for SMEs

Structural BIM: a start point for SMEs

CSC’s BIM expert, Kevin Lea, discusses why many SMEs (Small Medium Enterprises) have been slower to adopt BIM than large structural consulting firms, and explores how they can immediately benefit from Structural BIM

Iam often confronted with the view that Building Information Modelling (BIM) is for large projects and is not applicable to the smaller projects typically undertaken by small-to-medium structural consulting firms. This is a misconception, there are huge benefits for an SME employing BIM even on small projects; the key to unlocking these benefits is to understand what BIM can do for your business, and I strongly believe that ‘Structural BIM’ is the best place for an SME to start. Jargon busting For structural engineers BIM essentially falls into two camps, External BIM and Internal or Structural BIM (also referred to occasionally as Big BIM and Little BIM). External BIM focuses on external communication with the client, architect and contractor. This has typically been adopted by larger consulting firms which have had an external driver — a client or contractor stipulating the use of BIM for collaboration. Smaller projects tend not to have BIM directives; hence there is a smaller driving force for BIM adoption by SMEs.

Structural BIM is where the structural engineer and the technician streamline the design process by sharing project data internally within the structural design office, synchronising the code-compliant design model produced by the engineer with the technician’s BIM model for project documentation. It is a less well-known concept but if executed well, an SME can immediately see huge productivity gains. Better productivity Despite requiring the same geometry, the design and BIM models are often created separately, doubling the workload and increasing the risk of errors. By using Structural BIM, the structural design office only needs to build one model, as the geometry in Autodesk Revit or Tekla Structures, for example, can be synchronised with design software, such Getting started as CSC’s Fastrak and Orion. Project amendAbout the author For SMEs with finite resource, the transiments can be made in Kevin Lea, BIM business tion from a traditionone place, maximis- development manager at al approach to executing the use of the BIM CSC, specialises in both ing Structural BIM data, which in turn, structural design and BIM may at first be dauntincreases productivisoftware. He has assisted many of CSC’s corporate cliing but it need not be. ty by avoiding repeti- ents such as Arup, Atkins, It is best to start by tion and reduces the Buro Happold, Aecom, Ramboll, WSP, White identifying who will risk of errors. Young Green to implement the latest struc- drive the strategy and

As an example, tural BIM technology. implementation; conMcElroy Consulting sider what informaEngineers & Project tion needs to be proManagers, an Irish SME employing 22 duced and how it will be used. For instance, staff, recently completed its first Structural will BIM tools be used simply for drawing BIM project where it synchronised its creation within the design office, or will it Fastrak design model with Autodesk Revit be shared externally, even downstream to a on a small project with relatively simple fabricator? This will help determine the geometry. level of data required, which BIM platforms

McElroy found that the Structural BIM are required and what workflows to use. processes revolutionised how it approached It is also important that a business condesigns as it was able to maintain a single siders how it wants to work with its clients set of BIM data throughout the project. so that clear expectations are set in rela-

Will Norton, structural engineer at tion to the sharing of BIM data and who is McElroy, said: “Historically we would responsible for what. have re-modelled the structure twice for An SME should review the BIM capaeach design change, once in Fastrak and bilities of its current structural design again in Autodesk Revit, but with seam- software; many packages already have less synchronisation between the two soft- integration capabilities with industryware packages we were able to maintain a standard BIM products like Autodesk single model, sharing all the latest data.” Revit and Tekla Structures.

Like McElroy, I recommend using It is also worth exploring the training Structural BIM on a small project in the first and consultancy services provided by softinstance — an SME can get to grips with ware houses, as external support can help understanding and implementing BIM inspire confidence in understanding and without the pressure of delivering a big implementing new BIM workflows. project to an external project team. Not only will it increase productivity internally with- Business benefit in the organisation, it gives the design team Every day I see SMEs punching well above time to learn the workflows that are essen- their weight by adopting Structural BIM tial for effective BIM synchronisation, while for their own benefit. The streamlined probuilding confidence for tackling larger and cesses afforded by Structural BIM enable more complex projects. Following this, it SME businesses across the globe to tender will be an easy transition to share BIM data for work faster and more efficiently, as externally with the rest of the project team, well as compete for larger projects. as the workflows are already in place. ■ cscworld.com