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The architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry has more demands on it than ever before, with needs ranging from pathogen-fighting designs to more flexible work, play, and education spaces. With the challenges brought on by a pandemic, in which the industry itself has dealt with the extra burden of remote collaboration, there have also come some exciting prospects for innovation and a reimagining of how buildings are made.
Photo courtesy of Pappageorge Haymes Partners
Building information modeling (BIM) has encouraged architectural collaboration and changed how the AEC industry designs and constructs buildings.
Building information modeling (BIM) is a tool that has provided collaborative solutions within architecture firms and also opened up possibilities for the AEC industry. This opening section will introduce BIM and its main concepts and provide a general overview of its benefits. It will give a brief history of design tools and discuss what an architecture firm’s chief objectives and strategic initiatives are, how those goals are often undermined by insufficient technology, and how BIM has the potential to meet project productivity aspirations.
Image courtesy of PAAstudio
The NHS Office Complex in Los Angeles features a rooftop garden designed by PAAstudio.
WHAT IS BIM?
BIM, when used with intelligent workflow software and a 3-D model, provides all project planners and implementing companies involved in a project with information and tools for efficient planning, design, construction, and administration of buildings and infrastructure. It is a trend that architects have rapidly been moving toward, and it is now becoming more of an industry standard when specifying and designing projects.
Traditional drafting methods and tools began with 2-D designs either done by hand or using simple design software. While these methods historically were sufficient for most architects, today a greater demand for faster and more accurate blueprints has prompted a change in the design industry. Being able to incorporate specific products and materials into the design of a building is now possible using BIM software, and it allows for greater control of the project and managing the expectations of the client.
BIM is the process and practice of virtual design, construction, and management throughout a building’s entire life cycle. The modeling platform is data-rich, which allows designers and building professionals to generate 3-D models (and drawings). BIM can include information about all aspects of a building, from designs, decisions, product specifications, and building space use all the way to operations management. The modeled information also can be used for building analyses; for example, to check building codes, calculate costs, or simulate energy use.
Key BIM data includes the geometry of the project, the physical properties of the materials (e.g., construction materials, visuals properties), the types of buildings or spaces, and cost and time schedules. The object-oriented model is tied to a central database that is accessible to all project participants. The data can be used to generate high-quality 3-D renderings to present a building concept for a bid or help architects visualize and analyze specific design elements, such as energy use.
BIM enables project-wide decision-making, and the virtual model easily can be handed off from the design team to other building professionals, such as contractors, or the owners. Project information remains intact and thus helps each professional understand the building specifications throughout the building’s life cycle.
BIM represents design as a combination of “intelligent” parametric objects, which can range from generic shapes or spaces to product-specific features. Each object contains data attributes and parametric rules, making them intelligent building components. When one object (for example, the representation of a door) is changed, related objects (for example, a wall) will also change to coordinate. Views are coordinated automatically through BIM. For manufacturers, this functionality means that they can drop in exact product specifications to the program and allow outcomes to calibrate to that product.
In the design phase, architects can conceptualize, analyze, detail, and document a project as well as use BIM data to inform scheduling and logistics for every step of the planning process.
A Brief History of Architecture Tools
Architectural design tools were developed to help builders plan and standardize and reproduce the documents required to construct a building. Ancient Egyptians were known to use wooden corner rulers, and ancient Greeks used styli, scale rulers, and metal rulers. Romans used triangular rulers, compasses, and a ruler designed specifically to be used with a pen.
Renaissance architects used the camera obscura in tandem with pen and paper drawings as a means of producing precise reproductions of existing structures.
In the mid-1800s, different chemical and mechanical processes were employed to reproduce architectural drawings. The cyanotype, which was developed in 1842 by Sir John Herschel, allowed a drawing to be made on a translucent surface, which was then placed on chemically coated paper and exposed to light. The blue tone of the paper introduced the term “blueprint” to the architectural field. Similar processes were used through the mid-1900s, but the term blueprint has remained.
Throughout the first half of the 20th century, architectural design tools remained similar to what they were for the previous century. Drafting machines and blueprints were standard. Drafters or designers were specifically trained to master the mechanics of the drafting machine. Drafting tools advanced and were mass produced to improve standardization, but drafting and reproduction techniques were still limited to the work of a trained individual.
