Building Information Management (BIM) is becoming the accepted way of delivering construction projects. While the benefits of BIM during the planning and design phases of a project are well documented, BIM and 3D CAD are no longer just for creating drawings. As BIM provides value throughout a facility´s entire life cycle, project managers, contractors, and construction managers are increasingly using BIM for construction management. The improved communication and collaboration that BIM provides can also help improve the efficiency of the construction phase and lead to better-informed decisions. Here are the top five benefits of BIM for construction management.
3D models, the core component of BIM, offer advantages for the construction phase especially if the building design or the site conditions are complex. Being able to see the end product visually makes it easier to decide what is the best way to construct the project. It can also help identify if there are any potential clashes between components, phases, trades, or even site features before the project begins construction. Site logistics such as temporary storage spaces for machines, office buildings and building materials, cranes, support structures, and temporary roads can better be planned and understood with the help of BIM models. Different options can be compared until a workable solution is found. Having this information prior to beginning work on site helps eliminate redesign or rework while the structure is being built for a more cost-effective and timely construction phase.
With BIM, the 3D model of the project contains all the project information, including materials, products, and performance specifications. There’s no need for contractors to undertake a separate, lengthy take-off exercise in order to calculate the quantities – this is done by simply generating a quantity report. With the quantities and specification information derived directly from the model, creating a cost estimate for project tendering is much easier, quicker, and more accurate compared to using 2D drawings. Using BIM software with openBIM data exchange interfaces also makes exporting information into tendering or estimating programs easy and reliable.
Another key benefit of BIM for construction management is that advanced 3D modeling software allows the construction phase to be planned and simulated virtually. This can help determine the optimum construction sequence for complex projects and allows different options to be trialed before the work begins. It is also useful for calculating how long each construction activity will take, enabling a precise construction schedule to be created. BIM provides a perfect basis for a LEAN construction process.
Prefabrication and modular construction are increasingly being used on projects to shorten the construction duration, reduce material wastage and costs, improve quality, and control labor costs. Having a higher degree of detail earlier in the design phase means that prefabricating sections of the project become more viable. The BIM model can be used to create shop drawings for prefabrication and is increasingly used as an information source in automated manufacturing processes that use digital machines.
Rather than relying on updating as-built drawings, using BIM for construction management instead allows contractors to maintain an accurate, real-time record of the construction phase. By updating the information in the BIM model as the work progresses, the building information is centralized and easily accessible for facilities management staff. The model can also be used during the asset’s complete life cycle: for its ongoing operation and maintenance, as well as any future refurbishments or demolition work. For contracts with a building operation element, this can be a significant time-saver.
