4 Ways Connected BIM Is Important to AEC

We’re living in a material world, indeed a connected world. Universal digital connectivity with digitized media formats enables us to connect instantaneously with our contacts. And that connectivity extends to our industries, including architecture, engineering and construction (AEC), and the use of building information modeling (BIM).

As stated in an online article by BIM Community, the business process called BIM is the most powerful practice in use in the AEC industry. With an intelligent 3D model-based process, BIM can help increase the quality of projects while minimizing the costs. Mainstream BIM processes have been in use in AEC for over twenty years, and we are finally seeing an uptick in advanced trends using BIM beyond design. One of the most transformative of those is connected BIM.

Connected BIM uses the cloud to integrate historically siloed raw BIM data with other sources. Every object in a BIM model contains data, which, when changed, triggers an automatic update of the entire model.

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The connected BIM process enables a free flow of data for improved collaboration among project teams to ultimately improve return on investment. This is just one of four ways connected BIM is important to AEC:

1. Collaboration – The connected BIM model serves as the central hub for everyone involved in a project and helps them keep lines of communication open. As traditional barriers to collaboration are removed, productivity can increase. The 3D BIM model contains all the information teams need, and it gives them insight into updates and revised workflows so they can react quickly. 

2. Accessibility – Through permissions, everyone on the project can be given access to the project model in real time and understand what their portion of the project requires, as well as how others’ changes affect their work. Interim as-builts by contractors can keep owners in touch with progress on the project. All of this and more can be accomplished using mobile devices.

3. Control – Connecting BIM with computational design can quickly calculate the cost impacts of design options. BIM can also be used to validate sustainability impact. From one phase of the project to the next, scheduling tools help coordinate procurement, as well as deployment of onsite equipment and workers. Managers can oversee and report on achievement of project milestones.  

4. Digitization – Connected BIM, with the technologies it can incorporate – the cloud, mobile devices, intelligent equipment, augmented and virtual reality capture, Internet of Things solutions, GIS, RFID (radio frequency identification) chips – offers the ability to digitize the entire AEC industry, something that’s been a long time coming. When processes from design to construction and fabrication are digitized, everything about the project can be streamlined and completed faster and more cost effectively.  

One of the most promising platforms for connected BIM is Autodesk Construction Cloud. Users can connect Revit models in the cloud so owners, architects, contractors and MEP, interior and structural designers can all work more closely together. With data extended across multiple products, processes and organizations, the dynamic efficiency and productivity from BIM processes becomes a reality.

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If you are ready to explore connected BIM, contact Applied Software, Graitec Group to learn how you can grow your business in this digitally connected world.

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