behaviour and the construction cations that are presented below. elements to be applied. The virtual model is the da- tabase where the architect has stored all the parame- ters of each component applied in the project. The 3.1 Teaching design method designer's attention is therefore focused on design In the education field, Florio (2007) points the solutions, and not to technical drawings, which are BIM as a tool to aid on new developments and a bet- automatically generated by the computer (Birx, ter understanding of the design process. Students can 2006). Thus the attention is turned to the construc- establish decisions along design phase because it al- tive process, specifications of the component, etc. lows the reflection of their actions in data insertion: The virtual model can be used as logical as to be "The inclusion of BIM in the architecture inserted into the computer for digital manufacturing, teaching facilitates the understanding of lin- or the model already contains the production project. kages between construction elements of the Pupo and Celani (2008) define digital manufacturing building, making it more clear and precise as: "automated production of parts digitally modeled communication of the information and design (...) may be intended for the production of proto- intentions" (free translation - Florio, 2007). types, or evaluation models, or production of con- Regarding the design method, BIM allows the sumer products such as constructive elements to be student to understand the importance of collabora- direct applied at the building site". tive project, testing parametric variations of con- In the contemporary paradigm of the virtual mod- structive components, nonetheless involving stu- el, the interpretation is no longer necessary because dents with capability construction issues whereas the digital information of the model are intrinsically modeling provides a better understanding of the op- linked to reality, with the possibility of automated erations sequence that are performed by various pro- production, for example, using CNC (Garber, 2009). fessionals in the construction site. During the tutorial exercise it has clarified the perception of relationships between the components 2 PURPOSE AND METHOD that were not explicit in the initial sketches. The 3D visualization and the method of construction of the The central objective of this article is to identify model using components instead of layers make the how the evolution of BIM tool and its application user reflect on each element to be introduced in the changes the design dynamic. model. This work was divided into two stages: literature review and theory validation. The first step was to carry out the conceptual basis review to supply in- 3.2 Enquiry and Simulation formation for the work, addressing the following The 3D model used as an enquiry tool makes topics: 3D modeling, nD modeling, information possible the solution of problems in early production technology, Building Information Modeling and de- stages. It is stressed that several works present an sign methods. This stage included the reading of approach targeting the optimization of the interface books, thesis, dissertations, and published articles. design and schedule for better understanding of the The second step involved the validation of the the- logical construction sequence, thus, associating ory of this review through a tutorial hours practice of schedule to 3D model (Harink & Vries, 2007). the software Revit Architecture 2009 - Autodesk ®. The mechanical, manufacturing and aerospace This paper will be presented with a text contain- industries environment use the visualization of ing the reflection of the studied literature and the three-dimensional model to instantaneously show practical experience on software usage. the inadequacies and inconsistencies. At the specifi- cation stage the designer can try different solutions and automatically get a relation of quantity, cost, and visualize the component inserted in the building. This research process certainly helps on decision making, saving time and avoiding future conflicts. Ruschel & Crespo (2007) report the benefits of Moreover, the simulations for thermal, sunlight viewing 4D (3D + time) perceived by the GSA and sound analysis as construction site workflow are (General Services Administration, USA), and they important to implementation decisions, materials highlight: surrounding historic preservation visuali- choice, among others. The information exchange be- zation, errors reduction and omissions, visualization tween the analysis applications is possible through and design stages and construction sequence optimi- the Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) standard lan- zation, and the team leads the project with efficien- guage. This language was developed by IAI - Inter cy, accuracy and security. national Alliance for Interoperability with the aim to These benefits are possible by 3D model manipu- standardize the modeling language. IFC is a kind of lation. The BIM allows the understanding of space modeling specification focused on the product and and surroundings of the building, the projects syner- process modeling of the AEC industry(Fu et al., gies where the conflicts are automatically listed at 2006). the various construction phases together with the implementation schedule allowing review on the construction site definition. This change on the busi- 3.5 Project Management nesses design method, combining the new technolo- The project management, combined with BIM gies at all project stages increases the product effi- technology, facilitates the control of multiple files ciency and robustness. developed by different designers and promotes bet- By incorporating this technology in the project, ter understanding and visual control of the final the architect need to review his knowledge about project. building constructive process, in other words, the Project management approach by BIM has three process must be considered in the production design. main steps: project planning, project process man- agement and technical solutions management. The BIM tool provides for the manager ways to coordi- 3.3 Collaborative Design nate the team, accompanying the changes and new The information