Competitively priced BIM Modelling / Guaranteed quality / Fast turnaround
Have you ever thought about the main issues with BIM. Applying BIM in an AEC project can be challenging, but once adopted can bring many benefits. It increases the output, eases the creation of building visuals, and fastens the development of required deliverables. The principal benefit of the BIM method is easy access to information. That is crucial throughout the building's lifespan, from design to operation of the building.
Everything in this real world has its limitation and hiccups. We are not discussing the use and outcomes of BIM software. Instead, we'll focus on the general and most common problems that arise in implementing BIM workflow.
Most of the time, issue with BIM is that the clients are unaware of deliverables when looking for BIM services. Secondly, explanations are way different from their expectation. They are getting services as they heard BIM is a future and demand it. It can result in too much implementation than required or insufficient to take the project to the next stage. Such a scenario may result in a conflict between two parties later. To avoid such disputes, consultants and service providers must educate the client and comprehend the essential BIM services for their infrastructure.
Consultants and BIM managers should consider the whole project and list each client's requirements. After that, they need to convey outcomes and get their acknowledgment.
A BIM execution plan, or simply BEP, is the fundamental process that provides the framework for BIM implementation. It clearly states each milestone as well as the roles and responsibilities of each team member.
BEP should be specific to each project, failure to get the collaborative BEP can increase the time and cost of the project. It may result in BIM blame in case of failed modeling. Ironically, we have many advanced tools for BIM but no dedicated software for their planning. Professionals are still using Microsoft Excel and Word for BEP.
BEP is essential to the BIM process, as each well-coordinated project starts with a well-crafted BEP. Leaders and managers should spend extra hours on this planning phase. They need to be thoughtful to ensure that details don't fall through the cracks, resulting in last-minute changes and causing the project to be delayed.
As BIM professionals, we must note down every chunk of activity and adequately convey the responsibility to every team player.
Many team players work on a single BIM implementation project, often working simultaneously at a time. They unknowingly model clashes with the other building services or the architectural model. We can fix these collations anyhow and sometimes bid for the more experienced expertise. Space inside the building to install number of electro-mechanical utilities are congested, usually in high-rise buildings.
We should follow a clash avoidance workflow to avoid such scenarios and must contemplate it while drafting BEP. Employing an extra dedicated resource is better to ensure effective collaboration between members.
Advanced tools like Navisworks or Bexel Manager help to eliminate the clash as per the required clearance.
Being on track to efficient Building information model workflow is also challenging for the entire modeling and model information handling team. Workflow is correlated with BEP and has four stages: Planning, followed by authoring, analysis, and utilization.
The key to attain the best workflow process is: following a continuously updating BEP, formulating new activities, and assigning roles to relevant experts, and the process repeats all over again. For a better workflow approach, the team must be flexible and emphasize attention to detail.
Globally, most of the AEC designing firms are working on old traditional methodologies. While BIM requires more advanced expertise and experience with various new tools and software. As we all know, information modeling is a new field. Finding technical resources with relevant knowledge and skillset is quite a task. For example, architects and engineers used 2D toots like AutoCAD and Solidworks for drafting and designing. BIM environment workflow demands updated tools like Revit, Bentley, ArchiCAD, etc.
The market is saturated with the number of BIM software, and a firm currently incorporates 1 or 2 similar tools. The client's demand for another specific tool is another challenge for the BIM team. Hiring the right people with the proper skill set is another time-consuming challenge for companies with money as an extra requisite.
We can follow a proactive approach to get the right experts on board in no time, or existing staff can be trained with the right skills to meet future demands. BIM professionals can control cost and time if the company adequately planned strategies are applied.
In today's fast-tracked IT world, new tools are emerging every year in every field of life; BIM is a relatively emerging field. Not enough people are trained to meet the industry's gap. Companies need to train their skilled men with updated tools and equip them with the latest trends and technologies.
Employees and employers must contribute equally to the training process for their benefit. Sharpening the axe benefits the company and the professionals working within it. It might take extra hours and a little investment, but it will strengthen both parties in the long run.
It's human nature to resist change. The organization that is more worried about the cultural impact prefers to operate under traditional norms. They do not put great value in training the existing workforce or onboarding new employees more in tune with BIM-driven methodology.
Professionals fear change because BIM changes how a company operates, increases responsibility, and leaves less room for error compared to old techniques.
To break this stereotype, AEC industry experts should think outside the box and get out of their comfort zone to adopt the change for good. They shouldn't be afraid to put in place BIM in construction, as it is more user-friendly, error-free, and much faster than old design approaches.
Another major issue with BIM is the implementation and adoption by the clients is the absence of BIM standards. Although there are defined standards for architectural and structural design and services used inside the building. The services include electrical, HVAC, firefighting, and plumbing system. There is still no standardization for building information modeling. There is no defined merit for signing the BIM contracts; each firm has defined its rules to comply with the modern technique. It decreases the client's reliance on method and increases its safety concerns.
Academicians, industry experts, and regulatory authorities of the AEC industry have a lot of work to fill this prime gap. Relevant associations like IEEE, ASHRAE, IET, and similar, need to play their parts to define specific complied standards. They need to draft the proper set of instructions for the BIM industry. That should encompass every aspect of the process, whether it's the contract document, execution instruction, or safety standards.
BIM Outsourcing, as one of the leading BIM coordination service providers offer a range of different services from BIM modelling to installation coordination as well as fire protection services. This ensures that our clients can concentrate on their core competencies while still getting a quality service.
Our office in the UK
Our Services