BUILDING INFORMATION MODELING AND ITS IMPACT ON DESIGN AND .
BUILDING INFORMATION MODELING AND ITS IMPACT ON DESIGN ANDCONSTRUCTION FIRMSByJOSEPH CARL KUEHMEIERA THESIS PRESENTED TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOLOF THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENTOF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OFMASTER OF SCIENCE IN BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONUNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA20081
2008 Joseph Carl Kuehmeier2
To my wife and family, for keeping me focused on the prize, and for giving me the opportunityto better myself. To them I will be forever grateful.3
ACKNOWLEDGMENTSI would like to thank the School of Building Construction for accepting me into theirprogram and the faculty for passing their knowledge and life experiences to me. I would like tothank Dr. R. Raymond Issa, Dr. Svetlana Olbina, and Dr. E. Douglas Lucas for serving as mycommittee members. Their knowledge and direction were critical to the completion of mythesis.I would like to thank my family, for without their support, I would not be finishing schoolright now. They have been the foundation and all that I have done is in honor of them and theirsupport.4
TABLE OF CONTENTSpageACKNOWLEDGMENTS .4LIST OF TABLES.7LIST OF FIGURES .8ABSTRACT.9CHAPTER1INTRODUCTION .111.1 Building Information Modeling.121.2 Statement of Purpose .121.3 Objective of Study .131.4 Scope and Limitations .132LITERATURE REVIEW .152.1 Principles of Building Information Modeling .152.1.1 Increasing Value Through Shared Information.192.1.2 National Building Information Modeling Standards (NBIMS).202.1.3 Collaborative Working .212.2 Productivity.242.2.1 Productivity in the Construction Industry .262.2.2 Input into Design .282.2.4 Ten Step Program for Improving Productivity.312.3 Advantages and Disadvantages of BIM .312.3.1 Proponents of BIM .332.3.2 Disadvantages of BIM.363METHODOLOGY .383.1 Productivity.383.2 Advantages and Disadvantages .393.3 Interviews .393.4 Process of BIM .404INTERVIEW RESULTS.424.1 Small Construction Companies .424.1.1 Construction Company 1.424.1.1 Construction Company 2.434.2 Company 3: Large Design / Build Firm .444.3 Company 4: Architectural Design Firm .445
5CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS .465.1 Increasing Productivity with BIM Using Adrian’s Model .495.1.1 Making the Project Look Like a Firm Rather Than a Job: Developing aPersonnel Management Program .495.1.2 Improved Communications .495.1.3 Planning a Productive Site Layout .495.1.4 Challenging the Work Process .505.1.5 Developing a Scientific Work Standard Versus an Accounting BasedStandards.505.1.6 Planning and Scheduling .505.1.7 Project Control and Productivity Improvement .505.1.8 Equipment Management to Enhance Productivity .515.1.9 Productivity Improvement through Safety .515.1.10 Productivity through Attention to Quality.515.2 Conclusion .515.3 Recommendations.51APPENDIXALIST OF TERMINOLOGY AND ABBREVIATIONS.53BINTERVIEW QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS .54LIST OF REFERENCES.57BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH .596
LIST OF TABLESTablepage2-1 Productivity increases for various industries (2002) .272-2 Reasons for nonproductive time in the construction industry .277
LIST OF FIGURESFigurepage2-1 Relationship of a BIM to all facets of the AEC industry. Courtesy of NBIMS AEdgar 2006. .182-2 Combining multiple models into a composite model (Contractors Guide to BIM 2006) .222-3 A section of the BIM model for One Island East tower in Hong Kong, GehryTechnologies’ (The Architects Newspaper 2006) .232-4 Frank Gehry’s Stata Center located at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).Image courtesy of 2006 http://philip.greenspun.com/copyright/.242-5 Distribution of construction company size by number of employees, 1996. (Dr. E.Douglas Lucas, 2008) .282-6 Analysis of productive and non productive time during a typical construction project(Adrian 2004).292-7 Reciprocal relationships between various parties involved in the design process and theBIM project.302-8 Computer modeling to analyze air temperature distribution to determine the benefits ofdisplacement ventilation in the courtroom lobby (Google image 2007) .352-9 The Pearl River Tower includes integrated wind turbines and photovoltaic panels tooffset its energy use. (Fortmeyer 2008) .355-1 A 3D polygon model and 2D lines and text compose a set of integrated constructiondocuments. Images courtesy FacilityGenetics (NIBS 2006). .465-2 Virtual construction documents and installation photograph. Images courtesyFacilityGenetics, LLC and Ghafari Associates (NIBS 2006).475-3 Installation process and equipment requirement. Accurate steel sizes, members, weightand cost. Images courtesy Kling (NIBS 2006). .475-4 Section details from Revit Tutorial (Revit 2008). .528
