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THE USE OF BUILDING I NFORMATION MODELLING IN THE PRE /POST AND CONSTRUCTION PERIOD SRC 221 COMPUTER AIDED MODELLING

ASSIGNMENT 3 BUILDING INFORMATION MODELLING RESEARCH

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THE USE OF BUILDING INFORMATION MODELLING (BIM) IN THE PRE/POST AND CONSTRUCTION PERIOD
Since the introduction of Building Information Modelling, its popularity in programming has increased. BIM provides consistent and coordination views and representation of the digital modelling including reliable data for each view, this is to identify the responsibility of each party, control costs and shorten the construction period by implementing the accurate data in the BIM to be shared amongst the engineer and the architect especially for the design/build period. BIM is now widely used in many programs that architects and engineers use around the globe for example Autodesk; this has encouraged many architects to use BIM from the beginning of the project to the end. Through the use of BIM being widely spread, this piece will talk about the use of BIM in Construction management and the use of BIM throughout a project. This includes Visualization, 3D coordination, Prefabrication, Construction Planning and Monitoring and Cost Estimation

During the design phase the use of BIM can maximise the impact on a project cost control. The design team can be easily creative to provide solutions to issues before the problem becomes of a high cost nature on the project. This can be done easily and efficiently using BIM, for example the architect and engineer can test their design ideas including energy analysis and green house.(Hergunsel, 2011). The construction manager can easily implement project schedules covered by take-off/lead time for purchase, tendering, specifications, detailing and pricing by using BIM. All of the above can be easily accomplished through 3D control and planning, Digital Fabrication, Construction System Design and Site Utilization Planning.

Through BIM, a three dimensional representation of the building can be achieved effortlessly. With this function being readily available at any time the construction manager can provide rendering and walk throughs(Hergunsel, 2011) which provides a better representation of the 3D concept. Through this a better understanding of the building is achieved rather than having to mentally visualise several 2D

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views to create a hazy 3D view. Furthermore, virtual mock-ups such as building envelops can be provided to the designer and the owner(Hergunsel, 2011) to accompany the understanding of the visualisation of the aesthetics and the function of space. The use of virtual mock-up is cost efficient compared to a physical mock-up, and can be easily manipulated to any changes if required then creating a physical mock-up can be attained without the trouble of making unnecessary changes as it is all done through the virtual mock-up.

By using BIM the construction manager does not create 3D intelligent models. There are special needs for some sub-contractors for example steel manufactures, as they are in a great need to spatially coordinate their work. The 3D coordination can be started right after the model is created to ensure that any same space interference (hard clash) or clearance clash (soft clash) conflicts are resolved(Hergunsel, 2011) it means that the 3D coordination for these sub-contractors can dramatically reduce design errors and can give a greater understanding of the model before beginning the construction work. As an example of 3D coordination looking at attentional slabs the works must accurately allocate all the services embedded in the concrete slab to avoid contact with the tensional cables, this comes at ease when the 3D coordination model is ready.

Prefabrication for some material saves time and money. In most cases it is more accurate and has a higher quality. Pre fabrication requires design and accurate on sight measurements, through BIM pre fabricators can receive the right amount of information required to go ahead with their work, on the other hand the construction team must make sure that the BIM is interoperable with the software used by the fabricators(Hergunsel, 2011) by doing so the fabricator can generate the correct and specific details on the product, for example a wall fabricator AFS walling solution will design its module using all the data in BIM. By doing so this gives the fabricator and the construction manager a greater understanding of the product and how it will be used in the construction process, through this method it improves the quality of the product and also the cost. Mina N Tawadros 213 144 188

By using BIM in scheduling it gives the construction manager full control of the construction period, this is known as time or the fourth dimension. There are two common scheduling methods that can be used to create 4D BIM. The first method is using the critical path method (CPM), which is where each activity are linked to another activity and also duration. Interdependency of any activity is added either as predecessors or as successors to another activity(Hergunsel, 2011). CPM is a widely used method to help projects stay within their schedule. The second method is known as the line of balance technique. This method uses location as the foundation for scheduling. This process is based on the available crew size and sequence of location. This method is mostly used for repetitive projects to increase the productivity. This method would be most likely be used by large companies such as Burbank, where they building the same style house but in different locations.

Cost estimation can be achieved in a matter of steps with the help of building information modelling. After constructing the virtual model, the quantities of the material being used can be extracted from BIM, this can then be placed onto a data sheet where the pricing of material and labour rate are held. BIM does not contain prices due to the fluctuation in prices and also the deals made between the two parties, therefore there is no set price. However with the extracted information all that the constructor need to do is multiply the quantity of the material by the unit price.

Through the use of BIM it has made the pre-construction, construction and the post construction phases much easier and reliable to use. Due to this it has made the life of architects, engineers and also construction manager much easier and more productive.

Bibliography: HERGUNSEL, M. F. 2011. Benifits of Building Information Modelling For Construction Managers and BIM Based Scheduling. Master of Science in Civil Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Mina N Tawadros 213 144 188