Unravelling BIM & Exploring its full potential: 3D to 8D

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Unravelling BIM Exploring its full potential
3D to 8D
Historically, construction project of any nature
or scale was typically visualized in 3D, designed
in 2D and built in 3D. In this process, a lot of
data and information gets lost in
translation. Building Information Modelling
(BIM) allows for visualization and design in 3D.
The project owner, designer, builder and others
involved in the project can clearly see the
outcome even before the construction work is
commenced on site. Thus, a 3D model of a project
is an effective communication tool among the
project stakeholders and is relevant from the
beginning to the end of the project
lifecycle. BIM allows room for changes during
the early phases of any project, planning the
construction schedule and sequencing activities
before work starts on-site. Even the clashes are
identified early in the design stage, which
significantly reduces on-site clashes. This
directly impacts every aspect of the project
including duration, cost, materials, risks,
safety, energy consumption and others. The full
potential of BIM can be explored in its
dimensions 3D to 8D. Heres what you can
harness from BIM beyond the 3D visualization and
design! BIM 4D Time One of the most important
aspects of the quality of delivery of any
construction project worldwide, is the time
taken to complete the project. After the design
and visualization of a 3D BIM model, project
owners can look at the 4th dimension time. The
4D model allows for a clear visual picture of
complete project scheduling, sequencing of tasks
with clarity, clash detection and so on. This
provides clarity on which materials need to be
installed first, possibilities of clashes, when
each stakeholder or working team must come in,
potential challenges on site and their remedies.
Naturally, this leads to faster decision making,
seamless co-ordination between project teams and
prompt redressal of onsite challenges. BIM 5D
Cost Estimating the cost of a construction
project is perhaps of highest significance for
everyone, isnt it? A BIM Model offers visual
picture of the potential cost of specific
sub-projects, cost of completion, life-cycle
cost, estimates of the material required and
more. It also gives developers an insight into
the potential cost overruns into the
project. Having a clear consideration of time
also gives predictability of cost. Project owners
have also reported a saving of upto 40 on
operation and maintenance costs after completion.
If optimizing cost on your projects is your
priority, consider BIM as a fundamental approach
for design and execution. BIM 6D Sustainability
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Once we know the cost estimates for the project
and the materials to be procured, there are
software tools available that can be linked to
this 3D model, which can calculate the potential
carbon footprint, the energy load on the
structure, ways to optimise the energy
consumption and others. These estimates can pave
the path for a more energy efficient and
sustainable construction. A 6D BIM model since
conception will certainly help enhance the
sustainability standards of the project. BIM
7D Asset Management The digital twin of a
physical entity makes asset management much
easier, than it would be if one had to look at
multiple 2D drawings. The BIM model allows for
seamless data integration from IOT-enabled
physical assets, programming a certain
functionality in response to the input and
feeding it back to the physical asset. Every
plumbing, mechanical or electrical fixture,
devices, and any other assets in the premises
can be linked to the model. The model can
capture real time temperature data, light
sensitivity, and other parameters in real time,
which when observed, can optimize power
consumption. They can also be used to optimize
public safety with inputs on crowd behaviours and
fire modelling capability. Contractors can also
review complex details or procedures before the
project starts and avoid construction risks. A
specific operational example could be if a
certain light needs to be repaired, we can look
at the model and identify the distribution panel
it is linked to and switch that off. This could,
otherwise, be a complex task. Using this model
or digital twin of the physical entity,
integration of existing and new assets can also
be done seamlessly. BIM 8D Safety, Logistics
Planning et al The 8th and the relatively less
explored dimension of BIM empowers us with vital
aspects such as safety of construction workers
on site. We could plan and ensure safety in a
meticulous way while tower cranes are operating,
or heavy materials are being offloaded etc. The
other element is Logistic Planning. When a
renovation or an upgradation is being planned,
the complexity of what needs to be retained or
redone can be resolved through a BIM model.
Through a clear visual representation, it is much
easier to queue up tasks in the right order. So,
while a 3D simulation of a construction project
is the obvious benefit, one could plan and
execute the entire lifecycle of a project using a
BIM model. All the 8 dimensions are interlinked
but not necessarily sequential. We could work
with any of these dimensions in isolation or
correlation starting at the 3D model, independent
of the sequence. Lets bid goodbye to the era of
2D drawings and work with smart 3D BIM models to
empower construction teams for higher quality
construction in time, cost and resource efficient
ways! Scan to BIM Services MEP Shop Drawing
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