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As part of the Digital Transformation in Construction, Building Information Modeling (BIM) extends throughout the entire life cycle of real estate projects, from their conception, design and execution, to its operation and maintenance, allowing the AECO industry professionals to prevent errors, make more informed decisions and adapt to changes in an agile manner.
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Beyond 2D and 3D Disciplines in the Built Environment
As part of the Digital Transformation in Construction, companies in the Architecture, Engineering, Construction and Operation (AECO) industry have experienced a digital revolution in recent years thanks to the Implementation of Building Information Modeling (BIM) in the Business Technology Architecture to address the increasingly complex challenges the industry is facing.
This innovative approach has not only changed and improved the way we conceive, plan and execute real estate projects, by allowing the creation of virtual environments that allow the use of Virtual, Augmented and Mixed Reality, and the accurate planning of construction projects; but it has also opened the door to an unprecedented integration of the different disciplines that are part of the built environment by generating a 3D model that incorporates the detailed information of each of these.
The successful BIM implementation in the built environment goes beyond creating detailed models. It is a process that involves multiple dimensions and stages of the real estate process, from the initial conception of the project to its long-term operation and maintenance, allowing industry professionals to prevent errors, make more informed decisions and adapt to changes more agilely to drive innovation and excellence in all stages of real estate development.
BIM Modeling: The Basis of Transformation in Real Estate Development
BIM Modeling is not simply a 3D representation of a project; It is a comprehensive approach that covers all dimensions of a real estate development and creates a shared virtual environment that promotes collaboration between multidisciplinary teams and informed decision making, providing strategic guidance to address each aspect of the project life cycle:
The initial conception of the idea of the project, establishing the objectives and scope that the client seeks with the project.
The accurate representation of vectors in direction, orientation and two-dimensional representation of a plane that exists within a 3D projection of the project.
The three-dimensional representation of the form that integrates information on the aesthetics and functionality of the elements.
The integration of time to facilitate more accurate and realistic planning and scheduling of the entire project life cycle.
The analysis of cost associated with the project contributes to informed decisions and the financial efficiency of the project.
The evaluation of performance of the project, identifying areas for improvement and optimization.
The projection of the Asset Management that ensures the sustainability, operability and continued efficiency of the project even after its completion.
To achieve effective integration, it is essential to have a deep understanding of construction systems. This point, often underestimated, is essential to carry out digital construction effectively. At the same time, understanding how the programs work, its strengths and weaknesses, is not only a competitive advantage, but a necessity to guarantee quality and effectiveness in the three-dimensional modeling process that serves as a starting point for the efficient, effective and profitable execution of projects.
BIM Coordination: Integrating All Disciplines
BIM coordination stands as a multifaceted challenge that requires not only collaboration between disciplines, but also the implementation of effective strategies to address technological challenges and ensure a smooth transition from design to execution. As design errors are resolved in 3D, 2D plans are generated and released. that will serve as a means to communicate detailed and clear information about the execution of the project on site. This fluid collaboration between 3D and 2D is essential to achieve a model that ensures quality in execution.
In this context, the effective management of BIM models for coordination focuses on strategies that go beyond visual representation, considering the data optimization and storage, and the application performance to ensure a fast and efficient user experience. An important part of this focuses on the continuous optimization of the models, which includes:
The division of files by specialty.
Cleaning unused items.
Elimination of duplicate elements.
The clear definition of Levels of Development (LOD) which are integrated by Levels of Detail (LoD) and Levels of Information (LoI) to avoid the over modeling.
For this last point, the participation of the client and a BIM Manager qualified and experienced who manages the model(s)(s) is essential. This allows defining scopes, observing the evolution of the models, creating strategies to optimize and minimize the weight of the files, and implementing good practices that guarantee the success of model coordination.
Another important challenge we face is that the heterogeneity of tools used by various disciplines can result in conflicts and difficulties of interoperability and compatibility that affect the efficiency of the project and its coordination, which must be considered from its conception.
