BLDG 4051 | George Brown College| Omer Syed - 100777134

Capstone Report: The integration of BIM in Construction Organizations & it’s impacts on Productivity

April 21, 2016

Intensions & Assumptions

To explain the concept of BIM and its impacts on productivity in the Construction Industry.

To help educate the reader in understanding what BIM is and how BIM can be implemented in the workforce.

Due to conflicting schedules, only 3 in-person interviews could be used as primary sources of information

Introduction The Construction Industry accounts for 6% of Canada's GDP

(Statistics Canada, 2016). Currently, programs like AutoCAD is the popular choice to use

when designing and documenting architectural & construction drawings

However the process can be slow and most of the time is used up in coordination and correcting discrepancies.

Which is why increase the productivity and output of construction drawings and documents is a crucial part in a project orientated industry such as the Construction Industry.

Thesis Statement

“BIM programs & practices are not only used to help with communication and visual understandings of a project, but also have a great impact on accelerating productivity and achieving a higher project turnover rate.

BIM – Definition In 2016, The Us National Building

Information Modeling Standard Project Committee defines BIM as:

“(BIM) . . . is a digital representation of physical & functional characteristics of a facility. (BIM) . . . is a shared knowledge of resources for information about a facility forming a reliable basis for decisions during its life-cycle; defined as existing from earliest conceptions to demolition.”

BIM – Dimensions in Construction

BIM – History Charles M. Eastman. Is a pioneer in AEC

CAD and developed early research on BIM. In the mid-1970s, he focused on the

development for practitioners with the ‘Building Description System’ and ‘Building Product Modeling’ (which was later renamed into ‘Building Information Modeling’ – BIM).

Author of BIM Handbook: A Guide to Building Information Modeling for Owners, Managers, Designers, Engineers and Contractors, (2008)

Charles M. Eastman, Picture taken in 2014.

BIM – Off-Site Applications BIM is mainly used in offices of Construction & Design

companies. There are 5 main purposes when working with BIM:

Gather – Collect & organize Information Generate – Create & design with the information gathered Analyze – Review the design and it properties Communicate – Present & document the design &

information Realize – Follow through with the design & implement it in

the construction phase

BIM – On-Site Applications BIM can be used to facilitate a virtual walkthrough while

on a construction site – through the use of BIM “apps”. Most common BIM apps are listed below: Graphisoft BIMx Telka BIMSight Mobile Navigator Pano Review Autodesk 360 Mobile Revizto Viewer BIManywhere

BIM – Programs

3D Modeling Software - Revit Architecture 2011 Features. (Autodesk Revit, 2016).

4D Project Scheduling - Software, Autodesk Navisworks.(Autodesk Navisworks, 2016).

5D Estimating Software - PlanSwift. (Planswift, 2016).

BIM – Productivity RatesIPD vs Traditional methods of construction in terms of Cost / Time / Efforts.(Hijazi, 2015).

BIM – Productivity RatesThis graph depicts the total time it takes to complete a project, by using BIM & CAD separately.(Graphisoft, 2015).

Additionally, BIM enabled projects have reduced the number of RFI’s to 10% of the project.(Chelson, 2010).

This reduction of rework and idle time, due to site conflicts savings for trade contractors, have been reduced to 9% of project costs.(Chelson, 2010).

BIM – Productivity RatesLong term & short term rates when a construction company is working with BIM and applying BIM to a construction project. (McGrawHill Construction, 2012).

BIM – Productivity RatesTangible benefits for contractors & sub-trades working with BIM related programs and implementing BIM practices. (Turner, 2015).

BIM – Productivity Rates: Facts from Studies

75% of BIM users reported better multi-party communication. 57% of Designers state BIM reduces errors during the design

phase. Average project duration reduced by 37%. 65% of contractors report BIM reduces rework and cost

overruns. 62% of BIM users reported greater Return on Investment

(ROI).(Branz, 2012).

BIM – Project Turnover RatesThe impact of BIM on Project Turnover rates (Becker-Gerber, 2010).

BIM – Implementation Software / Hardware Requirements:

CPU Types: Multi-Core Intel Pentium, Xeon, or i-Series Porcessor or an AMD equivalent

Memory 4 – 8 GB of RAM

Video Graphics Card Direct X11 with Shader Model 3 (As recommended by Autodesk)

Staff Training Requirements: Sufficient Human Capitol to complete the project in a Team Based

environment A diploma in Architectural Technology (or equivalent diploma) is

usually required.

BIM – Challenges IPD concept education & “Know how” Understanding each other’s role &

responsibility Set up communication protocols Understanding that increase in cost at

early stages can substantially reduce construction process costs, change orders and requests for information.

Contractors & sub-contractors need to revise their construction management & process.

A typical IPD system.

Primary Sources – Jacek Gorka Jacek Gorka Dipl. Ing., ARCH., M.Arch, OAA, MRAIC - Project Manager

at GorkaArchitects. Mr.Gorka has been working with CAD & BIM software for the

past 20 years and also has his own practice at GorkaArchitects

“Being a designer and Project Manager, I have noticed that ‘Element Redundancies’ have dropped, which has improved project productivities. I have also noticed that over the years, with using BIM practices and the Revit Program, is that coordination errors have dropped 90% - which has greatly improved productivity” – (J. Gorka, personal communication, December 2, 2015)

Primary Sources – Kaite Kuzan Katie Kuzan B. AS, M.Arch - Project Manager at Kohn Partnership

Architects Inc. “The growing trend is that a number of trades have requested

the Architect/Client release the BIM model to perform Quantity Take-offs at a much faster rate and with ease.” - (K. Kuzan, personal communication, December 3, 2015).

Ms.Kuzan has also stated that this trend has increased by as much as 20% within the past years.

She has also stated that this trend is most common within the Steel Sub-Trade.

Primary Sources – Nay Calderon Ney Calderon, Dipl. Arch. Tech. - Research and Innovation Lab

Technician Coordinator - CCET “BIM is a great tool to optimize project results, increase

project value for the owner, reduce waste and maximize efficiency throughout all aspects of the project.” - (N. Calderon, personal communication, December 4, 2015)

Mr. Calderon has stated that the best way utilize BIM to its fullest potential is to have everyone on board with the process and for everyone to understand it.

BIM – Conclusion & Recommendations In conclusion BIM can help Construction Companies

Improve visualization of construction projects Improves productivity due to easy retrieval of information Increase coordination of construction documents Embedding and linking of vital information such as vendors for

specific materials, location of details and quantities required for estimation and tendering

Increased speed of delivery Reducing production costs and creating a streamlined process

Thank you for Listening!