2. Figure 1, a
BIM (Building
Information
Model) of the
University Leiden
with all structural
and mep objects
in one federated
model
Building Information Modelling (BIM) is a trendy topic, and rightly so. It is
a new approach for the use of data and information in the construction
industry which will have a huge impact, affecting not only how built assets are
designed and constructed, but how they are operated too. As the application
of BIM is evolving rapidly, perspectives on BIM vary and may cause confusion.
The confusion starts from the beginning with the meaning of the term BIM.
Some explain it as Building Information Model, others as Building Information
Modelling or Building Information Management. We at Arcadis prefer the
second definition because it emphasises that BIM concerns the process,
culture, and use of data - and is not just a 3D model. For us BIM is defined as:
“The processes and collaborative behaviours associated with the creation and
sharing of object orientated databases of an asset in its environment, relevant to
all stages of the asset’s life cycle including design, construction and operation.”
INTRODUCTION?
A first encounter with BIM may be with a 3D
model, however BIM is much more than that. BIM is
increasingly about teams working intelligently with a
shared knowledge resource for information about an
asset that will form a reliable foundation for decisions
throughout its life cycle of construction, operation
and reuse. The White Paper describes the vision of
Arcadis for BIM and how its use will benefit our clients.
We look at what BIM is according to Arcadis and what
the impact of its use will be, how BIM is being used by
different actors, and what the Arcadis principles for
the use of BIM are.
THE IMPACT OF BIM
For centuries the construction industry has recorded
and exchanged information about construction in
paper documents - either drawings or reports. All
these documents referred to each other, but each had
its own structure; drawings were organized in views
2
3. and sections at different scales, quantities referred
to parts and types of materials, following mainly
the logic of construction. As a result coordination
and cross-checking between documents became
increasingly difficult, especially when construction
design became more complex, and design and
construction programmes became shorter. The
ever-increasing challenge of exchanging information
between parties at different phases of the asset life
cycle meant an increased likelihood of errors and
duplication of effort.
When information technology such as CAD started
to replace information on paper with numerical files,
the way of handling information did not change
structurally: software was developed which helped
create numerical drawings and written documents,
but used the same structure as the old paper versions.
The new technology was a so-called sustaining
technology, and the way we work did not change.
By contrast, new ways of managing information
were developed in the 1980s that radically changed
manufacturing industries. Innovation in information
technology allowed the development of a new
approach to information management, where
products were described as a collection of objects.
Information could then be organised as a series of
databases, all structured and based on common
standards, thus allowing easy communication
between all of these databases. By combining the
shift to databases alongside the change from paper
supported information to numerical files, these
innovations introduced a new way to create and
manage project information.
The main driver for the manufacturing industry was
the possibility to go directly from design information
to manufacturing information. Given that construction
projects are usually one-off designs built in-situ, it
is not surprising that adoption of the technology
has taken some time to crossover to our industry.
However, the new approach is now being transferred
and adapted from the manufacturing industry to
the construction industry, under the name of BIM,
and bringing a disruptive technology to the industry
that has huge potential to improve performance in
design, construction and operation. Fragmentation
in the lifecycle and processes within the construction
industry is also a driver for bringing together
information and streamlining the workflow in the BIM
environment.
By enabling teams to handle information and
communication differently, new ways of creating,
managing, and exchanging information will be
adopted which in turn will encourage new ways of
managing projects and managing assets.
For projects delivered using BIM, a set of databases
(e.g. the Building Information Model) will be created
and enriched at each stage of the asset lifecycle.
These databases can be shared between all actors
(owners, consultants, contractors, and operators).
The advantages of this way of working include:
• Increased efficiency due to the sharing of
information;
• Better quality (de-risk) design through improved
coordination and more effective use of analysis
tools;
• Reduced risk of any inaccuracies on the project;
• Reduced production time with dynamic updates,
based on relationships and constraints and reflected
throughout the process;
• Lower cost related to more accurate design,
reduced duplication of work and better coordination;
• Reduced transactions costs, such as the exchange
of information with contractors or the creation of
operating and maintenance documents;
• Adoption of open and transparent information
exchange processes with clients and stakeholders;
• Lifecycle benefits due to the availability of
information regarding how things were designed,
specified, built and maintained.
These advantages have been converted into concrete
benefits when implemented on projects. A good
example is one of the early UK Government pilot
projects, Cookham Wood Youth Detention Centre.
BIM was an integral part of the design, procurement
and construction process, and the benefits secured
to date include low quartile construction cost and
lifetime savings of € 400,000 driven by design changes
that were facilitated by BIM-enabled project reviews.
