This is a casual snapshot of a construction field office of a substantial building renovation project. We see in the picture various construction and design personnel (in and outside this snapshot) communicating to resolve field issues.
If you look carefully at the background in the picture, you can see BIM on the computer screen. This project was designed in BIM and the MEP coordination was done by the subs in BIM. However the main vehicle for communicating the design to construction personnel remain the 2D drawing sets and specs.
Architects and Engineers still communicate the design to construction personnel in the form of drawings and specs. The information on the 2D drawings and specifications are structured and follow industry standard conventions which have evolved over time and are used to cross reference the information. All construction personnel have learned these conventions, standards and practices. They know how to traverse the plans, elevations, sections, details, schedules and specifications and correlate and gather the information and use that information to build the building.
As can be seen, the BIM model is used only occasionally by the construction team on site. Yes, they have looked at the model from time to time to understand and clarify specific items on the 2D sets. But this is not the rule. The models may well have most of the information embedded in its structure and property sets. However the information is not available in the structured and cross-referenced formats which adhere to the well accepted industry standards.
We know that BIM has been very useful during the design phases to analyze the design and develop coordinated document sets. We also know that sub-contractors have developed and coordinated the MEP trades using the BIM models. We may even have seen quantity take-offs and 4D schedules.
While 3D coordination, Quantity Take-Offs and 4D scheduling add great value to the construction management phase of the project, as yet they do not replace the use of the 2D drawings and specifications for communicating the design information to site construction personnel on a daily basis.
The big question is “Will the BIM Models ever replace the 2D drawing sets in the field?”. Two things need to happen.
1. The BIM models need to be far more user friendly and intuitive to use for the construction personnel.
2. And the construction people need to be trained in navigating the models. The learning curves in both these areas are pretty steep.
What do you think?
If you look carefully at the background in the picture, you can see BIM on the computer screen. This project was designed in BIM and the MEP coordination was done by the subs in BIM. However the main vehicle for communicating the design to construction personnel remain the 2D drawing sets and specs.
Architects and Engineers still communicate the design to construction personnel in the form of drawings and specs. The information on the 2D drawings and specifications are structured and follow industry standard conventions which have evolved over time and are used to cross reference the information. All construction personnel have learned these conventions, standards and practices. They know how to traverse the plans, elevations, sections, details, schedules and specifications and correlate and gather the information and use that information to build the building.
As can be seen, the BIM model is used only occasionally by the construction team on site. Yes, they have looked at the model from time to time to understand and clarify specific items on the 2D sets. But this is not the rule. The models may well have most of the information embedded in its structure and property sets. However the information is not available in the structured and cross-referenced formats which adhere to the well accepted industry standards.
We know that BIM has been very useful during the design phases to analyze the design and develop coordinated document sets. We also know that sub-contractors have developed and coordinated the MEP trades using the BIM models. We may even have seen quantity take-offs and 4D schedules.
While 3D coordination, Quantity Take-Offs and 4D scheduling add great value to the construction management phase of the project, as yet they do not replace the use of the 2D drawings and specifications for communicating the design information to site construction personnel on a daily basis.
The big question is “Will the BIM Models ever replace the 2D drawing sets in the field?”. Two things need to happen.
1. The BIM models need to be far more user friendly and intuitive to use for the construction personnel.
2. And the construction people need to be trained in navigating the models. The learning curves in both these areas are pretty steep.
What do you think?
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