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Ryan P. GriegoCE 491

3/28/20132013

BIM: DemystifiedIts background, its capabilities, and its future

This research will focus on the shift in building design theory from traditional CAD drafting methods to modern Building Information Modeling (BIM) theory, analyze the transition that takes place between academia and industry regarding BIM education, and assess future implications of BIM implementation. This research contributes to the field of civil engineering, specifically in building technology with further implications in architectural design and construction management. The methods used in this research are broken down into three stages. Utilizing technical manuals and journal articles published after 2009 that articulated building design challenges and forecasted the evolution of drafting technologies, Stage 1 constructs a clear view of the circumstances that produced BIM and related technologies. Stage 2 explores the shortcomings of the industrial/academic relationship and the factors limiting BIM’s potential by evaluating surveys and questionnaires. Stage 3 discusses BIM’s future, specifically factors constraining its usage, including but not limited to the lack of trained professionals to teach BIM in an academic environment.

Contents

Review of Literature....................................................................................................................................2

Proposal.......................................................................................................................................................4

Introducing BIM...........................................................................................................................................5

Describing the concept............................................................................................................................5

Development of BIM...............................................................................................................................7

The need for BIM development...............................................................................................................8

BIM in Industry..........................................................................................................................................10

Types of BIM systems............................................................................................................................10

How BIM is being used..........................................................................................................................12

Positive outcomes of BIM implementation...........................................................................................14

Room for growth...................................................................................................................................16

Bibliography...............................................................................................................................................17

Figure 1: BIM model of 1 WTC New York, New York..................................................................................7

Figure 2: Sydney Opera House, Australia - BIM Rendition..........................................................................8

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Review of LiteratureBuilding Information Modeling (BIM) is a growing technology used in architecture,

engineering, and construction to design buildings and structures in a new and efficient way.

Traditional design processes use plans to create a model and from the model, sections and

elevations are developed (Autodesk Revit, 2013). BIM utilization revolves around the model

itself where plans, sections, and piping plans are developed from contributions made to the

model by architects, structural engineers, and all fields who are concerned with the project.

When the model is updated, so are the section plans, elevation plans, and all documentation

regarding the model. This saves a tremendous amount of time and reduces the possibility of an

error while allowing engineers and architects to place more focus on the client and making the

facility as efficient and environmentally friendly as possible (Autodesk Revit).

BIM is now being used by nearly half of the entire construction industry (Clevenger,

2010). A consensus amongst Architectural Engineering and Construction industries (AEC)

suggests that BIM offers improved project construction outcomes and reduced errors. Through

her findings she also learned that engineering firms who are hiring students seek graduates

who are capable and comfortable with BIM processes but do not need expertise. Clevenger

concludes that BIM is a growing program for architects, engineers, and construction managers

alike and as more and more students learn and use BIM, the program will continue to offer

huge benefits for companies and clients. She also concluded that BIM integration in schools

curriculums was on the rise as the industry demands more knowledge of BIM application.

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As a result of its inherit benefits, AEC companies are now looking to hire more and more

college graduates who have studied BIM and who have practical knowledge in its theory

(Taiebat, M., Ku, K., 2010). According to the study done by Taiebat and Ku, the most

demanding software tools are Revit and NavisWorks followed by AutoCAD. They conclude that

in order for a student to have the most success at obtaining a career after graduation they must

not only be skilled in BIM software, they must also have a deep conceptual knowledge about

BIM theory and application.

BIM has been and still is being used on very significant projects throughout the world

(Howell, I., Batcher, B., 2005). Howell and Batcher did a comprehensive analysis of how BIM

was actually doing in industry and they found that there were some very good things happening

in reality. They also found where BIM may have been a hindrance between engineering firms

who did and did not embrace BIM. For example, one company who designs the structural

aspect of a building would model using Revit and would contracts out a certain aspect of the

building to an electrical engineer who was only using AutoCAD. Time was not saved in this

sense and many work-hours were required to transfer the project from the two types of

software platforms. The positive aspects of BIM that Howell and Batcher did find were pretty

profound and many projects around the world were able to display the capabilities of using the

software. They found BIM to be used extensively on the new skyscraper in New York City

known as Freedom Tower or World Trade Center 1. The demanding size of the project and the

aggressive schedule allowed BIM to be used to its full potential.

