BIM Interoperability and Relational Databases

Intelligently Linking Drawings and Data
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Sponsored by Building Systems Design, Inc. (BSD)
Peter J. Arsenault, FAIA, NCARB, LEED-AP

Achieving interoperability between dissimilar applications using traditional flat files is not impossible, but it is extraordinarily difficult and inefficient. As a practical matter, then, efficient and substantive interoperability during the design process can only be achieved if all the tools being used employ RDBMS. Why are relational databases so keenly relevant to the problem of achieving interoperability between dissimilar applications? There are at least two significant reasons. First, data in traditional, flat files cannot be accessed easily, so connecting the data between dissimilar applications requires programming queries and clumsy sequential operations. The data in separate flat files is not uniformly identified and is generally unrelated, requiring an extraordinary amount of effort and computing power to make the connections, with uncertain results. Secondly, relevant connections require accurate matching of specific data fields–which is one of the key attributes of relational databases. Obviously, accuracy of connecting the data between 3-D CADD, specifications and cost estimates is critical to the usefulness of the data during design. Hence, harnessing the accuracy and specificity of relational databases is not only logical, it is essential for achieving a real Building Information Model.

Large Firm Case Study: Relational Database Approach Helps WHR Architects Save Time and Money



The Methodist Outpatient Center has redefined the skyline of the Texas Medical Center and Houston.

Image courtesy of Aker Imaging, Houston, Texas

WHR Architects is a 32-year-old firm working on projects throughout the U.S. for top-tier public and private medical and educational institutions. It is a full-service architecture, planning and interior design firm focused on projects in health care, education, science and technology.

The Need: WHR found that specifications took too much time to develop using their home-grown office master in word processing. As WHR's number and size of projects increased and the demand on a single specification writer reached a tipping point, they began looking for a new solution. WHR had been searching for a process that would shift more of the specification task down into the individual project teams while maintaining consistency and quality control. The specification director could then focus on firm-wide project manual quality control, consistency, product research and specification practice development.

The Solution: Relational database specifications offered WHR a tool that would allow project architects–who were not spec writers–to perform preliminary specification section editing of Part 2 Products for each section, recording initial selections and choices of materials and systems being employed in the project. The relational database functionality made it much more efficient for WHR's dedicated spec writer to complete the sections while performing quality control review of the project team's edits. In addition, specification production using word processing was not keeping pace technologically with software being used for project management, accounting, marketing, design and construction drawing production within the office. The change to relational database systems brought specification production technically on par with these other software programs, elevating specifications beyond simple word processing to the level of an intelligent, interactive database.

The Outcome: Relational database specifications helped WHR custom tailor an office master to address the issues of the company's primary building type (health care) while maintaining a "memory" of decisions within the office master across projects. Using the database resulted in significant reduction in time spent updating references and resources, thereby allowing more focus on project issues. WHR says that this change has resulted in a time savings of 40% over other specification programs. Productivity advantages include retention of knowledge across projects, and the ability to add or remove information quickly and efficiently. The ease of incorporating new word processor based sections within the system has allowed WHR to develop over 50 new sections to address specific materials and systems employed routinely in their practice. They have also found global page formatting to be a huge timesaver–not to mention the ability to print a complete project in minutes.

 

Beyond these fundamentals, there is another basic data requirement for interoperability. Although it is possible to connect RDBMS software applications directly by using common data fields, a more practical and universal approach is to employ an intermediary system known as a taxonomy or classification system that can readily be "mapped" to data in each application. Essentially, the standardized, central taxonomy "translates" data between applications by assuring a common identification of elements. In other words, we want to make certain that the brick being drawn in the CADD or BIM software is the same brick being specified and the same brick being priced in the cost estimate. Once we have established the identity of these elements, we can use the data from one application to drive operations in the receiving software. For example, once we know the identity of the objects in the CADD or BIM program, we can activate the appropriate product requirements in the specifications program and turn on the appropriate unit costs in the estimating program. We can also use quantities that are automatically generated by the CADD or BIM program to compute installed costs in the cost estimating software.

Small to Mid-Size Firm Case Study: Gillis and Associates Architects

Gillis and Associates Architects' goal is to provide complete architectural services resulting in a built environment that satisfies, in specific detail, the client's physical, social, cultural and aesthetic needs.

Master Planning: The firm provides full Master Planning services to access optimum facility placement and phases of development. The goal is to maximize clients' land use potential.

Space Planning and Programming: Working closely with clients, they develop intelligent solutions for their environment. This often means embedding themselves in the client's surroundings in order to get a full understanding of the workspace. They are very responsive to client feedback, and hope to establish a close relationship with each client.

The Need: Drive through the Costa Mesa area and you will see a number of projects designed by Gillis and Associates. They have worked on police stations, vehicle maintenance buildings and recycling centers. Schools and senior centers also bear the mark of Gillis and Associates. When working on municipal projects, accurate and timely budgets are essential to the success of the project. In 2004, Don Gillis, President of Gillis and Associates, was outsourcing his estimating. This left him unable to provide fast turnaround on budgets. It was taking more of his time to manage the outsourcing. He needed a better way to provide budgetary cost estimates.

The Solution: "With the relational database system we are now able to produce cost estimates at least 40% faster than we could before," says Gillis. "This allows us to give our clients an immediate level of magnitude for their projects practically overnight."

"The way the front-end cost modeling interface prompts us throughout the process has saved time, too. The master unit and assembly cost databases have also allowed us to generate a ‘best guess' for the construction costs – one that we believe, and one that our clients trust," Gillis continues. "Because the relational database allows us to refine and update the project easily as the design develops, we don't spend time pricing things that haven't been added to the project yet."

The Outcome: Once set up, the relational database system was easy for Gillis to learn–it only took about one day before he was able to start saving time and money on cost estimating. Although he has only been using the system for a short time, he has already successfully completed 10 projects. The most recent estimate Gillis and Associates worked on was for the Yorba Linda Water District. Gillis says, "By using different cost models for the project, we were able to shortcut to systems selected to meet a very tight budget." The relational database system has been a great addition to Gillis and Associates. They use it for both new projects and remodeling projects. When asked what he thought of the software, Gillis stated, "We know our estimates are done right which lets us sleep at night. Being able to quickly change quantities, make simple material substitutions and add materials and systems based on our current project type has made a huge impact on both our time savings and accuracy."

 

Conclusion

Given the exceptionally useful nature of relational databases in general, it is only reasonable to expect that RDBMS software would be helpful in the design process, improving specifications and cost estimating as well as graphic building design. Accordingly, it is important for successful practitioners to understand the basic concept and uses of relational databases as compared to alternative data structures. Even more critical is an understanding of how different RDBMS programs can be linked for improved project coordination and to achieve successful Building Information Modeling. True interoperability can be achieved efficiently only through the effective use of Relational Database Management Systems, so it behooves the design practitioner to discover how these systems can be used in this burgeoning BIM era to achieve better quality, greater accuracy, increased efficiency and improved productivity.

 

Building Systems Design, Inc. (BSD)

Building Systems Design, Inc. (BSD) has been developing software applications for the A/E/C industry since 1983 and is currently the only company in the U.S. offering specifications, cost estimating and interoperability software for design professionals. All BSD products are based on relational databases.   www.bsdsoftlink.com

 

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Originally published in Architectural Record
Originally published in November 2011

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