Consulting-Specifying Engineer - November 2008 - (Page 58)

M/E Roundtable (Continued from page 20) Middlebrooks: One of the benefits of BIM is the ability to virtually create a building, clarify expectations, resolve clashes, and reduce RFIs and change orders. Using BIM for collaboration, participating in projects that use an Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) method becomes much easier. We believe the evolution towards IPD will allow con- for example, a hospital, school, or library? Could BIM result in extra costs to keep the BIM models up to date? Middlebrooks: Since BIM is a collaborative tool, it helps retain knowledge and records decisions throughout the design and construction process. This informa- few examples in which information in the BIM model is migrated to facilities management products like Bentley Facilities. C S E : Are engineering student s using BIM software within their educational environments? Is BIM part of engineering curriculum? Middlebrooks: The adoption of BIM software in architecture and engineering curriculums across the nation continues to increase. Many architecture and engineering departments are introducing BIM to their students as an integrated component to a fundamental design studio or engineering class. For example, John Messner, Associate Professor at Pennsylvania University, has been integrating BIM into his architecture engineering classes for a while now. Messner said the following in regard to how BIM is being used, “One of our main goals is to tie all the information in the model together with some of the analysis tools we use.” Nagpal: As far as I know, they are not being utilized to any appreciable extent. Following the trend of the industry, while some architecture schools have started incorporating BIM to a certain degree within their curricula, most engineering students seem to be only informed about BIM. Workman: While educators are teaching BIM software in the classroom, student use in architectural departments exceeds student use in engineering departments. BIM is among the areas of study in architectural engineering, architecture, and construction management programs included in Bentley’s academic subscription offerings. Increasing academic interest in BIM and computational design software such as Bentley’s Generative Components has afforded our BE Careers Network the opportunity to engage segments of the academic community that, up to now, have been unwilling to consider MEP BIM. A well-designed and well-documented building can go a long way toward lower operating and maintenance costs. tractors to become much more involved in the early phases of design by contributing to constructability and cost discussions. The use of BIM will allow engineers to provide support directly to contractors who will be able to trust and rely on the accuracy of the models for direct fabrication and prefabrication. Workman: The American Institute of Architects has an excellent paper on what it calls “Integrated Practice.” This paper suggests several new business models. See http://www.aia.org/ip_default. Londenberg: It seems that missing or hard-to-understand information is one of the primary causes for the adversarial relationship often found between the designers and builders. If the various BIM tools help to nurture a more information-based and cooperative process, then everyone will benefit. The way this affects things like liability and fee structures will have to evolve gradually. CSE : How does BIM translate into operations benefits for companies that do not have BIM software ; tion can be of significantly greater value to an owner than traditional 2-D record drawings. Even if only using free viewers for BIM models, such as Autodesk Design Review or Autodesk NavisWorks Freedom, they can view and query the model for all types of information such as building systems arrangements, filters, valves, and other maintenance items. With an investment in BIM software, they can actually add value to the model including space planning, quantities, facility maintenance records, furnishings, and inventory as well as recording changes throughout the facility lifecycle. Londenberg: A well-designed and welldocumented building can go a long way toward lower operating and maintenance costs. For projects small in size or simple in complexity, this benefit may not exceed the additional cost of more thoroughly modeling the building and systems. When it comes to ongoing updates to the building model, there are fewer individuals/companies currently able to perform this service, which means higher cost. However, the BIM market is expanding and these higher costs are likely to level out. Workman: As pointed out in the NIST paper noted earlier, there are huge savings to be gained. The true recipient of these saving is the building owner, whether or not the owner uses the resulting BIM model. This is why so many owners are now demanding BIM. We have a Web extra: For extended interviews, additional questions, and participants, visit www.csemag.com 58 Consulting-Specifying Engineer • NOVEMBER 2008 http://www.aia.org/ip_default http://www.csemag.com

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Consulting-Specifying Engineer - November 2008

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