October 2013 - Issue 11 

 

We're now looking at more and more BIM projects with requests coming from all over the UK, so I think we can now say BIM is the new standard for construction projects. And I'll happily admit I thought it might well have been 2014 before I could say that!

 

Of course I recognise that it's a bold statement and that BIM is far from being the norm, with the great majority of projects still being delivered using traditional methods. However my point is that almost everyone I talk to across every aspect of the industry is now acknowledging that BIM is the way forward. That certainly wasn't the case even just a year ago.

 

So, as one of the country's most experienced BIM practitioners (now that IS a bold statement but one that I believe to be true at least within the QS profession), we think we've seen and overcome many of the challenges that will be encountered as we move towards broader BIM deployment amongst our peer group and with architects and contractors. And it's one such a challenge that I look at in this issue as I examine the difficulties that can arise when working with a mix of 2D drawings and 3D models. This is something we've seen a lot of and the solution given in a new release from Vico Software is a major step towards enabling more rapid adoption of BIM.

 

You'll also see that we have released the next in our series of BIM software videos, showing individual features of our solution as an illustration of the power and ease of BIM technology in the workplace. This sequence shows how you create a cost plan.

 

Steven Gosling Managing Director  

 

For more information about BIM please contact Bernadette Lord, our BIM Specialist on 01635 277670 or via email at BIM@dsgquantitysurveyors.co.uk
Our website has a lot of useful information on our BIM solution. Please click here to view. www.dsgquantitysurveyors.co.uk

The need to identify and assess the impact of any changes to a set of drawings is one that every QS will be familiar with. And the risk of missing any changes - along with the associated costs in time and money - is something that we all will have experienced at some point during a project. Of course this is made worse when changes are being submitted at a rapid pace towards the end of the design phase, making it a struggle to keep track of them and make the appropriate adjustments to the cost plan or bill of quantities.

 

But now the issue reaches a new level of complexity as we transition to full BIM implementation because many projects exist in a 'hybrid' world of mixed 2D drawings and 3D models. How can you tell which elements have been modelled and to what accuracy? How can you determine what has changed in the model and if that has been included in the drawing set in order to decide if and when to involve the estimating or scheduling teams?

 

Ultimately every project will be modelled in 3D from the start, but until that point how can we change our processes or technology to manage this mismatch of 2D and 3D information?

 

The good news is that the developers of the BIM software that we use, Vico Office, have anticipated this problem and created a solution that largely overcomes the potential pitfalls that design changes can introduce. Called Document Controller, it organises all the drawing sets and model versions with a simple colour-coded system that alerts you to changes in 2D drawings and 3D models simply by turning new, deleted, and modified pieces different colours. This visual approach makes it easier to gain a 'feel' for the level of changes and, if you think a model has been changed enough to warrant an estimate update, you just right-mouse click to activate it. This results in new construction-calibre quantities being generated with the changes cascading through the schedule and estimate to produce a new, accurate output.

 

In summary the software allows you to:

• Bring in and manage multiple pdf drawings and 3D models.
• Organise 2D drawings and 3D models into a structured project registry. With this one version of the truth teams can quickly identify which drawings have changed.
• Makes sure that everyone on the project is working on the latest drawings and models.
• Automatically locate which specific drawings and 3D models have changed from one version to the next in minutes.
• The identified changes are automatically transferred to any new versions so teams can't lose track of any changes and historical data for changes can be easily retrieved.
• Insert reference planes into the 3D model, both vertically and horizontally. The 2D drawings slide into the model on these reference planes to allow comparison of the differences between 2D and 3D information.

 

Hopefully other developers will follow suit with similar features but the point is that this shows how, despite some challenges relating to the adoption of BIM, the technology is flexible enough to support enhancements such as this that make it easier to transition. As we undertake more and more BIM projects I'm sure we'll encounter other issues, but I'm confident that in turn they will all be overcome as we move forward to more effective, efficient and ultimately cheaper construction projects.

 Visit Our Website for more information

DSG Quantity Surveyors provides support for clients across the UK from its head office in Newbury and regional offices in Coventry and Manchester. Founded as a traditional quantity surveying practice, we offer the full range of services based around traditional values and high levels of customer service. We were also one of the first practices to fully embrace BIM and now offer a 5D BIM solution, with skilled personnel that have a strong grasp of the technology as well as an understanding of the different approach that is needed to ensure the most effective application of BIM throughout the project.

Through investment in people, process and technology our mission is to provide the most effective, high quality service to every client. Whether it's a traditionally-based individual development or a complex, multi-million pound Government procurement contract delivered by a consortium of providers, we will apply the same rigorous approach from start to finish.

• Trust: our people have the skills and technology to handle any project.
• Value: we focus on continuous improvement to save you time and   money.
• Certainty: we have the national resources to ensure that we always deliver.

For the architect we ensure that the design process becomes more efficient, with greater control and tracking of modifications, whilst the client has a more accurate and clear view of the final building.
For the contractor we make sure that bills of quantity become more detailed and accurate, reducing waste and enabling more efficient, timely site management.
For the stakeholder we make it easier to assess the impact of changes before committing to them and there is greater confidence that the project will be delivered to specification, on time and within budget.

Our focus is always on seeking new ways to deliver greater value and this approach provides the best result at every stage of the construction lifecycle.

Thanks you for taking the time to read our latest BIM Update. I hope you have found it useful and interesting. Please email us should you require any specific help with a BIM project or more detail on any item in this issue.

Steven Gosling

DSG Quantity Surveyors 

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Building Information Modeling (BIM) is an intelligent model--based process that provides insight for creating and managing building and infrastructure projects faster, more economically, and with less environmental impact. Autodesk BIM software includes a comprehensive portfolio of solutions for design, visualization, simulation, and collaboration that uses the rich information in the intelligent model to inform better decision-making and break down the barriers to better business. -  link to an Autodesk Article

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