BIM AND GREEK CONSTRUCTION: RESEARCH AND DETAILED ANALYSIS FOR POTENTIAL IMPLEMENTATION

7/29/2019 BIM AND GREEK CONSTRUCTION: RESEARCH AND DETAILED ANALYSIS FOR POTENTIAL IMPLEMENTATION

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BIMANDGREEKCONSTRUCTION:

RESEARCHANDDETAILEDANALYSISFORPOTENTIAL

IMPLEMENTATION

CHATZIANDREOUDIMITRA

KOSTOPOULOUMARIAALIKIUniversityofThessaly,Volos,Greece

Athesis

submittedtotheDepartmentofArchitecture

oftheUniversityofThessaly

inPartialFulfillmentofthe

RequirementsfortheDegree

ARCHITECT

DepartmentofArchitecture

UniversityofThessaly

VOLOS,MAGNISIA,GREECE


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PROLOGUE

BuildingInformationModelling(BIM).

Thisisaconceptwedidntknowbeforestartingtothinkaboutourthesistheme.

Atfirst,wewerecurioustodiscoverwhatitisaboutandwhywehadneverheardaboutitbefore.Afteraquickoverview,

BIMseemstobetheidealwayofdesigningandconstructing.Itsbasicconceptsdealwithinformationanddatastorageand

managementaswellastheautomationofprocesses.Therewere,though,somequestionsthatstillneedtobeanswered.

Doesthiscompleteautomationeliminatearchitectural creativityand innovation?CandoingBIMfromthefirstdayofthe

designprocessbe risky? BIMhas alreadystarted tobe implemented in theUSA andsomeEuropeancountries,but its not

widelyknowninGreeceyet.CoulditbeimplementedandbeneficialforGreekarchitectsandtheGreekconstructionindustry?

Thesearesomeofthequestionswewantedtoexamineinourresearch.So,westartedbystudyingBIM,learningitsbasic

concepts,beingawareofwhatoccursnowadaysinrelationtoit,inordertocreateasufficientlycompleteoverviewthatwould

helpusanswerourquestions.WealsohadthechancetointerviewtwoAmericanarchitectswhoareleadersinBIMworldwide

andthreeconstructionprofessionalsfromGreecewhopracticearchitectureusingdigitaldesigntoolsandsoftware.Combining

thefeedbackwegotfromthemwithalltheinformationwegathered[frombooks,articles,papers,etc.],wemanagedtoforma

morecomprehensiveandcompleteopinionofBIM,thepossiblewaysitcouldbeimplementedanditspossiblefutureinGreece.Theresearchwepresentbelowconsistsoftwoparts.ThefirstpartisadetailedanalysisofBIM,itsaspectsandalltherelated

concepts,usingtheinformationwegatheredfromourbibliographyandinterviews.ThesecondpartisanexaminationofBIMs

implementationinGreece.Unfortunately,asBIMisnotyetwellknowninGreece,wedidntfindanyGreekbibliography,sothat

partwaswrittenusingfeedbackfromthethreearchitectsweinterviewedandourowncriticalthinking.

Finally,ourintentionwasnevertoembraceBIMunconditionally.Westronglybelievethateverynewideahasitspositiveand

negativeaspects.Acriticalwayofthinkingcombinedwiththeabilitytoremainrealisticcanleadtoevolutionaryandfunctional

solutions.Thisiswhatwehavetriedtodointhisresearch.OurgoalwastofindalternativewaysofimplementingBIMboth

generallyandinGreece.

Inorder tomake a stepforward,we have tried toimplement theknowledgewegainedfrom this researchin ourthesis

project.WedesignedawallsegmentthatincorporatestheprincipalsofBIManditsgoalistobeusedinpreservedbuildingsin

ordertoeliminatethespacelossthatusuallyoccursintherehabilitationofoldbuildingsandtoautomatetheprocess.Itisable

to be controlled automatically and with a variety of functions, it responds to the needs of the standard office buildingsintroducingatthesametimeanewmethodofspacecontrol.BaseduponthebuildingofKitriniApothiki

1inthecityofVolosin

Greece,itmaybethefirstattempttoincorporateBIMtechniquesindesigninaGreekcontext.

1KitriniApothikiorAmericana,asitiscalled,isthestorehouseoftheAmericanTobaccoCompanylocatedatthejunctionof

GaziandBassanistreetsinthecityofVolosinGreece.Builtin1926itwasfirstusedbytheAmericanTobaccoCompany.In1958it

wasrentedto(SocialistPartyofGreece),thenin1965itwasboughtbytheNationalOrganizationofTobaccoandusedasastorehouse.DuringtheSecondWorldWarithadservedasajailforpoliticalprisonersandastheJewishghettofortheareaof

Volos.


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TABLEOFCONTENTS

1./INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................................................................6

/GeneralOverview...................................................................................................................................................6/Interviewswitharchitects:presentation................................................................................................................6

2./BIM(UNTILTODAY)...........................................................................................................................................7 2.1.THETERMSOFBIM................................................................................................................................................7/BuildingInformationModeling...............................................................................................................................7/BuildingInformationModel....................................................................................................................................7/BIMandIPD............................................................................................................................................................8

2.3.INTEROPERABILITY.................................................................................................................................................8/Theconcept.............................................................................................................................................................8/Untiltoday..............................................................................................................................................................9/Themethodofachievement...................................................................................................................................9

2.4.COLLABORATION...................................................................................................................................................92.5.THETIMELINEOFBIM............................................................................................................................................9/TheLeadershipofBIM..........................................................................................................................................11

2.6.EXISTINGPROBLEMS&DEMANDS.......................................................................................................................12/Theeffectoftheeconomiccollapseinconstruction.............................................................................................12

2.7.DIFFERENCES BETWEENCADANDBIM................................................................................................................12/CADfilescharacteristics.......................................................................................................................................12/TheadvantagesofBIMoverthe2Dand3Ddesignapproaches..........................................................................13/WhatisBIMtryingtoachieve...............................................................................................................................13/MisconceptionsaboutBIM&itsRisks..................................................................................................................13/Thechangeinworkflow........................................................................................................................................14

2.8.BENEFITS/DEVELOPMENTS................................................................................................................................14/Statistics................................................................................................................................................................14/BENEFITS:..............................................................................................................................................................14/Forthearchitects..................................................................................................................................................14/Fortheowners......................................................................................................................................................15/Fortheconstructors..............................................................................................................................................15/Intheconstructionindustry..................................................................................................................................15/Long-term.............................................................................................................................................................15/DEVELOPMENTS: ..................................................................................................................................................15/Design...................................................................................................................................................................15/Construction..........................................................................................................................................................15/Relationshipsbetweenprofessionals....................................................................................................................16/BuildingsLifecycle................................................................................................................................................16

3./BIMTODAY......................................................................................................................................................17 /GeneralOverview.................................................................................................................................................17/TheuseofTechnology..........................................................................................................................................17/ExistingBIMSoftware...........................................................................................................................................18/ProgramsEffectiveness........................................................................................................................................19/Training.................................................................................................................................................................19

3.1.CONCEPTS&SYSTEMS.........................................................................................................................................19/GIS.........................................................................................................................................................................19

/Real-timeBIM.......................................................................................................................................................20/BIMintheCLOUD.................................................................................................................................................20


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/BIMStorm.............................................................................................................................................................22/BIMXML(BuildingInformationModelExtendedMarkupLanguage)...................................................................22/OnumaSystem......................................................................................................................................................22/4SiteSystems........................................................................................................................................................22

3.2.APPLICATION........................................................................................................................................................23

/CaseStudies..........................................................................................................................................................23/OurFinalProject...................................................................................................................................................23

4./BIM&GREECE..................................................................................................................................................244.1.INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................................................24/StateofBIMinGreece..........................................................................................................................................24/ArchitectsInterviewed:PresentationandOpinions..............................................................................................24

4.2.ECONOMY/MENTALITY......................................................................................................................................24/GreekMentality....................................................................................................................................................24/EconomicCrisis.....................................................................................................................................................25

4.3.BIM&CONSTRUCTION........................................................................................................................................25/Demands...............................................................................................................................................................25

/ReasonsPreventingtheShift................................................................................................................................254.4.POSSIBILITIESOFAPPLICATION............................................................................................................................26/PotentialAdjustments..........................................................................................................................................26/MotivesforImplementation.................................................................................................................................26/AlternativemethodsofImplementation...............................................................................................................27

5./THEFUTUREOFBIM.........................................................................................................................................29/ThefutureofBIMtools.........................................................................................................................................29/ModelServers,EasyAccesstoInformation,Productivity,andCertainty..............................................................29/Design...................................................................................................................................................................29/Practice.................................................................................................................................................................30/Ubiquitouscomputing...........................................................................................................................................30

6./CONCLUSION...................................................................................................................................................31 /BIMsRoleintheFuture........................................................................................................................................31

7./INDEX..............................................................................................................................................................32 /Terminology..........................................................................................................................................................32/InstitutesandCompanies.....................................................................................................................................37/Links......................................................................................................................................................................37/References.............................................................................................................................................................38/Bibliography..........................................................................................................................................................38


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1./INTRODUCTION

/GeneralOverview

Architecturecanbeconsideredtobealivingorganismthatneedstoevolvecontinuallyasthetechnologyandconstructionmethodsconstantly keepchanging.Over theyears,manynewtheorieshaveappearedchanging thewaywedoarchitecture,

somemoreinfluentialandothersless.Themostimportantissueistotrytoabsorbtheevolutionthatleadstosomekindof

facilitationofourworkandnotjustfolloweachtrendjustbecauseitisneworseemsinteresting.

Oneofthenewdirectionsin architecture-andalsoinengineering,construction,etc.-nowadaysis theglobalizationofthe

processinordertoovercomephysicalbarriers(distance,countriesetc.)andtakeadvantageofmorecomprehensiveknowledge.

Inadditiontothat,theconcernaboutthedepletionofnaturalresourcesandthedoubtsregardingtheexistingconsumersociety

seemtoleadustoadeadendlongbeforeexpected,ifnosolutionisfoundsoon.

Sowearetalkingaboutageneralchangeinthecurrentattitudeandineachofusseparatelyatthesametime,because

although the character of theories is international, their implementation depends on thementality and the habits of each

country,andsotheyhavetobeexaminedinordertoleadustoarealevolutionandnottoawasteoftimeandeffort.For

exampleitismeaninglesstoexpecttoobtainthesameresultsfromtwoprojectsofdifferentscale,locatedindifferentpartsof

theworld,addressingdifferentfinalclientsandwhichdifferentteamsofprofessionalshavedesigned.Theimportantthingistoform aprocess that can beincorporatedintoevery project and serveit for its own needs. The Internetof course playsan

importantrolebutthementalityoftheworldofconstructionhasyettofollowthechangetoo.

