Month: February 2023

Contractors’ Guide: BIM Benefits & Advantages

Post author By André Aaby
Post date February 28, 2023

In today’s rapidly changing construction industry, contractors face various challenges. One of the most significant challenge is the need to streamline processes and improve collaboration between project stakeholders. Building Information Modelling (BIM) combined with cloud services can help contractors overcome these challenges by providing real time, digital representations of buildings physical and functional characteristics.

Brief Explanation of the BIM Concept

BIM is a process that involves creating, managing, and sharing digital representations of a building’s design with correcsponding construction information. It allows contractors to collaborate effectively with architects, engineers, customers and other stakeholders throughout the construction process. BIM models are three-dimensional (3D) models usually created by consultants or in-house using modelling software. Contractors then use it to carry out the construction. After project delivery, it can and should be used as documentation, life cycle analysis and a maintenance guideline.

Importance of Model Coordination

The importance of having a single source of truth for project information cannot be emphazied enough. Model coordination needs to be done well, otherwise BIM might very well steal more time and costs than it saves. A great tip is to use good cloud based software solutions to handle your models. This can help contractors avoid conflicts during the construction process.

The Potential of BIM is Realized Through Well-Made Software and Training

To fully realize the benefits of BIM, contractors must invest in the necessary technology and training. This includes acquiring and learning new BIM software, as well as collaborating to establish standards and workflows. Depending on your scope and ambition, you might want to look into ISO 19650. By investing in BIM, you most definitly will increase your margins if done correctly.

Conclusion

As the construction industry continues to evolve, BIM is becoming increasingly essential for contractors looking to remain competitive and deliver high-quality projects. By adopting BIM processes, contractors can streamline their construction processes, thereby reducing costs, and improving project deliveries. Just beware the elephant in the room, avoid overcomplication and bad model coordination at all costs.

Construction Technologist

André Aaby

BIM

What are BIM properties and How Does it Relate to IFC?

Post author By André Aaby
Post date February 22, 2023

Click here to see Sparkel.io’s offering for GPT4 based BIM and PDF quantity takeoffs

In this post we will explain what BIM properties are, trying to avoid its most common criticism: unnecessary jargon and complexity. Furthermore, we will explain how it relates to IFC. If you are familiar with the concept and finding it frustrating, please check out the final section!

What is BIM Properties?

BIM properties are the core of a BIM Model. BIM models contain elements. Simplified, an element can be described as a building part. Each element is specified with information, called BIM properties. They describe core functions such as:

Physical
Functional
Performance
Classes
Category
Dimensions
Material
Maintenance requirements

The specter of BIM properties are broad and vary for different building components. Often, you only care about a portion of them, and can ignore the rest. Summarized, BIM Properties are a vital part for the analysis of 3D designs.

Graphical and Non-Graphical

BIM Properties are divided into two categories: Graphical and non-graphical. Graphical describes the physical and visual aspects of the element, i.e. dimensions, geometry, color etc. On the other hand, non-graphical BIM properties describe the metadata. Meaning, non-visual information linked to the element. For example, class of concrete, maintenance requirements, category etc.

Stored in Property Sets

Property sets are collections of related properties. They provide a way to group properties together into logical categories, making it easier to organize and manage information about an object. Some examples are dimensions, element, structural, Pset_WallCommon and QtoWallBaseQuantities. Note that “Pset” is short for “Property set”, meaning it contains non-graphical information. While “Qto” is short for “Quantity Take Off”, meaning it contains graphical information about dimensions.

How Does it Relate to IFC?

IFC properties serve as a standardized way to store and exchange data between different software applications used in the building design and construction process. In other words, IFC properties are just a standarized way of expressing BIM properties. By using a common data model, different parties involved in a project can access and exchange information more efficiently, reducing errors and improving collaboration.

The Benefits

If used correctly, BIM Properties can make your job a whole lot easier. By utilizing the information in the model, you can extract quantities and sort through the model easily. However, this does require software solutions. There are free options on the market, but they have very limited functionality. We of course recommend you check out Sparkel for the best utilization of your BIM Models for quantity takeoffs and more.