Architectural design tools were developed to help builders plan and standardize and reproduce the documents required to construct a building.
In the 1940s, architects began using diazo prints in place of blueprints. This new technique was known as “whiteprints” or “blue lines” because of the blue lines on the white background. Diazo prints are still used today for some applications.
Computer-aided design (CAD) was first developed as a concept with prototypes in the early 1960s. SKETCHPAD, designed by Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Lincoln Laboratory, allowed designers to draw on a CRT monitor with a light pen. This and later programs demonstrated that drawn objects could be reproduced with changes to orientation, scale, and linkage. However, throughout the 1960s, computers were new and expensive, and software capabilities were low and limited. 2-D reproduction of manual drafting and the benefits of CAD were hampered by the function and cost of computers and software.
Commercial CAD systems emerged in the late 1960s, and with them came increased functionality. Design modifications and revisions became easier to do, and productivity increased as the software improved and more professionals learned how to use it.
Most CAD programs were in 2-D throughout the 1970s. CAD was first used commercially in large industries, such as automotive, aerospace, and electronics. In 1971, the computer system ADAM (automated drafting and machining) provided advanced code.
By the mid-1970s, CAD systems moved beyond reproduction to more complex calculations, and more companies began developing software. As computer prices lowered and the functionality increased, the cost-benefit of using the system prompted engineering and architectural design firms to move away from time-consuming manual drafting. During the transition away from manual drafting and design, calculations were still done either by hand or by computer.
Advanced 2-D drafting systems emerged in the 1980s and included more features and modeling methods, as well as parametric linking of the features.
Blueprints no longer represent the standard method of communicating design intent or building plans.
The architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry has more demands on it than ever before, with needs ranging from pathogen-fighting designs to more flexible work, play, and education spaces. With the challenges brought on by a pandemic, in which the industry itself has dealt with the extra burden of remote collaboration, there have also come some exciting prospects for innovation and a reimagining of how buildings are made.
Photo courtesy of Pappageorge Haymes Partners
Building information modeling (BIM) has encouraged architectural collaboration and changed how the AEC industry designs and constructs buildings.
Building information modeling (BIM) is a tool that has provided collaborative solutions within architecture firms and also opened up possibilities for the AEC industry. This opening section will introduce BIM and its main concepts and provide a general overview of its benefits. It will give a brief history of design tools and discuss what an architecture firm’s chief objectives and strategic initiatives are, how those goals are often undermined by insufficient technology, and how BIM has the potential to meet project productivity aspirations.
Image courtesy of PAAstudio
The NHS Office Complex in Los Angeles features a rooftop garden designed by PAAstudio.
WHAT IS BIM?
BIM, when used with intelligent workflow software and a 3-D model, provides all project planners and implementing companies involved in a project with information and tools for efficient planning, design, construction, and administration of buildings and infrastructure. It is a trend that architects have rapidly been moving toward, and it is now becoming more of an industry standard when specifying and designing projects.
Traditional drafting methods and tools began with 2-D designs either done by hand or using simple design software. While these methods historically were sufficient for most architects, today a greater demand for faster and more accurate blueprints has prompted a change in the design industry. Being able to incorporate specific products and materials into the design of a building is now possible using BIM software, and it allows for greater control of the project and managing the expectations of the client.
BIM is the process and practice of virtual design, construction, and management throughout a building’s entire life cycle. The modeling platform is data-rich, which allows designers and building professionals to generate 3-D models (and drawings). BIM can include information about all aspects of a building, from designs, decisions, product specifications, and building space use all the way to operations management. The modeled information also can be used for building analyses; for example, to check building codes, calculate costs, or simulate energy use.
Key BIM data includes the geometry of the project, the physical properties of the materials (e.g., construction materials, visuals properties), the types of buildings or spaces, and cost and time schedules. The object-oriented model is tied to a central database that is accessible to all project participants. The data can be used to generate high-quality 3-D renderings to present a building concept for a bid or help architects visualize and analyze specific design elements, such as energy use.
BIM enables project-wide decision-making, and the virtual model easily can be handed off from the design team to other building professionals, such as contractors, or the owners. Project information remains intact and thus helps each professional understand the building specifications throughout the building’s life cycle.