ThisiswhattheconceptofBIMstandsfor.BIMismoreawayofthinkingandactingthanatheorythatneedsfollowers.Itcan

beusedaslittleormuchasanybodywishes,inwhicheverstageofthelifeofabuilding,evenbeforeitsconceptionorafterits

demolition,becauseitisaboutdatathatcanbeusedoverandoveragainasthepointistoremainup-to-date.

WithoutgeneralimplementationofBIMthough,wecannotspeakabouttheunderstandingof theconcept.AnddoingBIM

withoutunderstandingandcollaboratingmeanshugeloss.

Thereis a term for becomingan overnight BIM expert and its called BIMwashing. This proves that BIM traininghas

alreadybecomeanimportantissue.(FinithJernigan,Interview2011)

SothequestionisifaprocedurethatwasfirstdesignedaccordingtoAmericanstandardsandscalecanbeusefulinacountry

likeGreece,whichis stillusing theold-fashionedmethodofpersonal observationofthe construction site in themajorityof

currentprojects.Oritisonlyanillusiontotrytoconvinceprofessionalstoshifttowardsanewwayofworkingandthinking,even

morenowwiththepresentbadeconomicsituationofourcountry.

Asthemajority ofarchitects, engineers, constructors,etc.hasnotembraced BIMyet,mostownersdonthave theoption to

implementordemandit.However,astheconstructionindustrymovestowardsBIM,theyknowthattheywillhavetodoitinthe

future.(FinithJernigan,Interview2011)

So,startingfromthetheoryofBIM-throughbooks,butmostimportantlythroughtheopinionofthearchitectsthathadan

important role in itscreation (KimonOnuma,FinithJernigan),throughits applicationwith thecase studywehave designed

accordingtotherulesofBIM,forapreservedbuildinginthecityofVolosinGreece,andfinallythroughananalysisofthe

presentsituationwiththehelpoftheprofessionalsthathavebeeninterviewed(Loulakis,Papavasileiou,Gastis)-wearetryingto

discoverifBIMandGreececanlookforwardtoacommonfuture.

/Interviewswitharchitects:presentation

KimonOnumaisanarchitectandBIMspecialist,creatorofOnumaPlanningSystemandBIMStormandafoundingmember

ofthebiggestBIMassociations(GDLAlliance,ShipGroup,Akrotek).AshehasbeenconstantlyworkingwithBIMsince1993,

whilebeingasoftwaredeveloperaswell,hewasthemostappropriatepersontodescribetheexistingstateofBIMintheUSA

andpossiblefuturetendencies,bothforBIMandtheexistingsoftware.

FinithJerniganisanarchitect,educator(UniversityofMarylandEasternShore,KingFaisalUniversity),publishedauthor(BIG

BIMlittlebimThePracticalApproachtoBuildingInformationModelingIntegratedPracticeDonetheRightWay!),andan

expertinintegratedpractice(Created4SiteSystemsSM,astandardizedBIMbasedworkflow).Alsoafoundingmemberofthe

biggestBIMassociations(DesignAtlanticLtd,SHiPGroup)andresponsibleforaseriesofprojectsforthegovernment,NASA,the

USCorpsofEngineers,NAVFAC,theUSArmy,theUSAirForce,andtheUSMarineCorps.Asoneofthefirstwhotalkedabout

thetheoryofBIM,inhisinterviewheexplaineditsphilosophyandroots,andalsothechangesthancanbeprovidedtothe

knownarchitecturalprocedure.


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2./BIM(UNTILTODAY)

2.1.THETERMSOFBIM

/BuildingInformationModeling

Tobeginwith,tryingtodefinethisconcept,weemphasizesomethingsthatBIMdefinitelyisnt.Itsnotasoftwareoracontractingmethod.BIMisnota3Dmodelwithoutattributesattachedtoit,noracombinationof

2Dfiles.Itsnotalinearprocesswithabeginningandanend.Itsacontinuallyevolvingprocessthatstopsonlywhenafacilityis

nolongeralive,thatis,itsdemolished.

BIMitsnotforjustonesownuse,itsnotselfish.Itsforanopenuse.Itcanrangefromanexcelfiletoadetailedmodelofthe

world.Itisnotasoftware.Itisaprocess.(KimonOnuma,Interview2011)

Ithasbeendescribedinmanyways:

An improved planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance process using a standardized machine-readable

informationmodelforeachfacility,neworold,whichcontainsallappropriateinformationcreatedorgatheredaboutthatfacility

inaformatuseablebyallthroughoutitslifecycle.(NIBS2008)(NationalBuildingInformationModelingStandard(NBIMS)CommitteeoftheNationalInstituteofBuildingSciences(NIBS)FacilityInformationCouncil

(FIC))

BIMcanalsobereferredtoasaverb:Itisamodellingtechnologyandassociatedsetofprocessestoproduce,communicateandanalysebuildingmodels.(BIMHandbook/ChuckEastman,PaulTeicholz,RafaelSacks,KathleenListon)

Itisasystemconceivedtocreateasinglebuildingmodelrecognizeduniversallyasarepositoryforallelementsofabuilding,

includingitspropertiesandinterrelationships.(DesignBuiltProjectDelivery,ManagingtheBuildingProcessfromtheProposalthroughConstruction/SidneyM.Levy)

Itisanactivityandnotanobject.(BIMHandbook/ChuckEastman,PaulTeicholz,RafaelSacks,KathleenListon)

AbasicpremiseofBIMiscollaborationbydifferentstakeholdersatdifferentphasesofthelifecycleofafacilitytoinsert,extract,

update ormodify information in the BIM to support and reflect the roles of that stakeholder. The BIM is a shared digital

representationfoundedonopenstandardsforinteroperability.(Integratedprojectdelivery_aguide./TheAmericanInstituteofArchitects,TheAmericanInstituteofArchitects,CaliforniaCouncil)

SoBIMisthecombinationofalltheabove.Ithastodowithdataandprocesses.Datarelatedtovirtualdesign,construction

andfacilitiesmanagementandagroupofprocessesthatisapplicabletoallkindofcontractingmethods.Itusesvirtualmodelsthatcarryinformationinorderto share itthrough theentirebuildingindustryandreduceerrors. Itis notthevirtualmodels

themselves.

BIMisaprocessthathelpspeopletomakebetterdecisions.Itneedsyoutocollaborateinordertocooperate.Itsgoalistomake

everythingassimpleaspossible,makeeverythingtransparent.BIMplaceseverythinggeographicallyontheplanetandmakesit

possibleforeveryonetobeawareofeverythingaboutthel ifeofabuildingandbeyond.It isanon-linearprocess,itlinks

everything,everyone,everysoftware. (FinithJernigan,Interview2011)

Suchanopenandcontinuallydevelopingconceptcannotbecategorizedeasily.Itsmoreholisticthanthat.Everydifferent

pointofviewcouldleadtoanothercategorization.ThereisahugedifferencebetweenexaminingBIMasatoolandexaminingit

asaprocessforexample.So,averyschematicandgeneralcategorizationcouldbelikethis:

A/.EnterpriseBIM.Inthiscase,BIMmeansthateverybodyisworkingtogether.B/.LonelyBIM/LittleBIM.InlittleBIMyouredoingBIMinisolation.

C/.BIGBIM.BIGBIMreferstothewholeworld,withdesignasjustafractionofthat.

D/.IPD.IPDforBIMisanotherdesignandconstructionmethod.Itsnotthegoal.(FinithJernigan,Interview2011)

/BuildingInformationModel

ABuildingInformationModelincludesallthecharacteristicsofBIM.Itcanbedescribedas:

A project simulation consisting of the 3D models of the project components with links to all the required information

connectedwiththeprojectsplanning,constructionoroperation,anddecommissioning.Thissectiondescribesthe3Dmodels,the

informationcontainedorattachedtothesemodels,andthenatureofthelinksamongtheindividualmodels,thecomponents,

andtheinformation.(BuildingInformationModeling,PlanningandManagingConstructionProjectswith4DCADandSimulations/WillemKymmell)


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2.2.IPD(INTEGRATEDPROJECTDELIVERY)

Integratedprojectdeliveryisadeliverysystemthataddressesalltheparticipantsofaprojectsdesignandconstruction

process(includingsoftwareandpeople)tooptimizeprojectresults.Inshort,itsadeliverymethodforminimizingtimeandcost

andmaximizing effectiveness. It requires theentire projects lifecycle stakeholders to be collaborative and cross functionalduringthewholedesignprocess, startingasearlyaspossible.Allthosepeopleshareaccessand responsibilityfor everything

relatedtotheproject.

/BIMandIPD

IPDisadeliverymethodandBIMisatoolsupportingIPD.BIMprovidesthedatabaseforallthebuildingsinformation

storage(relatedtodesign,construction,managementlogistics,etc.)andtheplatformforthecollaborationofallparticipants.

BIMsupportsIPDnotonlythroughthebuildingsconstructionphase,butalsoafterwards,inthebuildingsfacilitymanagement

(spaceplanning,furnishing,monitoring,energyperformance,maintenance,etc.).

ThepartofBIMcalledfacilitymanagementhelpsyoutopreventdatarot,meaningthatbykeepingthedataup-to-

dateyouwonthavetogobackandcollectitwhenneeded.

WiththeincreasinguseofIPDandtheslowchangeintheprofessionals relationshipbyhavingarchitects,buildersand

ownerscollaborating,weareshiftingconservativelyintoBIM.ButIPDcanthappenwithoutBIM,andBIMshouldhappenat

everylevelofthearchitecturalprocess.(KimonOnuma,Interview2011)

BIM IPD

processenabledbysoftware methodofdelivery

workingwithinformation ItcanenableBIGBIM,butitisntBIGBIM

inthebuiltenvironment smallmethodologytodoBIM

(FinithJernigan,Interview2011)

2.3.INTEROPERABILITY

/Theconcept

Inthearchitecturalprocedureitisveryimportanttomake correctdecisionsatanearlystage,forexampleyoucanstart

doingenergyanalysisevenwithsimpleblocksthatrepresentthefuturebuildingorwithasimpleexcelfileofthespaces.Thenext

stepthenistobeabletodeliverthedatainawaythatownerscanunderstandinordertobesurethattheresultsaregoingtobe

consistentwiththeirdesires,asthephenomenonofadifferenceof50%betweenthefinalprojectandthefirstgoalisnotrare.(KimonOnuma,Interview2011)

InteroperabilityisaconceptthatBIMisbasedupon.Itreferstopeople,products,systemsorsoftwareanditwasinitially

definedforITsystemsorservicesandallowsforinformationtobeexchanged.Amoregenericdefinitionwouldbethefollowing:

Apropertyofaproductorsystem,whoseinterfacesarecompletelyunderstood,toworkwithotherproductsorsystems,presentorfuture,withoutanyrestrictedaccessorimplementation.

