BIM 'Building Information Modelling'
- For Residential Projects
9 February 2022
Making an educated guess is not always in your best interest, seeing is believing, or the proof is in the pudding we would say. This is how we approach our architectural design processes and Design Led building/construction phases.
With the use of ‘BIM’ – Building Information Modeling, we can, with great results hit that nail on the head, metaphorically speaking of course.
Firstly, let’s understand what is ‘BIM’ – Building Information Modeling and then we can move to what we use it for.
BIM– is software, widely used in the Architectural, Engineering, and Construction industry.
BIM– is visualization, a detailed representation of your building and all aspects, including its environment, is created
BIM– is a management tool, using virtual building modeling to navigate all parties through the entire life cycle of your project, and beyond.
BIM– is a database, everything regarding the building structure is shown in a virtual model, this creates the database which is used in all sectors of design, construction, operations, maintenance, renovations, alterations, and beyond.
Knowing what BIM is, is an advantage, even though by keeping the ‘KISS’ – Keeping it simple stupid method going, we can now easily move into how we can use BIM for your residential building projects.
The conventional drawing methods of putting it all down on paper have their limits, although you could with somewhat accuracy complete your project with or without any problems, it was and still is very rare that you don’t have any hick-ups down the road. They come out of nowhere and especially when you least expect it. With the first implementation of using the virtual building model, that hick-ups started to become less and less.
The key lies with the ‘I’ in Building Information Modelling – the virtual model supplies all parties throughout the entire life cycle with the required information needed to understand and ultimately make the right decisions early, I mean before the building actually exists, in a virtual representation – not like before when you unexpectedly found surprises in your design being implemented on-site, as this is true in 99% of all architects, designers, engineers, etc. – If they agree and accept it or not, it still stands true.
The journey to – was and never is a straight highway to your destination, it has many deviations and detours. Having as much information at your disposal as possible makes for fewer detours and deviations (Revisions).
Now let's look at what BIM can do for your next architectural project…
ADVANTAGES OF BIM FOR RESIDENTIAL DESIGNS
BIM is suitable for all types of projects, of any scale and it can successfully solve the unique complications of each building sector, with BIM in residential construction and BIM in residential architecture.
Residential owners and developers have realized that BIM, beyond a tool, is a method, which can be used throughout the practice for all types of projects of any size and design. As a result, BIM is used in more and more custom green homes projects.
THE SEVERAL ADVANTAGEOUS FACTORS OF BIM FOR RESIDENTIAL DESIGN:
- BIM increases productivity with structured information
- It improves collective understanding of design intent
- Provides accurate working drawings
- BIM is capable of analysis and simulation of energy, quantity, and cost (Bill of Quantities)
- It enables better project planning and thereby ensures accuracy
- Ensures minimum errors on-site as it uses virtual reality to model the structure
- Central registry of all building components are available in a virtual model of your building
- It offers cost estimates for early project certainty
- BIM enhances the design, construction, operations, maintenance, renovations, alterations, and facility management
- A useful tool for scheduling project construction activities
EFFECTIVE COLLABORATION TOOL
BIM enhances the collaborative effort of all members in a construction project including owners, architects, contractors, sub-contractors, engineers, suppliers, trade professionals, and building operations/facilities personnel. So, the right information is accessible in the right place at the right time. Therefore, all projects of any type and size -from complex commercial building structures to small residential projects, get the benefit of BIM.
ORGANIZED FLOW OF INFORMATION
The main feature of BIM - 3D Modeling has a significant role in improving the business and so residential owners and developers depend on visual 3D than 2D. Most of the clients find it difficult to understand the concept of a flat 2-D world, we can now view the project even before it is built. This technology also helps to avoid miscommunication, frustration, and waste.
BIM ENERGY MODELING
Increasing energy prices, unpredictable climate change, and occupant health consciousness are matters of high concern around the globe, the high consumption of energy and carbon emission worldwide are the threats to our world. So, people all over the world are forced to take necessary actions to sustain the society green. As all these phenomena matter to residential, institutional, and commercial building projects, the construction industry is under great pressure for changing the current design and construction approaches.
Here comes the importance of BIM. As this technology helps to reduce the waste and carbon emissions to the atmosphere, several construction firms found it compulsory to use the BIM tools in the construction of residential architecture projects and custom green homes.
Virtual Building allows for an accurate study of Natural light;
As natural light is one of the most essential elements in architectural design, which helps us transform spaces and save energy. With every project we undertake, we strive to find ways for natural light to permeate into the interior of buildings. BIM (Building Information Modeling) allows us to accurately transform our design with the help of the software, this brings the building to life in a virtual model, we know and can show detailed models of how the natural light transforms your building's spaces. Knowing exactly what to expect and to do the necessary alterations to get the most out of the building design.
FUTURE OF BIM
As BIM improves the broad-scale project ecosystem and enhances project outputs for all parties, it has growing implications in the construction industry. BIM can satisfy the unique workflow, expectations, and values proposition of each player on a construction project, as it can be applied in every situation. Integrated Project Delivery (IPD), the result of BIM application, makes a significant change in the world of the construction industry.
We all know that only big enterprises realized the usefulness of computers when it is introduced to the market first. But, now even small children are experts on the computer. Similarly, general contractors and sub-contractors as well as being increasingly using BIM to provide drawings and other disciplines in BIM. Both new projects and renovation projects start to apply BIM for better results.
BIM has proved to the industry, the owners, and developers of the world that its implementation is a needed one, not only has the benefits already been showcased throughout thousands of projects globally, within all major sectors across the field – BIM is still continuously looking for new ways to improve the AEC industry environment.
As industry professionals, we actively encourage BIM adoption in the AEC industry for both new construction and renovation projects.