What Is Business Information Modelling - Literature review Example

Business Information Modelling By + What is BIM? There have been numerous advances that have been made in the world thanks to the advances in computer sciences. The end result of these processes is that information is now more readily available and accessible which makes objectives be easily attainable. This evolution has been incorporated into the designing and construction of buildings and into architecture in general. The end result is the generation of tools that make the work of designing and construction much easier thank to tools such as the BIM. Building information modeling is a tool that uses the multidimensional technology and techniques in order to present information as regards to a building in 3-D imagery (Race, 2012). It is a revolutionary type of technology that helps to inform and to communicate data and decisions with regards to a particular project. It uses digital technology in order to show the physical characteristics of a building and also the functionality of the particular building. BIM has the ability to provide information with regards to a project from its inception up to completion .It helps deliver the right information to the right people. It is used by various individuals and institutions in the process of designing, construction and operation of complex structures and infrastructures. It has a very wide application and can be used in a variety of areas ranging from warehouses, offices, schools, apartments, hospitals, prisons and other facilities. BIM models are employed in construction projects in order to ensure that there is efficient information management, as in the information is there when needed and is delivered promptly (Epstein, 2012). The uses of BIM are incorporated into all aspects of building process such as the design and planning phases to the implementation of the actual project and other supporting activities such as the management of costs, management of the project itself in terms of labour and the actual facility operation (Race, 2012). Key benefits of BIM BIM creates efficiency and has several benefits as well. One of the main advantages of BIM is that it reduces rework (Epstein, 2012). This is because; it is able to calculate with high levels of accuracy the exact amount of resources and materials that will be used and hence there is less wastage in the various processes. This enables work to be done instantaneously and, therefore, eliminates the need for reworks. It improves productivity. Through the information that is generated by this technology, it is able to calculate the exact amount of resources that can be used in a specific project. Therefore, the managers of the projects can employ only the specific amount of labour and use the specific amount of resources. This leaves very little space for wastage in the construction process leading to increased productivity in the various works that are undertaken. The BIM also assists in the reduction of human resources, and, therefore saves costs. Initially, due to a lack of information there was excessive use of human resources in the projects at time seven resulting in the underutilization of the manpower (Willis, 2012). However, the BIM has reduced such wastages by ensuring that only the specific amount of individuals required in a project are employed. BIM has also reduced mistakes and errors in the design and construction process. Initially due to the heavy reliance on human effort in the various stages of design and the actual construction there were a lot of errors that used to occur. These errors included errors of omission, mistakes in calculations and estimations that were made, as well as errors in the preparation of construction documents. With the new aspect of virtual designing that has been brought by the use of BIM, such errors are eliminated. It is also able to detect these mistakes in the earlier stages of the construction process before they are beyond repair. Through the exchanging of models and the addition of data to simulate different scenarios, the people involved can ensure that there is more complete and accurate information. The BIM also has benefited for those individuals that participate in the project cycle from start to finish (Tidwell, 2010). For example it increases the creativity of architects. Through the use of BIM architects are able to come up with evolutionary designs that are more adapted to their surroundings and that are more functional. As for the structural engineers it enables them to deliver projects in a timely manner with very high levels of accuracy eliminating flaws in their works. As for the construction managers and supervisors, the elimination of reworks due to the use of BIM means that they are able to remain within their budgets. This also reduces the delays that used to be caused by the reworks (Craats, 2009). Key Limitations of BIM One of the major problems that face the BIM modeling technology is that of personnel. There are very few individuals that are trained on the implementation and usage of this particular technology. This limits its widespread usage, and, therefore, reduces the impact that it has on the building and construction industry as a whole (Eastman, 2011).Moreover, the concept of BIM requires a fairly lengthy transition period for companies to adapt to the new technology. As is the case with anything that is new, there is a required period for the organization and personnel to adjust to the new systems in place. Due to the fairly complex nature of the BIM, there will be more time required before the firms can comfortably use the new software. This lag in time that is ascribed to adaptation reduces the effectiveness of the new technology and system. There are also limitations caused by the people factor. People have a tendency to resist changes in their lives. Therefore, one of the biggest limitations of BIM is the people