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Through looking at these articles many commonalities can be found, such as Clevenger

finding that industries are quickly embracing BIM technology and Taiebat and Ku finding that

academia is bridging the gap between education and industry. Howell and Batcher state that

BIMs potential is continuing to be discovered and is becoming more relevant to AEC industries,

even for projects of tremendous magnitude. What I intend to look at is how the culmination of

these topics are going to affect the built environment of the future and how we can use BIM to

positively affect our quality of living. I want to find that the potential of BIM goes much further

than designing structures and buildings.

ProposalThe implementation of Building Information Modeling (BIM) has made design and construction

of facilities less costly and however, other traditional design methods such as Computer Aided

Drafting (CAD) technologies are still being used in industry and academia today. Could this be

limiting the full potential of BIM? What is the full potential of BIM and how can we move

forward in an industry slow to embrace this technology as well as an academia slow to teach it.

Utilizing technical manual written for BIM software and reviewing journal articles, this research

will look at the shift in building design theory from traditional CAD drafting to modern BIM

theory, analyze the transition that takes place between academia and industry, and forecast

and what implications these new design techniques will have on the architectural, engineering,

and construction (AEC) industries. This research contributes to the field of civil engineering,

specifically in building technology with further implications in architectural design and

construction management.

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BIM was introduced to AEC industries as a theoretical concept during the late 1970s. It was

nearly a decade later until its first software prototype was invented. It would take several more

decades before BIM would become a realistic alternative to traditional CAD technology.

Further popularizing the implementation of BIM was the growing financial and economic need

for environmental sustainability and construction efficiency awareness in the AEC industries.

The most notable display of BIM’s potential in this regard was its use in the construction of 1

World Trade Center also known as Freedom Tower.

The methods used in this research are broken down into three stages. Assessing technical

manuals and journal articles published before 2009 that articulated building design challenges

and forecasted the evolution of drafting technologies, Stage 1 constructs a clear view of the

circumstances that produced BIM and related technologies. Stage 2 explores the shortcomings

of the industrial/academic relationship and the factors limiting BIM’s potential by evaluating

surveys and questionnaires. These were developed by graduate students at Virginia Tech and

Colorado State University (2009-2012) for managers and engineers who implement BIM in their

work. Stage 3 discusses BIM’s future, specifically factors constraining its usage, including but

not limited to the lack of trained professionals to teach BIM in an academic environment.

Introducing BIM

Describing the concept

BIM stands for Building Information Modeling which is a term coined some time during

the 1970’s by visionaries who saw its importance and inevitable uses long before its rise into

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popular science. To begin, I’ll pose the question, “What is building information?” The answer,

although sounding a bit rhetorical, is “information about a building”. Well what kind of

information is there to describe a building? There is the physical information and there is

functional information. Buildings in the physical form contain things like height, shape, and

color. It contains things like what types of walls are there, what types of windows are there,

and what kinds of steel beams are used as the columns. Buildings in the functional form

contain things like the building’s purpose. Is the building a school, hospital, or is it used

commercially? Why do people use this building and what does this building do?

A model is simply a representation of something else. It is a description, whether in

great detail or not, of a system, theory, or phenomenon. It serves as an example or replica of

something else; in this case a facility or structure. Building Information Model is a digital

representation of the physical and functional characteristics of a facility. At its most advanced

state, BIM serves as a resource of profound knowledge about a system and its life cycle which

allows collaborators interested in the particulars to share and analyze the facility or structure

with ease. Building Information Modeling is the creation and manipulation of a building’s

information by use of BIM software.

According to many scholars and experts, BIM is a process and a theory – a tool and a

method. It is a method for making a low or non-redundant model of an artifact that is sufficient

to enough to retrofit a building with materials, construction components, costs, and even

simulate it before it actually becomes physical reality. It also allows collaboration between the

many different fields of those involved in the project. This cross-collaboration allows different

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workers from different disciplines to insert, extract, update, or modify information at different

phases of a facilities life cycle.

BIM is also the idea that it is the housing place of all building objects and entities that

are needed to make up an entire project. It is vault that contains all of the information one

would need in order to completely replicate a facility. It captures everything known about a

building. To quote Ian Howell, “A building information model (in theory) provides a single,

logical, consistent source for all information associated with building.” Instead reproducing

objects and components found in most common buildings, such as standard fireproof stairwells

and elevator shafts, these items can easily be referenced into a project in a method that is quick

and easy.

