To BIM or not to BIM?

CADalyst, Feb, 2005 by Sara Ferris

That was the question set to a panel of vendors and end users at the first-ever Technology for Construction Executive Forum (January 17-21, Las Vegas). As you'd expect, the representatives from Autodesk, Bentley and Graphisoft were bullish on BIM, though not so much on the Technology for Construction show (none of the three exhibited). The end-user representatives on the panel were more circumspect, though many had already implemented BIM software and were impressed by the benefits.

Stephen Hagan of the U.S. General Services Administration discussed that agency's requirement, starting in fiscal year 2006, that architects working on GSA projects use IFC (Industry Foundation Classes)-based building models through final concept. Pilot projects indicate that discrete problems can be solved quickly in 3D, and BIM also automates space measurement, a big concern of the GSA given that it has $12 billion in capital construction underway.

The ideal of a single building model that contains all information for all stages of the design and building process has given way to more limited applications. GSA is not asking for a complete BIM implementation, but plans to use the model to check designs against program requirements and cost estimates. Other builders take 2D drawings from the architects and create their own 3D construction models.

Panelists agreed that BIM is inevitable, but disagreed about how long mainstream adoption will take. It's already being used successfully by a number of firms. BIM hotspots include the Nordic countries and Singapore, which requires certain BIM formats for accelerated regulatory approvals on building projects.

On the flip side, Ray Barnard, CIO of Fluor Corp., believes that widespread BIM use is still 6-7 years away. He noted that few customers actually request that BIM be used on projects and that it introduces an unwanted element of risk. "Cool doesn't get it done anymore," he noted.

Panelists noted the following obstacles to BIM implementation:

Globalization. Ray Barnard noted that 70% of his company's business is offshore, often in regions that don't have the technology to support BIM.

Corporate culture. Building process participants such as estimators and project managers are accustomed to doing their jobs in a particular way and may not trust data derived from a building model. There also may be no incentive to collaborate, even among those within the same company.

Data storage costs. These can skyrocket with increased collaboration, especially with regulatory requirements to save data.

No standards. Problems can arise in building models when standards for creating them are not enforced.

Interoperability is a key issue because no one application can handle all tasks required by a building project. The three vendors support the IFC exchange format with varying degrees of enthusiasm, but pointed out that IFCs are the lowest common denominator for data exchange and will not solve all problems. Stephen Hagan noted that vendors don't want interoperability, they want to sell more software. He encouraged architects and owners alike to push vendors for better data exchange capabilities.

CAD option for Mac OS X users

The lone CAD application on display at the Technology for Construction was 26-year-old VersaCAD, soon to be available for Apple's Mac OS X. Tom Lazear of Archway Systems (www.versacad.com) said the port to Mac OS X, basically UNIX with a Mac interface, was the "hardest we've ever done." VersaCAD fills a role in both architectural and mechanical design, he says, because many newer 3D applications are too complex, especially for tasks such as floor plans and electrical diagrams that are still best served by 2D. VersaCAD 2005 is priced at $795, with an introductory price of $629.

TIPS FOR BIM SUCCESS

* Find the right project to showcase BIM benefits.

* Enlist a champion or two.

* Demonstrate the power of the building model.

* Don't make an all-or-nothing leap into building modeling. Instead, bite off a little more with each new project.

* Even though benefits may be greater with large projects, BIM is being used effectively on smaller ones.