Building information modelling (BIM) is increasingly being used as part of an integrated design process to improve a building’s efficiency.
Here, Andy Smith of Bentley Systems Inc., shares insight on when BIM can be used and how it can benefit building owners.
What is building information modelling?
Building information modelling is a collaborative process that allows designers, contractors, material suppliers and facility owners to work together to share information about a project.
BIM also stands for building information model, which, according to the National Building Information Modeling Standard, is “a digital representation of physical and functional characteristics of a facility.”
The model includes 2D and 3D computer graphics enriched with non-graphic information describing components of the building’s design. It may be used as a project contract deliverable that is provided during facility handover, to be used for operations.
For facility managers, BIM is used as a user interface for building engineering systems and assets. By clicking on a 2D drawing or 3D model object, facility personnel can access information about the building component, accelerating their understanding of the facility’s capabilities and requirements.
The BIM may include manufacturers’ data, component properties and engineering analysis information, including structural loads, electrical capabilities and HVAC load requirements. It can also be linked to operational manuals, warranties and other related facility documents.
What are the benefits of doing building information modelling for building owners?
The BIM collaboration process facilitates better co-ordination between design disciplines and contractors by identifying constructability issues earlier in the process. This can reduce the number of change orders in the construction stage. It can also improve the capture and quality of critical facility information during design and construction for use in operations.
A federated BIM can also provide improved documentation and visualization of the project to accelerate the understanding of those that need to make informed capital improvement decisions. Using design review applications, project teams can walk through a design and discuss alternatives in an effort to identify design, construction and operational improvements.
While BIM alone will not reduce the cost of building operations, it can provide insight into the building systems and assets. As a process, it can help improve the quality of design and building performance, with the potential to lower operational costs. When used as a digital representation of a facility, it can accelerate the operation teams’ understanding of the facility, providing them with better information to optimize building systems and assets.
How can it be used to improve the efficiency of a building?
BIM allows the project team to develop and share a virtual model of the building. This allows the team to perform engineering analysis, which improves the quality of design (and ultimately the performance) of the facility.
Engineering analysis can ensure compliance with local codes, run heating and cooling simulations to evaluate building envelope alternatives, and perform lighting analysis to evaluate quality of space for worker productivity and arrangement of spaces to support business operational needs.
Andy Smith, solutions executive at Bentley Systems Inc., consults with global design firms, contractors, and owners who are seeking improvements in building information modelling, project delivery methods and lifecycle data management.