BIM represents design as a combination of “intelligent” parametric objects, which can range from generic shapes or spaces to product-specific features. Each object contains data attributes and parametric rules, making them intelligent building components. When one object (for example, the representation of a door) is changed, related objects (for example, a wall) will also change to coordinate. Views are coordinated automatically through BIM. For manufacturers, this functionality means that they can drop in exact product specifications to the program and allow outcomes to calibrate to that product.
In the design phase, architects can conceptualize, analyze, detail, and document a project as well as use BIM data to inform scheduling and logistics for every step of the planning process.
A Brief History of Architecture Tools
Architectural design tools were developed to help builders plan and standardize and reproduce the documents required to construct a building. Ancient Egyptians were known to use wooden corner rulers, and ancient Greeks used styli, scale rulers, and metal rulers. Romans used triangular rulers, compasses, and a ruler designed specifically to be used with a pen.
Renaissance architects used the camera obscura in tandem with pen and paper drawings as a means of producing precise reproductions of existing structures.
In the mid-1800s, different chemical and mechanical processes were employed to reproduce architectural drawings. The cyanotype, which was developed in 1842 by Sir John Herschel, allowed a drawing to be made on a translucent surface, which was then placed on chemically coated paper and exposed to light. The blue tone of the paper introduced the term “blueprint” to the architectural field. Similar processes were used through the mid-1900s, but the term blueprint has remained.
Throughout the first half of the 20th century, architectural design tools remained similar to what they were for the previous century. Drafting machines and blueprints were standard. Drafters or designers were specifically trained to master the mechanics of the drafting machine. Drafting tools advanced and were mass produced to improve standardization, but drafting and reproduction techniques were still limited to the work of a trained individual.
Architectural design tools were developed to help builders plan and standardize and reproduce the documents required to construct a building.
In the 1940s, architects began using diazo prints in place of blueprints. This new technique was known as “whiteprints” or “blue lines” because of the blue lines on the white background. Diazo prints are still used today for some applications.
Computer-aided design (CAD) was first developed as a concept with prototypes in the early 1960s. SKETCHPAD, designed by Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Lincoln Laboratory, allowed designers to draw on a CRT monitor with a light pen. This and later programs demonstrated that drawn objects could be reproduced with changes to orientation, scale, and linkage. However, throughout the 1960s, computers were new and expensive, and software capabilities were low and limited. 2-D reproduction of manual drafting and the benefits of CAD were hampered by the function and cost of computers and software.
Commercial CAD systems emerged in the late 1960s, and with them came increased functionality. Design modifications and revisions became easier to do, and productivity increased as the software improved and more professionals learned how to use it.
Most CAD programs were in 2-D throughout the 1970s. CAD was first used commercially in large industries, such as automotive, aerospace, and electronics. In 1971, the computer system ADAM (automated drafting and machining) provided advanced code.
By the mid-1970s, CAD systems moved beyond reproduction to more complex calculations, and more companies began developing software. As computer prices lowered and the functionality increased, the cost-benefit of using the system prompted engineering and architectural design firms to move away from time-consuming manual drafting. During the transition away from manual drafting and design, calculations were still done either by hand or by computer.
Advanced 2-D drafting systems emerged in the 1980s and included more features and modeling methods, as well as parametric linking of the features.
Blueprints no longer represent the standard method of communicating design intent or building plans.
Early 3-D rendering software produces computer-generated images through different techniques. In the early 1980s, renderings were limited to flat images or images with basic shadows. As software advanced, new features allowed users to manipulate geometrically and topologically consistent 3-D objects. By the end of the 1980s, many different companies were producing CAD programs that were used widely in the engineering architectural fields.
Newer 3-D computer graphics processes are automated, and they convert 3-D wireframe models into 2-D images. These images may be photorealistic or styled for a specific purpose.
Modern software allows for photorealistic renderings and panoramas, and it can provide real-time walkthroughs or virtual tours of buildings and other animated effects.
3-D sketches provide detail that simple line drawings cannot.
Meeting the Goals of a Firm
Architecture tools must evolve in order to meet the goals of a firm and everyone else involved in the project. Design processes of the past fulfilled the needs of the AEC industry to a certain extent, but there were some obvious problems. Now, in comparison to the possibilities of today’s new digital workflows, they no longer cut it.
