There are some that believe that the desire to utilize BIM is outpacing technology. This belief is ill-founded.
The REAL issue is that many Owners, Contractors, AE’s, BPMs (business product manufactures), and oversight groups are being outpaced as they lack BIM PROCESSES.
BIM is NOT 3-D rendering. Tools like Revit, ArchiCAD, … are only components of BIM. BIM is the combination of PROCESS and supporting TECHNOLOGIES to enable life-cycle management of the built environment.
Cloud technology will support web-centric collaboration and associated secure/rapid data exchange, as well as associated taxonomies, data architectures, etc. such as COBIE, IFC, OMNICLASS (and associated UNIFORMAT, MASTERFORMAT, etc.), STEP… It is a virtual certainty that BIM will be CLOUD centric.
The integration of the following TECHNOLOGIES and PROCESSES via the CLOUD will truly enable BIM:
Efficient Construction Delivery Methods and Software: ( IPD – Integrated Project Delivery, JOC – Job Order Contracting, JOC is IPD specifically for repair, renovation, sustainability and new construction; whereas IPD is for major new construction) – Cost Estimating (including visual estimating), Project Management, Document Management, Contract Management.
Capital Planning and Management Systems-CPMS: Facility condition assessment, multi-year capital planning scenario analysis.
Space Planning – CAFM: Utilization, hoteling.
Computerized Maintenance Management Systems – CMMS: Routine/preventative maintenance of “moveable” equipment (typically under $5,000-$10,000, vs. capital issues.
Building Automation Systems – BAS: Automated HVAC, Security, Energy monitoring and control systems.
Geographic Information Systems – GIS: Physical location systems.
A single “BIM” system will not support the above and likely will not for a long time. Those that have implements “ERP” systems know the folly of assuming that implementing a single technology will improve and/or manage disparate processes.
Technology is not the limitation as much as an understanding of the basic concepts of BIM, as well as the associated support of upper management within the Owner, Contractor, AE and other communities.
