We live in a globalised world in which interoperability between people and businesses on a global scale is now commonplace. We are part of the digital revolution. The six degrees of separation theory (which explains that we are connected to anyone on the planet through no more than 5 acquaintances) can now be reduced to four thanks to the development of telecommunications, and more specifically the internet. This is a clear example of the increasingly exponential trend towards global digitalisation through the use of online profiles and platforms. The tremendous misfortune of COVID-19 has also shown us how connected we are to each other these days. This connection has materialised in the architecture sector through the BIM methodology.
The BIM Methodology
Within the digital revolution, the BIM methodology is part of globalisation in terms of workflows and the connection between its stakeholders. The BIM methodology is a means by which different teams located in different places are connected with very clear objectives: the reduction of deadlines, of costs, and a substantial improvement in quality, where distance is no longer measured in kilometres.
The theory of six degrees of separation, written by Hungarian writer Frigyes Karinthy in 1929
The BIM methodology organises people, tools and processes. Based on a collaborative environment for project management, using a digital model, it allows for the management of the elements that comprise it throughout its entire lifecycle, making it much more efficient by including designers, builders, suppliers and other agents involved in said building. The methodology Lean Construction and the different sustainability and health certifications such as LEED, BREEAM, Passivhaus o Alright They are perfectly compatible with the BIM methodology. In fact, BIM provides a series of tools and processes that facilitate their achievement for these certifications.
We are generating lifestyles that involve connecting everything. With Smart Cities, and through the use of BIM and GIS (Geographic Information Systems for collecting, managing, and analysing data) methodologies, it is possible to connect different buildings, as well as organisations and public spaces within cities, equipping them with analytical tools and, most importantly, connecting people in a much more collaborative way.
In the BIM methodology, a digital model allows for the management of a building over its lifespan.
The BIM-BAM-BOOM
The application of the BIM methodology over time is fundamental. The “BIM-BAM-BOOM”, an acronym adopted by Patrick MacLeamy, provides an intuitive and quantitative representation of the relative importance of the various tasks across the three most significant phases of a building’s life cycle.
BIM refers to the initial modelling of the project, whilst BAM refers to the construction of the building (or Building assembly) and the BOOM operational phase (or building management). Patrick MacLeamy states that for every dollar invested in the design phase, a further twenty are spent during the assembly or construction phase and sixty over the building’s lifespan, assuming a lifespan of around fifty years. By bearing this in mind and managing the process using a virtual model, we can optimise costs.
Benefits of the BIM methodology
The BIM methodology does not replace existing methodologies. It provides more efficient tools throughout the construction process by taking a different approach to its various phases. The BIM methodology is based on the use of information-rich models that support decision-making through a collaborative working process, automating project development by standardising elements and processes.
BIM methodology reduces costs. This methodology involves an increase in work during the initial design phases, which allows for change management in later stages, minimising the impact of modifications and unforeseen events that would entail high costs in those phases.
The BIM methodology allows all users to access the models easily. With the standardisation of BIM projects, technical teams are guided and supported, defining the processes they must follow to create, update, and use the information model, allowing for these models to be easily accessible to all users.
BIM methodology provides greater control over the project. The use of various BIM tools gives us more comprehensive control over measurements, the budget and the project itself throughout its development, enabling us to anticipate potential problems during construction.
The BIM methodology provides greater control over the project by identifying potential issues before construction begins
BIM models bring greater coherence to information. A BIM model is compatible with various software packages for calculation, analysis, coordination and visualisation, ensuring greater consistency of information within the model. As it also serves as a single repository of information, there is greater coordination between the different disciplines (architecture, structural engineering and services) and with other stakeholders throughout the building’s lifecycle.
A BIM model improves decision-making, timelines, and the suitability of changes. Ambiguities and errors are minimised by anticipating potential on-site issues through the detection and analysis of clashes between elements.
A BIM model improves the storage and use of information. As it serves as a single repository for information, with all data housed within a single container via the BIM digital model, everything is much more organised and accessible, thereby eliminating errors caused by duplication, loss of documentation or simply the inability to locate the source of that information.
The BIM methodology provides support for decision-making. A BIM model improves the ability to respond to unforeseen events and enhances communication between the parties involved; it ensures consistency across the various disciplines and facilitates the transfer of information from the design stage through to the operation and maintenance phase.
BIM methodology is widely used and constantly evolving. Today, it is impossible to imagine any other methodology, given its many benefits and the high level of interoperability it offers at all levels. To turn our backs on this methodology is not to turn our backs on the future; it is to turn our backs on the present. With the incorporation of AI (artificial intelligence) models, amongst other things, we would already be talking about the 5th Digital Revolution, which is becoming increasingly prevalent.
In Evaluate We can help you integrate the BIM methodology into your project, maximising the design, reducing costs and facilitating the implementation of other standards such as Lean Construction, WELL, LEED or Passivhaus. Please get in touch with us for more information!
Juanjo Rodríguez
Architect and BIM specialist
