Consulting-Specifying Engineer - November 2008 - (Page 20)

M/E Roundtable Hardcopy: the missing link Bob Honn: While BIM software presloads become a part of the room information after the analysis is complete. Therefore, a project team could stay within an integrated platform to investigate both the architecture and engineering simultaneously. Middlebrooks: BIM as a collaborative and analytical tool is continuing to expand. The ability to simulate and analyze a building model provides a platform for extended understanding of building performance, code compliance checking, sustainable design innovation, and virtual user experiences. We are continuing to innovate around Revit MEP, add analysis capabilities, and make it even easier for MEP engineers to support Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) and enable closer collaboration with their design and construction partners. Nagpal: More is claimed and assumed about BIM-MEP presently than what it seems to be capable of actually delivering. The BIM-MEP software is under continuous development, the steep learning curve for engineers needs to be flattened by easy ents a significant advancement to the AEC community, one equally critical component should not be overlooked—the digital document printing technology behind BIM rendered images. Those who adopt BIM should invest in a high-quality, large-format techniBob Honn cal document system, preferably in color, to Director of produce hard copy output of BIM-generated Marketing Services,Wide designs. Otherwise, the benefits of BIM Format Printing cannot be fully realized. Printing/scanDivision, Océ ning/copying technology is essential to the North America, Chicago. entire BIM infrastructure, by ensuring the right plans get to the right project owners at the right time. All AEC stakeholders should have access to the latest set of BIM plans when and where they need them. Preferably, project sites should be equipped with on-site printers that offer technical color output. AEC firms should partner with local reprographers who are accustomed to receiving, processing, and printing large BIM files—and have the robust technology equipped to handle such jobs. Digital document delivery and distribution technology is a critical step in the BIM process that contributes to accelerated project turnaround and overall workflow. Among BIM’s many benefits is its ability to strengthen collaboration between AEC stakeholders, project owners, and even subcontractors throughout the project lifecycle. Expanded multidimensional views in color help illuminate fine design details that might otherwise be left to guesswork and create waste and inefficiency downstream. The ability to visualize and share this depth of detail prior to construction—and even analyze and simulate it against a model—helps expedite the project lifecycle, promote greater accuracy, and ultimately save significant costs. Despite the growing popularity of online plan rooms, paper-based plan sets remain a staple in the AEC industry. Today’s latest large-format technical document print/copy/scan systems yield faster, better presentation quality output of BIM-generated designs that can be readily shared among AEC team members without delay. Construction professionals can even print hard copies right at the building site using a low volume, color or monochrome printer or order hard copies online from a local reprographer. The end benefit is improved collaboration in early project phases between AEC stakeholders, who are getting together much sooner to review designs and overcome initial challenges. Today, the use of BIM is reliant on engineering entering the information. Often, this information is transcribed from manufacturers’ catalogs. Having the manufacturing community present their catalogs in standard BIM formats will eliminate this burden. operability and then overcome by increased technical support, training for designers, ready-availability of industry standard component libraries for BIM integration, and a pragmatic realization by the industry of what can be expected out of a BIM model and what needs to go into it Workman: In a virtual, intelligent model of the building, there are many opportunities for data reuse and analysis that current methods don’t offer. (The many advantages of this are detailed in the August 2004 study conducted by NIST titled “Cost Analysis of Inadequate Interoperability in the U.S. Capital Facilities Industry.”) Any time the data can be reused and not re-entered there are benefits. However, to achieve this, the BIM model has to become the genesis and source of the data. Today, the use of BIM is reliant on engineering entering the information. Often, this information is transcribed from manufacturers’ catalogs. Having the manufacturing community present their catalogs in standard BIM formats will eliminate this burden. CSE: If BIM could potentially eliminate change orders and /or requests for information on a project, how would this impact business models of engineering firms and the collaborative nature of construction teams? (Continued on page 58) 20 Consulting-Specifying Engineer • NOVEMBER 2008

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Consulting-Specifying Engineer - November 2008

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