B2 - Group D Jiaao Wu

         Building Information Modeling as a new design method changes the way of building design. It puts more efforts on conceptual design instead of automating aspects of traditional drawing production. For architects and engineers, this chapter examines the impact of BIM from four viewpoints including conceptual design, the integration of engineering services, construction level modelling and design-construction integration. The effects are mainly on consistency across all drawings and reports. As the chapter states that “Building Information Modeling provides major challenges and opportunities to design firms. Since BIM has put more emphasis on the conceptual stage, it will bring great savings on the construction cost. During the conceptual stage, BIM requires the firms to uses to use different software to design and evaluate the BIM project such as structural analysis, energy analysis, mechanical equipment simulation, lighting analysis/simulation, acoustic analysis, air flow and building function analysis. In addition to the conceptual design, BIM also helps the integrating design with construction. All these changes will shift the demand for design skills. On a typical project, the intern architect will decrease from 320 to 96 due to the use of BIM. However the demands for project manager and project architect will increase due to the high requirements of BIM.

         This reminds me the video watched on AE 390 class called “Performance by Design”. In the video, it gives a brand new design idea to work together with a single project. Several years ago, different engineers would only focus on their part, and finished the design separately, which would not be a very efficient way. And whenever if a little part need to be modified, it will take a long time to change. Most of these steps are on the initial stage, and many modifications will cause the waste the time of money. Thus, nowadays, different engineers collaborate first at the very beginning of a project, which I think conforms the idea of BIM put more emphasis on the conceptual design. Team work is always essential across the whole project.

        Although I have only read one chapter of BIM, I think this guide will be a fundamental material for the future study on building modeling. The basic steps would be familiar with different BIM tools as stating in Chapter2 including ArchiCAD, Bentley Architecture, Revit Building and Digital Project. This will provide us a solid foundation for BIM learning.

Comment to Abdulghani,

It is very interesting to see the author use Sydney Opera House as an example for understanding the conceptual design of a single project. And I agree that the BIM’s effects on cost estimation which is a base strength of BIM. The traditional design flow will tend to cause the waste of time and money.

Comment to Jonathan,

Jonathan puts more emphasis on the shifting demands for design skills. It says although a lot of intern architects can be reduced, however, it may not reduce the cost of the project since the project manager and architects will increase. And they usually have a higher rate. I like this point of view, but I think as the project managers become more familiar with Building Information System, the need for project manager will also decrease.

Comment to Mark,

It is great to see that Mark actually has combined his own working experience with Building Information Modeling. As he stated that BIM ensured the consistency throughout the project which would greatly improved the efficiency of the working teams. I think in the future, we will meet a lot of cases that described in BIM handbook. It will be very helpful to have this guide.

Eastman, Charles M. BIM Handbook : A Guide To Building Information Modeling For Owners, Managers, Designers, Engineers And Contractors. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2011. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost). Web.