Development of BIM

The first implementation of BIM was done by Graphisoft under the virtual building

concept in 1987 but this was not the first time BIM had been mentioned. BIM was first

developed as a concept during the late 1970s by Dr.ir. G.A. Sander van Nederveen while he was

obtaining his MSc at the Faculty of Architecture at Delft University of Technology. After

obtaining his masters in architecture he received his PhD in civil engineering several years later.

His main research interests are systems engineering for innovative building processes. Since

then, software designers all over the world have begun to develop new and more modern

forms of this technology. According to a research paper done at Virginia Polytechnic Institute,

titled “Industry’s Expectations of Construction School Graduates’ BIM Skills”, the most highly-

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demanded software packages incorporating BIM technology are Revit and Navisworks, which

are both owned by Autodesk.

BIM did not become popular until Autodesk published a paper titled “Building

Information Modeling” but since then, it has been called many things. It has been known as

“Virtual Building” by a software firm known as Graphisoft. Bentley Systems, most commonly

known for their advances in structural and civil engineering design software such as staad.pro

and Microstation, refers to BIM as “Integrated Project Models”. Jerry Laiserin, an industry

analyst who focuses on future technologies for the building enterprise and collaborative

technologies for project-based work, really brought to light the incredible potential of BIM

through hundreds of case studies and thousands of articles on the subject.

The need for BIM development

Before BIM there was CAD. CAD, which stands for Computer Aided Drafting, was

originally designed to help drafters automate their task with the use of a computer as a drafting

tool. Like hand drafting, the focus of CAD application was to represent two-dimensional

geometry by using graphical elements such as lines, arcs, and symbols only instead of doing this

with a pencil and ruler, it was done with a mouse and keyboard. In the context of CAD and its

2D capabilities, walls were simply depicted as parallel lines on a plane. Some key features of

that wall were pointed out with noted entries and different materials were often identified by

hatchings or patterns. 2D floors could be plotted with ease and sent to construction companies

via internet. However, more complex information about the project could not be depicted in

these original CAD drawings such as relationships between elements. Once three-dimensional

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CAD became available it was mostly used for rendering visually friendly geometry to be used as

an aid in business proposals and ownership design documentation.

A recent development in an object-oriented design world such as BIM is that behavior of

these objects can now be incorporated into the model. Common building elements are capable

of being modeled into the design along with its three-dimensional component. Building

elements can be defined with specific parameters based on their real life capabilities and

limitations. Rules can be applied to HVAC systems and fire ratings can be incorporated to a

structures truss layout all while remaining in the design world. Doors and windows are

represented as objects and now can be related directly to the types of walls they are placed on.

Even abstract objects, such as space, can be defined by the relationships between building

components like room names, purpose, and room number. This innovative transformation has

brought the new term “intelligence” into the world of CAD which was never been seen in prior

CAD systems.

The world has never before seen such a drastic migration of intellect towards the

development and construction of energy efficient and sustainable facilities. More money is

spent every day to retrofit existing buildings, design new ones, and analyze both modern and

prior existing ideologies in the design world keeping in mind sustainability and efficiency all

while maintaining lower costs. As global climate change advances and global financial turmoil

remains a dark reality, the call to produce more sustainable and environmentally sound

structure at a cheaper cost has never been louder. Governments and corporations throughout

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the global market are quickening there search to speed-up project delivery, cut costs, and

ensure every dollar is spent wisely.

A quote from a leading source in infrastructure news and analysis sums up in the

following. According to Infrastructureinvestor.com, “traditional ways of working are insufficient

to meet the unrelenting need for new and rehabilitated infrastructure amid today’s economic

realities.” They claim that improved productivity and enhanced collaboration will help improve

the efficiency in which architects and engineers will allocate their resources, reduce

unnecessary spending, and help increase investment demand in a world that needs it the most.

“BIM is the vehicle by which the business of planning, designing, building, and managing the

world’s infrastructure will be transformed to deliver higher productivity, quality, and cost-

effectiveness.”

