BIM for Architects and Engineers

Building information model (BIM) has changed the aspects of traditional drawing production. Unlike CADD that just enhance and automated the aspects of traditional drawing, BIM has change the vision toward design.  It offers greater detail, higher precision and innovative models. It replaces the old 2D drawings with modern 3D.

 For architects and engineers BIM has brought many benefits. It helps to redistribute the effort by allowing more emphasis on conceptual design. It allows the integration of early decision, which today is considered one of the most important steps during initial phases of construction design. BIM permits building to become more sustainable by using simulation tools that address energy efficiency, sustainability, cost, and value. These tools analyze the building’s orientation, space, energy, operation costs, construction costs, and outputs the entire building’s behavior. Therefore, engineers are able to redesign any faults the building could potentially have.

BIM also integrates the design with the construction. It helps structural, mechanical, MEP, electrical steel, precast fabricators to plan accordingly and collaborate toward an integrated design. BIM has a high construction level modeling for details, specifications and cost estimation, which is one of the greatest strength this design-modeling tool offers.

Some of the major issues that firms have encounter when adopting BIM have been: being able to use automated drawings and preparations, managing the high level of details within the models, development of libraries components and assemblies, and integrating specifications and cost estimations. For architects and engineers bringing 3D model tools implies high additional costs.

Implementing this new system means having to train staff, development of new procedures, office preparation, initiating a BIM projects, planning ahead, among others. Some might believe that making the transition is not worthwhile, but its results that there is a high productivity benefits at the construction document level.

In general BIM has increase the value that both architects and engineers can offer to their clients and public. It is a tool that most engineers and architectural firms should start implementing. Despite the fact that it’s a relative new technology and adopting have been slow people need to start gaining confident and allow BIM to be a crucial tool in the building design and documentation process. It is going to be a great tool of great importance in the near future where sustainable and green designs are becoming more important. 
My classmate Rita Pauliushchyk focuses on her blog on conceptual design and how BIM puts an emphasis on bringing multidisciplinary professionals  to execute the design and construction of a building. I agree with her because in this stage in which various professionals share, discuss, and combined ideas for one final product. This process is commonly known today as integrated design. I do believe this is one of the main keys to the success of BIM modeling. Firms have realized that conceptual/integrative design has multiple benefits designs become more sustainable, have greater space usage, higher efficiency and many others. 

Source:

BIM Handbook 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Building_information_modeling#Origins_of_BIM 

http://www.laiserin.com/features/issue15/feature01.php