If BIM coordination and management start at advanced stages of the project, it will be difficult for them to be integrated effectively and give the expected results. That is why the client must understand that BIM should not be a last minute guest; It is crucial to hire a BIM Manager from the beginning of the project to plan the processes effectively according to the needs and realities of the project.
BIM Application: Improving the Execution of Real Estate Projects
While in design, errors can be managed and corrected relatively flexibly and at low cost, in construction, they can have serious consequences and at a high cost that directly impacts the profitability of projects. The promise of BIM is not to completely eliminate errors, but to manage them effectively so that professionals can decide which errors to address during project execution and which to resolve in the design phase. This informed decision-making capability not only optimizes time, but also provides a more strategic approach to error management throughout the project lifecycle and improves construction project supervision.
At the same time, the coexistence of 2D, represented by CAD, and 3D, represented by BIM, in the execution phase is vital. While 3D models offer a complete perspective of the entire project and assist in coordination between office and field, 2D plans are essential for verifying views and detailing specific information and facilitating field execution. Both deliverables complement each other and are intended to coexist and evolve, creating a balanced system that addresses the diverse needs of construction.
The key is to recognize and leverage the strengths of each approach, guaranteeing effective integration that improves efficiency and quality in all aspects of the real estate development life cycle. The combination of traditional and innovative forms the foundation of a solid future to form a culture of innovation and excellence in the construction industry.
It is crucial to highlight that, although BIM offers notable benefits in large and complex projects, its application in smaller projects could be perceived as too robust a solution. This aspect can present a challenge for small business teams or projects with limited budgets.
BIM Management: The Roadmap to Success
To guarantee success in the implementation of BIM Modeling, Coordination and Application, It is essential to have a BIM Execution Plan (BEP) well defined. This plan acts as a detailed guide that establishes the protocols, standards and good practices to follow during all phases of the project. From defining roles and responsibilities to data management and model coordination, the BEP ensures a coherent and efficient execution and use of BIM.
Effective management of BIM models is essential to avoid slowness and performance challenges. Less weight in the models means more efficiency in modeling, visualization and execution of the project. Collaboration between clients and their teams, along with the implementation of good practices and division strategies, are the key to achieving a perfect balance in the BIM world.
BIM Complements: New Technologies for Efficiency
The use of advanced technologies and the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), smart sensors with the Internet of Things (IoT), Virtual Reality (VR), and interoperability with tools such as Excel can significantly improve the use of BIM.
At the same time, the integration of programming languages and the development of custom tools can also be beneficial to enrich the experience and capabilities of the team.. However, the future of construction goes beyond technology, highlighting the importance of people and continuous training to make the most of these advanced tools in search of developing technological maturity that implies not only addressing current weaknesses, but also anticipating and adapting to future technological evolutions.
By having a holistic and cutting-edge vision of projects, teams can identify opportunities for improvement, optimize processes and guarantee efficiency at all stages. This not only leads to a more robust design, but also allows for more efficient and cost-effective construction.
Conclusions: Sustainable and Continuous Transformation of the AECO industry
BIM has revolutionized the AECO industry, providing complete integration of real estate development from project conception to operation. Successful implementation involves understanding construction systems, coordinating disciplines and managing models efficiently to achieve the coexistence of 3D models and 2D plans during execution that improves decision making and error management.
The BIM Execution Plan, created with the participation of the client and a BIM Manager, is crucial to establish standards and protocols that guarantee consistent execution. In turn, the adoption of advanced technologies highlights the importance of a holistic and avant-garde vision that requires continuous training to function properly. BIM not only represents an evolution in construction, but a solid foundation for the future of the industry..
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About Pablo Tellaeche (Author):
Owner and main consultant of TACs Consultores, Speaker and University Professor; seeks to bring a true and positive Lean Culture and Digital Transformation to every company with which he has the pleasure of collaborating.
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