An example of BIM use on an Arcadis project is the
‘Traffic portals A15’. It was our challenge to design
250 traffic portals above the 37km A15 lane in the
Netherlands, creating more than 500 different
deliverables.
In our approach we developed parametric design
tools that used geo-technical calculation sheets
and requirement management (part of Systems
Engineering) to automatically combine all this
information, and the information of other disciplines
into one BIM model.
By working this way it was possible that the
parameters from the ‘calculation’ were imported
Traffic portals A15
3
4. directly in the 3D-design tool (in this case Revit).
As a result we automatically generated a 3D object
oriented design with a link to Systems Engineering
and sustainability. The large benefits for the client and
Arcadis were an efficient approach whereby the same
high-quality products can continuously be delivered.
The BIM approach is therefore a positive contribution
in integral, efficient and high-quality work. Arcadis can
consequently serve the client well in a very dynamic
and integral project environment, spending 30-40%
fewer hours than you would working in the traditional
approach.
BIM has been used extremely effectively on a Hyder
UK project – Manchester Victoria Station. The station
redevelopment includes a new torus shaped roof
comprising of a steel structure and ETFE cushions. The
clients required a full stage 2 BIM model, and early
architectural and structural models of the new roof
design were used as basis to create a smart 3D model.
Due to the collaborative nature of the software, the
models were used from structural analysis all the way
through to fabrication.
One of the key benefits of using BIM was the drastic
reduction of time spent remodelling during each stage
(architectural, detailed design and fabrication), and
months were shaved off of the programme delivery as
a result. Furthermore, instant and secure access to the
cloud enabled all parties, including clients, to access
and interrogate the model across a large spectrum of
different technological devices from PCs and laptops
to tablets and mobile phones.
Another major benefit was the instant clash detection
visible from conception to fabrication and across
the different disciplines, subsequently having a
huge impact on the design. The ability to provide
engineering drawings that updated instantly as the
model changed also vastly reduced any negative
impact on schedule. Using a CDE (Common Data
Environment), Hyder was able to use resources from
around the world simultaneously.
Another project example is the upgrade of a Lactose
plant for our client FrieslandCampina-DMV (Veghel,
Netherlands). It was our challenge to insert new
process-components in an existing plant for growth of
production and energy-saving, therefore carrying out
extensions of the building whilst enabling production
to continue. The ‘first time right’ solution required a
large number of stakeholders and participants.
We modelled a 3D-model of the existing construction
and inserted (virtually) existing components of
process-installation. By the combination of old and
new elements in an integrated model, it was made
possible for structural and process engineers to find
the best solution regarding future operation and
maintenance, complex construction works, and safety
and hygiene standards. This was carried out in live
meetings so that our modeller could put everything
virtually into place.
We were able to do the design reviews and value
engineering in short time with strong added value
for the client. By using this integrated approach our
partnership with the client and other advisors was
strengthened, and the client could easily understand
the design process wherein 3D-modelling has proven
to be indispensable.
By using BIM we were able to undertake an efficient
approach whereby we could continuously deliver the
same high-quality products and positively contributed
integral, efficient and high-quality work. An additional
benefits were a reduced time spent on the project
compared to the traditional approach, and more
importantly for our client, a reduced risk of identifying
problems at a later date.
BIM and Asset Management
One area of real interest to clients is the dimension
of asset life cycle, facilitated by sharing information
related to each object. It is widely recognised that
most of the cost and benefit delivered by an asset
comes during the operation and maintenance phase
of a project. Knowing during maintenance how things
were designed, specified, built and maintained has the
potential to deliver significant cost and time savings,
as well as other life cycle benefits.
BIM is at an early stage of development, and as
skills and data sources develop, there is no doubt
that new and unforeseen opportunities to improve
performance will emerge. Adoption of BIM provides
another opportunity for Arcadis to help make the
industry more competitive and more valuable to its
clients. For Arcadis and its clients to harvest these
advantages, it is necessary to invest in new standards,
Manchester
Victoria Station
Lactose plant
4
5. new organisation, new methodology, new processes,
new tools, new cash flow patterns and even new
business cases.
BIM can therefore be seen as a disruptive technology
which will have a significant impact on the industry.
Although there is no doubt this will prove challenging
for our clients and their supply chain, simple steps
can be taken for early adoption and increased ease of
implementation. In the next section these steps will
be described based on the BIM maturity model1. This
approach suggests that it will take some time before
the construction industry will be at a level of change
that is disruptive.
