As you are probably aware now, BIM is about a number of things, including 3D modelling, 4D schedule simulation, 5D cost estimation and 6D asset management.<\/p>\n
However, a very important part of BIM is collaboration and the \u201csingle source of truth\u201d.<\/p>\n
To explain, everybody within the project team, including the client and any sub-consultants need to be using exactly the same data.<\/p>\n
You may think you already do this, but you may be innocently working in a silo.<\/p>\n
Do you produce your models and drawings on your own servers and then upload them to a collaboration site?<\/p>\n
If you do you are already missing the single source of truth \u2013 you will definitely have different versions on your server compared to the ones on the collaboration site.<\/p>\n
Also, if you have another consultant working on your project doing something like drainage design, traffic signals design, structural design etc I\u2019ll bet they are working from their own servers and then uploading their work to the collaboration site.<\/p>\n
So what version is on the collaboration site and what version is on their servers?<\/p>\n
Do you work on your computer\u2019s hard drive or C drive?<\/p>\n
If you do you have same problem as the consultants.<\/p>\n
The answer is for everybody to work on a sophisticated file collaboration site such as Bentley Projectwise, which can handle all files including documents and model files. Projectwise checks out files to the user and locks the checked-out files so that nobody else can access them until they are checked in \u2013 so a real single source of truth.<\/p>\n
Other file collaboration systems are available, however I don\u2019t have much experience of them so I can\u2019t comment on them.<\/p>\n
If you are already producing 3D models you probably think you are doing okay, however you also need to think about the further BIM processes such as 4D, 5D and 6D.<\/p>\n
Does your software allow you to attach intelligent data to elements in your model or can you create IFCs from your model, allowing you to transfer your model to another software package which will allow you to attribute the elements?<\/p>\n
If it doesn\u2019t then your software package isn\u2019t really suitable for the whole BIM process and you need to think about changing your software package.<\/p>\n
4D schedule simulation is invaluable as tool for seeing what is being built at any particular time on your programme. It also shows if you have missed any work activities from your programme and it will highlight any clashes between built work and elements still to be built.<\/p>\n
So \u2013 your 3D model needs to be capable of being used by good 4D software such as Synchro.<\/p>\n
With any 4D scheduling software you need to be able to associate an element in your model with a work activity on your programme.<\/p>\n
If you don\u2019t have suitable elements in your 3d model and you only have 3D lines then you can\u2019t do 4D schedule simulation from your model.<\/p>\n
5D cost estimation is about being able to extract usable information from the elements in your 3D model which you can export to a spreadsheet, allowing you to instantly calculate the costs of the elements in your project.<\/p>\n
Again, if you don\u2019t have elements in your model and you only have 3D lines then you won\u2019t be able to do this.<\/p>\n
Also, if your software isn\u2019t capable of exporting the data from your 3D model then it isn\u2019t BIM compliant.<\/p>\n
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