Andwithrespecttosoftware,theterminteroperabilityisusedto:

Describethecapabilityofdifferentprogramstoexchangedataviaacommonsetofexchangeformats,toreadandwritethesamefileformats,andtousethesameprotocols.

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interoperability)

Tobeinteroperablemeansthat:

One should actively be engaged in the on-going process of ensuring that the systems, procedures and culture of an

organizationaremanagedinawaytomaximiseopportunitiesforexchangeandre-useofinformation,internallyorexternally.

Baseduponthesedefinitions,itshouldbe clearthat thereis farmoretoensuringinteroperabilitythanusingcompatible

softwareandhardware,althoughthatitisofcourseimportant.Rather,assuranceofeffectiveinteroperabilitywillrequireoften

radicalchangestothewaysinwhichorganisationsworkand,especially,intheirattitudestoinformation.

(http://www.ariadne.ac.uk/issue24/interoperability/)


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/Untiltoday

Formanyyearsnow,accesstoabuildingsinformationhasbeenrestrictedtoonlyafewandhasnotbeenopenly

availabletoallthosewhomightneedit.Thefilescontainingthisdataaresavedinformatsthatcanbeopenedonlybycertain

software,meaningthattheyneedatranslationprocessinordertobecomevisibleandusable.Thishastheresultoftimeand

productivityloss,whichcouldbeavoidediftheconceptofopennessandinteroperabilityindata-exchangewasfollowed.During

thecommonarchitectureprocedure,firstlythebuildingismade,thenitisdeliveredtotheownerinawaythatallthe

informationaboutitgetslost,whichinevitablydiminishesitsvalue.Thislinearprocesshastobechangedanddecision-making

andconstructionneedtobealoopthatprovokescommunicationintheearlyplanningwithmanydifferentpeopleandmistakes

tobemadeandcorrectedinthatphaseinordernottoreachtheconstructionsite.Allthesearetheobligationsofthearchitect,

aswecantexpecttheclienttobeawareofarchitectureortechnology,letaloneBIM.(KimonOnuma,Interview2011)

/Themethodofachievement

Someonecanachieveinteroperabilitybetweenvarioussoftwareapplicationsinseveralways.Themostimportantthingis

toproducefilesinformatsreadableandeditablebymorethanoneapplication.

Thiscanhappeniftheyuseasuiteofsoftwareapplicationsfromacertainvendor,wheretheapplicationscandirectlyreadthe

fileformatoftheBIMsoftwareapplication.OnecanalsousesoftwarethatincorporatesanApplicationProgrammingInterface

(API) that can enable them to link interfaces from different providers, or alternatively use a software that supports data

exchangebyreadingseveralfileformatsandiswidelyacceptedbytheindustry.

ThechoiceoftheappropriateproceduredependsonwhichstepBIMisgoingtobeincorporatedat,thesoftwarethatisto

beused,thecompatibilityofthedifferentsoftwareandtheupdatingscheduleofeverycollaborator.

2.4.COLLABORATION

Nowadays,expertsfrommanydisciplinesshouldbebroughttogetherandworkas ateaminorder toproducethehuge

amount of information needed. Architects, designers, constructors, civil and technical engineers, fabricators, planners and

facilitiespersonnelshouldcooperateinordertoachieveasuccessfulworkflowanddesignproduct.Everyoneofthemprovides

his/herexpertiseintheworkflow.Allthesepeoplehavetobecoordinatedandagreeuponeverymatterthatwillarise.Thismeanscollaboration.

A BIM design approach can make this collaboration happen, as it enables the management of a huge amount of

informationatthesametimebydifferentpersonsandfromdifferentgeographicalpointswithoutanyfalsecalculationsordata

lossoccurring.

2.5.THETIMELINEOFBIM 2

1970s

FirstintroductionoftheconceptnowcalledBIMandthepossibilitiesthatitcouldbring,insideuniversities,atheoreticalbaseas

futureideas.

1988

AppearanceofGraphisoftandHungry,toolsabletodovirtualdesign&Construction.

1990s

Somesmallfirmsgetmoreinvolved.Thelargeonesresistbecausetheydontconsideritnecessary.

VirtualDesign&Construction.IntroductionofprocesseswhicharedoinglifecycleBIM-suchas4siteSystems-,andcreationof

thefirstlifecyclemodels.

Data-basedCADsystemspermittheelectronicstorageofbuildingcomponents,suchasdoorsandwindows,concurrentlywith

thedesign.

2ThistimelinewasformedusinginformationfrombooksandmanuscriptsreferringtoBIMandfrominformationprovidedbythe

twointerviewswithKimonOnumaandFinithJernigan.


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2000

FirstbidirectionalComputerizedMaintenanceManagementSystem(CMMS)model(facilitymanagementmodels)isintroduced.

Firstvirtualorganizations:SHiP(StrategicHi-performanceIntegratedPlanninggroup),thatactuallymovedthetechnologytothe

U.S.federalgovernment(GSI,Coastguard)withKimonOnuma,FinithJerniganandDianeDavisasitsfounders,andwithTriglyph

andEuropeaninitiativesgettinginvolvedtoo.

2002

FirstreferencetothenameBIMbyJerryLaiserininhisarticleComparingApplesandOranges:

Iamconvincedthatthebuildingindustrycannotmoveforwardwithanyofthenewtoolsunlessanduntilweagreeonatermto

replace"CAD."IamequallyconvincedthatthebesttermforthispurposeisBuildingInformationModeling.

ThetermBuildingInformationModeling,hadalreadybeenusedbyAutodesk,butonlyinordertointroduceandpresentanew

seriesofproductsthattheyhadputonthemarket.

Generally, until that time, therewere a lot of termsbeingused inorder todefine whatwenow call Building Information

Modeling (BIM). Terms like single building model, virtual building model as Graphisoft called it, integrated project

modelingasBentleySystemscalleditprojectlifecyclemanagement.

In thisarticle, Jerry Laiserinexplains why thenameBuilding InformationModeling is adequate, according to hispersonal

opinion,tocarrytheconceptofthisnewtechnologyandseparateitfromtheCAD.Hewrites:

I find that I prefer the word "building" over "project" because there are many kinds of projects (such as software

development)thathavenothingtodowithbuildings.At thesametime,theword"building"islooseenoughtohintatdesign,construction and operation. Without delving into the semantics of data versus information versus knowledge, I find that

"information" is clearly suggestive of software that deals withmore than just geometry. Combined, "building information"

implies,tomyear,astrongsenseofwhatthedesign,constructionandoperationofbuildingsisabout.Itavoidstechno-jargon,

yet remains evocative of technical goings-on. "Modelling,"althougha near-jargonword, doesconnote themathematical or

digitaldescriptionofobjectsorsystemswehaveeconometricmodelsandweathermodelsaswellasphysicalmodelsof3D

objects."Modelling"alsoimpliesaprocessofdescriptionorrepresentationthatprovidesthefoundationforbuildingperformance

simulation(essentially,modellingfuturebehaviour)andforthemanagementofbuildinginformation(informationmodelsserving

astheframeworksinwhichinformationismanaged).

So,"buildinginformationmodelling,"asadescriptionofthenextgenerationofdesignsoftware,seemstometocomecloserto

thewinningcharacteristicsevidencedby"CAD"foritsgenerationoftoolsspecificenoughtoevokereasonablyclear,common

meanings,yetbroadenoughtoencompassadiversityofcommercialandtechnologicalapproaches.Theonlyflyintheointment

isthatAutodeskhasbeenusingthetermforthelastfewmonthstodescribetheirbuildingindustrystrategy.[..]Now,vendorscancompeteanduserscanjudgethembasednoton"howmanywayswedifferfromCAD,"buton"howwellweexecuteandlive

uptothepromiseofBIM."

2004

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) publishes a report stating that poor interoperability and data

management cost the construction industryapproximately $15.8 billiona year, or approximately 3-4% of the total industry

revenue. Since this report,many have labelledBuildingInformationModeling (BIM),an emergingtechnological information

managementprocessandproduct,astheanswertothisproblem.(EVALUATINGTHEIMPACTOFBUILDINGINFORMATIONMODELING(BIM)ONCONSTRUCTION)

Asaresult,ownersdemandthechangeandaskforBIMtoberequiredinconductingaproject.

AIAembracesBIMandIPD.

2005

U.S.CoastguardsShortFacilityCapitalAssetManagementRoadmap,thefirstimplementationofcommercialBIMiscreated.

2007

Researchandreportsrevealamajorproductivitydecline,claimingthatitcanbeavoidedthroughBIMtechnology:Onaverage,

3.1%ofeveryprojectcanbeattributedtothecostsoflackofsoftwareinteroperability.(McGrawHillSmartMarketReportonInteroperability,2007)

ThereleaseoftheNationalBIMStandard(NBIMS),whichstatesthataBIM(=asingleBuildingInformationModel)isaadigital

representation of physical and functional characteristics of a facility and, furthermore, that a BIM represents a shared

knowledgeresource,orprocessforsharinginformationaboutafacility,formingareliablebasisfordecisionsduringafacilitys

lifecyclefrominceptiononward.

(NBIMS2007)


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2008

ThefirstBIMstormtakesplaceinLosAngeles.

2009

TheDepartmentofAdministration,DivisionofStateFacilitiesofWisconsinpublishestheimplementationofthefirstsegmentof

DSFBIMGuidelinesandStandards.Theresultsandoutcomeslistedinthisreportareexpectedtoachievesubstantiallyuniform

usageasastandardforBIMapplications.(Building Information Modeling. A report on the current state of BIM technologies and recommendations for implementatio/ Bill Napier Architect and

ProfessionalEngineerBIMSpecialist,DivisionofStateFacilities)

AsisshowninthetimelineofBuildingInformationmodellingabove,itwasalreadypresentintheacademicworldinthe

70sbutjustasafutureidea.Ittookitalmosttwentyyearstobeacknowledgedasanecessaryprocessandanimportant

factorinthedevelopmentoftheconstructionindustry.TheearlyadoptersstartedusingBIMlongbeforeitbecameknownand

withouttheclientsknowledge,becauseclientsdidntcareaboutit.Aseriesofstudiesontheproductivityoftheconstruction

industryhadtobeconducted,alotoforganizations(Openstandardsorganizations)thatpromotedthisideahadtobefounded

inorderforittobecomeacceptedandbringanactualimpacttotherealityofconstruction.SHiPandIAIwerethosewhoactually

convincedgovernmentagenciessuchasSenateProperties,U.S.Coastguard,GSA,Smithsonian,GISandCorpsofEngineers,of

theimportanceofBIMandtheneedsithascometocover.Onceachieved,theseagenciesthatactuallyhadthepowermoved

BIMintoactionandmadeitthepaththatarchitectureiswillingtofollow.

