Chapter 5: BIM for Architects & Engineers

Week 3

Brian Vazquez

                For this week’s assignment, we explored the BIM handbook, and more specifically as a group we were asked to read about BIM for Architects and Engineers. Building Information Models, or BIM differs from previous method of drafting and design because it “redistributes the distribution of effort, placing more emphasis on conceptual design.”  Basically, BIM has changed the idea behind software such as AutoCAD that only focuses on a drafting to a more broad approach. With the recent invention of BIM programs such as Revit, a line command does draws a wall with properties as opposed to a simple 2-D line drawn on AutoCAD. Like Jalpesh Patel mentioned, the chapter in the book describes the four major concepts of design using BIM. These concepts are “conceptual design, the integration of engineering services, construction level modeling, and design-construction integration”.

                These concepts developed through time, but to my surprise, date back to the early Renaissance. The Handbook gives a small history lesson in how Leon Battista Alberti “distinguished architectural design from construction” back in 1452. Therefore the chapter also describes in detail the magnificent leaps that design and engineering have acquired within the last century.  The design process is seen in various charts and graphs in the chapter that help explain how the ability to grant more time to design, will create a stronger final structure.  Basically, BIM is greatly reducing the time generally needed for conceptual design and design development, which deals with planning structure, lighting, and so on. Due to BIM’s 3-D capabilities, lots of these steps are predefined, or at least guided, making it easier on the user by having pre solved calculations. A big reason for this big change, and leap, is because of the practicality and simplicity of the product. For example, Google sketchup was first developed as a “easy- to-use” tool but is now widely used for “its functionality that is important for preliminary design.”

                Although certain programs have flourished, BIM has not yet outdone other programs just yet because it’s  a fairly new technology. Like Maria Gabriela Gonzalez stated, implementing the new system would mean training lots of staff, and a whole database transfer to the new program. This could pose an issue for larger companies and be very costly. Overall, I feel that BIM is the future of computational design, and eventually will be implemented into architectural and engineering offices. 

SOURCE: 

BIM Handbook: A Guide to Building Information Modeling for Owners, Managers, Designers, Engineers, and Contractors.  Chuck Eastman, Paul Teicholz, Rafael Sacks and Kathleen Liston  Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.