BIM - Building Information Modeling Information modeling of buildings and constructions

Three-dimensional model of a complex of buildings of JSC Sibneft-Noyabrskneftegaz. Noyabrsk, Russia

According to the concept, solutions on the basis of BIM technologies cover all workflows – from design and construction, before repair and operation of construction objects. All project changes and documentation are conducted in uniform information 3D - space. Among advantages – double acceleration of works, compliance to the quality standards and to security, reducing costs for construction and service and so forth.

As BIM it is understood:

• the system of creation and use of the coordinated, consecutive project information allowing to visualize projects in a context and precisely to predict utilization properties;
• the three-dimensional model of the building, or other construction object connected with the information database in which each element of model can appropriate additional attributes, such as price, material, schedule, etc.

"If earlier the abbreviation of BIM was decrypted as Building Information Modeling, information modeling of buildings and constructions, then now even more often understand as this term Building Information Management, construction and information management, – Artur Virit, the BIM expert of Lemminkäinen Talo Oy company is convinced. – Information models, at their correct filling, can bring benefit not only on blueprint stage, but also at all stages of lifecycle of constructions. Data of BIM can be used at vendor interaction of materials and the equipment, with contractors-builders, with customers and even directly with end users – for example, at sale of apartments. However I will emphasize that new opportunities will be available only if information models are developed and filled with the relevant information correctly, correctly and without errors".

"BIM tools allow not only to increase quality of construction in general, but also to manage it, – Heikki Kulusjärvi, the managing director of Solibri Inc company is sure. – The error price directly depends on when it is detected. If the error is revealed at a production phase, then its cost increases by 100 times in comparison with the cost of the same error found in design process. If the error is found at installation, it will be by 1000 times more expensive. If case reaches judicial proceedings, then and in 100 thousand times is more expensive – the truth, at this stage is not important any more who is right and who is guilty as both parties will suffer. So to find an error as soon as possible – an invaluable possibility of BIM. But the most important the fact that using BIM we can do buildings more qualitative and more convenient".

Possibilities of BIM systems

• BIM systems provide the environment for full-fledged management of lifecycle of construction, combining in themselves Wednesday of modeling and the complete information about the project. BIM systems are development of CAD systems. But if the drawings built in CAD are flat, then BIM uses even not 3D - and 4D-and, moreover, 5D-modeling as two more "measurements" — time and cost are added to a 3D model of the building. The virtual building not just consists of vector lines, and gathers from parts, each of which is given the detailed description (the supplier, the price, information on a construction order). Thus, all process of building can be monitored on the computer, to browse scenarios "that if" and to find out what solutions will be optimal.

• Parametrical modeling of buildings. The parametrical model of the building integrates a 3D model and external data. The model is correctly updated at change of its separate elements. On its basis all work documentation forms. All elements of model are connected by dependences. At change of model documentation is updated automatically. Use of BIM means work directly with building model from any kind – it can be floor-by-floor plans, cuts or even a field in the specification. If it is necessary to make changes to model, then the engineer can use any kind. All types are synchronized among themselves and are updated automatically.
• Consolidation of the different commands working on the project. As, architects, engineers, builders and customers work with one model, each project participant always possesses reliable and up-to-date information about work of others.

Advantages of BIM systems

• The error probability decreases.
• Construction cost is reduced.
• Resources at stages of construction and operation are optimum used.
• Information exchange between participants of process of construction becomes simpler.

Integration of BIM and IoT: practice and perspectives

If the first software packages for modeling of buildings appeared still in the late seventies — the beginning of the 1980th years, then the British researcher of RFID technologies Kevin Ashton for the first time used the term Internet of Things (Internet of Things, IoT) only in 1999. Attempts of integration of two technologies were made about 5-6 years ago though at the level of the idea such solutions were discussed for a long time^[1].

What basic functions can the BIM model with the module IoT connected to it perform? They are two: control and management. Control assumes that the data collected using sensors of Internet of Things are displayed in BIM model, and the user can see all picture entirely. At control function accomplishment the command goes from BIM model to sensors.

Using BIM model it is possible to control the different systems of life of the city. Principle of works uniform. There is a certain sensor or the controller which removes certain parameters: the sensor of opening of doors shows whether the door is open, the temperature sensor gives information on indoor temperature, etc. Controllers have a coordinate binding to space of XYZ: the sensor of opening of a door is tied to a certain door, the temperature sensor is tied to a certain premises. In BIM model there is also this coordination binding therefore we can find a certain door or a certain premises.

The bright example of application of Internet of Things in BIM modeling is a management of premises microclimate parameters. And humidity it is the simplest to connect temperature sensors to BIM model. Practically in each building there is the thermal point which is equipped with controllers. The manager sees what temperature and what pressure in each building and can manage these parameters remotely. For the organization of management in the automatic mode the controller needs to set the program, for example, to turn on the pump if pressure fell below a certain mark.

The same way it is possible to automate lighting of the territory when a system itself switches on and off light in compliance the set parameters. Also by means of an information model it is possible to manage pumps, supporting a certain pressure or if it is heat exchangers and three-way cranes with drives in thermal points of residential or public buildings to manage also temperature.

In buildings and constructions of industrial function the sensors. For example, on all pipelines of the pumping-over stations there are manometers and thermometers showing pressure and temperature of pipelines. In an oil and gas sector such operational BIM model is very often applied. Besides, often using an information model manage the different systems of the security and fire warning. In the address systems it is possible to see a location where signaling worked.