Before BIM, for instance, the design process was fragmented, sequential, and had much less flexibility in general. The fragmented aspect especially opened the door for miscommunication, misinformation, and errors. A slew of separate drawings in 2-D were made to communicate a 3-D project, which ultimately left a lot lost in translation.
BIM consolidates all of the project’s pertinent work into a central file where it can be streamlined, providing a space where those working on the project can engage and collaborate. That engagement includes clients for whom the firm can introduce particular parts of the design process using improved project visualization capabilities, such as 3-D and virtual reality (VR) technologies. This type of workflow keeps everyone on the same page—and not a 2-D page.
While 3-D modeling allows for photorealistic qualities based on geometry, it does not focus on the functions within the walls of the building or strategies for how to create a whole-system structure. BIM stores accurate and detailed data about the structural properties of a building, such as electrical systems, heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, equipment, plumbing fixtures, and the dimensions of materials specified for the project. It stores technical information about building the specific materials being used, including porosity, density, and strength.
With BIM as a tool, a firm can engage with the planning phase by combining reality capture and real-world data to generate context models of the existing built and natural environment.
BIM does not stop at final construction; it is a cradle-to-grave technology that carries over to the operations and maintenance of finished buildings.
In the design phase, architects can conceptualize, analyze, detail, and document the project design as well as use BIM data to inform scheduling and logistics for every step of the planning process. There is plenty of room for creativity in this phase, because BIM allows for big- and small-picture adjustments for possible designs and scenarios, even in terms of logistics.
In the build phase, fabrication can take place using BIM specification. Construction logistics can be shared with various players, including tradespeople and contractors, so that an optimum timeline can be pinned down or adjusted in real time—resulting in an efficient way forward.
BIM does not stop at final construction; it is a cradle-to-grave technology. BIM data can carry over to the operations and maintenance of finished buildings, ensuring that the systems of those building continue to run smoothly. BIM also can be applied to the project down the road, including cost-effective renovations or, if necessary, efficient deconstruction.
One issue with a system that attempts to centralize so many dimensions of a project is the matter of scalability. Early versions of BIM tools that allowed for digital collaboration suffered from technological limitations. As the project developed and the files and team sizes grew, synchronization queues lagged, and the workflow came to a standstill. In the next section, we will look at how that problem has been addressed in BIM cloud solutions, allowing firms to enhance their productivity and utilize the promises of BIM in exciting ways.
A collaborative model-based approach means that everyone can be on the same page from the beginning, meaning it is less likely there will be costly changes or miscommunications down the road.
Combining design freedom with accurate model data further empowers architectural ingenuity.
HOW OPEN BIM NURTURES COLLABORATION AND ENHANCES THE AEC INDUSTRY
There is often a fractured approach to AEC design practices when different design disciplines do not mesh between software platforms, resulting in a lack of collaboration. This section explores the meaning of open standard and how the open standard aspect of BIM invites collaboration and elevates the quality of construction for the AEC industry.
IFC provides a standard method for exchange of data between disciplines.
The Meaning of Open Standard
Probably one of the greatest examples of an open standard is the internet. The internet is based on open, nonproprietary standards that allow multiple devices, services, and applications to work together across a wide, dispersed network of networks. Its rapid development and innovation was made possible by the fact that it could be accessed and engaged with by anyone.
There are a lot of variations and meanings of open standard, some of which require levels of approval by committees or an access fee. Still, many people in the open-source software community insist that an open standard is only open if it can be freely adopted, implemented, and extended without barriers.
Open standard does not mean that there are no standards. Just like the AEC industry needs standards to execute projects, architectural software needs consistency in regard to process, products, and services—a way to ensure quality and guide best practices so that innovations can emerge.
Open standards for architecture are owned by a standards development organization but are openly available with no licensing fee and no requirements for how the software is used. With accessible information, users get a chance to develop a deep knowledge of the software and can sometimes impact the way that software is developed in the future. It is a democratic approach that is also logistically necessary for the AEC industry. One reason is that there are so many stakeholders in a building project that need to be part of the process. A proprietary barrier would slow down or halt the project, and a system where data could not be freely exchanged during the building process would collapse into miscommunication and technological dissonance.
Currently, industries are moving from human-readable documents to machine-readable data, which will also require the flexible approach of open standard. In the same way, open BIM will need to offer a way for efficient communication between machines using model-based data, shared terminology, and common methods in order to keep in step with an evolving industry.
