The term Building Information Management is well known in the construction industry, and yet it is fair to say that BIM has still not been adopted as the industry standard in a lot of structural engineering firms.
Let’s take a look together at what exactly BIM entails and what it means for our industry.
What is BIM?
To start off, we can agree that BIM is not simply a 3D computer modelling of a building. It’s as much about information as well as design. It is an invaluable resource to have accurate data and specifications for every component of building – from the ground beam under a garden wall to the exact make and model of the master bedroom doorknob. It helps detect errors before construction begins as well as maintain the same quality once the building is in use. Plus, the benefit of having all the information you might need from various disciplines within the project readily available in the software.
What are some BIM challenges?
One of the biggest challenges when it comes to BIM is the lack of awareness people have about what Stage 2 Maturity (BIM Level 2) is, which did become mandatory on all public sector works in 2016, they will all have different definitions. However, a solution for this will be to agree in writing their delivery capabilities and expectations.
Despite a great deal of concern about what the new mandatory rules mean, they have not been imposed rigidly, giving the industry time to adopt BIM in a low-pressure way.
When will BIM become business as usual?
The industry will only change if the people from within the industry lead the change. Old-school architectural and engineering firms who don’t embrace any new technology will not be in a hurry to adopt BIM.
Also, a very important part of it is the client. Until the client understands the benefits, or we get better at selling those benefits, change will continue to happen in small pockets, mainly in developed countries.
At Iesis Structures we use Revit, which has some BIM capabilities. We consider that a tool that helps us to be more efficient and accurate.
Iesis Structures believes BIM is an important process that increases profitability and improves customer service for our clients. We are constantly looking at new ways to innovate to improve our customer’s experience. Get in touch now to find out more.