Is BIM now BAU? We ask the experts

Is BIM now BAU?

Is Building Information Modelling (BIM) becoming Business As Usual (BAU)?

We seek to answer this question by asking Members if and how they use BIM, and consult experts in BIM education who shed light on: Why BIM; What BIM means to the Australian construction industry; Why building designers care about BIM; The three most important things about BIM a building designer needs to know right now; Beginning the journey of change; and Getting to know BIM, through education.

Why BIM?

By Xavier Papuraj, Senior Teacher – Building Information Modelling (BIM), Faculty of Trades, Box Hill Institute of TAFE

There has been a significant global focus on the adoption of building information modelling (BIM) to drive improvements from facility design to management throughout the lifecycle of a building project. There is substantial evidence to indicate that BIM is an emerging and ongoing building industry trend.

BIM can be defined as the digital description of every detailed activity of a construction or engineering project. The adoption of BIM technologies results in the creation of an entire 3D model with inter-related and cross-referenced information.

The implementation of BIM on projects provides greater opportunity to analyse, improve and test designs against any number of project objectives and corresponding benefits realised by the supply chain, client and building operators. There are well established objectives often referred to as ‘dimensions’, such as building simulation (4D), cost analysis (5D) and using BIM for Facilities Management (6D). However, there are many more project objectives that may be relevant such as energy efficiency and sustainable design (ESD). As such, BIM is now beginning to gain momentum in Australia (Jacobi, J. PE 2011).

The Victorian construction technology strategy recognised the importance of BIM in driving productivity, improving building optimisation and improved asset management. In 2018, the Victorian State Government was concerned with the gap between industry needs and TAFE course outcomes. It wanted to address the emerging skill gaps and introduced the Workforce Training and Innovation Fund (WTIF) to deliver innovative strategies that improve training outcomes and increase the relevance of training to industry. Box Hill Institute identified a need to educate industry in the technological advances being made in building construction around the world, particularly in BIM and prefabricated construction. Two pilot courses were developed and successfully delivered to industry personnel on a trial basis. These government-approved courses are now being offered to address the emerging skill gaps.

*Jacobi, J. PE. 4D BIM or Simulation-Based Modelling, Insights Structure, p 17 – 18, April 2011.

BIM can be defined as the digital description of every detailed activity of a construction or engineering project.

There is substantial evidence to indicate that BIM is an emerging and ongoing building industry trend.

Why Building Designers care about BIM

By Michael Goss, Program Manager, Building Design at RMIT University, & Catherine Ciavarella, Program Coordinator of Building Design, RMIT University

RMIT acknowledged the emergence of BIM platforms as early as 2006, undertaking an international research project that informed the development of the first BIM studio for teaching the Advanced Diploma of Building Design (Architectural). Below is an excerpt from that paper of 2008 that is still accurate today.

“In Australia today, building designers are in high demand and this demand continues to grow. The industry is currently undergoing a period of transition and discourse is taking place regarding what skills will be needed to ensure demand from the marketplace is met. Central to these discussions is the issue of Australian building designers increasingly looking to extend the scope of their practice by tendering for overseas projects.

“The notion of a global economy is fast becoming a reality for industries in Australia, and the AEC (architectural, engineering and construction) industries are poised to leap into this economy. Australian building designers will need to have the capacity, skills and knowledge to compete and/or collaborate with leading local and international architectural practices to be part of this global economy and more so, be adequately positioned to ensure continued innovative development in the Australian marketplace.

“Designers will need to explore and engage in process innovation, afforded by advances in technology (i.e., BIM systems) to better manage systems and adopt effective delivery process for building design and documentation, to provide clients with what they want and more so, what they expect. Our current observation of the Australian context suggests that the industry is still faced with delivering a rapid response to clients and developers in a competitive market both locally and internationally which is demanding new forms of cooperation and communication through advanced design-build models, more sophisticated forms of internet project management, and teaming models. BIM systems and the skills to fully utilise their potential will make our local industry competitive and viable.”