All objects in a BIM project are linked and updated as changes in design are made.
The Value of Open BIM Collaboration
In the AEC industry, a variety of disciplines must come together to execute one project, and this is a difficult task. In the past, architects and engineers—structural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing—have relied on a workflow that operated in phases designated and often segregated by each discipline.
The BIM model allows these disciplines to work together simultaneously or in a more flexible manner. This means that each discipline can contribute early in the design process, allowing for more integrated design planning and the ability to pitch in with knowledge or support throughout the entire process. This means that conversations about materials and building orientation that might otherwise happen separately would become more informed and mutually beneficial in a collaborative process.
But it is the mechanisms of open standard that allows this collaboration to physically take place. Different disciplines require different forms of data. To operate and exchange data between software platforms, while still complying with international data standards, open BIM uses data exchange formats such as industry foundation classes (IFC), which is the core standard for open BIM data exchange. BIM CAD software for Macintosh and Windows offers out-of-the-box design documentation, one-click publishing, photo-realistic rendering, and high-end analysis. Different stakeholders can exchange data no matter their chosen software or tools, which means that they can choose the tools that best fit their jobs. An architect might create a design model and export an IFC version to share with an HVAC engineer, who can use the information to coordinate the job using entirely different tools. Together, the architect and engineer might do an early energy analysis on the building that can help inform the project along the way.
Open BIM is a vendor-neutral, modern approach to collaboration that is open to all software vendors, AEC practices (designers, engineers, and builders), and built asset owners. An open BIM collaboration also includes clients, construction teams, and others who are invested in the project. A collaborative model-based approach means that everyone can be on the same page from the beginning, providing the potential to reduce costs due to changes in design and possibly reducing litigation risks. If everyone agrees on decisions early on, they are less likely to change or become miscommunicated later in the process.
Open BIM allows all collaborators to comment, ask questions, and provide feedback along the way. It allows disciplines that often adhere to their own specifications to communicate a better approach so that project reworks that are often costly are less likely to happen. Open BIM also allows collaborators from different disciplines to work on an agreed timescale that can be adjusted in a seamless fashion. This more predictable approach helps saves time and allows departments to allocate resources more efficiently.
Departments are able to run real-life scenarios for the model. When an environmental or financial factor affects an aspect of the project, its potential effect on all the other departments can be easily seen through simulation. If one department needs to tweak a design, other departments can see how that tweak will affect their roles in the project and adjust accordingly.
The seamless workflow of collaboration and the transparency of working on a shared model builds trust among team members and eliminates model duplication and other redundant work between architects and structural engineers. Open BIM extends the benefits of BIM by improving the accessibility, usability, management, and sustainability of digital data in the AEC industry. And this can lead the whole industry in building and operating better buildings thanks to seamless collaboration, transparency, quality assurance, and accessible data.
DESIGN CAPABILITIES WITH BIM WORKFLOW
Working in 3-D software that allows for real-time collaboration sounds complicated, but understanding the tools and concepts can create a more streamlined workflow. This section will talk about the capabilities of the software for different industry players and provide some examples and illustrations of what BIM can accomplish.
BIM versus 2-D and 3-D Drafting Systems
Both BIM and traditional 2-D drafting work well to create construction documents, such as floor plans, elevations, and details. But one of the ways that BIM and 2-D CAD differ is in how they deal with geometric shapes. 2-D CAD software is limited to using lines to create geometric shapes that represent real objects. BIM platforms, however, involve geometry that includes real-life information, such as the weights and volumes of the building materials. BIM also makes modeling simple, and it has the added features of generating project cost structures, which allows for collaboration and managing changes within the project.
All objects in a BIM project are linked, and changes in design are automatically updated in other areas, such as schedule and cost. This function is known as bidirectional associativity, and it is one of the main reasons that architects shift to BIM. For example, in a BIM project, a change to a window will result in an automatically updated window schedule. A change to a window in a CAD project, however, requires that the plan, section, election, and schedule all need to be updated separately. In short, BIM guards against mistakes while saving the architect time.
