Collaborating with BIM

By - , Build 167

The building information modelling (BIM) process is intrinsically collaborative, working best when everyone’s needs are understood.

BIM PROVIDES the building and construction sector with the opportunity to first construct the finished asset in a virtual, modelled world. Elements and systems are created in the model where they will be installed. The result is more efficient and cost-effective, with less waste.

Working in a BIM environment

Creating a shared digital dataset requires designers, contractors and subcontractors to work together seamlessly to common objectives to meet the client’s brief. All members of the project team are literally on the same digital page, sharing information in a common environment. BIM produces joined-up thinking enabling collaboration, with beneficial outcomes for all.

Types of collaboration

Two types of collaboration can be leveraged to improve the performance and productivity of the building industry.

  • Intra-discipline or intra-trade collaboration allows members in a discipline team or specific trade to be in different locations or organisations. The aim is to provide the most appropriate resource for each task, depending on requirements for specific skills, labour costs or workload.
  • Inter-discipline or inter-trade collaboration looks at each interdependent activity and assesses who is best placed to undertake which task. For example, should the electrical designer or the architect locate the lights on the ceiling? The electrical designer has responsibility for the lighting performance and the architect has responsibility for the aesthetic. This can result in numerous design iterations with the architect’s lights and engineer’s lights in differing quantities and locations.

Meeting the challenges

Collaborating with BIM has challenges that can be addressed with a shared commitment to working in the client’s best interests.

Who manages the BIM process?

The design manager and BIM manager must work closely with each other to create an environment where the needs of all project participants are heard and the ‘best for project’ decisions are made.

Each project participant, including the client, needs to have someone responsible for ensuring that what they produce aligns with agreed standards and processes. The power of BIM is that both graphical and non-graphical (metadata) design elements can be viewed and analysed very easily.

The BIM manager should review what has been produced by the team and, if information is lacking or is in the wrong format, discuss this with the relevant parties. Where a change in design is needed, this conversation should be coordinated with the design manager.

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What software platform to use?

The systems and software used must be agreed at the start of the project. Collaboration is much easier when the same software packages and versions are used by project team members. However, collaboration between disparate systems is possible using open formats such as Industry Foundation Class (IFC).

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Who owns what?

Some project elements may be related to the work of two disciplines. To build on the previous example, the engineer is responsible for lighting performance and the architect is responsible for the lighting aesthetic.

A collaborative workflow for this process could be:

  • the architect models the internal spaces
  • the engineer undertakes the analysis to determine the number and type of lights in each space
  • the engineer places the lights in the spaces in approximate locations, then gives ownership of the lights to the architect
  • the architect makes any changes required, sets out the ceiling grid, locates all lights within the grid, then passes ownership of the lights back to the engineer
  • the engineer indicates the circuiting for the lights and completes the documentation.

Where responsibility and liability fall

The three things that must be understood at the start of a project are:

  • clear contractual obligations – who does what and when
  • a clear list of deliverables and how these are to be used and relied on
  • appropriate risk allocation.

BIM collaboration checklist

Go through this checklist together at the start of a project to agree a collaborative working process with all key participants:

  • Agree key objectives for the project. Collaboration starts with trust and a shared vision for what you want to accomplish.
  • Decide how achievement of these objectives will be measured.
  • Clarify roles and responsibilities, including who is leading the BIM process.
  • Agree accountability/liability for key project deliverables.
  • Confirm and document the scope of work with a clearly defined timeline.
  • Decide the most effective way to communicate with each other.
  • Agree how decisions will be made and communicated.
  • Discuss different team members’ specific interests, needs and values so these are clear and understood by all parties.
  • Agree on meeting protocols that empower everyone to participate. There can be hidden bias towards the most senior person’s ideas. True collaboration ensures that are all voices are heard and diversity of thought is valued.
  • Identify challenges and obstacles, and agree a process for addressing them.
  • Remember, collaboration is an essential part of how we need to operate to be successful in today’s world.

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For more

Further information is available at www.biminnz.co.nz.

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Articles are correct at the time of publication but may have since become outdated.

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