/TheLeadershipofBIM

ManypeoplehavebeeninvolveduntilnowintheformationoftheideaofBIM.Someofthefirst,though,are:

_ChuckEastman(GeorgiaTech), acknowledgedasthegrandfatherofBIM._JerryLaiserin,responsiblefornamingBIM_SHiPgrouptogetherwith EuropeaninitiativesfortheiractivityinEurope_DavidHammondfromtheU.S.Coastguard, theinternationalleaderinappliedBIMconcepts_RichardSee,whoinfluencedMicrosoftinorderforMicrosoftProductISCcomplianttobeproduced_EurostepactiveinFinlandandSweden_ThefoundersofGraphisoft_HeikkiKulusjarviwithSolibri(modelchecker)_SenatProperties (Finland)_International Alliance for interoperability (IAI), which later became buildingSMART in Europe and buildingSMARTAllianceintheU.S.introducingtheconceptofinteroperabilityandindustryfoundationclasses

_Center for Integrated Facility Engineering (CIFE) from Stanford University, which did the initial testing of theproductivityofBIMbydoingresearchoverthe4

thdimension,timeandschedulingattachedtomodels

_LawrenceBerkleyNationalLab,workingonthedetailsoccurringbehindthescene_U.S.CorpsofEngineers ,aforcerelatedtofacilitymanagement


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2.6.EXISTINGPROBLEMS&DEMANDS

Informationisbecomingmoreandmoreimportantnowadays.Informationregardingeverythingthatsurroundsusisthe

factorthatkeepsusup-to-dateandhelpsusremaininthefrontlineoftheprocessofchange.Itsunderstoodthatitsamountis

becomingbiggerandbiggerandmorecomplex.Sofindinganon-traditionalwaytomanageandhandleitisfundamental.

ThewayBIMmanagesinformationaimstoimproveunderstanding.WithCADandthetraditionalmethods,informationwas

missedandchangedwhenpassingfromone stepto anotherduringtheprocessofdesignandconstruction.Weareforcedto

makedecisionstakingintoaccountalimitedamountofinformationeverytimeandnotattherightmoment.BIMprovidesyou

theopportunitytobeabletodecidewhenitsneededandprovidesallthefundamentalinformationyoushouldconsiderin

ordertomaketheoptimaldecision.

Alotofstudiesthathavebeenconductedinthepastfewyearshaveshownthattheconstructionindustrysuffersfrom

inefficiency in informationmanagement as it often operates in isolationand does not effectively communicate with other

internalandexternalpartnersofthedesignandconstructionprocess.

Thebig differences from thetraditional designand constructionprocess becomeobviousfrom itsdescription in the

ReportonIntegratedPractice,Technology,Process,Improvements,andCulturechange :

1.Designerimaginesanideain3Dtosolveaclientsproblem.2.Designerdeconstructs3Dideasto2Drepresentations.3.Designerpasses2Drepresentationstotheconstructionteam.4.Constructionteamgetsfabricatorstoredrawparts,againin2D.5.Constructionteamattemptstoreassemblethe2Dinformationinto3Dobjects.6.Designerisoftenamazedbytheoutcome!

(ReportonIntegratedPractice,Technology,Process,Improvements,andCultureChange/JimBedrick,TonyRinella)

/Theeffectoftheeconomiccollapseinconstruction

Someyearsago,whentherewasnoquestionaboutoureconomy,youwerefreetomakebaddecisionsbecausetherewas

nopressureforchange.Butthedifficultcurrenteconomicsituationcanbeperceivedasanopportunityforthosethatarewilling

tochangeinthesearchformoreeconomicsolutions.(KimonOnuma,Interview2011)

Thecurrenteconomic collapsecantleavethe construction industryundamaged.Research hasshownahugewasteofmoney,almost$500millionperyear(dataforAmerica)inexpenditureduringconstruction.Economic,environmentalandsocial

factors demand a change in the building design and construction industry. BIM comes to provide a solution and increase

productivity.

2.7.DIFFERENCESBETWEENCADANDBIM

/CADfilescharacteristics

Computer-aideddrafting(CAD)wasoriginallyintroducedinthearchitecturalprocessinthelate1980s.Itcametoreplace

thehand-drawinganddraftingwithadigitalmeansofproducingmoreeasilyandefficientlyanarchitecturaldrawing.Itspurpose

wastoreducethetimewastedintheproductionofthe2Ddrawings,soitcontinuedtorelyon2Drepresentationsof3Dobjects.

This,asanideabyitselfeliminateselementsandinformationofthebuildingandalsotheopportunitytointerrelatethedrawings

directlyandmanagethematthesametime.Thishappensbecauseyoumaybeabletointer-linktheminonefilebuttheystill

remain separate elements and therefore not editable at the same time. These facts make the user responsible for the

correspondenceofthedrawings,whichdemandsextraworkandtime.

CAD filescontainsimpledataconsistingof lines,arcs,curvesand sometimessurfacesandsolids(in the3D attributes).

These elementsare2Dgraphical representationsofbuildingcomponentsand notbuilding elements. Theyareattachedto a

plottingstylesothateachofthemcarriesinformationabouttheirthicknessandcolourwhenprinted.Noneoftheseelements

contains informationregarding thebuildingsphysical elementsthemselvessuchas requirementsof apillarorawall or the

relationshipbetweenthem.Theonlyinterrelationtheseelementshaveistheirpositioninsidethesoftwaresenvironment.

ComputerAidedDesign,whenitstartedbeingused,gavetheengineersachancetointroduceproductivityintotheirwork,

toproducedrawingsthatcouldbecorrectedandprintedeasily.CADsystems,thatthroughtimehavebecomemoreandmore

affordableandcompatiblewithcomputers,werearevolutionintheworldofarchitecturebecausetheyintroducedgeometry

andaccuracyintothedesignprocess.However,themostimportantthingtheylackedwastheinformation,thepresenceoftimeandthecapacitytoprovidethe


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architectwiththe ability tomakedecisions. This iswhere BIM comesin. The further developmentof 3Ddrafting and CAD

systemsallowedbuildingcomponentstobedisplayedinmultipleviewsandbyaddingadegreeofintelligence,anychangein

oneelement inthebuildingsdesignimmediatelyaffectedallotherrelatedelements.Thisprocesswasreferredto asobject-

orientedcomputer-assisteddesign(OOCAD).BIMcanbeviewedasthelatestiterationofOOCADsoftware.

/TheadvantagesofBIMoverthe2Dand3Ddesignapproaches

1.Theplans,elevations,wallsections,andschedulesarealwaysconsistentifoneischanged,allrelatedworkchanges.2.Thecoordinationacrossdifferentdisciplineseliminatestheproblemspreviouslyassociatedwithensuringthateverythingfitsinitsallottedspacehorizontallyandvertically.

3.Schedulesforfinishes,doors,windows,andhardwareareeasilygeneratedandupdatedaschangesoccurintheplanandelevationdesign.

4.Theabilitytogeneratequantitiesofmaterialsduringdesignfacilitatesprocurementand,particularlyinthedesign-buildmode,constantlytracksdesignandbudget.

5.The data created by BIM continues to have a useful life during commissioning and the continuing operation andmaintenanceofthebuilding.

(DesignBuiltProjectDelivery,ManagingtheBuildingProcessfromtheProposalthroughConstruction/SidneyM.Levy)

/WhatisBIMtryingtoachieve

BIM tools and software work in a very different way from CAD applications. They relate and link the data with the

informationbecausetheydontuselines,arcsandsurfaces,butsimulationsofrealbuildingcomponentswithalltheinformation

relatedtothemattached.Sotheyprovidetheopportunitytomakeaccurateestimationsatanytime,regardingthematerial,the

energy waste, the load bearing capacity and so on. They help to identify problems and find alternative solutions before

proceedingtoconstructionbecausetheycontainactualinformation.

/MisconceptionsaboutBIM&itsRisks

Ofcoursethereare risksintheassimilationofBIM,ashappenswitheverythingnew.Itispossiblethatsomebodydoesnt

understandhowtousethetoolscorrectly,ormisreadstheinformation.He/shecanevenbelievethatthetechnologyisgoingtobetheanswerandthateverythingisgoingtohappenautomaticallywithouttheneedforpeople,butthatsnottrue.(KimonOnuma,Interview2011)

OneofthebiggestrisksBIMcouldhaveisitsimproperuse,ortheso-called selfishBIM.(FinithJernigan,Interview2011)

The term selfish BIM is used to describe the use of BIM for personal advantage, without sharing the produced

information.ButBIMcanbeanythingfromanexcelfiletoadetailed3Dmodel,isnotasoftware,itisaprocess.(KimonOnuma,Interview2011)

WhatisthepointofdoingBIMiftheinformationanddatayougetisnotforcommonuse;iftheyrenotoutthereinthe

cloud?KeepingtheinformationaccessibletoonlyafewleadstoanimproperuseofBIM.

ThemostcommonmisconceptionsaboutBIMare:

1.Approachingitastechnology(itisimportanttounderstandthatitisnotaboutthetechnologybutaboutthepeople)2.Lackofholisticthinking(wrongstructures:thinkingthatBIMcanbedoneinatraditionallybuiltscenario,withoutchanginghowthebusinessoperatesorwithoutcorrectorganization)

3.Projectsasend-goal(itisimportantnottolookforimmediaterewards)4.Thewayofthinking:Whatsinitforme?(searchingforpersonalbenefitsanddestroyingthelargerpicturebynotsharingthedata)

5.Confusingprocesswithproduct(seeingitasaproductandnotasaprocess)6.Supposingthatitis:toocomplex,toofinishedandtoodifficult(thinkingthatithastobecomplexordifficultinordertowork)



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/Thechangeinworkflow

TheworkflowthatBIMimpliesiscompletelydifferentfromtheoneweareusedtofollowingwithCADmethodsofdesign.