THE USE OF BIM
As stated in the introduction, there are lots of different
perspectives on BIM, related to the different roles
and responsibilities of actors, and the added value
of a specific aspect of BIM which is associated with a
specific role and responsibility. For example, a project
manager might want to bring models produced by all
designers together in order to produce a programme
from BIM databases, whilst an engineer will want to be
able to import information from models into analysis
software.
Inevitably, each individual user of BIM will focus on the
specific part that benefits their work. However, the
benefits are not limited to specific parts of the BIM - it
is the sum of all these parts. An example of this is a
tenant of a building who might not have been involved
in the initial design work may still be able to use data
from models to manage their building operations.
This is important to realise as this can cause a lot of
confusion when we talk about BIM and the added
value. This is also an area where Arcadis can help
clients and their teams to get more value out of the
use of BIM on projects and programmes.
To describe more specifically what BIM is and how
and when it can be used, it is necessary to distinguish
different phases in the maturity (growth model) of
BIM. The maturity model developed for the UK BIM
Strategy describes this very clearly. This model has
been adapted in other leading BIM countries and
therefore also used in this document.
If conventional 2D CAD drawings are considered as
being the starting point for practising BIM, and the
final point is using one information source for all
project requirements (including operation), we can
identify the following phases:
0. CAD drawings
1. Object oriented models
2. Federated BIM
3. Integrated, collaborative BIM
CAD (Level 0)
This is the conventional way of working in the
construction industry, which is still in use by most
designers and contractors. Using CAD platforms
to create drawings, use text editors like WORD to
create specifications and Excel to calculate costs.
Geometry in 2D and 3D CAD is represented by lines
between defined points. Sharing information is limited
to the exchange of these separate paper forms of
information and analysis are difficult because the
computer cannot interpreted the data.
Object orientated models (parametric design)
(Level 1)
Parametric design relies on thinking in terms of
objects. Objects are virtual abstract representations
of real life homogeneous things, such as doors,
windows or columns. These things can be represented
in different forms, for example a geometrical
representation, the most common known in the
context of BIM. They are not represented by a
collection of lines on a drawing, but as individual
virtual objects with a homogeneous geometrical
description. In addition to that, other properties
including a name or related specification, planning or
costs can also add to the power of an object.
A collection of objects is called a model. The model
can describe the design, the sequence of construction,
or the operational procedures. Models can produce
drawings, analysis and reports, and become the
source of the data needed to brief, design, construct
and operate an asset. One great advantage of the
object-based approach is that teams work in a virtual
(3D) model. There is immediately an understandable
representation of the design available, and it is also
much easier to make changes, for example if a change
to a window is needed, the team does not have to
change all of the windows shown in a set of drawings
or documents. By simply changing the object in
the model all dependable drawings and reports
will change automatically. Further benefits can be
obtained by re-using generic objects from earlier
projects, enabling teams to increase efficiency and
quality by not reinventing work for each project.
Figure 2, the Bim Matury Model based on the model from
the Uk Bim Task Force (Bew and Richards).
1 In order to encourage the widespread adoption of BIM for
design, construction and operation, the UK Government
has mandated the adoption of BIM on projects that are
directly funded by Central Government clients. The
mandate comes into force in 2016 and applies to buildings
and infrastructure. To visualise the steps necessary to
achieve this ambition, the BIM maturity model has been
defined. These steps were already widely acknowledged,
and therefore this maturity model has been adopted
quickly throughout Europe.
5
6. The greatest potential for BIM comes from the ability
to relate information to the object. This is the step that
manufacturers took in the 1980s, and which retailers
use to drive their systems.
BIM users can make really intelligent objects, such as
stair objects that are pre-programmed to meet access
and fire escape standards, or objects that change their
geometrics based on dependencies with other objects.
For example, models can be set-up so that walls and
stairs will alter in response to changes in slab heights.
In these instances, the model really helps the design
process, with the computer taking over the detailed
work but with the designer still fully in control.
The information accessed via intelligent objects can
also be used to perform all kind of analyses, such
as thermal analyses, means of escape, cost and
programme. Increasingly, BIM is making it possible to
run multiple ‘what if?’ scenarios to come up with the
best design option. For example, BIM has been used
to optimise the bowl design of sporting venues by
maximising the number of seats with good sight lines
– leading to a better experience for the spectator and
the maximum number of full price seats in a venue.
This is a more efficient way of working and makes
it possible to create design solutions that are too
complex to manage using conventional CAD and data
exchange.
