Efficiency Through BIM
The UK Government believes that there is an opportunity to reduce capital cost and the carbon burden from the construction and operation of the built environment by 20% by using more efficient means for procurement and delivery.
The Government Construction Strategy was published by the Cabinet office on 31 May 2011. The report announced the Governments intention to require collaborative 3D BIM, all project and asset information, documentation and data being electronic on its projects by 2016. Central to these ambitions is the adoption of information rich Building Information Modelling (BIM) technologies, process and collaborative behaviours that will unlock new more efficient ways of working at all stages of the project life-cycle.
Autodesk Revit is building information modeling software for architects, structural engineers, MEP engineers, designers and contractors. It allows users to design a building and structure and its components in 3D, annotate the model with 2D drafting elements, and access building information from the building model’s database. Revit is 4D BIM capable with tools to plan and track various stages in the building’s lifecycle, from concept to construction and later demolition.
Understanding BIM
Building Information Modelling (BIM) is a means by which everyone can understand a building through the use of a digital model.
It is a series of processes supported by technologies that aim to increase understanding of a project. The processes are there to help a design and construction team communicate with each other and any other project stakeholders.
It is not a single piece of software nor is it simply a 3D model of a building; the key differentiator of BIM is the structured information that is associated with the 3D geometry in the models (the I in BIM).
BIM captures all this information which would normally be written in specifications and schedules and held in a ring binder and holds it in a central database for all the different systems.
With BIM a ‘digital prototype’ of the building is created first. The resultant model(s) can then be used to spatially coordinate inter-disciplinary designs prior to construction and thus avoiding rework on site saving time and money and reducing conflicts and changes during construction.