themselves. Another challenge to the use of BIM is the initial set up costs and implementation process, especially for small business entities. This technology is very costly and most companies cannot afford it. The initial implementation process of training employees on how to use it and other costs also represent an impediment to the growth and use of this technology. There is also a lack of proper protocols and standards that have been put in place. This is because; BIM is a fairly new concept and technology in the industry and the standards for use have only just started being developed. Some of the guidelines and protocols are either yet to be designed or are still being tested. It will take a significant amount of time before consensus is reached as to the proper standards that will be used in the industry (Emmitt, 2013). The lack of proper standards and protocols may also have a spillover effect on the accuracy of the data that is produced using the BIM model. As with all things that are new it takes quite some period of time before there is a sizeable number of individuals who can comfortably use the BIM. The length of the learning curve can, therefore, represent a significant challenge to the use of the technology as it is a fairly complex item to use and one has to have the necessary skills in order to fully exploit its capabilities. Due to the fact that BIM is a new concept in the building industry, there is a lack of objectivity regarding what exactly it can be used for. There are no well-written rules and procedures dictating how to use BIM, with its application in most cases being done on a trial and error basis (Willis, 2012). How does BIM deliver time benefits? BIM brings the advantage of reducing the amounts of reworks that have to be done on a particular job. By eliminating reworks, time that could have been spent on the conduction of such reworks is saved and spent carrying out other activities and working on other areas. BIM helps projects to remain within their budgets (Emmitt, 2013). One of the major causes of delays in different projects emerges when the set budget is exceeded. This usually translates to the halting of the project since additional funds are sourced in order to continue with the project. In most cases, this delays project completion; they are ultimately completed behind schedule. However, due to the use of BIM technology, there is no deviation from the definitive budgets, hence eliminating the delays that would have been caused when sourcing for new funds. The technology also delivers time benefits by delivering accuracy in operations. BIM technology has facilitated high levels of accuracy within the industry. This means that less time is spent on the correction of errors enabling the project’s activities to run in tandem with the time schedule (Eastman, 2011).This has facilitated the out and out completion of projects ahead of schedule. The use of the BIM technology has led to the development of other time-saving practices such as prefabrication (Tidwell, 2010). Prefabrication involves making materials and tools in a different area and when they arrive at the site of construction, w is left is the simple task of assembling the materials and placing each in its specific area. This enables the job to be done in a more precise manner, incurring fewer costs and most importantly saving on time. BIM enhances the exchange of information between the parties that are involved in the construction process. This can involve the coordination logistics ascribed to the location of products and the route that these products are supposed to use. This leads to the facilitation of a much faster building process, consequently saving time. It can also be used in the coordination of the labour force such that the more important activities are undertaken first in order to facilitate other processes. This ensures that resources are fully utilized and there is no wastage of man power. This enables the saving of time during the period within which the project is being undertaken. In addition, due to the use of the BIM model, there is less time spent on consultations with the supervisors and foremen as regards the different aspects of the project. In the old method, a lot of time was spent in consultative meetings with the various parties involved in a project. The use of BIM in the construction planning phases has the advantage of eliminating delays well before they can occur, and this contributes to the time-saving effect associated with the model. Initially, it was required that stakeholders such as the material suppliers, the structural engineers, the architects and all other parties involved to deliberate on grey areas as pertaining to the plans of the building. However, since the use of BIM began, this has now become a thing of the past. BIM has overseen the elimination of such consultative meetings as the plans are accurate and the requirements well known. Each party in the whole process knows what role they are required to play and, therefore, they just get on with the job saving, a lot of valuable time that would have otherwise been lost (Williams, 2010). The overall ability to coordinate the different departments and people that are involved in the whole construction process, as well as the timely delivery of information as regards the project highlight the time-saving advantage of BIM. The ability of the model to enable the visualization of the project enables the forecasting of what the end product will look like. This enables those involved in the process to make the necessary preparations before hand. This will lead to the saving of time used in the deliberation of how the final product ought to look like. All the aforementioned modus operandi is a representation of how time is saved through the use of the BIM model. How does BIM deliver cost benefits? BIM enables the process of prefabrication to be undertaken in the construction