Insteadof having severalfiles that represent theproject andits parts,youhave a unique file that includesall the relevant

information. The files that previouslywere producedseparately fromeach other anddidnt have anyintelligentconnection

betweenthemdontexistanymore.Youleavetheinteractionmanagementthatyoupreviouslyhadtodoonyourownamonga

hugegroupofunrelatedfiles,tothecomputerandyoujustworkonasinglefile,accessiblebyanyotherpersonatanytime,

carryinginformationnetworkedbetweenthem.Youarenotdesigninglinesthatrepresentwallsbutwallelementsloadedwith

alltheinformationoftherealwallsthatexistinthebuilding.Younowmodelthebuildinganditssystems.

Everychangeyoumakeintheworkfileisassembledinthisunderlyingdatabaseandattachedtotheelementtowhichit

belongs.Thisfactmakesthewholeprocessofdesignarealtimeprocessasyouhaveup-to-dateinformationduringthewhole

workflowandaninternallyconsistentmodel.

Youleavethecomputertodoalltheprocessesrelatedtocalculationsandfilemanagement,sothatyouhavemoretimeto

makemorecriticaldecisionsoverthedesign.

2.8.BENEFITS/DEVELOPMENTS

Thebenefits ofBIMcanbecategorizedinmany differentways,according to theshort-term,middle-termorlong-termvision,accordingtowhoistakingadvantageofit,architect,owner,constructororbuilder,andthekindofdevelopmentsthat

canbebroughtintothearchitecturalprocessdependingonitsuse.

/Statistics

/BENEFITS:

/Forthearchitects

ThisrealtimeworkflowandinternalinformationavailabilitythatBIMandthereforeIPDprovidesmakesthearchitectable

to offer new services to current customers and standardizewhat we call green and smart infrastructure requirements

throughapplyingthemautomaticallyandatanytime.Inshort,itletsthearchitectbegindesigningfromanadvancedbasisand

notfromzero every time thusreducingrisk.In general, IPDprovokesanddevelopsa long-lifetime relationshipbetween the

architectandthecustomer,whichleadstomoreanddifferenttypesofjobopportunities.

Regardingthearchitects,BIMandIPDwillfreethearchitectstotrulybedesignersagain.Theirbasicrolewillremainthe

same;togatherandprocessinformationtocreateauniquephysicalsolutioninaclearandunderstandablemanner.(IntegratedProjectDelivery,FrequentlyAskedQuestions(2006)/AIACaliforniaCouncil)

Architectshavetobecomeconductors.Theyneedtoopenup.Thearchitectwillnolongerbeseenastheenemy-dictatorialleader.(FinithJernigan,Interview2011)


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/Fortheowners

For the owners, embracing IPD means open information sharing from the first stage of design, therefore increased

collaboration between client and provider, which leads to the elimination ofmisunderstandings and inconsistencies. Being

involvedmoreyoumeanspunctualityandstayingwithinthebudget.

/Fortheconstructors

Fortheconstructors,IPDallowsparticipationinthedesignprocess.Thismeansthattheycanhavetheoverviewofthe

designsdecisionmaking,offeringoptimalsolutionsregardingconstruction,asconstructionvisualizationisavailablebeforethe

actualconstructionstarts.

/Intheconstructionindustry

TheuseofBIMandanintegrateddesignapproach(IPD)helpsmakebetterdecisionsbeforegoingintoconstruction.You

canseeforexamplehowthebuildingwillimpacttheenvironmentandestimatetherelationbetweencomplexityandcost.You

canpredicttheamountofeverymaterialused,theamountofenergythatisneededduringitsuse,scheduletheconstructiontimeandpreventmistakes.Theadvantageofcreatingthebuildingvirtuallybeforeitiscreatedphysicallyisthatitprovidesthe

abilitytomakedecisionsformattersthatwouldotherwiseonlybeconfrontedontheconstructionsiteandwouldhavecostalot

ofmoneyandtimeloss,andoverallitprovidestheabilitytotestvariablesthatwouldleadtotheoptimalsolutionatanytime

theyareneeded.

/Long-term

Abetterexposition than theone ofthe Divisionof State Facilitiesof theDepartmentof Administrationof theStateof

Wisconsin,aboutthelong-termbenefitsofBIM,isdifficulttofind:

So,thelong-termbenefitsfromBIMrevolvearounddatathatcanbegrownovertimetoincludeavirtualdescriptionofa

facilityandallrelevantinformationaboutthefacilityanditssurroundings.Toachievethesebenefitsthedatamustbeconsistent

andrepeatable.Largenumbersofpeopleandsystemsworktogether toproduceandmaintainthisdata. Forthatreason, the

dataandsystemsthatpeopleusemustbeinteroperable.(Building Information Modeling, A report on the current state of BIM technologies and recommendations for implementation/ The State of Wisconsin,

DepartmentofAdministration,DivisionofStateFacilities)

Generally,BIMandIPDprovidetheabilitytoexaminehowthebuildingparticipatesinanynetworkrelatedtoitandhowit

will reactduring itsuse toanydynamic changeandhow itsconditionwill bein thefuture. Itallowsyou tohave a lifecycle

relationshipwithit,accumulatinganyinformationneededatanytime.

/DEVELOPMENTS:

/Design

TheessentialdifferencethatBIMhasbroughttothedesignprocessisthatthemodelisthecertainpartofitsdevelopment.Allprojectteamscommunicatethroughthemodel.Thenewattributesthatthesoftwareprovidesenableyoutoreflectallthe

ideasyouhaveovertheprojectonthemodel.Atthisphase,themodelmaybeveryschematicbutstillquiteusableforthe

adoptionofpossibleconstructivesolutionsandotherpossibilitiesthatcanhelptomaketherightdesigndecisions.

/Construction

Inthefieldofconstruction,theuseofBIMasa toolcanleadto significantchangesinthewayweknowitbyintroducing

virtual construction before physical construction, constructionsequenceplanning (4D), construction sub trade coordination,

quantityandcosttrackingandintegratedassemblyoflargecomponentsoffsite.

AlsotheComputerIntegratedEnvironments(CIE)solutionsbecomemoreandmorenecessary,astheproductsdesigned

aregettingmorecomplexanddemanding.Evenbigenterprisesdonthaveallthenecessarystafftodesignandproduceallthe

partsofeachproduct,astheexpertiseneededisverydemanding.Thismeansthatinordertodesignoneproductyoumayhavetocombinemanysoftwareapplicationsfromdifferentplatformsandbeableto carryout dataexchange.All theinformation


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relatedtothisproducthastobereadablebyallthepartiesinvolvedinordertobemanagedandtoreachthedesiredoutcome.

Intheconstructionsindustriesthebuildingbecomestheproduct,sointeroperabilitymechanismsbetweenallthedifferent

platformsandapplicationsarefundamental,afactthatmakesComputerIntegratedEnvironmentsoneofthebestsolutions.

/Relationshipsbetweenprofessionals

The change of the professionals relationships that BIMwill bring to the building industry are inevitable, because the

workingmodelthatisimpliedisthatofacollaborativeteam,consistingofallthestakeholders.Everystakeholderparticipatesin

theprojectcreationthroughoutthewholetimelineoftheworkflow,afactthatinvolvesthearchitectwiththeotherengineering

teamsmorethanitdidpreviously.

The services that each involved team will provide will not be so separated any more, as the workflowwill bemore

collaborativewithalltheteamsworkingtogetheratthesametime,providingsolutionsattherightmoment.

Thearchitect,forexample,nowbecomespartoftheteam.Heisnotanymoretheuntouchable,gifteddesigner.Hissuccess

isunifiedwiththeprojectsandtheteamssuccess.

Theproject teams arenotanymore just cooperating,but collaborating. Thearchitectratherthanthe enemydictatorial

leaderbecomesa conductorandopensup.Hecollaboratesto createa successfulproject.He searchesformistakesto correct

beforeconstruction.(FinithJernigan,Interview2011)

/BuildingsLifecycle

BIMisacradle-to-cradleprocess.Itcanbeusedinanyphaseofanythinginthebuiltenvironment

ThebuildingslifecycleandBIM:

IDEAREALESTATEBUILDINGSLIFEDEMOLITIONREBUILING

BIM(FinithJernigan,Interview2011)

Thebuildingslifecyclereferstotheviewofabuildingthroughoutitswholelife,fromthedesignphaseuptoitsdemolition,

includingitsoperationalphase.

Lifecycletoolsaretoolsthatkeepprovidingyouwithinformationrelatedto thebuildingduringitswholelife.Thismeansthat

theyrenotjustdesigntools,buttheycanloaddataextractedandrelatedtoallthebuildingslifestatesandphases.(FinithJernigan,Interview2011)

Thelifecyclethinkingleadstoamoreholisticapproachtothebuilding,whereeverydecisionandactionisconsideredasa

partofawholethatimpactsonallitscomponentsandleadstosustainability.Constructionistiedupwithdesign;designistied

upwiththebuildingenvironmentanduser.

Having available data regarding structural frame andMEPsystems (Mechanical, Electrical andPlumbing) of anexisting

building,itenableseasymaintenancethroughoutitslifecycle.Thiskindofavailableinformationcanalsobeusedforthedesign

ofnewbuildings,astheyprovidefeedbackfromthefunctionofexistingbuildings.BIMreferstodatathatisconstantlyalivethroughoutthelifeofabuilding.Itmeansthatsomeonecantakeinformationat

anygiventimeandthisinformationwillbevaluable.Thedataisnottobesaved,asonceitis,so-calleddatarotoccurs.

Datarothappenswhenyousavethedatainoneformat.Thenthebuildingmodellosesitslife,itbecomesstatic.Afterthat,

thedatayouhaveinyourhandsisnoteditable,itcannotbeusedimmediatelyforfeedback,andsoitsnolongeruseful.(KimonOnuma,Interview2011)


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3./BIMTODAY

/GeneralOverview

Nowadays, the trend in architecture is toexploremore and more complex geometries that are extremely difficult to

conceive,letalonedesignandconstruct,bythehumanmindwithoutanyadditionalhelp.Evenawholeteamofprofessionalscantpredictallthepossibleneedsofaverycomplexbuilding,andthatiswhereBIMprovestobeaveryusefultool,asitcan

keeptrackofeverylittledetail,categorizethemasrequired,andmanagethemaccordingtotheintroducedrules.Thisway,it

relievesyoufromhavingtopassallthechangestoeverysingleformatofthedrawingsmanually.Itcanbedoneautomaticallyin

the3Dmodel.

