An online brainstorm using Building Information Models helped Oklahoma City planners investigate best-use scenarios for the area between the downtown and river. City Planners advocate the advanced, proven BIMStorm processes used in the exercise.

1. Oklahoma City Planners Benefit from Information Age Brainstorm
Oklahoma City, OK November 9, 2012
Oklahoma City Director of Planning, Russell Claus called BIMStorm “a valuable tool for
planning and design internationally and in the United States.”
BIMStorm is an online brainstorm using
web-based Building Information Models
“landed” on Google Earth. Seeing building
assets in real-world visual environments
helps improve consensus decision making.
The BIMStorm Oklahoma City Wrap-Up
presentation to Claus and his colleagues on
November 9, 2012 highlighted options and
improved building industry options for the
Core-to-Shore area of the Oklahoma State
Capitol. Claus and others from his
department participated in demonstrating
what is possible through use of proven,
web-based business processes.
Stating that the BIMStorm Oklahoma City “heralds a period of cooperation” among
government officials, businesses and educational institutions, Claus indicated that the long-term
interest in integrating input from many stakeholders was realized in this online
brainstorm using Building Information Models.
“It is exciting that we are having this
dialogue and that we are using the
technology . . .” Claus said. “What is needed
is the vision, and you are all participating in
that,” Claus told almost 100 people meeting
in person and others around the world
participating over the web. Claus added,
“Even if you haven't been here, we
appreciate the input.”
During a 24-period, University of Oklahoma students received input from local and
international planners, designers and contractors on the current ways to use web-based
business processes to plan entire urban areas and individual buildings to result in highly
valuable decision making information.
Claus' staff actively participated in BIMStorm Oklahoma City by providing publicly information
that could be used to explore options and by answering “BIM Mail” used to communicate
about specific geographical areas and specific building locations.

2. Undergraduate and graduate students in architecture and construction science programs
participated as part of a University of Oklahoma integrated “Dream Course.”
Professional participation was provided by
Manhattan Construction, FSB, Balfour Beatty and
others. ONUMA, Inc. provided the BIM server
that hosted project information. ONUMA System
was also used by participants to easily convert
Excel data to Building Information Models, create
powerful reports, gain visual clarity and to
transfer data easily among all open standards
software programs.
Kimon Onuma, FAIA, used the BIMStorm Oklahoma to reveal the capability of creating
“exploded” views of simple, but powerful Building Information Models through the ONUMA
System.
Finith Jerningan, FAIA, author of “BIG BIM little” was the featured, in-person critic and
BIMStorm facilitator. In his summary of the student work with professional input, Jernigan
said, “I am flabergasted at the level of quality achieved in such a short period of time.”