While 3-D drafting systems such as 3-D CAD are still very useful for designing building documents, they are limited in comparison to BIM platforms. Where 3-D CAD systems identify individual objects (e.g., walls, bricks, etc.), BIM easily can integrate manufacturer product specifications right into the design. These specifications go beyond the basic objects available in CAD systems. More importantly, BIM is a process that considers the full life cycle of the building, not just the initial design. This means that every element of the building design can be specified for performance requirements (e.g., energy efficiency, thermal, sound). Once the building is complete, these requirements can be verified. BIM streamlines this process for building professionals.
Specific BIM Tools for Every Discipline
BIM platforms allow architects to design and develop much more realistic and accurate renderings than are possible with CAD software. With BIM, they can quickly communicate with the client via 3-D images during the design process. This benefit aids in the overall project communication, and allows professionals down the project line to better visualize the original design. Moreover, it helps to reduce conflicts between members of the project team early on, reducing both errors and omissions. This benefit is seen directly through reduced project time, more accurate material estimates, and better predictions of overall costs and schedule.
Image courtesy of CPU Pride
Outlined here is the scheme of the stakeholder interactions during the BIM design development phase.
A BIM model can address all aspects of the building, such as entrance and egress, sprinkler systems, and stairwell design and safety, not to mention the flammability of internal building materials.
Another way that BIM can help the individual architect is through greater efficiency. BIM makes it easy for architects to do the work that once required a team of several people. This way, they can either provide more services for the same fee or reduce fees in order to become more competitive, all while maintaining close control over the project.
Two other useful advantages are clash detection and directional associativity. Clash detection is used when the architectural, mechanical, and structural models are brought together, and it shows all of the places where a duct and beam collide. BIM uses bidirectional associativity by storing the model information in a single coordinated database, which means that any revisions are automatically updated throughout the model.
A final advantage is that BIM’s centralized database means that detailed 3-D presentations are easy to generate, and the data can be accessed anywhere, from any device.
Much like the architects on a project, builders benefit tremendously from the ease of communication offered by the BIM platform. This streamlined communication and access to real-time changes with plans means that there are fewer conflicts and so reduced changes during construction.
The production and scheduling tools available through BIM also help builders plan more accurately the specific materials and products that are needed for construction. The details of these tools are discussed in the next section.
Between knowing materials and precise quantities, and being able to schedule project timelines more accurately, builders are able to better predict the outcomes of the project. More often than not, this outcome is higher quality than buildings constructed without the benefits of BIM.
Many performance-modeling tools exist as plug-ins for BIM. These tools can be used for building performance analysis (BPA), which can help architects design more sustainable buildings, or to assess construction practices and eventual performance.
Designers can use the complex information available through BIM, such as type of space, specific properties of materials, a building’s physical location with typical environmental temperatures, and sun and wind patterns. With this information, they can simulate whatever project requirements they might have. For example, before construction, designers may want to know optimal HVAC size or what the structure’s airflow, light levels, or estimated water use may be. For sun path studies, BIM allows architects to place a model in the exact geographic location and orientation that it will have in the real world, and see how it reacts to the sun position on any day or time of the year. BIM allows these analyses to be done prior to construction as well as after. Such studies are usually done at the same time as energy analyses.
Designing for Health and Human Welfare
BIM’s role in modeling for health and human welfare and safety can be tremendous. Architects and builders can help reduce risks and communication mishaps simply by having explicit design information available to each other within the same virtual space. This point alone can help address other elements of quality control.
While air quality can be considered a comfort aspect of a building, it also directly impacts the health of the occupants through proper airflow and circulation.
BIM can be used when designing for emergency situations, such as fires or natural disasters. The model can address all aspects of the building, such as entrance and egress, sprinkler systems, and stairwell design and safety, not to mention the flammability of internal building materials. Similarly, BIM can also be used to design more accessible buildings.
Finally, BIM can help make sure building operations run smoothly, which can enhance the overall well-being and safety of the occupants throughout the building’s lifetime.
In the world of AEC, cloud-based BIM is a powerful technology because multiple stakeholders can interact with the exact same bit of information simultaneously.
WHY A BIM-BASED CLOUD SOLUTION MAKES SENSE FOR THE FUTURE OF OFFICE WORK
The recent COVID-19 pandemic has created some serious shifts in the workplace, as businesses and organizations needed to adjust their approaches to workflow. Meetings could happen fairly easily in virtual settings, but having to reconfigure collaborative projects has been a challenge for most industries, including within the AEC world. Still, working remotely has shown some major benefits for companies and their employees, as it provides flexible work spaces that do not tie people to one particular location.
