The Future of BIM

In class we discussed how BIM has not only been the biggest advancement in the building industry in quite some time, but it has also been one of the fastest developing technologies within the industry.  When first developed, the theories and ideas behind the technology were much further ahead than the technology.  With rapid advancements within the technology, it is becoming commonplace for designers and owners to prefer BIM implementation in their project.  BIM is allowing for better communication between the owners, designers, and different disciplines.   Better communication and integration will lead to better designs, more efficient building processes, and slightly cheaper building costs. 

As Kayleigh said in her post, the need for a dedicated BIM department will be pivotal in the success of architectural and engineering firms in the future.  With the complexity and potential for multidisciplinary integration, consistency within the design process will be very important.  These departments will control design standards and regulate families and model synchronization within the firm.  This integration will increase model efficiency and allow for further development of model use in the field.  Which brings me to the point that Junwah made; we are no longer limited to advanced technology only being available in the office.  With the advancement in mobile technology, there is reason to believe that a tablet device could be loaded with the BIM, allowing a contractor to navigate the model in the field when questions arise during construction.  I believe that within the next 5-10 years mobile device technology will allow for this type of integration in the field.

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.