Object orientated design, even when used by just
one discipline, delivers significant economic benefits
and is widely adopted, especially for structural
design and increasingly for architecture. This way of
working is often focussed on the particular need and
characteristics of each of the disciplines. It is generally
not possible for all disciplines to work with identical
software-tools, however every discipline should be
able to work with the tools of their choice which are
best fitted for their specific tasks. This may extend
beyond geometry and spatial design, and cover
cost calculations, planning or product specification.
Enabling this joined up way of working is a key
consideration when we are entering the next step;
Federated BIM.
Federated BIM (Level 2)
When we have created models for each involved
discipline in the project (e.g. construction, architecture,
MEP, GIS) the next step to realise the full potential
of BIM is to integrate them into a single federated
model. A federated model is a joined up view of
multiple, separate models which enables the analysis
of integrated aspects of the design. One of the most
common and well known is spatial coordination, also
known as clash detection.
Clash detection is used to check if there are any spatial
mistakes in the design work of different disciplines,
for example when piping has been routed through
a solid concrete wall, or a steel structure that is not
properly coordinated with the external walls and
roof. It is possible to create a virtual prototype of the
construction which can be used to check the integrity
of the design. Not only does this make it very easy
to identify design faults early in the process, it also
increases the quality of the design dramatically.
Many contractors now use BIM to de-risk their
projects, saving large sums of money in the process.
We should be encouraging clients to de-risk their
design at tender, so that they can share in some of
these savings.
Other aspects of the construction process can be
simulated by connecting the model to planning
software. This process, known as 4D BIM, enables the
team to introduce the construction sequence into the
model, simulating the process, checking for mistakes
and pinch-points, and looking for optimisations.
Similarly, 4D BIM increases the quality of the design
and the cost effectiveness of construction and
construction logistics.
In addition to the construction process, designers
and owners can simulate operation and maintenance
processes - a powerful opportunity to link design and
asset management. How will the design perform
when realized and what can be done to optimize
this? On the aforementioned UK Government’s
Cookham Wood pilot project, BIM-driven simulation
of operational processes have resulted in design
changes which will deliver life cycle cost savings worth
hundreds of thousands of pounds, because you are
able to identify any potential problems before they
occur.
Applying Federated BIM requires some coordination
within a project to enable models from different
disciplines to be used together. The models that are
created in different software-tools should be made
available in such a way that they can be combined into
a federated model.
6
7. Standards for effective collaborative working such
as the Statsbygg BIM Manual from Norway, COBIM
from Finland, and the UK’s PAS 1192:2, support this
way of working. The configuration of these different
software-tools including the tooling for viewing
and analysing the federated model is called the BIM
architecture.
Federation of models within a single organisation such
as Arcadis is relatively easy. Drafting standards should
be consistent and there aren’t any of the complex
legal and risk transfer issues that are associated with
the sharing and reliance on design data. Once the
federated model is shared between organisations
such as other designers or contractors, it becomes
much more important to have agreements in place
to determine how work is done and what models can
be used for, as different actors on the project will
probably have a different understanding, a different
approach and a different level of knowledge of BIM.
An agreement that handles all aspects is called a
BIM Execution Plan (BEP). It should be set up at the
beginning of a project and should mention subjects
like the objectives of the project and more specifically
for the use of BIM (BIM objectives), responsibilities
of the different actors translated into an BIM
organisation, how the different ICT tooling should
work together (BIM architecture), and which data
formats and semantic standards should be used.
Another important document is the BIM Protocol
which may describe changes that are needed to
contracts to properly accommodate BIM. There are
different standard BIM Protocols available which
should be customised for each project. Arcadis is
well placed to help clients to put in place effective
protocols which will get the best value out of the use
of BIM on a project.
Collaborative BIM (Level 3)
Integrated BIM implies the bringing together of
models could involve models from one company,
or from an entire project team in which different
companies are involved. For integrated BIM in one
company or project team, there is some hierarchical
control over the disciplines involved and therefore it
is easier to organise this approach. The next step is
to work with external partners on integrated models,
potentially connecting with suppliers, sub-contractors
and clients. Working with all stakeholders in one (view)
model is also known as ‘big BIM’.
Collaborative, or Level 3 BIM, has the potential to
deliver more benefits than federated BIM. Human
interpretation is automatically bypassed when working
in collaborative BIM, allowing the object orientated
design to be transferred seamlessly to the supplier
who can put this into his machinery for production.