Inthislandscape,complexityisstillveryhigh,buttheproductionofdrawingsisnowtheby-productofbuildingavirtual3D

modelcomposedofconstructiveelements.Theseelementsareloadedwithdatathatdescribenotonlygeometry,butalsocost,

manufacturer, number, and just about any othermeta-data you can imagine.With an integrated parametric 3Dmodel, its

possibletodetectspatialclashesbetweenthemultitudesofsystemsin thebuilding.Youcanknowwithconfidencewhetherduct

workwillinterferewiththestructuralsteellongbeforeconstructionstarts.(MasteringRevitArchitecture2008/TatjanaDzambazove,GregDemchak,EddyKrygiel)

/TheuseofTechnology

TheuseoftechnologyisanintegralpartoftheBIMconcept,anddependingonthewayitisusedandthesoftwarethat

takespartintheprocess,itcancontributetoimprovingcertaintyineveryaspectofthearchitecturalprocess.

Everythingdependson thedifferent types of technologiesand techniques that alreadyexist,whicharebeing improved

everyday.AccordingtoChuckEastmaninhis BIMHandbook,thesetechnologiesare:

SchematicDesignTechnologies

Pre-designBIMapplicationsthatcanbeusefulfortheprojectplantationandorientation(OnumaPlanningSystems,Trelligence)

andtoolslikeRhino,Form-Z,SketchUp,Maxonthathelpyoueasilyproduce2D,3Dand4Dvisualizationsofthedesign

Checkingsoftware

Thekindofsoftwarethatenablesyoutocheckandanalysethecomplianceofthebuildingmodel.Thesekindsofapplicationsare

SolibriandNavisworks.

Analysis/SimulationsoftwareAnalysis/simulationsoftwarecontainstoolssuchasEcotectsandGraphisoftthatenablesyoutocheckthesustainabilityofthe

building(integratedenergy,daylightinganalysis,bioclimaticelements,etc.).

BIMAuthoring

Thepointwhereallthebuildingsmodelsarecombinedforcompatibilitychecks,coordinationanddocumentproduction.This

processtakesplaceperiodicallyduringthedesign.

ExistingFacilityAssessmentandDocumentation

Thedocumentationthatcontainshighqualitydocumentsrelatedtobidandconstruction.TheyaccruefromBIMcheckingtools

suchasSolibri,AutodeskNavisworks,DigitalProject,OnumaplanningsystemsandAECinfosystems.

ProgrammingandPlanningTechnologies

These technologiesprovidebid andconstructiondocumentationthatcomes fromelementsaccurately designedand related,

namely,softwarewithitsowndatabaseofelementlibraries.Tools:Graphisoft,BentleySystems,AutodeskRevit

Quantitytake-offsoftware

Spreadsheetsextractedfromcertainsoftwarenamingthequantityofeachelementusedinthebuilding.

DesignDevelopmentTechnologies

(BIM authoring for architectural and structural, BIM authoring for building systems (MEP), HVACmodelling, Plumbing and

Electrical,IFCasadatatransfermethod,CivilBIMAuthoring,MEPsoftwareapplications,3Dfiles)

ConstructionDocumentTechnologies

Two categories: Construction drawing generation and specifications technology. The first one relates to the automatic

productionof drawingsandschedulesof abuildingoutofasinglemodelwithaccuracy,whilespecificationtechnologyisthe

conversionofsimplewordprocessingmasterfilesintosophisticateddatabasedrivensystems.

OptimizingtheCapitalFacilityPlanningprocess

Thisprocesshastodowiththecostcontrolfromthefirststepsoftheproject.OneofthetoolsisBeckTechnology.

Interoperabilitywiththeuseoftheexistingexchangeformats

Interoperabilitybetweensoftwarecanbeachievedinthreeways:ThroughproprietaryfileexchangeformatssuchasDXFand

DWG, proprietarydirectlinks (API),open standardformats (file formatsreadable byall theBIM applications)likeExtensible

MarkupLanguage,XML.


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/ExistingBIMSoftware

SincetheconceptofBIMwasintroducedintothearchitecturalprocess,a lotofdifferentsoftwarehasbeendesignedby

differentcompaniesinordertocovereverynecessityofabuilding,fromthedesignphaseallthewaythroughtheconstruction

andmaintenance.Currentlysomeofthemaremorepopularamongprofessionals,likeRevitArchitecture,ArchiCADorOnuma

PlanningSystem.

Eventhougheverysoftwarehasdifferencesfromtheothers,theyhavesomecommoncharacteristicsinordertobeableto

doBIM.Intheirbasis,thereisacentraldatabaseandeveryelementofthemodeliscoordinatedbyitandattachedtoit.Agroup

ofinformationisloadedtoeveryelement,andthereforesavedinthedatabase.Thiscanproveusefulwhen,forexample,in

RevitArchitecture,everychangetheusermakesinonedocumentisreflectedautomaticallyinallthedocumentsthatcontain

thiselementorarerelatedtoit.Thisdatabasealsocontainslibrarieswithelementsreadytobeusedin thedesignand,most

importantly,itallowsuserstoworkontheprojectatthesametimefromdifferentaccesspointsthroughtheInternet.

Usually,theBIMsoftwarefordesignoperatesasaparametricmodellertooinordertofacilitatethearchitecturalprocess

bynothavingtoswitchapplicationsallthetime,whichcomplicatestheprocessevenwhentheapplicationssupportfileformats

createdbyadifferentplatformssuchasDWG,DXFandIFCformats.

SoftwaresupportingBIM:

(KimonOnuma,Interview2011)


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/ProgramsEffectiveness

DespitetheadvantagesordisadvantagesofeveryBIMtool,thereisnonethatcanbeconsideredmoreappropriatethanthe

others,neithercananyofthemdoBIMcorrectlyand effectively ifusedalone.Theimportantmatter istobeableto combine

manytoolsinordertohavethebestresultineachpartoftheprocess.

ThereisnosingleBIMtool.Dontgetstuckinoneprogram,justbeawareofwhatsoutthere.(KimonOnuma,Interview2011)

Alltheinformationaboutabuildingcanbeloadedononeprogram,butthenthemodelgetssoheavythatitisdifficultto

gettotheinformation.

WecouldsaythattheeasiestwaytodoBIMistofindorcreateasingletoolorplatformthatcoulddoeverythingandlink

everything andeveryone.However, thiswould lead toa very complexfile,or a very complextool that onlya small group of

peoplewouldbeabletouse.AndBIMisnotaprocessrelatedtoafew.Itsaprocessrelatedtoeveryone.(FinithJernigan,Interview2011)

/Training

The most important and difficult fact about BIM training is not learn to use the tools that do BIM, but to learn and

understandthenewstateofmindthatitcametoestablish,asitiscompletelydifferentfromeverythingwhichhasexisteduntil

now.


AccordingtoFinithJernigan: thehugestepinordertobeabletodoBIMistounderstanditsbasicconcepts.WhatBIM

trainsyoutodo,isbasicallytobeabletoknow,atanygivenpoint,whichchoiceisappropriatebyanalyzingandcriticizingits

faultsandbenefits.

ItiscompletelywrongtostartusingBIMjusttohavesomeshort-termbenefitsinyourwork,becauseBIMwronglyused

willbeineffectiveandeventuallyawasteoftime,asreferredtoabove.Whatmattersistoreallybeawareofthedefectsexisting

inthetraditionalwayofworkinginthefieldofconstruction,andfurthermore,tobewillingtochangetoadifferentdirectionin

ordertosavetime,laborandmoneyandmakeyourworkmoreefficientandaccurate.

ThebiggestchallengeofBIMisnotthetraining.Thetrainingtimeneededdependsonthetraininglevelrequired.Butthepointis

tohavethewillingnesstochange, nottobeabletomanageperfectlyjustonetool,eventhoughyoucanachievetheintegration

withthistool,thefuturerestsupontheuseofmany.(KimonOnuma,Interview2011)

Ofcoursesoftwareabilityisrequiredbutitcanalsobeminimized,asyoureabletochoosethemostsuitableandsimplest

softwareforyou.Thesoftwaretrainingperiodiscalledagreyperiod.(FinithJernigan,Interview2011)

Asexpected,toolssodifferentfromeverythingthatalreadyexists,demandacompletelydifferentrangeofcapabilitiesin

orderto beusedproperly.Andasthey are bynatureso demanding oftheiruser,somebodymust always beaware ofthe

potentialsoftheprograms,andalsobeabletochoosethepartsneededaccordingtothedesiredresult.Ifnot,itiseasytobe

overwhelmedbythemandloosearchitecturalqualityandthepersonalwayofdesigning.

ApersonwhoiscompetentinoperatingBIM,apartfrombeingabletomanipulatedifferentkindsofsoftwaretohisorher

ownbenefit, should beable tooverview atanypoint theprojects state andneeds. This, apart from technical knowledge,

demandscriticalthinking.BIMactuallyhelpsinitsdevelopmentbecauseitgivesimportancetoelementsapartfromformand

aesthetics.Everystepofthedesignprocessisanalysedregardingitsfunction,ifitspracticableornot,ifitsthemostbeneficial

etc.Thisleadstoadifferentapproachtowardsarchitecturewithspacebeingthemaincharacteristic.

3.1.CONCEPTS&SYSTEMS

/GIS

AnessentialruleofBIM,whichisincorporatedineveryBIMtool,istoalwaysbeawareofthepositionofthebuildingthat

youaredesigninginordertocreateamoresustainabledesign.

Veryimportantthoughiseverysinglethingtohavelatitudeandlongitudetobeabletomanagethelocationinorderto

choosetheappropriatematerialsandtheenergycontrolforsustainability.Butapartfromlocation,inBIMyoucanalsoattach

timetoeverythingandmanageitaccordingtotheday-week-yearschedule.(KimonOnuma,Interview2011)

TheBIMmodelcanbeconsideredasavirtualrepresentationoftherealworld,andifnottreatedlikethatitisnothingmore

thananother3Dmodelwithnoadditionaluse.

Everything,evenasinglething,evenachair,haslatitudeandlongitude.(KimonOnuma,Interview2011)


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Thecombinationandinteractionofallthefactorsofabuildingcanleadtomoreefficientenergycontrolbycontrolling

climatefactorslikesunshine,temperaturerangebetweenseasons,windflows,locationcontrol,etctodesigninrespectofthe

surroundingbuiltsituation-andselectionoftheappropriatematerialstousematerialsthatcanbefoundinthearea,andthe

onesthatlastlongerandaremoreeffectivefortheconstruction. The best solution that exists nowadays and enables you control all these factors, is GIS technology (Geographical

InformationSystems).

GISare digitalenvironmentsystems that relatedatawith location. Itconsists ofalltypesof data that have todowithgeographicalreferences.Themaincharacteristicofa GISsystem isthatituses spatialdatafromdifferentpointsand reaches

conclusionsthroughthecombinationofthemtogetherwithalocationreferencesystem(longitude,latitude,elevation).Itcan

alsousedifferenttypesofinformation(notjustthoseinmapforms)toreachlocationcentredconclusions.

