BIM? BAM! But Start with the Model
Date Posted: October 25, 2019
Posted In: Discussion,
From Jobsite Procore: There’s an old joke. “What gives us the ability to look through walls?” (audience rustles uncomfortably, throats clear). “Windows.”
Yes, it’s one of those old-school comic throwaways more likely to produce a nod of assent than genuine laughter. However, as a matter of fact, today’s construction industry does have the ability to look through walls. And ceilings, and floors; and anything else your specialty trades and can target with their smart devices.
Building Comes Alive
BIM (Building Information Modeling) is a construction technology that allows the production of a hyper-detailed, structurally-accurate virtual 3D model of a building — before a single brick is laid. Procore is bringing BIM to the field and putting it in the hands of anyone who needs it.
The profound efficiencies BIM technology offers construction projects seem almost beyond what a reasonable professional can grasp. However, the benefits all flow from one basic strategy—beginning construction with a complete BIM model in hand.
BIM of the Future
Steve Jones led a Groundbreak session on BIM that at times had the presentational fervor of a tent revival meeting. Jones is head of Industry Insights Research for Dodge Data—the world’s acknowledged leader in software-informed workflow integration and analytics for the construction industry. With such a background, he is well situated to separate futurist malarkey from genuine industry advances.
The technology offers varied uses, from identifying safety hazards before construction begins—as Turner does with special safety animation within their BIM model—to having visual quality control that actually predicts install deviations. Jones’ mantra is unchanging: “They can do all this because they have the model.”
“People used to like to make fun of BIM,” Jones continued. “‘Oh, those are pretty pictures’. Look, thanks to all these amazing simulations now, you can do a better building. You can do a better-performing building; you can design a more constructable building.”