Other example of use of "smart" controllers in operation of constructions — monitoring systems of constructions of stadiums which represent network of the sensors controlling technical condition of an object in real time and the software accompanying the equipment installed on the building. In Russia such system was implemented for the first time on Olympic venues in Sochi, and scaled on FIFA-2018 stadiums later.

There are examples of the organization of more complex automated systems such as regulation of a signal of the traffic light in a binding to the movement of trams — if there is no tram, then the tram section on the traffic light does not join. The controller of control of traffic lights is configured on approach of the tram and when it approaches, gives it a priority.

It is necessary to notice that in the Russian practice there are not enough so far examples of compound integration when within one information model data of the different city systems are collected. Inclusion and switching off of street lighting is not connected in any way with garbage removal therefore manage these processes using the different systems.

Creation of digital doubles with a large number of different sensors of Internet of Things is a problem of the future. And in world practice there are successful cases. The most large-scale is the project on development of an information model of Singapore of Virtual Singapore. On the three-dimensional map of the city-state it is possible to make out not only buildings and roads, but even doors, windows, benches in the park and lampposts. Using the digital double of the power can predict, for example, as construction of stadium will change a situation on roads because a large number of different sensors and level of automation high is integrated into an information model.

Despite successful world experience, integration of BIM and IoT is difficult and expensive process today. In the market there are no universal, "boxed" solutions. Within each project it is necessary to use programmers for integration of BIM and IoT. Connection of sensors to model is performed using such platforms for scheduling as Autodesk Forge which will recognize the signal which came from the controller on any of protocols — Modbus, CAN, LONbus, RS-485, etc. and tie him to BIM model.

BIM as reserve of decrease in cost value of construction of housing

One of the few remained solutions of decrease in cost value of construction of housing is implementation of BIM technologies, since the very first stage of lifecycle of the building, - Alexander Osipov, the CEO of BIM Academy so comments on a situation. - At a zero stage the BIM tools the developer will be able to calculate the estimated value of an object, further having constant control over object BIM model from any place in the world at any moment. It will give it the chance to predict further scenarios of development on the basis of up-to-date data and to truly estimate liquidity of investments, to prevent risks and as a result to increase profitability.

Having begun design in the environment of BIM and having issued the qualitative work documentation, - Alexander Osipov supplements, - the developer will bring closer start time of construction, by our estimates, for 20%. On a building site will become possible to optimize logistics and to carry out regular inspections on space and time collisions that as a result will accelerate time of construction and will bring closer a stage operation. A result for the developer will become reductions of term of return of investments up to 20%".

BIM manager

"The profession of the BIM manager is new to Russia, - Alexander Vysotsky, the leading specialist of department of a CAD of PSS company tells. – However the concept of BIM is clear and known to already much. The axiom is considered that using BIM it is possible to achieve significant increase and performance of work and its quality, but also, to considerably reduce project implementation terms. However, as well as the majority of technologies, BIM requires specialization. the mnogofunktsionalnost and flexibility of BIM-applications causes their complexity and difficulties of setup, and respectively and increased requirements to employees. The companies working according to this concept more than ever need the professionals capable not only to work with the help of this or that BIM-application, but also all employees able to coordinate work participating in process".

The main objective of the BIM manager – to provide effective use of technology in the organization, between its departments, with contractors. Among duties of such employee there are a preliminary planning, implementation and observance of the BIM standards and also the organization of joint work over the project (including cross-platform).

"the BIM manager is required to all construction and project companies interested in high-quality and effective implementation and use of BIM technology. At the same time the position in the staff list of the company should appear earlier, than process of implementation of BIM technology will begin, – Rusina Elena, the leading specialist of department of a CAD of PSS company explains. – The organization and management of BIM at the level of the company belong to duties of such employee, determination is more whole uses of this technology, development and the approval of procedural documentation and also management of the staff of department of BIM, development of training programs and advanced trainings. Besides, the BIM manager represents the interests of the company at customer interaction or partners in the field of information modeling".

However so far not all enterprises are ready to select for these functions of the individual employee. In some companies the main chief architect, the designer or the engineer try to combine this position with the. But such approach is not correct because the functionality of a position of the BIM manager is very broad and selection only threatens a part of necessary time for its accomplishment with serious risks for the projects implemented with application of BIM. For this purpose there are objective reasons.

Ideally for the most effective use of BIM in the organization should be in a different way: the organization structure should change, at the level of a position of GIPA or the project manager the new position of the BIM manager in parallel appears. At a large number of the BIM projects there is a need for the BIM coordinator who directly participates in development, advises designers. Ideally existence in staff of the BIM master for development of libraries of elements is desirable. At the same time information and technology management of creation of model and approval of actions of all participants of project process remains the main task of the BIM manager.

"The situation with use of information modeling in the Russian companies gradually changes for the better: in the current projects we see growth of understanding by top managers of that fact that mastering of BIM is necessary for further business development. If earlier implementation in the organizations went from below, was initiated by specialists - enthusiasts who in the free time tried to master and to partially implement this technology in some processes of the company, then now process of implementation goes on top, and the efficiency from such approach is much higher, – Elena Rusina summarizes. – The Ministry of Construction and Housing and Communal Services of the Russian Federation assumes that in 2018-2019 the state order in construction will pass to BIM technology. After acceptance by the Government of the Russian Federation of "The plan of step-by-step implementation of technologies of information modeling" the response of the construction market to use of BIM technology considerably increased, more and more customers show an initiative and turn on project implementation using BIM technology in compulsory provisions of the tender that pushes the project companies to mastering of BIM technology".

You See Also

• BIM is the directory of systems and projects in Russia
• BIM technologies (market of Russia)
• BIM technologies (world market)

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