ThroughtheGISsystems,BIMcanbeinvolvedingeospatialapplications,forinstanceGoogleEarth.

/Real-timeBIM

GoingevenfurtherwiththeabilityofdataexchangethatisofferedbytheconceptofBIM,theNetcanalsobeaveryuseful

toolinthehandsofconstructionprofessionals.Itisable,notonlytofreeprofessionalsoftheircompulsoryphysicalpresenceat

theofficeandletthemworkfromanypointintheworld,butalsotoallowthemtosavevaluabletimebygivingthepossibilityof

sharinginformationholistically.

TheconceptofBIMprovokesustoconverttheideaofstaticinformationtothatofdynamic,whichconsistsofstructured

dataandleadsustotheso-calledreal-timeBIM.

The difference between static and dynamic information is fundamental. Static information is information related to a

certainmoment.Onceitscompleteditdoesnthavethepossibilityofchange.Dynamicinformationrepresentsthestateofa

project/buildingwith relationships to itspast and future states. It provides thepossibilityof frequent access to continually

updateddata,fromdifferentaccesspoints.

Structured data is the data that is gathered and coordinated directly from the computer and doesnt need human

intervention.Conclusionsandresultscanbegatheredautomaticallywithoutprocessing.

Thecombinationofthestructureddataandthedynamicinformationgivesyouthereal-timeBIM,whichisactuallya

processthatcomesfromintelligentdatamanipulation.

IntheBIMprocesseverypiecemustbesimpleenoughtoconnecttothenext.Thewaytoachievethatisbysubscribingone

programsdatatoanotherinsteadofimportingit.

(KimonOnuma,Interview2011)RealtimeBIMisactuallyBIMinthecloud(seebelow).Themodelissavedinthemainserveranditseditablefromseveral

locationsthroughweb-applicationsandthereforebyanyuser.The factorsthatshouldbe takenintoaccountinorderforitto

remaineffectiveareaccessibilityandsystemperformance.

Whenwetalkaboutitsaccessibility,werefertotheabilityofdirect,concurrentaccesstothemodelbyanyuserthrougha

localnetwork(LAN).Thisaccesscanbeachievedthroughmobilewebapplications.OfflineaccesstotheBIMmodelshouldalso

beconsidered.Theusershouldbeabletoaccessitwhileoffline,butensuretherearenoconflictingeditsamongtheotherteam

membersuponthenextmodelsynchronization.

Theissueofthesystemperformanceisaboutthewayitrespondsasthemodelisbeingdeveloped.Thereshouldbeenough

space,memoryandprocessorsinorderforittobeabletohandletheincreasingsizeoftheproject.Additionally,alltheclient

computers need toworkon justone virtualmachine,whilein the background awholegrid ofcomputersservesthe client

requests.

/BIMintheCLOUD

CloudcomputingisaconceptrelatedtotheNetandcomputernetworksgenerally.Itsneitheraparticulartechnologynor

software.Itsagroupofprocessesthatsharedataandresourcesovercomputernetworks.EverysoftwarethatsupportsBIMis

dynamicallyinthecloud.

Severalcompanieshavepopularizeddifferentapproachesto cloud computing:Datainthecloud,supportedbyAmazon

Cloud Drive andDropbox,Software Virtualization in theCloud, supported by Citrix XenApp,WebApplications in theCloud,

supportedbyGoogleandBusinessLogicintheCloud,supportedbyApple.

Allfourapproachesmentionedabovecontainaserverwhereallthedataissavedandtheuserhandlesthemfromhis/her

computerthroughthenetwork.Theycanalsofunctionwithvirtualapplicationswheretheuserhandlesthemwithoutinstalling

theminhis/herdesktop.Inshort,itmeansdataeditablefromanypoint.

Untilnow,thehigher-levelmodelservershavebeenquiteexpensive,therefore,unaffordableforsmallcompanies.InordertomakeBIMwidelyused,theyneedtobecheaper,moreavailableandtheirapplicationtobepartofeverycaseofdesign.


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Projectphasesandsoftwareofcloudcomputing:

ONUMASYSTEM Revit, VELON,

TEKLA, VICO, Otherprograms

ArchiCAD GUERRYSYSTEM



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/BIMStorm3

Cloud computing is changing the landscape of architecture by running software on the Internet. The power of BIM

combinedwithcloudcomputingrunningontheInternet,enabledBIMStormstobecomeareality.

130teamsaroundtheworldworkingfor24hours,for400buildingsexplainedin2,8millionpapers.ThisisBIMStorm.A

non-stopprocedurewhichneedsconnectionoftoolsandcollaborationofpeopleinordertobesuccessful.

Asanarchitect,ifyoudontcollaborate,youbecomeirrelevanttooquickly.(KimonOnuma,Interview2011)

BIMStormhassimilarprinciplestoreal-timeBIM.Itunitesknowledgewithprocessesandtools,usingBIManddata.Its

maincharacteristicisthatitisbydefaultinsync,meaningthatanyworkoccursinrealtime.Itenablesexpertstoworktogether;

fromanylocationintheworld,toidentifyproblemsandprojectpatterns,tofindsolutions,etc.onthespot.

/BIMXML(BuildingInformationModelExtendedMarkupLanguage)

BIMXMLisanon-linearprocesswhichreliesupontheconceptofinformationattachedtotheobject,whateverthisobject

maybe(fromasingledottoadetailed3Dmodel),anditspurposeistorelatetheobjecttotheworld.Withoutthiscorrelationit

isimpossibletomakegooddecisionsaboutthebuildingbecausethesinglebuildingitselfislessvaluablethattheinformation

aboutit.

Thedataaboutthefacilitiesismorevaluablethanthephysicalfacilityitself.(KimonOnuma,Interview2011)

BIMXMLdescribesbuildingdata(sites,buildings,floors,spaces,andequipmentandtheirattributes)inasimplifiedspatial

buildingmodel(extrudedshapesandspaces)forBIMcollaboration.

TheXMLSchemawasdevelopedasanalternativetofull-scaleIFCmodelstosimplifydataexchangesbetweenvariousAEC

applicationsandtoconnectBuildingInformationModelsthroughWebServices.

ItiscurrentlyusedbytheOnumaSystem(Onuma,Inc.),DDSViewer(DataDesignSystem),vROC,Tokmo,BIMConnect,and

variousPluginsforCADApplications(Revit,SketchUp,ArchiCAD).(http://bimxml.org/)

/OnumaSystem

OnumaSystemisaWebBasedBIMPlanning,ProgrammingandProjectSystem,constructedbyKimonOnuma.Itgivesyou

theabilitytodofacilitymanagement,projectplantationandcheckingaswellasmodelediting-usingitsownlibraries-inmorethatoneBIMprojectandbymorethanonepersonatatime,throughtheCloud.Itdoesntneedinstallationasitsnotadesktop

software.(http://onuma.com/products/OnumaPlanningSystem.php)

TheOnumaSystemisnotonlyaboutelectronictoolsbutalsoworkingwithpaperandpencil,inordertohelpthenatural

wayofarchitectsthinking,togivethemmoretimetospendonthingsyoucantautomate,likedecisionmaking.Thatswhya

buildingisbeingusedasareferenceinordertocapturetheinformationthatisnotworthcreatingeverytime.Itisalsoawayto

communicatewiththeteamasitusesmodelserverssoyoudonthavetouploadmanuallytheinformationyouneedonthe

project,youjustfindwhatyouneedinrealtime.

TheproblemofthearchitectsaboutautomatingthedesignprocessdoesnthaveanythingtodowithOnumaSystem,asthe

onlythingthatisbeingautomatedistheprocessandnottheresult.Thefuturegoalistobeabletoconnectmanysystemsin

ordertomaketheprocessevensimpler.(KimonOnuma,Interview2011)

/4SiteSystems

4SiteSystemsisasystemcreatedbyFinithJernigan.Itisasoftwarethatallowsyoutovalidatetheprojectbyestimatingthe

buildings program, make cost analysis and quick representations during the design process. It also provides you a fast,

parametricwaytoseetheneedsofthefuturebuilding.(FinithJernigan,Interview2011)

3 Someuseful toolsin order todo a BIMstorm are:Archicad,City GML,DDS,EliteCAD,Google Docs,Google Earth, GoTo

Meeting,IFC,Knowledge,MSExcel,MSWord,NavisWorks,Onuma,OnumaBIMXMLConverter,paper,PDA,pencil,Revit,Skype,

Webex,OGCWFS,3Gcellphone.(http://onuma.com/services/BimStorm.php)


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3.2.APPLICATION

Whenwe refer to BIMs application,wemean its implementation with acknowledgedmethods andprocesses directly

relatedtoit.However,asBIMisaconcept,aprocess,awayofthinking,itsrangeofimplementationcanbehuge.BIMmakes

informationthecentreofattention,targetingoptimaldesignresultsandthepossibilityofcontinualchange.Everyprojectthat

followstheseprinciplescanbeconsideredBIM.Thesoftwareusedisirrelevant.

/CaseStudies

Thehugemajorityofbuildingprojectsareonexistingbuildings.Thereforeit isnecessarytoworkwiththebuildingstock

thatwealreadyhave.Althoughinformationprovidedforexistingbuildingsisverylimited,itcanprovebeneficialbecauseitcan

leadtodifferentbuildingsolutions,suchasrenovations,damagepredictions,etc.,thataredefinitelycheaperthanconstruction.(FinithJernigan,Interview2011)

AverylargepartofBIMsapplicationisconnectedtoexistingbuildings.ApartfromfacilitymanagementthatBIMprovides

afterthebuildingsconstruction,wehavecasestudies.

CasestudieshavetodowithcreatingBIMdocumentationforexistingbuildings,mostofthetimenotcreatedwithBIM,in

order to getdataand results regarding thebuildings function, sustainability, efficiency, etc. These resultsmay be used for

possiblefuturealterationsinordertooptimizethebuildingsfunction.(FinithJernigan,Interview2011)

Overtheyearsalotofcasestudieshavebeenconductedtoexaminethefunctionandeffectivenessofanexistingbuilding

HoweverBIMprovidesthepossibilityofamoredetailedandaccurateexaminationinordertoformspecificalterationplanning

with predicted outcomes. Regarding thestructure ofa beneficial case study, themost important issue is toproduceallthe

documents relatedto thesubjectof thestudy inorder tobeable toprocessthemafterwardsandto coordinate thewhole

processinordertoachieveeffectiveness(gettingtheLogisticsright).

