BIM for Homebuilders

While Building Information Modeling remains just a buzzword for some of them, many of the homebuilders have adopted BIM and have considerably benefitted in terms of cost and time.  Building Information Modeling is an information-rich technology allowing digital representation of a building process simulating the design, planning, construction and operation of a facility. 

Decreasing productivity and tight margins were the major crises faced by the homebuilders.  BIM Modeling Services have changed the way buildings are built ensuring increased productivity, quality and accuracy of the design.  Using BIM, the homebuilders can view the building digitally before it is actually built, thus reducing the inefficiencies and flaws in the pre-construction stage. 

BIM also helps to retrieve accurate bill of quantities and gives estimation whether the desired building with quality, size mentioned could be built in the specified cost and time. Thus, it helps the homebuilders to take more informed decisions by getting prior knowledge of amount of material, cost and time involved for constructing a building. With more emphasis and need of green building in this era of environmental concerns, BIM with its ability to analyze the energy performance of a building facilitates designing of green building.

Though some of the homebuilders are yet to adopt BIM, the benefits of BIM to the homebuilders in constructing better homes are visible. The use of BIM by the homebuilders would be accelerated in the coming years, considering the overall increased productivity and time benefit that it offers.

Benefits of Building Information Modeling (BIM)

Building Information Modeling ( BIM ) is becoming increasingly popular in the AEC industry as a new technology and an approach that allows viewing of a virtual model of the building before it is actually built.  BIM brings with it many advantages that facilitates the design, planning, construction and operational phase of the project.

BIM allows for easy coordination and interoperability between different domains that results in effective exchange of information.  It provides a common single integrated database to support different domains associated in the delivery process.  Since sharing of same data is possible, the loss of information in communication process is minimized.  It’s ability to produce an accurate virtual representation of a building model giving a clear idea of how the real building would look like. It reduces the total expenditure by eliminating the waste of construction material.It helps to reduce the errors and omissions resulting in less rework.
A BIM model when made as a graphical illustration helps to identify the potential failures, leaks, evacuation plans etc. It also allows estimating the cost involved. Material quantities are automatically extracted and changed as per the changes made in the model. The use of BIM yields higher productivity and reduces contingencies.The objects created using BIM are defined as building elements such as walls, spaces, columns beams etc. It can be used to demonstrate the entire lifecycle of a building from construction to facility operation. BIM technology also helps to check clashes and collisions as a BIM model is created in 3D space.  For example, it can check for collision between pipes and steel beams, walls or ducts.
BIM technology is really a breakthrough from the traditional 2D CAD drawings. With so many benefits of using BIM technology, BIM is definitely the future of the construction industry.

BIM Modelling

Building Information Modelling is becoming increasingly vital for modern construction projects. Not only does it provide a digital representation of a building project, it also allows facilitates greater levels of collaboration and interoperability within the design environment. 

Building Information Modelling (or BIM as it is commonly known) covers a range of elements including geometry, graphical information, spatial relationships, product/material information and quantity information. As such the use of a 3d BIM model is not merely restricted to architects or design engineers and is also useful to project management, cost management, manufacturing and construction teams and also the facilities management teams who are the eventual owners of such models. 

One of the key differences between modern BIM technology and traditional software is that BIM software is written and developed for the design of buildings and their components. The objects created within BIM models represent actual elements within a construction project and therefore this information becomes more useful to designers, installers and cost consultants. 

At XS CAD, we create BIM Models using Autodesk Revit software. Autodesk Revit is a multi-directional, database controlled application which allows changes in one location to be replicated automatically in all other areas where the changed item appears (including layouts, elevations, schedules or the 3d model itself). 

By using Autodesk Architecture, Autodesk MEP and Autodesk Structures, we are able to create design data for a single construction project with the same family of software. This level of interoperability provides obvious time and cost benefits but also allows the entire project team to view the impact of their individual designs with those of others and to resolve conflicts based on this knowledge. 

As part of our BIM service we are able to maintain all elements of a BIM model within our Integrated Project Delivery approach or provide a BIM service to one party involved in a BIM project but without the expertise for BIM model creation and management. 

As part of our BIM Modelling service we also create BIM or family data for Revit Architecture and Revit MEP. This data encompasses physical and graphical elements as well as technical and manufacturer information for the element being modelled. Another key benefit of BIM models are the parametric properties and family properties assigned to models. Parametric modelling allows controlled and dynamic manipulation of models. This allows models to be changed quickly and easily within their range of parameters while also maintaining physical appearance and ‘model information’ within all areas automatically. 

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