Abstract of Thesis Presented to the Graduate Schoolof the University of Florida in Partial Fulfillment of theRequirements for the Master of Science in Building ConstructionBUILDING INFORMATION MODELING (BIM) AND ITS POTENTIAL IMPACT ONSMALL CONSTRUCTION FIRMSByJoseph Carl KuehmeierMay 2008Chair: R. Raymond IssaCochair: Svetlana OlbinaMajor: Building ConstructionThe Construction industry is a business focused around providing a product through thetraditional construction process, which remains for the most part, independent of the designprocess. With the growing changes in technology, many areas of production and business(outside of construction) are being refined and redefined, leaving the construction industrybehind. Process of construction is still basically the same as it was hundreds of years before,from a set of drawings, a building in erected. For the most part, these drawings are neverwithout errors and omissions, causing many delays, multiple change order items, and lateprojects completion.With the advent of Building Information Modeling (BIM) software, theDesigner/Architect is given the opportunity to design the building, and the software develops theappropriate plans and sections needed for construction. This is good for the designers becausethe project is completed in 3-D and most, if not all conflicts can be resolved before constructionbegins. These are just the initial benefits that BIM can potentially help the design andconstruction industry.9
Design/Build firms can be extremely efficient because they house both the designers(Architects and Engineers) and the Construction Management professionals; however they stilloperate with the same flawed system of designers generating construction drawings and theconstruction team erecting the building. More advancements can be made to increaseproductivity in construction, reduce requests for information, eliminate coordination problems,decrease construction time, and increase quality. The BIM Software is the gateway to solvingthese issues.With dynamically linked on demand modeling, changes can be made by Designers in aremote location that would update digital construction drawings at the jobsite. Project managerson site can propose changes to the design team with no delay time. Means of construction can bedisplayed in 4-Dimensions for an increased understanding of construction sequencing by thecontractor on site. Any and all questions can then be answered immediately and virtually fromany location.Understanding the potential that BIM software has to offer and implementing it into theconstruction industry can be the next great advance since the advent of power tools andequipment, however this innovation has many issues that need to be resolved beforeimplementation of the software would be generally accepted. Once done, its full integration toimprove productivity for the AEC industry will be significant. This change over will be marketdriven by the owners of projects and come at a large initial cost for all construction companies,large and small.10
CHAPTER 1INTRODUCTIONConstruction is a labor intensive industry that has remained relatively unchanged forhundreds of years. Traditionally, a construction project, consisting of drawings andspecifications, is delivered by architects and engineers to the owners/clients of the proposedproject, with a warranty that the design is complete and free of any defects. Owners then put theproject up for bid among a selected list of contractors; the lowest bid typically being awarded thejob. Once the construction documents are in the possession of the general contractor andconstruction begins, the relationship between general contractors, architects and engineers alsobegins. This relationship tends to be typically limited and distant. Any changes or discrepanciesthat occur in the drawings are corrected, typically, by a long trail of paperwork, for a contractualperiod of time per each request for information (RFI). This can stifle productivity on the job sitebecause of trades waiting for pertinent information, and it can decrease morale among crewmembers, which also decreases productivity.Over the years, there have been many technological advances for architects, engineersand contractors. Architects and engineers are constantly updated with the most advancedcomputer programs to help in all aspects of their specific profession. Contractors have relied onlarge construction equipment to perform tasks, and computer programs to help in the estimatingand scheduling process for construction, both of which are integral in determining whether onnot a construction project will be profitable and if the construction company will continue to stayin business. There have been numerous advances in technology between the two sides of theindustry, Architects/Engineers (A/E) and Contractors, but when information is exchangedbetween the two, it is continually done on paper in a 2-Dimensional (2D) representation.11