BIM in Industry

Types of BIM systems

In general, the BIM platform spans nearly all ends of disciplines involved in a buildings

life cycle. Architects, structural engineers, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP)

engineers, construction engineers, and owners are all taking part in the collaborative

environment provided by BIM. The 3D, 4D, and 5D capabilities of BIM allow this collaborative

effort to be the most effective and innovative technique ever devised thus far.

The most popular method of using BIM in industry is through a software platform

known as Autodesk REVIT. It has been described as the most literal interpretation of a single

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BIM as a central project database. Autodesk has gained tremendous prestige through their

development of AutoCAD. Some key features of the program are the fact that it is database

driven meaning that all components created or imported are stored within the program, and

more recently the “cloud,” which allows the user to make changes to the model and

immediately see the revisions updated on all aspects of the building including its different views

and levels.

User ability is then stretched further through the clash detection support that the

program offers. Any change made to a model that directly, or indirectly, interferes with

another “intelligent” component is notified and reported to the user immediately. This makes

cross-collaboration with other disciplines incredible effective. The most recent upgrade of

REVIT has been the merging of two of Autodesk’s programs; REVIT Structure and REVIT

Architecture. The two are now blended together in one single program which also includes

MEP components into the bundle pack.

The next most common BIM system was developed by an architecture and engineering

program design company known as Bentley. Bentley takes a different approach at interpreting

BIM by using a combination of its own products to culminate in one giant family. The Bentley

system founds its initial breakthrough with the development of Microstation but then quickly

began creating specifically targeted towards architecture, structure, and HVAC. The primary

basis of BIM using Bentley software is modules come first from a two-dimensional CAD

standpoint and are then integrated into a single project model. The unified DWG and IFC file

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format found in Bentley’s entire product allow users to make a seamless transition from several

different 2D CAD drawings ranging from several fields of design into one single BIM.

The next program leading the in BIM utilization comes from a company known as

Graphisoft. Graphisoft, as mentioned before, was the first software manufacturer to

implement BIM into their design program called ArchiCAD, which was initially used by strictly by

architects. Graphisoft continues to be pioneers in the industry through there development of

the world’s first real-time BIM collaboration environment known as the “BIM Server”. This was

done to allow effective interdisciplinary collaboration between architects and engineers

throughout the world to minimize human error and reduce production time.

Another advancement being made by Graphisoft is the use of “Open BIM”. Open BIM is

described as an approach to keeping uniformity throughout architecture, engineering, and

construction companies by encouraging the use of universal standardizations used in the

workflow and lifecycle of a facility. Their collaboration with buildingSMART has enabled users

worldwide to collaborate with one another and share their work regardless of what software

tools they are using.

How BIM is being used

When the discussion about BIM began to really gain momentum during the early 2000’s,

many organizations were skeptical about putting it into practice. I idea was still somewhat

fresh in industry and academia and as a result, worker competency in regards to BIM was

incredible low. After a few years had passes several studies were conducted to see if BIM was

being used and if effective results had come about. What many studies had found was that BIM

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was prevalent not only on small scale construction projects, but on large and very significant

projects around the world as well.

One of the biggest and most significant projects that incorporated BIM is the One World

Trade Center in New York City. Abbreviated 1 WTC and sometimes called Freedom Tower, it is

the third tallest building in the world, standing at 1,776 feet (commemorating the year of

American independence). It contains approximately 2.6 million square feet of usable

workspace and will cost nearly $3.8 billion dollars upon completion. The BIM software program

used for the skyscraper was Autodesk REVIT and was incorporated into the project’s design and

construction by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM). REVIT was initially used to model only

the building’s lower levels but through tremendous success, it was later used on the entire

project.

Figure 1: BIM model of 1 WTC New York, New York

Some challenges that architects, engineers, and construction managers faced during the

and before the construction process were full collaboration among constructions firms around

the world. Project managers and engineers needed to have an easy way of obtaining current

and accurate project information as soon as possible in order to meet the fast-track schedules

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put in place. Another challenge was the tremendous complexity of the building along with a

heighten need for integrated security within the building itself. One of the biggest challenges

faced was making the building its size sustainable and efficient before, during, and well into its

life cycle. The tower uses offsite hydroelectric and wind power to supple the buildings energy

needs along with one of the world’s largest fuel cell in the world – capable of generating 4.8

million watts of power. According to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), it

is anticipated to receive Gold Certification, making it one of the most environmentally

sustainable buildings in the world.