It is exactly this approach that IKEA have adopted
in their automated kitchen design, manufacture
and despatch processes – all driven by BIM and by a
seamless, integrated supply chain.
In practice, there is still very little collaborative
working on this scale in the construction industry.
Contractors and consultants are often appointed
under separate agreements and the client may only
have limited engagement with the sub-contract
supply chain. Furthermore, contracts discourage the
unlimited exchange of data, and in any case, software
cannot currently deliver solutions that work across the
full project supply chain.
For our public client this collaborative BIM approach is
very applicable. As mentioned early in this document,
BIM is increasingly about working intelligently with
shared information throughout the lifecycle of
construction, operation and reuse. Knowing during
maintenance how things were designed, specified,
built and maintained will deliver significant cost and
time savings and other lifecycle benefits that are
supported by Level 3 BIM, therefore adding value for
the client.
Figure 4, ‘The
journey of the
suitcase’ a
metaphor for
collaborative BIM
7
8. ABOUT ARCADIS
Arcadis is the leading global natural and built
asset design & consultancy firm working in
partnership with our clients to deliver exceptional
and sustainable outcomes through the application
of design, consultancy, engineering, project and
management services. Arcadis differentiates
through its talented and passionate people and
its unique combination of capabilities covering
the whole asset life cycle, its deep market sector
insights and its ability to integrate health & safety
and sustainability into the design and delivery of
solutions across the globe. We are 28,000 people
that generate €3 billion in revenues. We support
UN-Habitat with knowledge and expertise to
improve the quality of life in rapidly growing cities
around the world.
Please visit: www.arcadis.com
Arcadis N.V.
“Symphony”
Gustav Mahlerplein 97-103
1082 MS Amsterdam
The Netherlands
P.O. Box 7895
1008 AB Amsterdam
The Netherlands
For other offices across the globe please visit
https://www.arcadis.com/en/global/where-we-work/
MORE INFORMATION?
Summary
As we plan to implement the different stages of BIM
maturity described in this paper, it is important to
respect the possibilities of achieving the ultimate
Collaborative BIM, whilst recognising the many
different facets, including standards and tools, that
are needed to achieve it. Our conclusion that BIM has
a different meaning and approach for different roles,
also implies that it is not possible to have one message
about the use of BIM. There is a general approach for
the introduction of BIM in projects, after which BIM
is tailor-made for each project based on the project
objectives, which are subsequently translated to the
BIM objectives, and the role of the specific actor (e.g.
integral designer, project manager).
SO WHEN DO WE USE BIM?
Do we only use BIM when sharing information across
the life cycle? At Arcadis, all stages are levels described
above are BIM, from Level 0-3.
• We use the following generic criteria to define a BIM
project, which can be related back to the four phases
identified earlier:
• The product is an (3D) object orientated model
• The combination of different information sources in
one (view) model
• 4D BIM (design and planning)
• 5D BIM (design, planning and costs)
• 6D BIM (design, planning, construction costs and
operating costs)
• Combination of GIS and design data
• The use of open BIM standards (e.g. IFC, IFD, COBie,
CityGML, PAS1192.2, bSDD, CB-NL)
• Agreement with the client about the delivery of
computer interpretable information
CHANGING A CULTURE
In a technically driven environment like the
construction industry, BIM is initially being
approached as a technical challenge. Nowadays we
recognize that the implementation of BIM will offer
new business models, and that the implementation
or evolution to working in the BIM environment is
more of a cultural - rather than technical - challenge. It
requires redefinition of roles, responsibilities and is an
excellent opportunity to enhance business processes,
procedures and standards. There are new ways of
working to take advantage of BIM capabilities, such
as the application of information exchange standards,
for example the IFC, and contractual issues associated
with the implementation of BIM.
BIM allows Arcadis to offer better services and quality
for our clients. Our clients recognise the benefits of
working in the BIM environment and want to adopt
and implement BIM processes. BIM has not been
fully developed in the industry and this is an area
where Arcadis can use its impressive track record
of designing and implementing business change
programmes to accelerate effective adoption. We
know how to mobilise large organisations and align
end users and stakeholders as a result of complete
visualisation and familiarisation as part of the design
development.
Arcadis consultants have a range of experience
facilitating benefits identification, management, and
realisation working across sectors. Using BIM, Arcadis
differentiate from competitors in the market due
to our capability of working closely with clients and
conducting the Business Transformation programme
to ensure that the BIM systems and processes are
aligned with their transformation blueprint, as well as
with existing ‘as-is’ business processes.
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