/OurFinalProject

Themajorityofownersarenotexactlyawareoftheirpropertybecausetheyhavenodataforthemandeveniftheyhave

theydontupdateit.Andthethingisthatexistingbuildingsnowadaysareafertilesoilforarchitecturebecauseoftheirnumber.(KimonOnuma,Interview2011)

Whatifwecouldpreserveanoldbuilding,avoidingdemolition,andcreateawholenewdesigninsideitsshellthatcan

changedynamicallyinordertocovereverypossibleneedthatcancomeupinthefuture?Thisiswhatwetriedtodoindesigning

ourfinalproject.ToImplementtheprinciplesandinnovationsthatBIMintroducestocreateamultifunctionalandcontinually

changingbuildingsinteriorusingthebuildingstockthatalreadyexists.

Aspartofthisquest,a singleintelligent,modularsmartwallpartitioncontainingall thetechnologies andmechanical

systemsneededforanofficebuildingisdeveloped.Managementisviaabased-on-datasystemgatheringinformationandsaving

itinapreconfigureddatabase,whichisalsoopentotheusersloadingpersonalpreferences.Thisdatacombinedwithaseriesof

rulesandconditions,facilitatespatialscenarios.Theresultsarepersonalizedsolutionsenhancingspatialutilizationandenergy

economy,nounusedspacesatanytimeandtotallyreconfigurablefloorplansthatrespondtousersneeds.4

4Thisprojecthasbeensubmittedwiththetitle:Objectdesignandinformationmanagementforlifelongspatialreconfiguration

inbuildingsontheOctober2012asthediplomaprojectofDimitraChatziandreouandMariaAlikiKostopouloutothe

DepartmentofArchitecture,UniversityofThessaly,Volos,GreeceforthedegreeofArchitect.

IthasalsobeenpresentedwiththesametitletotheAustralasianConferenceonInnovativeTechnologiesinConstruction

"FromBuildingInformationModelingtoBeyond",HuazhongUniversityofScienceandTechnology,Wuhan,China

Formoredetailspleasecontacttheauthors.


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4./BIM&GREECE

4.1.INTRODUCTION

/StateofBIMinGreeceBIM,asaprocess,hasnotyetbeen implementedinGreece,duetomany reasonsrelatedto thewaypublicandprivate

constructionsarebeingassignedandtowhom,tohowconstructiondiffersfromtherestofEuropeandAmerica,totheculture

ofGreekprofessionalsandindividualsinconstruction,andmanyotherparametersanalysedabove.

So, the only approach that couldmake sense on the issue of BIM in Greece is the analysis of the current reality in

constructiontodeterminewhetheritsfeasibleandefficientinitsimplementationinourcountry.

Themain,andperhapstheonly,datathatwecouldrelyoninordertodescribethepresentsituationinGreecewhenit

comestoBIM,werethreeinterviewswithpeoplewhohavebeeninvolvedwithit.Mr.PolichronisLoulakis,Mr.Mathaios

PapavassiliouandMr.VassilisGastistoldusaboutit,eachonefromhisownpointofviewastheyareworkingincompletely

differentfieldsofthearchitecturalprocess.

/ArchitectsInterviewed:PresentationandOpinionsPoluxronisLoulakisisanAutodeskcertifiedprogramtrainerwithexperienceindrafting,3DandBIMsoftware.Hefirstlygot

toknowtheBIMconceptduringhisuniversitystudies.Hewasselectedtobeinterviewedinordertoexplainifthereisany

interestfromtheGreekmarket(byprofessionalsoruniversitystudents)inBIMsoftwaretrainingandthedevelopmentsinthe

existingsoftware.

Matthaios Papavasiliou is anarchitect andeducatorat theCivil EngineeringDepartment of theMetsovioUniversityof

Athens.AshewasoneofthefirstarchitectsthatimportedBIMwaysofworkingintothearchitecturalprocessinhisoffice,he

wasabletodescribetheadvantagesordisadvantagesofsuchachoice.

VasilisGastisisaMechanicalEngineerspecializinginsteelconstruction.BecauseofhisdedicationtoBIMtoolsandtheuse

ofthemineveryprojectthatheisworkingon,hisopinionaboutthecoordinationofthedesignandtheautomatedconstruction,

coveredthelaststepofthearchitecturalprocess,thatoftherealization.

AswasexpectedtheiropinionsabouttheneedforandthewayinwhichBIMcanbeimplementedinGreecediffergreatly.

Mr.Loulakis,whenquestioned:WhatisBIMforyou?replied:"AnyarchitectwhothinksaboutasolutioncreatesvirtualBIMinhismind.Thethingistobecapableofexceedingthephysical

limitsofhis/hermindaccordingtotheamountofinformationthatcanbemanagedandfindthewaytotransfertheinformation

tohis/herscolleagues,engineers,builders,etc.When"doing"BIMtodesign,practicallywearetryingtotraceasmuch

informationaspossiblesothatitisreadilyavailabletousoranyoneelseinvolved.ThatishowIpersonallycomprehendthe

conceptofBIM.[...]Evenmorenowadays,thepotentialamountofinformationthatwecanhaveaboutabuildingishuge,and

it'snotnecessarilyonlyaboutdesign.FormethisisBIM."

Meanwhile,Mr.Papavasileiouconsidersthat:

"BIMcanhelpworkuponthelighting,theenvironmentalinformationandvariousotherdatarelatedtothedesign.Butitsuse,of

course,doesnotensurethecreationorthecompletionofabetterarchitecture."

Mr.Gastisreferstoitas:

"It'sacommercial trickoflargesoftwarecompanies topromotenewproducts thathaverecentlybeendesigned. InGreece it

doesntworkandIdontthinkthatitwillwork,astheconstructionsectorischaracterizedbyalackofwillingnesstocollaborateandimprovethewayofworking."

4.2.ECONOMY/MENTALITY

/GreekMentality

ThethreemainfactorsthatdistinguishtheGreekconstructionindustryfromthatofothercountriesare:

A.Historicalandculturalelements

B.MethodofConstruction

C.Specializedconstructioncrews

A.Inhisinterview,Mr.Papavasiliousaid: "Inacountrywhereeveryonebuildsonhisown,thereisnoneedforarchitects,iftheclientisconvincedthathecanbuildonhisown,itisreasonablenottoemployanarchitect."


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Astheopinionabovedescribesmoreorlessthethoughtofthemajorityoftheindividualswhodecidetobuild,wearetalking

aboutaculturethatdoesnotneedanarchitectinthearchitecturaldesignbecauseofthelackofarchitecturaleducation.

Architecturaltheoryisnottaughtatprimaryandsecondarylevelsofeducation,sowhoeverdoesnotchoosetofollowarelated

sectornevercomesintocontactwithitandconceptssuchasfunctionalityofthebuiltspaceandaestheticsremaincompletely

unknowntohim/her.Itisobviousthatwe'retalkingaboutatheorythatisclosed,notunderstoodbyeveryone,whichmakes

questionablethenecessityofitsimplementationandanapproachofqualitytowardsit.

/EconomicCrisis

TherelationshipbetweentheGreekfinancialstructureandBIMsapplicationcanbeapproachedintwototallydifferent

ways,theconservative,whichsuggeststhecontinuationofthecurrentstate,andtheotherthatsuggestsradicalchange.

Thefinancialcrisisisourchancetolookrightthroughourrealneeds,seethelandscapethatsurroundsus,howweshould

buildonthatlandscape,what'simportantfromit,andchecktheenvironmentalstate.Thischeckthough,doesn'tneed

complicatedsystems,butonlyknowingthewaytodogoodarchitecture.(MathaiosPapavassiliou,Interview2011,Answertothequestion:DoyouthinkthatarchitecturaldesignshouldpointtoBIM,especiallyduringthefinancial

crisis,byreducingconstructionexpenses?)

InorderforBIMtobeapplied,achangeisrequiredinallthefieldsthatarerelatedtoarchitecturaldesign,fromthetraining

ofarchitects,totherenewaloftheequipmentusedbyfactoriesmakingbuildingmaterials.

IfsomeonechoosesBIM,heshouldknowwhatitis,whatrulesitfollowsandthetoolsforitsapplication.Thistakestimeandcostsandinasocietywhoseeconomyisfailingitisdifficulttodecidetoinvestinsuchprocessesthatdon'thaveshort-term

benefits.IfwealsoconsidertheextremeslumpoftheconstructionfieldduetothefinancialdifficultiesinGreece,BIMs

applicationinthenearfutureseemslikeutopia.

Ontheotherhand,itiswidelyknownthatthestateofthearchitecturalandconstructionfieldsisradicallychanging,and

thewayconstructionoperatesinGreeceisn'tsoeffective,soitispossiblethatwewillturntowardsBIMmuchfasterthan

expected.Ifthishappens,thedirectionofGreekeconomicpolicyshouldchangeandtheGreekconstructionfieldshouldconform

totheglobalrules,asthecurrenttrendistowardsdesigninglowefficiencybuildings.

Induetime,theadaptationofalowcostpolicywillhavepositiveresults,butthetimeneededcannotbecalculatedwith

thecurrentdata.

4.3.BIM&CONSTRUCTION

/Demands

TryingtodescribetheconstructionindustryinGreece,probablywewillnotbeleddirectlytoarchitectureasknown

internationallytothearchitecturalcommunity.Apartfromthefactthatitisanindustrythatdoesntreallycontributetothe

economyofourcountry,itisalsoanindustrywhichdoesnotrecognizethevalueoftheinvolvementofanarchitectinthe

process,butcharacterizehispresenceasaluxury,sincetherangeofhis/herspowersissmallandnotmuchinvolvedwiththe

restoftheconstructionspecialistsindevelopingaproject.However,BIMasaprocessrequiresthearchitecttostopbeinga

dictatorialleader,asstatedintheinterviewofFinithJernigan,andtocollaboratewithotherdisciplinessothattheflowofwork

becomesmoreefficient.

Anotherissuefordiscussion,asmentionedabove,isthenatureoftheprojectsdevelopedinourcountry.Weconstantly

hearaboutlargesumsofmoneybeingwastedonaprojectsconstruction,particularlyregardinggovernmentandmajorprojects,

withouttheprojectmeetingitsbudget,andwithquestionablequality,structuraldesignandfunctionality.Surely,thisisnotthesoleresponsibilityoftheunskilledcrewsthatundertakeconstructionprojectsthataremorecomplexandlargerinscalethan

theirabilities

TherearemanydifferentissuesthatcanbedefinedasproblemsinconnectionwitharchitectureinGreece.Butallleadto

oneconclusion:theneedofchangeandtheawarenessofthi

Documents

BIM AND GREEK CONSTRUCTION: RESEARCH AND DETAILED ANALYSIS FOR POTENTIAL IMPLEMENTATION