Read their full report: http://bit.ly/EmergingBIM [https://www.issinstitute.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/ ISS-FEL-REPORT-Di-Giangregorio-Goss-LOW-RES.pdf]

How DMN Members use BIM

DMN conducted an online poll on the MemberOnly Facebook Group, which asked: Are you using BIM software? Sixty-three Members responded and the result was: No: 20 votes; Yes: 43 votes. The poll also asked Members who answered ‘yes’ to describe the project context in which BIM is used. This is a snapshot of how Members responded:

• Mostly residential (including single dwelling, dual occ., apartments, renovations). • Concept design, design development and documentation of residential homes, additions and alterations, multi residential and interiors. • Single dwellings, units, apartments.

Consultant model swaps. • Building thermal simulation and energy efficiency/evaluation (ArchiCAD). • General architectural drafting domestic and commercial. • Passivhaus design and analysis. • For me it’s in-house useful, but consultants aren’t yet up to speed. For example, the structural engineer just wants a 2D DWG plan, and the builders just want PDFs. • Archicad v24: Some of the BIM features I use, aside from general drafting and modelling include: Material Thermal

Performance data outputs (to help us with

Passivhaus/PHPP); Material takeoffs for accurate project costings; Collision detection between all MEP services;

Collaboration with structural engineer’s by modelling all structure systems;

Construction system modelling (hoping to look at the thermal bridge stuff in greater detail); Output to Twinmotion for clientwinning presentations (This has been instrumental as a small D&C firm);

Honestly, BIM and Passivhaus (energy efficient design, in general) are already a match made in heaven and have a huge future!; We mostly do all residential scales (except high-rise) and some light commercial classes. • Design, documentation, scheduling, specifications. • Running archiCAD. Use BIMx for onsite builders meaning if we change anything it auto-updates them (when they use an iPad). All interactive - if they click on a wall it links to say the install details off a James

Hardie website, etc..

BIM: The Good, the Bad and the…Challenging

By Will Joske, Principal Advisor for BIM, Swinburne University of Technology

Will Joske has been on the trail of learning, implementing, consulting and teaching Building Information Modelling (BIM) for 10 years or more, and a Revit user for longer. Based on his own experience as a building designer, these are the three most important things about BIM a building designer needs to know right now.

BIM for building designers already delivers

Revit and ArchiCAD were by far the preferred software in the Design Matters National poll from November 2020. Using BIM-capable model-authoring software opens up the possibilities for increased efficiency, communication and quality of delivery. Sharing models with engineers removes risk, speeds coordination, and again raises the quality of service and product. These activities are agreed and managed through what we call ‘BIM Uses’ and include: 3D model authoring; visualisation from line perspectives to realtime VR walkthroughs; coordinating and clash-testing models combining design engineers; among many others. Like all worthwhile disruptive technology, BIM will become business-as-usual over time. BIM is a multi-faceted concept though, and while we have been good at adopting some aspects, other challenges are still to come.

BIM has a language problem

BIM and other technical terms get thrown around and yet it’s not uncommon to wonder if we agree on the same things. Put two BIM models together for comparison: Do they have the same qualities? Is a BIM manager a standardised job description or does it change from office to office? When it comes down to it, did a debate about (BIM level of development) ‘LODs’ change the way you documented your last project? Your youngest employees are not the ones negotiating tenders and contracts, drafting office policies and procedures, or managing client relationships. These are the times when innovation and your competitive edge can best presented. Everyone from the company director to the new drafty needs to know BIM well enough that they can dig below the ‘catch phrases’ and have conversations and agreements which are mutually understood.

