Technological F innovation in AEC
BIM, an intelligent 3D model-based process, has proven benefits across the spectrum of building design and construction 58 Vancouver Island Construction Association 2019
rom the outside, building a facility can look like a straightforward process: plan it, design it, build it. But the actual process is not that simple, mainly due to a highly fragmented industry. This is reflected in the number of people involved from the outset of a project to final delivery. From owner to designer, to builder and user, efficient communication and collaboration can become a challenge. Integrated companies like Omicron that provide development, design, engineering and construction services, have a good chance of overcoming this challenge, but still need to involve contractors, owners and other stakeholders. So what is the best way to go about it? Technology is the answer. The wealth of tools available for every step of the building process makes it hard to focus on one and make it an industry standard. “The design and construction industries are resistant to change — there was very little progress in the past 30-40 years,” says Cameron Kemp, one of Omicron’s founding principals. To research and test emerging trends and software, Kemp assembled an Omicron task force to discover what works best for our business model and create the most efficiencies. “While we are early adopters in technology, that doesn’t mean we adopt everything. We want to see significant improvements in productivity and collaboration before we decide to adopt a tool,” Kemp says. “But if you’re not using BIM (building information modelling) nowadays, you’re in trouble.” BIM, an intelligent 3D model-based process, has proven benefits across the spectrum of building design and construction, and is used across the board at Omicron, but it’s still far from being an industry standard. The use of BIM can be traced back to the 1980s, but there are still late adopters who prefer to rely on 2D drawings. While traditional BIM software lies at the core of designing a facility, there are other technologies that create efficiencies. These either tie into the building model or
