2.2 MERITS OF BIM ADOPTION AND ITS IMPLICATION FOR THE DIGITAL RACE
Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a three dimensional (3D) digital model showing the physical and functional characteristics of a facility. BIM allows information (such as materials and components’ specifications, their locations, manufacturers’ details, construction techniques, maintenance, e.t.c.) to be fed into a model right from the conceptualisation stage, thereby providing a platform on which subsequent information can be presented for further improvement and project objective. As BIM incorporates information management, the technology has remained an overarching one that collaborates the efforts of the stakeholders in the supply chain in the industry and thus has been implemented by construction and engineering firms based on its numerous advantages As a digital diary- BIM presents a repository of knowledge resource that can be adopted, upgraded, re-cast and shared to enhance decisions and policy throughout a project life cycle (18 ).
The traditional or semi-traditional methods of building production are not only slow, but involve several design review meetings, resulting into series of drafts and reworking which eventually lead to increase in production time and cost (26 ). Through BIM, basic building elements replicated throughout a building life cycle thereby integrating all the requirements for a sound and sustainable structure. This is made available through a series of processes that offer a variety of themes and designs that can be presented for approval and/or comment as the need arises As a result, a project owner experiences how the facility will look and how its operation tend to relate with its surroundings prior to detailed design, in a three-dimensional format. Unlike the old models that are line-oriented, BIM object-oriented nature offers ‘walk-through visualisations’ to assist clients in the decision-making process (27 ;28 ;29 ;30 ).
BIM is beneficial to a project promoter, the construction and the design team .Through BIM, the appropriate data and views for respective users are obtained and evaluated to aid decisions.
The visualisation of construction sequence, when supplemented with practical information from the construction site and information from health, safety and environment (HSE) directives and legislation, is invaluable in health and safety programs and preparedness, thereby enhancing the safety of operatives and processes which will eventually contribute to quality (31 ;32 ; 33 ).With these information, construction process can be examined, simulated and scenario-tested to eliminate or reduce risk of hazards and incidences. With these information and other related ones in the archive, a knowledge tank can be gradually built for the firm improved performance (34 ).
Time and cost savings are enhanced as BIM models provide additional information that reduces unnecessary information clarifications or requests (28 ; 35 ). Still on the part of the contracting team, communication with the workforce is enhanced. For instance, 4D BIM displays animated construction processes on screen thereby enhancing the series/stages of operations that operatives are required to adhere to or follow through. In addition, with the facility of visual representations, animation and simulation, buildability and constructability is enhanced in all its shades and hues (36 ;22 ; 37 ).
BIM models and levels offer medium through which the wicked challenges that often result into alterations can be resolved. The data bound to a virtual building model can be defined, analysed and parameterised by the designer, with the ultimate goal of positively influencing building sustainability. The availability of all these features at a go allows the project stakeholders to keep track of the relationships between the building elements and their respective details when the need for usage sets in. Rather than having a series of meetings with design team for a compromise to be reached, with a 5D BIM application, the client, project manager, contractors and designers meet remotely to identify knotty issues and resolve such timely and appropriately (38 ;39 ).
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At handover, it is incumbent on the contractor to make available to the client a series of documents relating to the way he structure is built. These will enhance the operation and maintenance of the facility to reduce encumbrances. Nevertheless, it is the tradition to loose valuable information regarding the optimal maintenance and operation of that facility during this transition (38 ; 40; 41 ). BIM models take care of these challenges. in addition, the traditional facilities management systems can be linked to an existing facility management (FM) system to provide an accurate and complementary data set, that makes asset management faster, more accurate and worthwhile (31 ). BIM’s data-laden, real-time platform is an ever-ready avenue for maintenance scheduling, maintenance works which inevitably reduces money that would have been spent should reactive maintenance becomes the order of the day (42 ; 41; 43 ).