BIM supports new collaborative project delivery models that increase efficiency throughout the building process. Improving coordination among traditionally competing players, reduces waste and improves time management while optimizing resource usage.
Architects and contractors alike have reported significant time savings using BIM. With many construction teams transitioning to better software programs and other cutting-edge technology like XYZ Reality’s AR tools, many construction professionals often ask “Why is BIM replacing CAD?”
The following article will explain how BIM can improve the construction process from ideation to construction. Read on to gain more insight into its many benefits!
Improved Collaboration
Building Information Modeling (BIM) isn’t just a 3D representation of a building; it serves as an indispensable management tool throughout a project’s lifespan, from planning, document management, and simulation through to communication between construction professionals and stakeholders and visualization of final result visualization.
As such, it enables these professionals to communicate ideas more efficiently while producing visuals of finished results as well as accurate cost estimates.
Working with BIM means all information is centralized in one location. In contrast to using architectural plans or written documents to share information with stakeholders in the past, which often led to errors such as outdated file versions or mismatched timing plans.
By hosting both design and construction information in a common data environment all stakeholders will always have access to the latest version, eliminating the need for contingency budgets to cover unplanned changes.
BIM also produces detailed digital models which enable more accurate estimates of material quantities, helping reduce construction costs by eliminating overruns and waste of materials, while simultaneously providing companies with realistic planning capabilities and shortening execution deadlines.
Reduced Errors
BIM allows project participants to anticipate potential issues before construction starts, helping to mitigate risk and avoid any costly rework or schedule delays.
Combining scheduling data and 3D information models gives construction management teams a comprehensive view of a project, helping break down information silos common on past projects and reduce change orders issued.
This includes eliminating field coordination issues, and enhancing communication among architects, structural, civil, MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing) engineers (and their subcontractors), steelwork contractors and concrete subcontractors.
Teams using BIM must take caution to avoid potential legal pitfalls when implementing it, such as intellectual property and proprietary issues or risk-sharing issues with project participants. Pilot projects are an excellent way to introduce stakeholders to BIM use while familiarizing them with its workflows; this will equip them to use BIM on larger projects.
Increased Efficiency
Effective collaboration among construction professionals can significantly lower the risk of delays and errors in projects. Miscommunication between professionals can result in budget overruns, missed deadlines, reduced build quality, and poor site operational performance – using BIM will allow construction professionals to avoid these pitfalls, saving both time and money.
When asked which phase(s) they consider BIM most valuable in design and construction processes for educational facility projects, architects responded that its benefits lay most directly in its schematic design, design development, and construction documentation stages while contractors saw its worth during closeout phases.
Information gathered through BIM can help improve accuracy, convey design intent from office to field, increase stakeholder understanding of a project’s purpose, reduce change orders and field coordination issues, provide insight into existing buildings needing renovation and give insight into existing ones that require refurbishment.
Ultimately, this makes BIM an indispensable tool throughout an asset’s lifespan.
Increased Return on Investment
No doubt about it; BIM is the future of construction. Yet many small firms remain reluctant to make the investment needed to adopt it due to the time and capital requirements involved with BIM adoption. But those who take steps toward investing in it will reap its benefits.
As a result of reduced error rates and improved efficiency, construction projects can run more smoothly and stay within their budget. This helps eliminate overruns caused by costly mistakes or delays that cause unnecessary frustration for contractors and clients alike.
Conclusion
BIM can significantly cut construction costs by decreasing time spent on coordination issues and rework, particularly on smaller projects with tight budgets where every dollar counts.
Furthermore, production drawings created from BIM databases for offsite manufacturing can further decrease material and labor costs. By mapping benefits against use cases, the research team was able to determine exactly how much help would be expected from its implementation on individual projects.