The necessity of remote work in a pandemic has driven innovation with a focus on cloud-based integrated design workflow technologies. This section will discuss some of the technical aspects of cloud-based BIM that help facilitate secure, real-time sharing and collaboration between project team members regardless of the size or complexity of the project, the location of offices, or the speed of the internet connection.
A cloud-based BIM experience is often a more visual and intuitive experience for everyone that allows for more fulfilling teamwork, ultimately leading to more creative designs.
Cloud-based BIM allows projects to progress unhindered by time zones, city lines, and country borders.
What Is the Cloud?
It is fair to say that “the cloud” is a concept that many of us understand in a general sense, but when trying to explain it in detail, it feels aptly elusive. And yet it is one of the most prominent aspects of our technology landscape right now because so much of our lives rely on it, including all media-sharing services, banking apps, and webmail clients. It allows businesses and organizations to run programs and applications through the internet, saving time, space, and money. Instead of buying up equipment for processing and storage, you can use the cloud and pay as you go according to what you need. Its flexibility is a major part of its appeal.
The cloud exists in data centers—which are a collection of networked computer hardware—that are accessed by companies and organizations through the internet. What makes it such a powerful technology is that millions of people can interact with the exact same bit of information simultaneously. It can be private or public. It can store photos, email, music, and calendar, all of which can be synced from the cloud to all of your devices so that you can instantaneously access calendar information or musical playlists.
The cloud can be used to store data and share files. It also can be used for remote computing, in which people can share processing, software, and other resources. This allows users to work without having to deal with constant software updates and maintenance.
BIM in the Cloud
It is probably clear by now why it makes sense to have a cloud-based BIM solution, especially in a remote working environment. For the AEC industry, it allows for secure, real-time sharing that is as fast and efficient as it would be if you were in the office. Combined with an open BIM platform that supports and hosts multiple file formats and tools that provide file-exchange solutions, it is a powerful way to design and deliver projects.
Cloud-based BIM’s pay-as-you-go aspect is appealing to companies. They can subscribe or unsubscribe to various cloud storage options and choose from licensing options without purchasing expensive servers. Complex models can be loaded and viewed at high speed through web browsers into a common format, which makes for scalable solutions with projects of any size. Data being stored elsewhere sounds tricky in terms of security, but it is often more secure than data stored in office equipment. At the same time, the data can be accessed more easily by those who are given permission, making it both flexible and secure at the same time.
Access to cloud-based projects can be given to team members, external disciplines, clients, and construction workers. These files are instantly accessible with appropriate permissions, and collaboration can happen in real time. The cloud allows teams to place, update, and manage modules, DWGs, and PDFs, track changes in real time, and maintain versioned project history for reference. Team members can publish 2-D and 3-D deliverables directly to the cloud. BIM CAD software allows designers to work with data-enhanced parametric objects that provide file-exchange solutions for merging design files from popular formats, such as Revit RVT, IFC, Bentley DGN, and BCF, and are easily integrated into cloud-based work. This integration promotes scalability by allowing multi-server layouts to be created with optional caching servers. When all stakeholders have access to the latest version of a model, it means that they are all working from a single point of reality. Everyone is on the same page, as they say.
For those who are working remotely, access to models can happen from all devices that are synched to the cloud. BIM managers working with multiple teams based in various places, construction workers working on-site, and even designers located overseas can all access and engage with the same project in real time. Issues can be resolved in real time too since feedback can be provided at any time for anyone to see. A designer can drop a pin directly on an object that needs revision and assign the work directly to the appropriate person. An event log can provide a history of comments, feedback, and changes so that anyone can go back and recall where pivots were made.
The transparency of cloud-based BIM is not just a logistical one. It offers a way for a team to feel like a team and trust the process from beginning to end. It provides accountability and also a way for more people to contribute to all phases of the project, to whatever extent that is desired. For all these reasons, a cloud-based BIM experience is often a more visual and intuitive experience for everyone that also leads to more creative and potentially more fulfilling teamwork.
