Key Traits of an Effective Architectural BIM Support Partnership

In the building design and construction industry, construction documentation forms an important phase between design development and on-site construction administration. In scenarios where architectural practices decide to transition to object-oriented BIM modelling or there is a need to turn around more projects than can be executed by the internal team, firms decide to look for experienced architectural BIM modelling support partners. Whilst such collaboration models provide cost-effective and high-quality access to CAD and BIM expertise, issues can crop up if your support partner does not have appropriate processes and quality standards in place.

As a result, to make the BIM outsourcing engagement work successfully for your architectural practice, there is a need to ensure that the following are in place:

A Dedicated Point of Contact

A dedicated point of contact in the form of a project manager serves as an integral link between your firm and the outsourcing partner. He/she liaises with the architectural firm’s representative (in most cases the project’s chief architect or the design head) to gather and analyse in detail the project’s requirements, construction specifications, and CAD/BIM standards followed.

Well Defined Project Flow

After a comprehensive needs analysis by the project manager, a clear process should be in place to break down the client’s 3D architectural modelling and construction documentation requirements into a tangible project scope. The scope then dictates the roles/responsibilities and the turnaround schedules of each of the senior team members, including team leader, senior BIM technicians, senior CAD technicians, BIM coordinators, and draftsmen.

Production Planning Roadmap

Depending on the resources at hand, the project manager along with team leader should map out a timeline for documentation delivery. Traditional CAD-based processes necessitate clear guidelines pertaining to drawing scales, dimensions, symbols, targets, annotations, and abbreviations. Modern BIM-enabled workflows also require establishment of protocols and standards for master model worksharing, data exchange, library creation, and model coordination.

Multi-Tier Quality Checks 

Rigorous quality check protocols are an integral part of delivering accurate standards-compliant architectural BIM modelling and construction documentation support to architectural practises. The first tier entails draftsmen involved to cross-review their peer’s work followed by an inspection by the team leader on local models. The final tier of quality check phase requires the project manager to undergo a detailed review of the master model. Once the central master model gets a go-ahead from the project manager, it is used to extract construction documents. Finally, the construction documents are reviewed to check whether they fulfil the construction specifications set by the client.

Ability to Coordinate Online with Clients

The success of your outsourcing partnership will also depend on the associate firm’s ability to hold regular update and doubt-solving virtual sessions. Focussed meetings ensure both you as well as those on the outsourcing team are on the same page as far as the project progress is concerned.

To know about how our architectural BIM modelling and proven BIM/CAD outsourcing model, contact us.

Building Information Modeling Services (BIM Services)

Building Information Modeling Services (or BIM Services as they are commonly known) are becoming increasingly significant for modern construction projects. It has revolutionized the construction industry with its ability to make a digital representation of a building project. A wide array of elements such as geometry, quantity information, graphical information, spatial relationship and product/ material information are covered by BIM technology.

Along with the architects and design engineers, Building Information Modeling technology is also beneficial for the manufacturing and construction team, project management and cost management. Building Information Modeling enables the builders with the virtual model of the building and its components to avoid or correct any potential problems, before the construction begins.

XS CAD has emerged as a pioneer in creating BIM models using Autodesk Revit and AutoCAD. We provide BIM Services such as BIM Drafting, BIM Modeling and BIM Co-ordination in the UK, Canada, US, India, Australia and the Middle East.Through BIM models, XS CAD provides the designers, cost consultants and installers with a blueprint of the actual elements within a construction project. The vital role played by BIM technology has changed the way architectural and construction projects are handled, with more emphasis on construction pre-planning and project management.

At XS CAD, we make use of the entire family of Autodesk software such as Autodesk Architecture, Autodesk MEP and Autodesk Structures to design data for an individual construction project. With our Integrated Project Delivery approach and a team of experts, we are able to provide our clients with high quality, accurate BIM models resulting in time and cost savings.

The Challenges in Adopting Building Information Modeling (BIM)

BIM (Building Information Modeling) represents a wave of technological changes that have allowed the AEC industry to plan and manage projects much more effectively.  With its ability to create a digital representation of a building with accurate geometry and relevant data, BIM technology has brought about a paradigm shift to the AEC industry.  It serves up a plethora of benefits such as improving interoperability between teams, utilization of a single software tool, scheduling, and allowing more effective co-ordination of construction projects.


While BIM, the new buzzword for the construction industry, is seen as a catalyst to revolutionize the future of the AEC industry, there are several reasons why it is also presenting an unparalleled challenge to the industry.  This is affecting the method and also speed in which it is embraced by the industry.  A few such challenges include:
1)    Challenges in Coordinating with Multi-Disciplinary Teams –Though BIM's ability of sharing a model is one of its biggest advantages over an AutoCAD file, one cannot ignore the permission required for adequate sharing of model information posing as a challenge. As multidisciplinary team would work on the same model, collaboration issues may cause delay in project and other problems.


2)    Challenges related to Ownership and Authority- The accountability, ownership and copyright issues of the model are ambiguous.  Exactly who will be the owner of the model or responsible for the accuracy of the information fed into the model poses a challenge in BIM adoption.

3)    Challenges while Replacing 2D or 3D AutoCAD System with BIM Technology- Adopting Building Information Modeling means redefining the approach and the practice of the company along with the requirements of training and upgraded software, not to mention the cost of the new software to start with. One should ensure compatibility between the internal departments of the company and its outside clients after the adoption of BIM technology.

Technology is always a double-edge sword, Building Information Modeling is no exception.  With the help of a proper methodology and thorough understanding of the potential of BIM, the challenges faced while implementing BIM could be minimized.  BIM has the potential to change the face of the construction industry by minimizing issues like over-budget and declining productivity pervading the AEC industry.  The question whether BIM would be able to reshape the industry has changed to when would BIM reshape the industry? By overcoming the challenges faced in adopting BIM, BIM can do wonders.