Useful Approaches to Building Information Modeling for Renovation

This blog has been updated on – April 05, 2024

Jose Oliveira, a renowned architectural evangelist, said that BIM (Building Information Modelling) has become universally commonplace in construction vocabulary.

Much has already been written about BIM’s value proposition. In the United Kingdom, everyone talks about BIM and Revit modeling in construction, but unfortunately, only a few see it from the perspective of the building’s renovation.

The momentum behind the universal adoption of BIM technology has grown since the UK Government launched its Building Information Modelling strategy in 2011.

If you’re a home builder, architect, designer, MEP engineer, or project subcontractor gearing up for your next renovation project, we recommend you first discover the best BIM approaches.

Building Information Modeling Approaches: Getting Started

The figures further indicate that a significant proportion of the UK’s AEC industry must be aware of modern BIM technology for construction and the potential benefits it can bestow upon their business, especially renovation projects.

When we discuss a renovation project, we consider BIM implementation to involve all stakeholders productively and achieve better coordination, efficiency, visualization, cost-effectiveness, and delivery of what it promises.

BIM Approaches to Renovate Old Buildings (When Data is Lost)

First, there is a need to search for all the existing information and documents from the original design and all potential upgrades that have been made to the building.

Unfortunately, if the building is older than 30 years, paper/CAD drawings will likely be limited or even.

That will be difficult to access in older buildings simply because CAD technology was not an option then. So, our approach needs other solutions, like Building Information Modeling.

BIM Modeling to Tackle Challenges in Renovation Projects

The most common situation in a case like this will involve a limited number of drawings available and outdated drawings that need to reflect the latest modifications made to the building.
If we look for a room full of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems (pumps, valves, conduits, trays, pipe runs, and fittings), we will notice that there have been so many changes done (installed) to that room to meet the growing requirements of the building.

We consider the original design drawings useless. Hence, we use laser scan technology in BIM processes to address the MEP challenges in renovation projects.

BIM & 3D Laser Scanning in Renovation

But why do most BIM consultants suggest 3D laser scanning in renovation projects?

Based on our experiences, our BIM engineers in the UK use 3D laser scanning as the first step to obtain and generate an accurate data set for creating the 3D model for the renovation project.

The modern digital toolset accelerates the process, providing the required derivable for the project. There are already many different technologies that can be used to build 3D scanning devices.

• Laser scanning instruments collect high-accuracy data, providing millions of measurements in 3 dimensions called point clouds.

• The result is a more organised 3D digital representation or BIM models for renovation delivered quickly, efficiently, and accurately.

Time to Create the 3D BIM Models

We now have the 3D model taken using BIM outsourcing for 3D Laser Scanning. These models are usually given as an Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) file. Architects import IFC files into any design program that is compliant with the standards to help the AEC industry.

We can start putting our input into the project from this new file.

• Analysing the existing model (IFC), the team involved can now look for a better prediction of building performance, boosting energy efficiency, raising cost savings, and increasing the certainty of the building, which is now what the client demands.

• Architects, engineers, and CAD operators find it easier to extract information from the model into different software packages. They use the extracted data to save energy costs, meet new mandates, and improve efficiency and costs.

Other Useful Approaches to BIM for Renovations – 4D, 5D, and 6D BIM

4D BIM (or 4D Sequencing/Scheduling)

It relies on integrating components of the 3D CAD model with time or schedule-related information.

The use of 4D Building Information Modeling offers:

• Visualisation of the renovation project

• Better integration and cost estimation

• Conflict detection or BIM clash detection and resolution

• Improvement of time management

• Maximised critical resources.

5D BIM (or 5D Cost Estimating)

It is a 4D plus “cost” – design integration with estimating, scheduling, and costing, including generating bills of quantities and deriving productivity rates and labor costs.

This will allow the clients to explore several scenarios, i.e., illustrating the design impacts of the program and budget.

With 5D BIM engineering, the project team will have resource-loaded schedules and accurate cash flow forecasts for major subcontractors and renovators.

6D BIM (or 6D Facilities Management)

It is where a model is created by the designer and updated throughout the construction phase. It will have the capacity to become an ‘as built’ model or drawing, which also can be presented to the owner.

The model will be able to contain all the specifications, operation, and maintenance manuals and warranty information, useful for future maintenance. All these will help the building contractors in facility operation and management throughout their life cycle, both economically and ecologically.

How Can Building Information Modeling Improve the Renovation Process?

By enforcing the BIM approach with BIM coordinators, home remodelers ensure the success of any renovation project.

The clients who derive the maximum benefits from BIM consulting services admire the greater efficiency of all stakeholders involved in this process.

The key to building performance analysis is the ability to create a complete BIM model and use this to help analyse the costs and benefits trade-offs of proposed projects within a building and throughout the property portfolio.

Innovative design products that support BIM make it a cost-effective way to evaluate, prioritize, and audit proposed building renovations. These elements are essential for the success of BIM solutions in the US, UK, and other nations.

Conclusion: Uncovering The Benefits of BIM at BluEntCAD

The benefits of using BIM for Renovation projects are enormous, and let us list some of these for you:

• Enhanced information exchange and added document control, including sharing models, meeting minutes, project images, etc.;

• Interoperability, i.e., the ability to share data across applications;

• Elimination of unbudgeted changes on projects;

• Cost estimation accuracy to within 3%;

• Up to 80% reduction of time taken to generate a cost estimate;

• BIM clash detection services in the UK, providing time and cost savings (avoid potential requirement of re-design);

• Reduction in project delivery time;

• Reduction in remedial works due to enhanced quality control and design coordination;

• Reuse and remodel as per the real estate trends instead of building new;

• Prevent over-ordering, i.e., materials, equipment, etc.;

• Beneficial occupancy and reduced period of disuse, improving profits and client demands.

BluEntCAD is the global partner for valued engineering solutions with mastery in BIM clash detection, Revit modeling, and Scan to BIM services. It is recognised and trusted by AEC leaders worldwide.

Our core expertise includes architectural construction drawings, millwork engineering, 3D rendering and VR, CAD conversions, and tile and metal shop drawings.

We’ve got a long list of success stories for the clients we facilitated with quality BIM solutions. Need BIM consulting services for the renovation? Reach out to us now