6 Reasons Why Construction Managers should use BIM ?

During the design phase, the use of BIM can maximize its impact on a project since the ability to influence cost is the highest. The team can creatively come up with ideas and provide solutions to issues before problems become high cost impacts to the project. This can be realized through the cooperation and coordination of the entire project staff. Therefore, it is extremely important to have a good collaboration. The use of BIM especially enhances the collaborative efforts of the team. The architect and engineer can test their design ideas including energy analysis. The construction manager can provide constructability, sequencing, value and engineering reports. They can also start 3D coordination between subcontractors and vendors during early stages of design. The owner can visually notice if the design is what he is looking for. Overall, the BIM promotes the collaboration of all of the projection participants.

During the post construction phase, maintenance scheduling, building system
analysis, asset management, and space management and tracking, disaster planning, and record modeling can a record model can help to maintain the building throughout its
life cycle. Ideally, the building automation systems (BAS) which controls and monitors the use of mechanical and electrical equipment can be linked to the record model to provide a successful location based maintenance program. Furthermore, building system analysis including energy, lighting, and mechanical can be used to measure building’s performance. Moreover, upgrades may be initiated to various equipment and components
of the building.

Visualization

Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a great visualization tool. It provides a three dimensional virtual representation of the building. During the bidding phase of the project, the construction manager can provide renderings, breakthroughs, and sequencing of the model to better communicate the BIM concept in 3D. Visualization provides a better understanding of what the final product may look like. It takes away thought process of bringing the different traditional 2D views together to come up with the 3D view of a detail. Furthermore, virtual mock-ups such as laboratories or building envelope can be provided to the designer and the owner. This would help to visualize, better understand, and make decisions on the aesthetics and the
functionality of the space.

3D Coordination

Collaboration of the construction team with the architect, engineer and the owner is preferred to be started on early stages of design phase. At that time, the Building Information Modeling shall immediately be implemented. If the architect is only providing 2D drawings, then the construction manager should convert the 2D drawings to 3D intelligent models. When the specialty contractors, especially the MEP contractors and the steel fabricators are involved, they need to spatially coordinate their work. The 3D coordination can be started right after the model is created to ensure that any same space interference (hard clash) or clearance clash (soft clash) conflicts are resolved.

Prefabrication

Prefabrication reduces field labor cost and time and increases accuracy in a good quality construction. There are more tools and options readily available in a controlled environment of the job site to perform work more precisely, and less costly in a shorter period of time. Prefabrication requires design and field accuracy. Building information models can provide this level accuracy by including the specifications, sequence, finishes, and the 3D visual for each component. However, the construction team must make sure that the BIM is interoperable with the software used by fabricators. This way the contractors can use the BIM and generate details for the product in their fabrication software.

Construction Planning and Monitoring

The construction planning involves the scheduling and sequencing of the model to coordinate virtual construction in time and space. The schedule of the anticipated construction progress can be integrated to a virtual construction. The utilization of scheduling introduces time as the 4th dimension (4D).

The planning through using BIM enhances site utilization, space coordination,and product information. A 4D model can either include a site logistics plan or tools such as SMARTBOARD on top of a virtual construction can be utilized to visually depict the space utilization of the job site. The model must include temporary components such as cranes, trucks, fencing etc. Traffic access routes for trucks, cranes, lifts, excavators, etc. need to be incorporated into the BIM as part of the logistics plan.

Cost Estimation

The two main elements of a cost estimate are quantity take-off and pricing. Quantities from a Building Information Model can be extracted to a cost database or an excel file. However, pricing cannot be attained from the model. Cost estimating requires the expertise of the cost estimator to analyze the components of a material and how they get installed. If the pricing for a certain activity is not available in the database, cost estimator may need a further breakdown of the element for more accurate pricing. For instance, if a concrete pour activity is taking place, the model may account for the level of detail for the rebar, wire mesh, pour stop, form work, concrete etc., but not include it as part of the quantity take-off extraction. Cost estimator may need this level of detail from the model to figure out the unit price which consists of the unit material cost, unit labor cost, overhead and profit. The unit labor cost is driven by the mobilization and installation duration's, and the labor wage while the unit material cost is the sum of the material costs used for the activity per unit. Once the unit price is attained, the cost of the entire activity can be attained by multiplication of the total quantity extracted from BIM and unit price.

In Building Information Model, the data output is as good as the data input. It is significantly important to have the constructor and the designer to agree on component definitions. For instance, if an architect is using concrete slab to show the roof for modeling purposes, the roof quantity information will not be accurately accounted for quantity extraction purposes in the model. Overall, the BIM technology is a great tool to optimize the productivity of the estimators through quantity extraction from the model especially if the construction and design team work collaboratively.

Record Model

Construction Managers can provide a record Building Information Model to the owner at the end of a project. The model includes the integration of the as-builts from the subcontractors. Furthermore, each object property in the model can also include links to submittals, operations and maintenance, and warranty information. Centralized database can help the facilities department to find information easier. Record model can be used to manage security and safety information such as emergency lighting, emergency power,egress, fire extinguishers, fire alarm, smoke detector and sprinkler systems.

Furthermore, the facility team can analyze energy efficiency of a virtually built model. In addition to that, facilities team can plan with record model to maintain and renovate buildings by tracking spatial information such as furniture, equipment, and MEP (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing) connections. Finally, the facilities department can use the model to generate cost and schedule impacts for maintenance and renovation projects. Overall, a record model can be utilized to optimize facility management and maintenance.