By Lolo Kwok
Although most of us are unfamiliar with the word “BIM,” I assume most of you have seen the Holotable in sci-fi films such as Iron Man or Star Wars. BIM is comparable to Holotable in some ways. However, it is mostly utilized in the fields of architecture and construction. The new tool offers a unique perspective on the construction process and architectural design, and we will have a look at it by its initials: “B”, “I”, “M”.
B
“B” stand for building. The usage of BIM has grown more prevalent in the area of architecture as one of the most significant tools for architects and engineers in the next decades. They used BIM to calculate component strength and simulate complicated building structures. The prize-winning project “Saga Natatorium” is one of the most well-known BIM projects in recent years. A team of five staff used BIM software to model the 1300 tons swimming pool structures in less than ten months, the process was substantially shortened by integrating the engineering and design processes with BIM.
I
“I” stand for information. Another feature of BIM enhances the free flow of information between different stakeholders and makes data exchange more efficient. BIM’s functions vary from predictive maintenance to facilities management to asset tracking, allowing investors to estimate the amount of money they will need to invest and maintain a project before it is built. Furthermore, all project participants may work on a single centralized model and communicate information with one another, for example, when engineers modify the layout of the pipes, the building owners can find out the cost using the same BIM model.
M
“M” consists of model, modelling and management. The most well-known aspect of BIM is its modelling capabilities. Throughout the building process, different stakeholders of the project will utilize this function for different purposes. The mixed-use skyscraper project “One Nine Elms,” which is now under construction in London, illustrates how BIM benefits all stakeholders throughout construction. The developers require the construction company to provide clarity on the coordination between the design disciplines and ensure the spatial zoning and clash avoidance was satisfied at the planning stage, and this was accomplished by simulating numerous scenarios using the BIM model. At present, the company is still using BIM for asset tracking and optimizing project management.
The United Kingdom already mandated the use of BIM in publicly funded projects in 2016 and Germany also mandate the use of BIM for all transportation projects by 2020. The use of BIM will become more common as its technology becomes mature and more industries is familiar with it. Let’s sit tight and watch how our world could be changed by BIM for the next decades!
Reference:
Saga Natorium: https://www.tekla.com/bim-awards/saga-natatorium
One Nine Elms: https://www.oneltd.com/project/one-nine-elms/
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