The landscape of collaboration is still uncertain. Questions and concerns about how more permanent remote work situations might limit business opportunities or affect a firm’s reputation are valid. But cloud-based BIM and other remote tools are taking the stigma out of remote office work. They're proving to be not only a reliable stop-gap for pandemics but also a permanent way of working that enhances productivity and leads to better buildings.
Case Studies: The Possibilities of BIM
The potential for BIM is apparent in all kinds of built environments—from public construction to residential living in urban spaces. In some cases, such as public bids, the goal might be to keep costs low without compromising aesthetics.
In others, it might be to provide elegant details and green building elements in the first design phases, making sure that no disappointing changes need to be made when construction time comes. This section will look at how BIM has met the design goals of a variety of building types and provide case studies to illustrate its success.
Case Study: Goldendale Observatory Project
The Goldendale Observatory located in Goldendale Observatory State Park in Washington was a recent public project with complex challenges. Patano Studio, the firm that won the bid, was tasked to design a building that integrated with parts of the old observatory, whose unique geometry made the job challenging. The site—located on a mountain top—was also challenging.
The firm used Archicad, an architectural BIM CAD software, which allowed it to simplify how it shared design intent from beginning to end as well as show its progress to the public as a 3-D walkthrough. This ability to engage the public along the way helped garner public support—something that does not always happen when a new public space is built.
Using BIM tools and workflow, the company was able to create a striking building that includes an ellipse, a circle, and no straight walls, and align the old telescope room with a new interpretive space and visitor center. Public works projects require staying in tight, low-cost budgets. In the past, before utilizing BIM, the company would have likely needed to change orders, rework, and redo the design in multiple formats, losing time and money. In this case, it did not change a single order or experience conflicts among stakeholders. It could track any public work requirements as it went and respond early on. And it reported no tradeoffs in terms of design aspirations. The observatory won the AIA Seattle and Architecture Master Prize award.
Photo: Sozinho Imagery
The Goldendale Observatory located in Goldendale Observatory State Park in Washington was a recent public project with complex challenges. Using Archicad, Patano Studio was able to create a striking building with a new interpretive space and visitor center.
Case Study: Alta Roosevelt Apartment Tower
A 33-story apartment tower in the Printer’s Row section of Chicago’s South Loop sports an elegant exterior of concrete and glass. Pappageorge Haymes Partners designed the tower with residential units over two wings, leaving room for natural light to pour into the interior spaces. Tree-lined circulation paths, pocket park, and parking garage blend with the tower.
The firm used Archicad and several tools in a BIM work space. It was able to include MEP and structural engineer consultants in the BIM process, using IFC to share files across platforms and create a single IFC file for the entire project. The BIM tools helped provide real-time engagement and updates on the project with no communication hassle.
The firm was able to evaluate design lighting effects inside the building so it could see what the building looked like in the evenings. It was also able to drill down to details from the beginning, using tools such as Twinmotion, a third-party plugin with Archicad, which has a library of materials and objects that can be used to design in a 3-D model. In addition, the firm was able to aim for LEED credits, with sustainable elements such as a green roof, electric vehicle charging stations, and ENERGY STAR appliances—all visualized, analyzed, and incorporated into the initial design so that the building had a reduced-footprint goal throughout the process.
CONCLUSION
As an intelligent workflow based on a 3-D model, BIM provides the AEC industry with the ability to collaborate on building projects across all disciplines. The integrated design, open source, and cloud-based capabilities with BIM provide all of the necessary support and tools to coordinate projects in real-time. This goal can be met even when stakeholders are working from different platforms and with different software. It allows teams of any size to provide feedback and evolving designs while keeping everyone on the same page.
Current goals of the industry require a productivity that reduces conflict, miscommunication, and time-intensive costly reworks. These goals can be met and exceeded with BIM, where tools allow for fluid design capabilities and seamless collaboration and transparency. The potential for building trust in a design space is much greater when all of the information can be engaged with from one source of truth.
Finally, in a time when remote work has become the norm, BIM offers a way for the AEC industry to design projects in a virtual space without compromise. In fact, it is a workflow that encourages the industry to execute its creative aspirations with technological support that provides the potential for great success—all of which lead to innovation in the industry.
Erika Fredrickson is an independent writer and editor focusing on technology, the environment, and history. She is a frequent contributor for continuing education courses and publications through Confluence Communications. www.confluencec.com
