BIM – What is the bloody point? (with Architect Ralph Montague)

Watch the episode on YouTube right here!

BIM is actually a way to communicate – that is if you want to be a part of our evolving industry.

We created a podcast episode called: ”BIM – What is the bloody point?” Where we discussed how the Construction Industry is too slow to adapt new processes and technologies. We point out the benefits of BIM. And how the process of BIM will improve your work.

First and foremost: BIM is misunderstood!

It´s not just 3D modeling:

• It´s a process and communication tool that helps us in construction.
• It helps us to be as efficient as possible. At the same it helps us stay within the timeline and budget of the project.
• The demand for infrastructure in our modern world forces us to evolve in this direction.

Basically: Adapt or die.

BIM is not a new and scary thing. It´s been in our industry since the 1970s.

You may think it´s quicker to draw a section in the traditional way than creating a three dimensional model. But think about it:

In the traditional way people often end up redrawing and remeasuring the same door 6 or 7 times.

It´s not an efficient way of working. Not when you have the technology to do it only once within a BIM workflow.

Your 3 reasons for using BIM?:

1. There´s no surprises at the end because of continues communication.
2. We´re not remeasuring – we´re validating.
3. The Industry can meet the human demand for infrastructure.

Going over budget and exceeding the timeline is a huge problem in our industry.

The Industry could avoid this by using BIM optimally.  Do you want to know how?

There´s no surprises at the end

A surprise can be pleasant, but it rarely is when it comes to construction.

We use BIM to see obstacles before they happen. We do this by using the 3D models as our center point of information for all stakeholders. Thereby creating a process of exchanging knowledge.

An exchange the traditional methods can´t keep up with.

The biggest problem in construction, at the moment, is the unpleasant changes on site which is the product of a lack of communication.

The Industry needs a new way to communicate.

Why don´t we pull the unpleasant changes and coordination into a software process?

You have to bring the expertise of the contracting community into the design process earlier. An integrated project delivery using BIM.

With the integrated approach, it’s possible to valuate the project continuously through the process.

The 4 major benefits in the process of BIM:

• Errors are less reactive for the process.
• It´s far cheaper to make a change in the digital world than on site.
• On a weekly basis, you’re able to sit down with each discipline lead and talk separately about their design and specifications.
• The Quantity Surveyors are part of the design process because the cost & carbon has to be a part of the design. And that is how we´re validating the costs/carbon as we´re going along, so there´s no surprises at the end.

The Industry need the Quantity Surveyors to be more proactive rather than reactive. The next step would be to get the Contractors and the Subcontractors, especially the Specialist Subcontractors, into the design process as well.

Not only do we interact in the process much earlier than the tradition in our industry prescribes, we also save huge amounts of time. Think about all the wasted time in our industry – used on remeasuring everything.

What if you could validate instead?

We´re not remeasuring – We´re validating

The project gets better results because it´s validated. Validated because we´re all working off the same principle information that the Engineer produced in the 3D model.

Imagine what we can do, when we are able to cut weeks and maybe months off the project.

All because the Quantity Surveyor wouldn´t need weeks to create the cost plans or months to create the BOQs. The Contractors would be able to reduce their tender time because of the efficiencies of information.

BIM is the foundation of that digital information and efficiency.

By using the technology, you can measure a project in seconds – compared to what people are doing in the traditional way.

We have already seen incredible companies ahead of the game using technology in this process. Ralph included. We always use foundations in our explanation as to why we should be adapting to a more data driven process.

One of KOSMOS’s selling points, is an integrated collaborative approach to cost management: Value driven cost management.

How to use the data driven process through BIM (in 3 simple steps):

1. The Engineer models the foundation, and you link that information, within your costing system to your price item.

2. Next time the model is updated: Your quantities update automatically as long as nothing has changed within the string of information.

3. You´re not remeasuring – instead you´re validating information and quality.

We´re taking all those hours that we spent remeasuring the same foundation. And we´re putting them into quality assurance instead. Creating value.

That’s a better product for:

• The Client.
• The Architect.
• The Engineer.
• The Contractor.
• The Quantity Surveyor.

If you are not willing to use technologies in a BIM process – how will you be able to deliver on your responsibility to society and clients?

We can meet the human demand for infrastructure

We have been building forever. It´s one of the oldest industries alive.

But over time we have also been able to develop new tools to make the process more efficient. In recent times, an Architect evolved from pencils, pens and printers to CAD and other technologies. The Industry has always been in progress.

Do not be scared of change: We´re still doing the same thing. We´re just doing it in a much more efficient way.

Technology is everywhere in society. You will be out of business if you refuse to adopt with the evolution.

It´s shocking how the Construction Industry convulsively holds on to the traditional way. The infrastructure we create has an impact on every human being in society. The build environment touches everyone. This is where your kids go to school. This is where you shop and work.

Our industry creates that environment.

And still… we are unable to communicate optimally.

It´s crucial for the Industry that we adapt new methods:

• The Industry needs a new dynamic.
• The technology to do this have been around for years.
• If we give you a 3D model, you can extract information in days – normally it takes weeks.

If everyone is able to share information earlier in the process, cost can become part of that early conversation. Cost was never a part of that conversation before.

Just imagine for a second if it was.

Wouldn’t you also save time?

So what is the bloody point of BIM? Well… the point is the responsibility we all have for our clients, and the society we´re all a part of.

Thank you Ralph Montague.