process. Prefabrication is the process by which the sections of the building under construction are manufactured elsewhere and when brought to the site, it is a simple matter of assembling. The manufacture of the components in different areas means that there is a certain level of specialization involved. This specialization in the production of these components means that the manufactures have found cheaper and more efficient ways of producing these products. Therefore, the whole aspect of prefabrication brought about by the use of BIM leads to cost-saving benefits. The BIM technology has translated into the speeding up of the construction process in most projects. This leads to a cost -saving benefit in the following way; the quicker the project is finished, the lesser the amount of labour hours that have to be incurred by the client. This means that the client will incur fewer costs in the long run due to the increase in efficiency. One of the advantages of using the BIM model is the fact that it eliminates wastage in the process (Allen, 2010). These wastages usually translate to misused and forgone resources that would have otherwise been put to good use. Therefore, the elimination of wastages is a cost benefit of using the technology. The new technology also has the benefit of reducing errors, especially as concerns the documentation of the projects through human error and omissions. These mistakes normally cost some money in order to correct. b Therefore, the elimination of these mistakes is a cost saving benefit of BIM. The fact that BIM enables the calculation of all the resources and materials that will be required is in itself a cost benefit. This is because; the client will have all the information as to what is required before hand and therefore this will enable the client to go and look for the cheapest alternatives that can be found in the market. Therefore when the project commences the client will have already made their selection of materials to be used that can be afforded by the client. This is a cost benefit for the client. The BIM model also is a useful tool in helping the project to remain within the budgetary constraints. Going over the prescribed budget is a common cause for incremental costs in budgets as costs that were not budgeted for are incurred by the client. However, in this case, due to the use of the BIM, technology, there is the elimination of excesses and this leads to cost benefits for the clients. BIM has the additional benefit of increasing efficiency through the elimination of excesses especially as relates to labour. The model can accurately determine the number of workers that can perform the work comfortably and efficiently (Allen, 2010). This is in stark contrast to before where the number of laborers to be used was decided based on random variables such as the experience of the foreman or the number of people that were used on similar projects in the past. Therefore, the elimination of the excess baggage as relates to the labourers is a cost benefit of using BIM (Williams, 2010). One of the major limitations of the BIM is the fact that it has a high initial cost. However, research has shown that these costs are usually recovered within a relatively short period of time and in a variety of ways. The benefits of the acquisition of BIM include an increase in the clientele; up to 40% as well as an increase in the efficiency of operations leading to an overall decrease in the cost of business and increased productivity in the projects’ undertaken and an ultimate increase in the firm’s profit margins. In a nutshell the use of BIM leads to increases in the firm’s revenue and a reduction in the operation costs even if the initial capital required may be high. This is the consequential result of using the BIM model. The BMI model has resulted in cost benefits in that the visualization that accompanies this model gives project implementers a chance to highlight areas of potential conflict and, therefore, espouses their correction before they result in costly mistakes (Craats, 2009). Bibliography Allen, E., Zalewski, W., & Michel, N. 2010. Form and forces: designing efficient, expressive structures. Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.. Anumba, C. J., & Wang, X. 2012. Mobile and Pervasive Computing in Construction. Hoboken: John Wiley & amp; Sons. Colby, D. W. 2009. Building codes. Eau Claire, WI: Lorman Education Services. Craats, R. 2009. Construction. New York, NY: Weigl Publishers. Eastman, C. M. 2011. BIM handbook: a guide to building information modeling for owners, managers, designers, engineers and contractors (2nd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. Emmitt, S. 2013. Architectural Technology Research and Practice.. New York: Wiley. Epstein, E. 2012. Implementing Successful Building Information Modeling. Norwood: Artech House. Fischer, A. 2009. Construction. Lausanne: AVA Academia. Glancey, J. 2006. Architecture. London: DK. Heimbürger, A. 2011. Information modelling and knowledge bases. Amsterdam: Ios Press. Jernigan, F. E. 2008. Big BIM, little bim: the practical approach to building information modeling : integrated practice done the right way! (2nd ed.). Salisbury, MD: 4Site Press. Kronenburg, R. 2008. Portable architecture design and technology (New ed.). Basel: Birkhäuser ;. Lankhorst, M. 2005. Enterprise architecture at work modelling, communication, and analysis. Berlin: Springer. Race, S. 2012. BIM demystified. London: Riba. Tidwell, J. 2010. Designing Interfaces (2nd ed.). Sebastopol: OReilly Media, Inc.. Weygant, R. S. 2011. BIM content development standards, strategies, and best practices. Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley. Williams, T. 2010. Construction management: emerging trends and technologies. Clifton Park, N.Y.: Delmar/Cengage Learning. Wills, G. 2012. Visualizing time designing graphical representations for statistical data. New York, NY: Springer. Read More