“The #SmartCity vision envisages a balance of heritage with modernism –  we can be #smart while we keep our heritage protected” – Smt. Vasundhara Raje (Chief Minister of Rajasthan)

Excelize’s director Mrs. Sonali Dhopte was invited as an eminent panelist for the Smart and Digital Rajasthan Summit & Expo 2018 scheduled on March 14th and 15th, 2018 at Jaipur. The event was organized jointly by IACC & The Guild to discuss and address the challenges and opportunities in implementing the blueprint of Rajasthan’s Smart Cities vision.

The key leaders at the summit were Mrs. Vasundhara Raje Scindia (Chief Minister of Rajasthan), Shri. Venkaiah Naidu (Vice-President of India), Kenneth Juster (United States Ambassador to India) and Shrichand Kriplani (Hon’ble Minister, UDH & LSG and Chairman, RUDSICO).

This 2-day summit had 50 speakers & over 500 delegates participated in the event. The presentations and the panel discussions were highly inspiring and had a great emphasis on the global perspectives on how to create smart & sustainable cities and showcase best practices & technologies that can help Indian cities and other urban areas become efficient, sustainable and smart by developing more interconnected infrastructure, communications and data systems.

Excelize is honored to have participated in the Summit and embellish the opportunity to share technical knowledge, discuss the challenges and understand the cross-industry opportunities.

Check out the event details: https://www.smartrajasthanexpo.com/

About Excelize:  Excelize is an engineering services firm providing Building Information Modeling (BIM) & CAD solutions to clients in India, Mid-East, UK, Europe, Australia, and the US. These clients include Architects, Engineers, Design-build contractors, General Contractors, Real-Estate developers, building owners and consultants.

About Sonali Dhopte: Architect and Interior Designer since 1993, Sonali has worked with the top architectural firms in the US and India. As Technical Director at Excelize (www.excelize.com), she oversees and guides the BIM team and manages project deliveries as per client requirements. As a leading woman Architect, Sonali is a nationally recognized BIM Expert and has presented and participated in various panel discussions in prestigious conferences and has published various articles on BIM in prestigious journals.

Advanced technological applications like building information Modeling (BIM) are widely used in construction industries nowadays. However, there is a common misconception among contractors that technologies like BIM are only beneficial to multi-billion-dollar corporations. But, the truth is that smaller construction firms get more benefits out of these opportunities if they use them properly.

People think that BIM is actually useful only for designers and engineers and not for contractors. There is also a misbelief that implementing BIM is very expensive. But what they have to understand is that the benefits out of BIM are depended on how efficiently they use them.

HOW WILL BIM BENEFIT YOUR PROCESS THE MOST?

The first step is to analyze how BIM will benefit your process the most. Once the hand-drawn concrete drawings are prepared, the process can be automated using BIM technology. As the BIM Modeling services can be used for field utilization, the contractors can ensure improved labor productivity significantly. Moreover, the BIM-based drawings provide information about quantities of concrete and the time taken for construction. In short, the efficiently prepared drawings will help the superintendents to spend their time more efficiently at work that will result in saving time and money.

BIM IMPLEMENTATION – WHAT’S THE PROCESS?

The implementation plan is the second step in this process in which you have to decide how you will utilize this technology on a consistent basis. BIM offers not only a 3D Modeling tool but also a solution for access, storage, and use of information. So, while you are working on a concrete BIM Modeling project, you have to identify the steps and process flow in that. Then you can decide how to use BIM model efficiently throughout the process. If the contractors develop BIM templates, family components, and intelligent objects within BIM models besides a drawing, they can provide you vital information about quantities, productivity goals, schedule analysis, manpower, and more.

Here is a live example of how Excelize assisted its client with BIM Modeling and clash detection services helping them in saving time:

For an IT building spread over 4 floors and an area of 7,40,00 sq. ft. We worked on building architectural BIM Modeling, Structural BIM Modeling, and MEP BIM services components. These models were used for clash detection and resolution (CDR). By using the model CDR phase of the project was completed in one month as compared to 3 months for CDR with the conventional process.

