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 ).
.
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 ).