Building information modeling (BIM) offers construction professionals an effective tool to increase productivity. AEC (architectural, engineering and construction) industry surveys conducted have reported that using BIM led to cost and time savings.
Common data environments (CDEs) facilitate this because all stakeholders can collaborate on one shared model that is always up-to-date, increasing visibility and collaboration while also allowing designers to explore design alternatives more freely while decreasing change orders submitted during construction administration.
But what are the benefits of BIM? How do BIM tools from companies like XYZ Reality increase collaboration and efficiency? Let’s take a look at how BIM can improve the construction process from beginning to end.
Cost-Effective Design
Construction companies face numerous obstacles that threaten budget overruns, delivery delays, poor forecasting and inadequate site technology – issues that have the potential to significantly hinder labor productivity and costs. One solution is using BIM software to increase labor productivity.
BIM allows architects, engineers and contractors to digitally recreate a building’s physical characteristics for analysis, coordination, documentation, simulation and construction sequencing. Information contained within this model can then be shared among project teams as well as used for analyses such as coordination analysis documentation simulation sequencing etc.
Design-stage modeling helps identify conflicting elements and prevent costly changes during construction, while construction-phase models help with scheduling and automating repetitive tasks to free workers up for more specialized work. Finally, facilities management crews can access these models for renovations – ultimately helping ensure a cost-effective and successful construction project.
Increased Collaboration
BIM is an innovative concept in the architectural, engineering and construction industries that allows all project members to coordinate and share information digitally while also offering transparency over the construction process and costs.
BIM can assist in eliminating communication issues that may arise during the pre-construction stage. It can help coordinate with design team members, identify MEP clashes and generate accurate construction sequence plans.
This model can also help generate a detailed bill of materials, which construction teams can use to estimate costs and order materials efficiently for delivery at their jobsite.
BIM can assist in communicating a space through 3D visualizations and space use simulations before construction begins, which can reduce delays, schedule setbacks and change orders.
Furthermore, it can be used to verify whether or not the actual building meets design intent, helping maintain high standards of quality in construction – however well-developed practical strategies for data collection and interoperability must be put in place in order for this process to work optimally.
Reduced Errors
BIM can provide a more thorough understanding of project requirements and workflows, while simultaneously improving communication among stakeholders – helping prevent information loss while also decreasing confusion that often results in errors.
Mistakes in construction often arise from a lack of clarity and miscalculations, so it’s essential for contractors to ensure their plans are free from errors that could delay productivity and incur unnecessary costs. Errors could lead to costly delays that reduce productivity while increasing costs significantly.
By employing BIM, contractors can streamline their design processes by allowing workflows to be integrated instead of separated. Design, documentation and edits can all be done within a single platform. Furthermore, using 3D views of an entire space to help identify conflicts or interferences and collisions (for instance: whether pipes will collide into walls or steel beams).
BIM also enables facilities management teams to gain a comprehensive view of the performance of facilities they are responsible for as they monitor them to quickly spot and address problems quickly before they escalate into costly failures.
Faster Construction
BIM allows project participants to visualize dimensions and requirements in three-dimension. This makes understanding plans prior to construction much simpler, leading to more productive planning sessions and ultimately more success with projects.
Virtual models serve as a platform for testing and analysis, enabling teams to test different options before construction starts, which helps avoid costly surprises on-site and streamline phasing schedules.
Conclusion
BIM models are invaluable tools for project coordination, scheduling and maintenance management. Easy to use and accessible from anywhere at any time – these benefits translate to faster project completion times and cost savings for clients.
BIM can increase communication and trust among team members, changing the commonly seen adversarial approach in AEC while also improving project outcomes.