The concept of BIM was introduced during the late 60s. However, people started using it much later. At present, it’s almost impossible for a construction firm to operate without BIM or Building Information Modelling. To be more precise, today, BIM can be used to complete almost every crucial job taking place in the construction industry. It is used for planning, designing, analysing material quantity, cost estimation, arranging workflows, and more.
Indeed, the construction industry was very much there even when BIM was not introduced. However, delays, clashes, collaboration issues, cost issues, etc. were more common in the sector than it’s today. The advent and implementation of BIM changed the industry completely and only for the better. Read on to know more about BIM and its impact on the construction industry.
An Introduction to BIM
What is BIM? BIM or Building Information Modelling is a technology that enables seamless collaboration of various AEC (architecture, engineering, and construction) industry processes. These processes may include both functional and physical aspects of the sector.
Additionally, BIM also enables the virtual construction of an entire building on computers keeping all its components intact. This allows the engineers to spot clashes (if any) in the components and resolve them. As a result, the final design becomes flawless, and the chances of clashes become almost nil when the actual construction begins.
How Has BIM Benefitted the Construction Industry?
The professionals working in the AEC sector have experienced extensive benefits after BIM became a constant part of the industry. The pointers below will help you to understand the impact of the technology on the industry.
- Less Rework: When you have access to a virtually created BIM model, it would be easy for you to inform every individual linked to the construction project and all stakeholders about the project’s scope. Other than that, having a BIM model ensures that all clashes get resolved before the start of construction. This will not only save time but will also prevent monetary losses.
- Better Project Outcome: Business owners and project managers around the globe have confirmed that using BIM has improved both the cost-efficiency and outcome of their construction projects.
BIM helps in saving money by saving a significant amount of time. The tech also enables better understanding and easy explanation. All these allow information to flow smoothly through different levels of the project. This, in turn, automatically improve project outcome.
- Making Design Changes Is Easier: When there was no BIM, life was a lot more difficult for the architects. They had to keep redoing drawings and designs until the desired results were achieved. Things became even worse when the reconstruction was done not because of any error but just to ensure client satisfaction. BIM has stopped all such miseries permanently.
The construction work begins only when all flaws are corrected, and the client confirms that he/she is satisfied with the design. BIM helps in creating computer-aided models of the construction project and ensures that all necessary alterations can be done on the computer. Thanks to the tech, the process of making these changes have become a lot faster. Designs created on paper required the architect to sit for hours even to make minor alterations.
- Other Processes Also Become Less Complicated: BIM has not only made the job of architects less tiring. The technology has been a boon even for owners, contractors, fabricators, structural engineers, and MEP engineers.
The best thing about BIM models is that understanding them is super easy for every individual associated with the field of construction. For example, checking the model will allow a fabricator to understand what kind of materials one should use in the project. Additionally, the model will also tell the dimensions of various components of the projects in detail.
The building’s structural designer, on the other hand, can work together with the team of MEP engineers and achieve better results. As the BIM model makes more information available to the people handling the construction project, the manufacturer will have a clearer idea about the material requirements, expenses, and delivery schedule.
The Future of BIM
The use of BIM has already become common in the construction community. The coming years will see more and more companies adopting this technology for achieving better and faster results. Construction firms in developed nations like the UK, the USA, Germany, Japan, etc. use BIM for all kinds of projects, big or small.
Developing nations like India seem to be on the same track. Soon, the use of BIM will become a common affair for all construction companies in India and other developing countries.
Are you wondering how to introduce BIM into your construction company? Ideally, you should outsource the services to a reliable company. This will save both your time and money and ensure that you are getting the job done by experts. SIGNAX is one of the top performers in this segment and has helped many renowned construction firms to adopt BIM successfully. They will provide you with the best possible BIM services and support.
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