Cadalyst - March 2008 - (Page 41)

aecinsight For those keeping score, Autodesk, Gehry (figure 1), and Vico appear to have the most comprehensive product capabilities across all areas of builders’ information modeling, followed by Tekla, Innovaya, and Beck. Other vendors offer outstanding point solutions in one or two areas, which poses a difficult choice for BIM-curious contractors: adopt a comprehensive suite of products covering all bases or mixand-match among point solutions when and as needed. Building a Case An informal survey among contractors using BIM automation or virtual construction (VC), as some prefer to call it, revealed several trends. Adoption of the VC/BIM approach by constructors appears to have initially lagged behind that of designers. Ten years ago, pioneering construction firms began test- ing schedule simulation, sometimes called 4D CAD. With few contractorspecific modeling and simulation tools available, however, many builders who investigated BIM as recently as five or six years ago still found the technology too immature. The tipping point seems to have occurred at some time between Graphisoft’s 2004 launch of its Virtual Construction products (since spun off to Vico Software) and Autodesk’s 2007 acquisition of United Kingdom–based Navisworks. From an industry analyst’s perspective, this conforms to typical growth patterns. First, adventurous end users struggle to fill a need by adapting existing tools to new tasks. Then, venturefunded software startups such as Vico emerge to serve the nascent market. Finally, fast-follower tech players such as Autodesk confirm the trend by acquiring key players such as Navisworks. Thus, VC/BIM adoption among contractors has significantly accelerated in the past two years. As contractors commit to VC/BIM, they quickly move from isolated pilot projects to firmwide adoption. Whether choosing a suite of construction-oriented tools from or revolving around a single vendor — Autodesk, Bentley, Gehry, or Vico — or mixing and matching point solutions from diverse vendors, constructors who scale up their VC/BIM efforts find they must make major business changes beyond adopting new software. For example, significant numbers of staff — as many as 6– 8% of total staff — need to become skilled modelers. Whether modeling skills are met through hiring or by retraining current employees, modeling needs extend across all disciplines: architectural, structural, and MEP (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing). www.cadalyst.com | cadalyst | March 2008 41 http://www.cadalyst.com/harry2008 http://www.cadalyst.com/harry2008 http://www.cadalyst.com/harry2008 http://www.cadalyst.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Cadalyst - March 2008

Cadalyst - March 2008 Contents Editor's Window CAD Central Thicker than Water Safe Keeping — Backup Software Secures Your Designs AMD’s ATI FireGL Graphics Cards AutoCAD Civil 3D 2008 — Surveying, Civil Engineering, and Land Development Software Cool Software Utilities for Your Job History, Nonhistory, or Both? In the Eye of the Storm Builders’ Information Modeling CAD Cartoon Issue Indexes CAD from the Streets

Cadalyst - March 2008

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