This is an inherent problem between the A/E, and Contractors; the problem being thatArchitects take a 3-Dimensional (3D) image in their mind and, to the best of their ability, relatethat information in 2D drawings on paper. Drawings are then realized in physical form by thegeneral contractor, based on their ability to infer the design intent of the A/E. With the influx oftechnological advances in the construction industry, it stands to reason that the advancementhaving the largest, most influential impact would be one that changes the way in which theArchitects and Engineers exchange information with the general contractors, sub-contractors,and suppliers.1.1 Building Information ModelingThis technological advancement is being heavily promoted by Autodesk with theprogram Revit , which is used to develop Building Information Models. Building InformationModeling (BIM) software is a dynamically linked interface designed to take the place ofredundant computer aided drafting (CAD) work. Idea being, architects are free to design, andthe software generates the plans, sections, and elevations. Any changes to the documents changeany other instance of it throughout the drawings, to improve coordination. Reduction incoordination issues will reduce RFIs, which will increase productivity. Knowledge of theprogram is essential for the general contractor on site to make suggestions to the architects andengineers who address unanticipated field conditions, this will reduce non-productive time on ajobsite and increase construction job efficiency and productivity.1.2 Statement of PurposePurpose of this study is to research BIM and how it can be used successfully by bothdesigners and builders. Since BIM is supposed to be the process that both sides of theconstruction industry can use for their specific needs, just how well can this BIM software meettheir needs in conjunction with the specially tailored programs developed for designers and12
builders? Interviews were conducted to gage how BIM is being received by architects,engineers, and contractors; and how BIM can help construction companies improve theirmethods of construction and increase productivity. Intention being, to gain an understanding ofBIM, to determine the shortcomings of the program and to become aware of the barriers toimplementation that this program will offer in today’s very technological world.1.3 Objective of StudyObjective of this thesis is to study both the assets and limitations/complications withimplementing a BIM program in the design/construction industry. With knowledge of theprogram and how it works; the benefits of how BIM can increase productivity in the constructionindustry can be projected. With this objective, interviews were conducted with local large (1)and small (2) construction companies, to determine the possibility of implementing BIM intotheir daily operations. Their perspectives will also be attained about using BIM on projects, itbenefits to productivity and its disadvantages.1.4 Scope and LimitationsScope of this thesis involves doing research on what Building Information Modelingactually is, based on its core components. Research on BIM will make the benefits andlimitations more readily understood. Research was also done on productivity improvements inthe construction industry. Knowledge of practical concepts and initiatives used in the presentconstruction industry are essential in knowing how the construction industry works, and moreimportantly, how BIM can influence the construction industry.How BIM is being used in the AEC industry is revealing difficulties that have to beaddressed. Limitations are encountered because historical data is not readily available due to thelack of recordkeeping. This software is still in its infancy, and although most experts considerBIM to be the future of the construction industry, the change over by architects and engineers is13
very slow. In the construction industry, BIM is more widely accepted because of the ways that itlinks with currently used scheduling and estimating software.14
CHAPTER 2LITERATURE REVIEWWith the rapid adoption of BIM in the construction industry, and its gradualimplementation in the design industry, careful considerations have to be taken when making thechange over from the traditional method of creating construction documents towards a BIMapproach. There are plenty of positives, negatives, and unknowns that have to be consideredwhen implementing BIM. This chapter will discuss research that was done about thebackground of BIM, its perceived positive and negative effects, and productivity improvementsfor the AEC industry.2.1 Principles of Building Information ModelingInternational Alliance for Interoperability (IAI) was formed in September 1995, and sinceits release, has published three major releases of the Industry Foundation Classes (IFC). Thiswas the beginning of setting standards for object based data modeling. Standards that woulddefine the interoperab
1.1 Building Information Modeling This technological advancement is being heavily promoted by Autodesk with the program Revit , which is used to develop Building Information Models. Building Information Modeling (BIM) software is a dynamically linked interface designed to take the place of redundant computer aided drafting (CAD) work.
Autodesk Revit BIM (Building Information Modeling) Drawings Revit is BIM (Building Information Modeling) software, developed by Autodesk. It allows the user to design with both parametric 3D modeling and 2D drafting elements. Building Information Modeling is a Computer Aided Design (CAD) paradigm that employs intelligent 3D .
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Section 1 – Introduction to the National Building Information Modeling Standard Version 1 - Part 1: Overview, . BIM Overall Scope An expansive vision for building information modeling and related concepts. . High level description of how BIM information w
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