Utilization of BIM is not limited to use in the creation of new buildings. One of the latest

and growing trends in industry is the use of BIM to refurbish and model existing building in

order to further maximize the efficiency and introduce more sustainable components. The

Sydney Opera House was the first world renowned rehabilitation projects to be completed.

Bentley Architecture and Bentley Structures were used to model the extraordinary geometry

and capture its existing condition in order to begin the refurbishment process. Once the model

was accurately crafted, architects and engineers to retrofit the opera house with the most

advanced acoustic technology to date.

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Figure 2: Sydney Opera House, Australia - BIM Rendition

Positive outcomes of BIM implementation

Given the need for BIM utilization as described before such as increasing global

sustainability demand and need for cost-effectiveness, it becomes prevalent why BIM is being

used more and more in industry and is being incorporated into the design, construction, and

maintenance of critical facilities throughout the world. It is making significant progress in

numerous ways and is providing great benefit to the upkeep of these buildings. The data can

then be used to plan effective day-to-day operations and planning. This is incredibly important

when dealing with critical facilities given the nature of the building because it allows the flow of

building operations to be carefully monitored and planned in an effective manner.

The 3D capabilities of BIM are state of the art and provide architects and owners to get

a visual representation of how the building will look before it is completed. BIM has made

tremendous leaps in allowing users to navigate through a corridor or walk down stairs before

the building even begins construction which allows designers to check for functionality and

usability in the structure and make necessary changes ahead of time. As a result, architects and

owners can go from the conceptual design phase to the detailed design phase and

documentation creation in practically one single step.

The 4D and 5D capabilities of BIM are also revolutionizing the way architects and

engineers design a building. The multidimensional components of BIM are applied mainly to

the incredibly strong simulation model that is found within BIM. The 4D aspect of BIM allows

time to be taken in consideration with the simulation model. The 5D aspects allow money to

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taken into design consideration. This allows space, time, and money to be modeled

simultaneously.

Cross-collaboration between architects and engineers is just as easy with 3D clash

detection operation found in many BIM software programs. 3D visualizations and clash

detection have now allowed critical facilities to be designed with fewer flaws, faster

construction, and more efficient planning. GKKworks, an architectural firm from Cincinnati,

Ohio, utilizes BIM modeling when designing and rehabilitating critical facilities. GKKworks

quotes that “BIM modeling (has) resolved over 200 conflicts prior to construction,” in regards

to the Verizon Wireless Telecom Switch and Data Center Facility. The facility is a major

communications building that is relied upon by thousands in not millions of cell phone users

across the United States.

Room for growth

Although BIM has made tremendous progress throughout building design and

construction industries, it still has some limitations. The limitation that is being recognized not

only in BIM but throughout the world is an increase in file size and complexity. These files are

becoming larger and more difficult to manage specifically during import from different software

platforms to another and what is happening as a result are firms defaulting back to exchanging

documents such as drawing files similar to 2D CAD rather than share intelligent objects from

the model. The need for increasingly more sophisticated data management thus required in

order to maintain the usability of BIM. One solution to this could possibly be found in cloud

based computing which has already begun to be put in place. Because of the infancy of this

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topic, further research and analysis is needed to determine if it is going to be cost effective and

feasible.

Another major limitation that is being discovered in industry is that many work

Bibliography

Autodesk. (2012). BIM for Infrastructure: A vehicle for business transformation. Autodesk.

Batcheler, I. H. (n.d.). Buidling Information Modeling Two Years Later - Huge Potential, Some Success

and Several Limitations.

Caroline M. Clevenger, P. D. (n.d.). Integrating BIM into Construction Management Education. Fort

Collins, Colorado: Colorado State University.

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Mojtaba Taiebat, P. S. (n.d.). Industry's Expectations of Construction School Graduates' BIM Skills.

Blacksburg, Virginia: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

Sander van Nederveen, D. (2009). Modeling the Life-cycle of Sustainable Living Buildings. Journal of

Information Technology in Construction.

Wei Wu, A. P. (2013). BIM Education for New Career Options: An Initial Investigation. Statesboro, GA:

Department of Construction Managment, Georgia Southern University.

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