management from the BIM information insertion, information flow control and model is provided by a repository of standardized in- compatibility process automation. So it facilitates formation from the construction drawings, which are the involvement of several designers from the being added by the various participants in product project earliest stages, regarding the discussion and development, ensuring quality and integrity to the development of solutions for the project (Fabricio, model (Ruschel & Crespo, 2007). The team is di- 2002). vided into groups, and these groups have different Coordination tools are changing the form of lead rules for access and control the changes of model because the web based tools have essential systems central data base for the collective validation. for communication, conflict resolution, knowledge The design is based on the collaborative know- exchange and complex design integration. The man- ledge and experience exchange, where risks, respon- ager can analyze, review and suggest changes at the sibilities and successes came from individual contri- research, informational databases, plans, and scope butions. The easy access to information offered by of the project (Anantatmula, 2008). BIM system allows a better exchange of ideas and to This tool is able to synthesize the results from as- make faster decisions. sessments, identifying and structuring problems and conflicts among the evaluated results, and finally produce a set of suggestions and options to assist the 3.4 Information Management decision making process (Fu et al., 2006). The BIM implementation in an office changes the The software to assess the process management, conventional working method, as the system not on- monitor schedules, allocate resources, estimate ly shapes the product, but also includes features such costs, monitor processes, so can efficiently and ef- as components, processes and documents. The tech- fectively assist five functions of management (Anan- nology allows the management of the life cycle with tatmula, 2008) ), as follows: integrated information database to a 3D model. Ac- i. Document the roles defined in the design and cording to Christianssen & Sarshar (2004), BIM implementation processes, technology advantages are as follows: ii. Establish formal and consistent processes, i. Automated documentation, eliminating the risk iii. Communicate expectations for processes, of working with old version data, iv. Communicate openly with team members, ii. Object modeled full understanding, since the even though virtually, and details are entered at the initial design stage, v. Monitor and manage products. iii. Unified database allows all team contributions archiving, and iv. Feedback facilitated by the documents organi- zation. 3.6 Management at the construction site 4 CONCLUSIONS AND FUTURE WORK Recently, one of the problems faced by compa- nies is the difficulty to correctly view the work plan- The increasing use of CAD tools provides the ning at construction site, especially in large and growth of tools made available by new technologies more complex projects. and activities involved in the design process, con- The 3D model along the timeline allows the visu- tributing to increase productivity and improve prod- alization of the building construction progress. It uct quality. presents a vision of the actual construction sequence, The work has identified a change in the design allowing interoperation with the site at all construc- dynamics using BIM system. The standardization tion stages. This interaction is not possible with the and organization of data is essential to ensure colla- traditional planning ways as the most used Gantt di- boration of various members during design and, agram, where viewing is based on the bar chart. modeling with BIM integrates all information into a single database, which facilitates project manage- ment. 3.7 Interoperability The implementation of this technology needs in- The BIM system is already present in different vestment and changes in the market profile and the software which makes interoperability a major con- way organisations work. Moreover there is a need cern for the multidisciplinary work (Crespo & Rus- for investment during the conception and students chel, 2007). Various software and modeling analysis training for familiarization with this kind of tool. of the BIM model, compatible with the standard IFC From the obtained information through the BIM, model developed by the IAI - International Alliance a number of scientific enquiries and evaluation re- for Interoperability - enables the exchange of infor- lated actions to the built environment will be con- mation between software architecture and design ducted to help designers make decisions with accu- with intelligence based on the object - such as: Arc- rate information to achieve better performance of the hiCAD, Revit, VectorWorks Architect, Roland Mes- project and the building. serli, EliteCAD, Ecotect e Sketch-up, among others. The expectation for change regarding innovation The details of the system, as in IFC interopera- and competiveness in building environments, where bility, allow different applications to be compatible architects and engineers play a crucial role to im- (Robinson, 2007). The interface of the IFC viewer plement academic works. consists of four sub-windows: a hierarchical objects list and their relationships, a virtual 3D model, a ta- ble listing all attributes of a selected object, and a list 5 REFERENCES showing the assessment results (Fu et al., 2006). Other areas that also being developed are rules Anantatmula, V.S. 2008. The Role of Technology in that include a code for automated verification of the Project Manager Performance Model . Project compliance (AC3) and to exchange transactions in Management Journal. Sylva: mar/2008. vol. 39, BIM – COBIE - Construction to Operations Build issue 1, p34-48. ing Information Exchange (Garber, 2009). Aound, G., Lee, A., Wu, S. 2005. The utilization of Building Information Models in nD modeling: a study of data interfacing and adoption barriers. 3.8 Limitations Access:
ACKNOWLEGMENTS
FAPESP - Foundation for the Support of Research of the State of São Paulo, for financial support for my Masters research - Case 08/52968-0.