Building Information Modeling
Recent years a new term has become popular in the construction industry; Building Information Modelling, more commonly referred to as BIM. The concept has been around for almost 50 years, but only recently got more attention. BIM introduces some new tools and technologies to construction management. The term is often associated with digital models and various software, but BIM covers more than that. Building Information Modelling captures the management of the whole construction project’s life-cycle (Boukara & Naamane, 2016).
What is BIM?
BIM is a set of building design tools. Digital models help manage, plan, design, and construct buildings and infrastructure (Boukara & Naamane, 2016). These models often include more information than the traditional hand drawings and CAD models. Not only are buildings entirely modelled in three dimensions through a 3D space, but cost information and scheduling software is also part of BIM. With those five dimensions included in BIM, monitoring and control of several factors are possible (Ogwueleka, 2015). The digital model contains further information on the building and the construction process. Such information includes building geometry, spatial relationships, and quantities and properties of building components (Boukara & Naamane, 2016). All the information helps in achieving a satisfying cost estimate.
In the BIM process, people from different disciplines participate. Architects, engineers and contractors all contribute and communicate their data through the model, as illustrated in figure 5. Each of the stakeholders in a project shares all data in a BIM environment, which contributes to active participation among them. The data is stored in a shared data environment, which might be cloud-based so it is easily accessible for all parties (Lorek, 2018). By sharing the data, it also follows that stakeholders often have shared risk and reward in the project. Distributing risks might be a motivation for better collaboration (Sears et al., 2015).
Figure 5 The shared BIM environment where teams of different professions contribute their work and data
Using a shared BIM environment is advantageous in the sense that everyone on the project, with access to the models, can modify them and do design changes. The digital environment allows for collaboration throughout the whole project. Digital models are a visual representation that can communicate design more efficiently. When everyone can access the models, they can stay updated on the work. Stakeholders keep track of the design work and can make informed decisions based on information from the model.
Further, designing in a 3D space also entails many advantages and might contribute towards a more natural collaboration between different professions. Designers can align new objects and components according to the existing design. The 3D model can be used for a virtual examination to make sure all components will fit upon construction. Any overlapping parts might be discovered in the model and changed before construction starts (Boukara & Naamane, 2016).
There are several advantages associated with BIM. However, BIM is still struggling to establish itself as a preferred process in the construction industry. Senior team managers are unwilling to start using new technologies. Contractors are using BIM the least, while architects are more willingly welcoming BIM and are using it the most. Some projects use BIM only for parts of the project, which means it is not fully integrated into the whole process (Thomassen, 2011). These projects are not utilising the full potential of BIM. On the other hand, some countries see BIM as a promising way of managing construction projects. Several European countries have mandated for the inclusion of BIM in a majority of government construction projects (Lorek, 2018).
Model or Modelling
When it comes to BIM, the last letter of the abbreviation might refer to either model or modelling. The abbreviation is sometimes used for both, making it hard to distinguish them. A model is a digital end-product. The model stores information and has a visual representation. Modelling, on the other hand, is a knowledge-creating process for understanding a building. Modelling embrace the understanding of the building from infancy to demolition. BIM is commonly referred to as more than just digital models of structures; it captures the whole project life-cycle.
In the process of modelling, a variety of software components might be used. Some software does the structural analysis, while others are for building design and geometry. The modern building design takes place in a digital environment; a digital medium. Some features of BIM might be similar to software development and a collaboration resembling peer production might occur. In BIM, collaboration can take place independently of time and place. The digital environment serves as a medium for communication between the involved parties. These collaborative features are similar to those seen in peer production. Peer production is commonly linked to stigmergic collaboration. The collaboration in BIM offers an environment for stigmergy.
In the section Digital Stigmergy, peer production was linked to stigmergy. This means there is a possibility for stigmergic collaboration in BIM.