The adoption of BIM in the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry is gaining momentum, thanks to more companies working on getting better bottom-line returns from streamlining workflows.
The model-based approach of BIM means that all contractors involved in a project can access every step involved in one area. This is just one benefit of adopting BIM, but there are many other benefits that you may not be aware of.
Here are our top 6 benefits of how BIM helps in construction and how it can drive both budget and time savings for building and infrastructure projects:
#1 Improvement of communication and collaboration on site
Communication and collaboration are essential in the AEC sector. Still, confusion has occurred due to different versions of the same design or even different designs. With BIM, however, construction teams can now use the built-in cloud functionality to ensure a smoother process.
The cloud allows all stages of a project’s lifecycle to be viewed on-site or offsite on any connected device meaning everyone can review designs and make changes in real-time. It also means there is no need to worry about file corruption or deletion, as an entire version history is automatically available.
#2 Optimisation of costs
A recent survey showed that 75% of construction companies currently using BIM had seen a reduction in costs. Cost is a big issue for the AEC sector as clashes are not detected until the construction phase; this can be extremely costly to resolve. BIM allows clash detection before the first brick is even laid. BIM can also help reduce the number of unused building materials and labour expenses – saving both time and money.
#3 Better visualisation in pre-construction
One of the main issues with 2D design is that it can be hard for both clients and contractors to visualise the end building in the real world. Using BIM, you can plan and visualise the entire building project during the pre-construction phase before the first hole is dug.
BIM can also help with the simulation of things that can help architects calculate building energy performance better, allowing them to design buildings with peak performance.
#4 Improvement in productivity
Time is always precious when it comes to any construction project, and so if the building design is messed up at any stage of the process, the whole project could be set back irretrievably. With the use of BIM, however, everything can be planned precisely, and every object can be added to a database so that every change can be tracked.
#5 Improvement in site safety
Although building projects need to be quick and efficient, it is also vital that all builds are safe. The safety of contractors should always be at the forefront of your mind before any building project is started.
BIM can help with this as it can pinpoint hazards before they become real-life issues and ensure you avoid any physical risks through the visualisation and planning of site logistics.
#6 Better building execution overall
The increased reliability of a coordinated model allows for means that buildings will be executed better overall. By sharing standard BIM tools, more experienced contractors can work together with less skilled contractors throughout the entire project, which will mean better control of technical decisions around design execution.
The optimal way to construct a building can be tested early on in the project, and the best way is chosen, with structural deficiencies identified at the source. Then during the actual construction phase, reality capture technology can be used to improve accuracy for future projects.
As you can see, BIM offers numerous benefits to construction companies. Contact the experienced team at The CAD Room to learn more about how we can help with your BIM requirements.