Common Critizism and Workaround

While having many benefits, BIM Properties also has its downsides and limitations. In our opinion the two major issues are:

Lacking or Inaccurate Data

If you have any experience with BIM, you know that BIM Models are almost never perfect. The data might be inaccurate, completely wrong or lacking. Requiring you either to change the model itself or do manual operations on top of the model export. Errors in BIM Properties might very well lead to deviations in the physical result of the building.

Complexity

Overwhelming complexity is a common critizsm of BIM Properties. If models become too complex or too detailed, it might lead to confusion, errors, or conflicts.

Solution to Critizism

To be concise, use a well crafted software to handle your IFC Models. Models are never perfect. As a contractor, the possibility to analyze freely and supplement your IFC models is a necessity. Combining the stored model information, i.e. BIM properties, with your own shapes, measurements, and product specifications allows for an unprecedented workflow.

Construction Technologist

André Aaby

Cloud Technology

BIM Projects in the Cloud? High Risk or High reward

Post author By André Aaby
Post date February 15, 2023

Cloud-based technology offers a lot of benefits. However, there are potential downsides you should be aware of. This post discusses honest pros and cons of cloud-based solutions for construction. We largely conclude that the benefits far outweighs the potential downsides. Decide for yourself!

Pros

Pro #1 Accessibility

Web based cloud solutions require no downloads or updates. Might sound trivial, but if you think about how many tedious steps and roadblocks you meet when downloading heavy construction software, it is a huge selling point. No more updates, downloads, or annoying licensing work.

Unable to access your work computer? No problem, just log on your private computer via browser and everything is good to go.

Pro #2 Collaboration

Locally stored software radically decreases your ability to collaborate with others. Cloud-based solutions on the other hand, facilitate collaboration and information flow among stakeholders. Resulting in fewer misunderstandings, less duplicated work and ultimately saved costs.

Pro #3 Scalability

Cloud-based solutions can easily be scaled up or down as needed, and thereby making it easier to accommodate changes in project scope and size. Often, licenses are distributed as “seats”. Meaning, they can be passed freely around to the ones in current need of the solution, resulting in saved costs. And guess what? Each time you pass a license, there are no downloads needed to for the current stakeholder!

Pro #4 Cost savings

Cloud solutions will reduce your need for expensive hardware and IT infrastructure, i.e. servers, storage devices and networking equipment. Instead, you pay for the infrastructure hosted in the cloud provider’s data center via internet.

Pro #5 Centralized data storage

Cloud-based solutions provide a centralized storage location for projects, resulting in better access and analysis of data. This fundamentally changes the company’s possibility to make data-driven decisions. In other words, a huge competitive advantage.

Cons

Con #1 Requires internet connection

The most obvious downside to cloud-based solutions is the need for a constant internet connection. Luckily, most modern countries have sufficient internet connectivity, and it is rarely a problem. However, if you struggle with you connection you simply will not get your work done. This can be especially challenging when working at remote construction sites. Comes without saying, nearly every construction job requires a steady internet connection.

Con #2 Security risks

If the data is not properly protected it might propose a security risk. When all data flows through the internet, the possibility of data leakages increase. It is therefore important, that both the software company and the construction company have sufficient security procedures to protect their sensitive data. When done correctly, it is just as secure as any other information flow. In any case, as a baseline, it is the software company’s responsibility to ensure sufficient technical data security.

Con #3 Technical challenges

Cloud-based solutions might have unexpected downtime, which can disrupt the flow of data for construction projects. If the downtime is significant, this can propose some serious consequences. During downtime, there may also be data losses, resulting in setbacks.

Con #4 Integration difficulties

Construction is an integrated process with high complexity. Integrating a new cloud solution to existing data flow might be a challenge. Especially for larger contractors. However, it is in most cases fully solvable.

Construction Technologist

André Aaby