BIM Implementation & Process/Culture Change - Part 1

Following on from my previous post about BIMShowLive I am going to capture here my thoughts on some of the topics I covered in my presentation, in a series of posts in coming few weeks.

I start with Process/Culture change and it's importance to the successful BIM implementation. We are all in agreement that BIM implementation is not just about buying a piece of software but mainly changing hearts and minds. In fact 60% of BIM implementation is about process/culture change and the rest is about software/protocol/training etc.

I am sure you would have come across this strategic talks/discussions about BIM & process/culture change many a times in your career so far. But interestingly, one day a junior user asked me a question, after reading some of the BIM process/culture change material, that what does this mean to him? I scratched my head for a moment and explained him briefly what 2D vs 3D BIM is. So from a user's (and of course management) perspective lets have a look at  the following two wokflows.

TRADITIONAL 2D NON-BIM WORKFLOW

Traditionally, in 2D workflow we will focus on our contractual deliverables in 2D and would not worry about the building as a whole in terms of documentation (and coordination). We will focus on key GA plans, elevations, sections, details etc. We then exchange these 2D drawings with other consultants and overlay each others' drawings and find coordination issues. The cycle of overlaying drawings continues until we are satisfied of the level of coordination (and of course until the deadline is looming) and issue set of drawings as part of contractual deliverables.
Some of the outcomes of this process are: unfinished design, partially resolved design, and difficult to visualize design intent.

3D-BIM WORKFLOW

Now in 3D BIM workflow things are slightly different, assuming BIM models are also part of your contractual deliverbales on top of your main 2D deliverables. In BIM workflow you build your 3D BIM model to help you visualize the intent in 3D, coordinate the design spatially, and simulate options quickly. The bonus of this workflow is that when you slice your 3D model and you get 2D contractual deliverables ready!! Yes, it is not as simple as just slicing the model, you will need to spend some time tidying up sliced 2D views, annotate them, and in some cases spend some time embellishing sliced 2D view with some 2D details depending on the geometric LOD of your BIM model. Nevertheless, generating 2D drawings can't be easier than this. You also get fully/automatic coordinated 2D documentation set including schedules!!! Isn't this a fundamental change in the process of design/documentation?

For further reading see latest articles on this subject at construction manager and AECBytes.