What BIM can and can’t do for your organization.
BIM is a hot topic in the industry. Information about its benefits and challenges is available in abundance for those who are interested.
When looking at the industry-wide studies, it is crucial to focus on data and look at value creation data, not at a macro (industry) but rather micro (enterprise) level.
Let’s go on a thought experiment to learn the business of BIM and how it can affect your business.
BIM brings a lot of benefits to the building owner. With an accurate BIM, the owner can use various models to simulate the entire lifecycle of the building in a data world and have a pretty good estimation of the lifecycle costs and effort.
BIM brings a lot of value to the Architects and Engineers, as they can value engineer critical concepts in a low LoD. Again, through the use of models, it is possible to review the performance of critical structural or system components to ensure the structure’s integrity.
If you are a GC or a Subcontractor, your involvement with BIM is much different.
Here’s what you CAN do and should be doing with BIM:
- Author systems and assemblies
- Author Schedule estimates
- Author Cost estimates
- Coordinate design model across all systems
- Capture existing conditions
- Coordinate design model with existing conditions
- Coordinate project logistics
- Coordinate labor needs
- Create construction documentations
- Analyze constructability
- Analyze system performance
- Analyze progress and WIP
- Plan your scope
- Plan project’s scope
and more….
What it can’t do is make operational decisions on the jobsite for your team. BIM is data that is used in the process of construction. Your team can and should use the data to improve their decision-making process.
Invest in your field’s team’s access to BIM, and let them lead the way in defining what data is critical for them, as well as means of getting this data to make more informed decisions in the field.