BIM for compliance is a game changer

Recently, the Victorian government established the Building Reform Expert Panel to review the building legislative and regulatory system. Interestingly, one of those on the panel is Dame Judith Hackitt who authored the UK’s Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety. Published in 2018, and spurred on by the Grenfell Tower fire tragedy, it recommended greater accountability enabled by a ‘golden thread’ of information management. Similarly, Australia’s Shergold Weir report Building Confidence also examined problems in compliance and enforcement in construction. Our industry is starting to turn a corner. The ISO 19650 suite of standards for BIM, the Victorian Digital Asset Strategy (VDAS), and this latest review will result in a new legislative framework for our Building Act. These documents talk about the Golden thread, collecting data, and a digital set of records. Beneath all these terms lies BIM as the enabler for a higher standard of digital project handover.

While there is a focus on higher-density housing, I suspect we will see this expectation broaden as clients are compelled to implement more stringent standards for their projects. Is this next level of BIM coming to you?

Beginning the journey of change

By Catherine Ciavarella, Program Coordinator, Building Design, RMIT University & Damien Ferlazzo, Senior Industry BIM Lecturer, RMIT University

The value of a Building Information Modelling (BIM) environment is the communication it brings to the multi-disciplinary data for the entire lifecycle of a project. The linking of consultant documentation identifies clash detection issues, quickly saving a significant amount of value management in a project.

We have known for a long time that we need to deliver projects more effectively within the AEC industry. BIM is often described as encompassing many things, including technology, information management and improved processes. This is all aimed at contributing to a more sustainable future in project delivery.

We can no longer afford to deliver projects with such high percentages of waste and delays costing our economies millions of dollars annually. A better, smarter, more sustainable future will require us to look at more effective ways to deliver energy-efficient built environments to our towns and cities. Every practice should begin the journey of change and enable new generations to deliver better projects. BIM education needs to be a holistic process of producing an informed model of a project ensuring documentation collaboration, resulting in accurate data being available on a project at any stage of documentation development. Our projects now will have accurate added value informing the construction process.

RMIT has developed and delivered BIM programs from short courses for beginners to programs for specific industry practitioners. The programs include on site tailored training for the transition to the BIM environment for major building groups.

The RMIT approach is to continue exploring the multi-faceted functionality of the platform to inform and connect with the relevant areas of the RMIT programs both vocational and higher education.

In the area of Building Design (Advanced Diploma of Building Design architectural), it offers an opportunity to explore the knowledge that is required to produce an informed BIM model. Every area of the model production is addressed from sustainability, design and construction processes.

Above: Image by Soroush Magsoudi, Box Hill Institute Building Design student, and winner of Design Matters National Student Award for Best Digital Presentation Award 2018, and Drafting Excellence Award 2018. Below: Image by Will Joske, Principal Advisor for BIM, Swinburne University of Technology.

Getting to know BIM

To search for Informal Online Courses, TAFE Courses, Units from Undergraduate and Postgraduate Courses, Externally Provided Courses, Digital Engineering/BIM broad knowledge and skills, and Digital Engineering/BIM individual software skills courses, go to: http://bit.ly/VDASBIM

Courses suggested by contributors to this article:

• Box Hill TAFE: Advanced Diploma and Course in

Building Information Modelling, by Xavier Papuraj;

This course in Building Information Modelling (BIM) will provide you with the skills and knowledge required to manage the detailed activity of a building construction or engineering project using BIM compatible software to achieve the best possible project workflow from start to finish.

More information: https://www.boxhill.edu.au/courses/advanced-diploma-ofbuilding-information-modelling-bim-adbim-d/

• Swinburne University of Technology: 2 Days to BIM, by Will Joske; Designed for those in management and strategic roles, this engaging workshop will give you the knowledge and skills currently needed in Australia.

More information: https://swinprofessional.swinburne.edu.au/coursedetails/?course_id=70315&course_type=w

• RMIT University: The whole package of BIM and

Building Design Industry skills. Ready for the Victorian industry registration process.

More information: https://www.rmit.edu.au/study-with-us/levels-of-study/ vocational-study/advanced-diplomas/advanced-diplomaof-building-design-architectural-c6161

DMN is holding a free webinar called ‘Get to know BIM’ for Members, on Wednesday 7 July 2021, with Xavier Papuraj from Box Hill Institute as the Presenter. See the What’s On section for more details.