Building Information Modeling: A Valuable Tool for Home Builders

The AEC Industry is impacted by two powerful global developments:

First the evolution of Building Information Modeling (BIM), revolutionizing the process of design, drafting and visualization, second, environmental awareness, calling for commitment to sustainable building targeting the quality-of-life of future generations.

Over the last couple of years, BIM has been one of the most visible aspects of a deep and fundamental change that is rapidly transforming the global construction industry. A SmartMarket Report shows that half of the industry is using BIM or BIM-related tools today, indicating a 75% increase in usage in the last two years.

The Construction User’s Roundtable (CURT) has recommended that owners demand the utilization of BIM on their projects for effective collaboration and improved project quality. The Global Fraternity of Architects (GFA) touts BIM as the future of the construction industry. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is actively redefining the practice of architecture to take advantage of this technology.

Despite this, a relatively small percentage of architectural firms and builders are embracing the BIM concept. We conducted a survey and found that the misconceptions and lack of knowledge of the fundamental benefits of BIM choke off the idea of transitioning to the BIM platform.

How Can BIM Help You?

BIM is a 3D virtual representation of the building process to facilitate exchange and interoperability of information in digital format and to increase productivity at every stage of the building life-cycle.

1. Analog to Digital Transformation
2. 3D Visualization
3. Quality Construction Documents
4. Integrated Database of Coordinated Information
5. Detection of Conflicts of Operating Parameters
6. Reduction of Interdisciplinary Coordination Errors and Changes
7. Better Coordination and Collaboration
8. Schedules, Quantities and Estimations
9. Thermal Performance Analysis
10. Analysis of Building Performance
11. BIM Sustainable Design

​The BIM Approach

BIM modeling helps home builders and developers visualize and analyze a project before it is built.

1. Simulation and 3D Visualization
2. Vast Library of Parametric Families
3. Details View of the Object
4. BIM Performance Based Design
5. Accurate Cost Estimation and Tender Management
6. Project Planning and Scheduling
7. Structural Design
8. Fabrication and Erection
9. Quantity Take-off and Procurement
10. Facility Management
11. Forecast Building Performance

The Fundamental Benefits of BIM

Applying BIM to designing a building can deliver a plethora of economic, environmental and societal benefits to home builders that go further than the advantages of AutoCAD.

• 3D Visualization
  BIM provides drawings, cross-sections and details in 3D. It provides home developers as well as owners with a better understanding of the architectural design. In addition, the accuracy of 3D models reduces insurances, overheads and claims.

• Meet Owners’ Taste and Style
  BIM software helps home developers meet the tastes of prospective customers.

• Expedite the Floor Planning
  Floor planning is the pivotal component in a construction documentation set. BIM software expedites the floor planning and schedules. A typical CAD program can’t match the quality and speed Revit provides.

• Tender Management
  BIM modeling helps prepare accurate project estimates with a detailed cost analysis process, manage tenders, administer the contract, conduct field inspections and closely track the construction process to determine whether it is on schedule and adheres to budgets.

• Quantity Take-off and Procurement
  The material quantities can be automated and alternatives analyzed for better decision-making and risk management.

• Automated Collision Checks
  Due to parametric dimensional view, risks are mitigated easily and errors corrected at early stages of design. The automatic coordination of changes offered by BIM eliminates mistakes and improves the overall quality.

• Enhanced Collaboration and Productivity
  BIM minimizes the fragmentation of information and enhances collaboration through the integration of the parties.

• BIM 4D and 5D
  BIM model may be linked to schedule (4D) and cost (5D), enabling visualization and analysis of the project.

• Easy Approval from the Local Building Regulators
  3D BIM modeling is fast catching the favor of building regulatory authorities in approving building plans. Planning officers are increasingly interested in construction visualizations while judging constructability and sustainability.

• Others
  Achieve complex architecture and building practices thanks to a seamless connection between design and fabrication, expediting the manufacturing and/or fabrication of engineered building components.

Conclusion

Owners tend to spend 5% on design and 95% on construction. Much of the success of the latter depends on the former. BIM can identify the potential spatial conflicts and forecast the building performance at the early stages of design.

Reasonably, real estate developers and constructors around the world are now demanding Building Information Modeling as a way to solve their complex building practices on time and on budget. Home builders and owners should be motivated by the efficiencies of the BIM process in the design and construction stages.