Similarly, each and every phase of building information Modeling would add to the return on investment to the owner and user as well. Whether its BIM Modeling services of various disciplines, MEP BIM coordination, clash detection and resolution, 4D BIM scheduling or cost estimation, BIM offers its users a return on investment at every phase of BIM process cycle.

WHAT ARE THE COMMON HURDLES FACED WHILE IMPLEMENTING BIM?

Contractors generally fear about the possible obstacles faced while BIM implementation for the first time in their organization. To solve these issues is the next step. The common problem is that the field staff is not confident about the ability of the computer or they are reluctant to learn the technology. So, the appropriate team should be found out within the company, who can use this solution in the beginning to solve this issue. A superintendent and project manager with an open mind to this technology, can manage the BIM-based project successfully and spread the idea to other superintendents.

WHAT IS THE INFRASTRUCTURE REQUIRED DURING BIM IMPLEMENTATION PHASES?

The next step is to find out the infrastructure necessary to begin the implementation process. First priority goes to sufficient manpower. Technicians, who have experience in the construction field are essential. Moreover, MEP modelers, who come from the trades, can bring their field experience to the Modeling team. The most important thing is that the employees should be given proper training to understand the new technology at every level. The technicians in most of the firms are of the younger generation. The company should arrange opportunities for them to work with experienced personnel, as it will result in a perfect blend of technology and construction application.

Another significant element is the requirement of high-performing hardware and software with a RAM of a minimum of 32 GB. You have to find a good amount of the annual budget for installing and updating hardware and software may require a larger investment.

BIM, in a 3D world, acts as a glue to hold design and construction together. There are many firms that still don’t have much idea of what to do to make BIM projects successful. This article is a guideline for such firms, as it details the steps that a construction firm has to follow from design through construction using BIM.

The process of using BIM models is a lengthy one that leads up to and through construction. Proper software and employees are required to do this process effectively. Revit Architecture, MEP and structural as well as 3D Studio Max, Navisworks, and AutoCAD are the software that supports this process.

It is in the predesign stage that we decide, whether BIM is used in the project. Once the use of BIM Modeling guidelines is approved, the architect starts to work on the schematic model. He either uses masses or real elements in a BIM environment. The architect will give a presentation to the owner, after completing the preparation of the schematic architectural model. The presentation requires a walkthrough or rendering. The software that helps in this task is Studio Max, in conjunction with Revit. In this stage, the owner can put forward his suggestions on the design. The model enters the design phase after necessary changes are made.

The role of scheduling (4D) and estimating (5D) starts during the schematic design stage. It is the duty of scheduling to make sure that the building construction is completed within the allotted time. Estimating should ensure that they track the cost of the project constantly and systematically. Proper setup of BIM models from the starting stage is necessary for getting appropriate scheduling and estimation. For scheduling, the model of the building should be in mind, while the model is built. I.e. each floor of the building should be modeled in the order they are going to be poured. So, Navisworks can schedule correctly. The parameters of the construction project should be added to the model in estimating.

Trying and counting all elements of a project from a 2D plan is a laborious task for estimating. But BIM enables the collaborative effort in the design and construction process.

Collaboration is the key element in the detailed design. A compulsory weekly meeting including the architect, engineer, project manager, estimator, scheduler, and construction manager takes place to make sure that everybody follows the process at the same pace. Interference checks and coordination reviews are done weekly basis at this stage of the design process. Even though it is a mandatory step to follow, most firms are not aware of the benefits of collaborative tools provided by BIM. Firms think that they get enough time to detect clashes and run interference checks. But actually what happened is that they waste their time and money by fixing errors on the site. Actually, with the proper use of collaboration tools, they could have been detecting the clashes in the design phase, if they spend some time in the initial stage.

Some of the coordinated processes that make your BIM model more efficient are scheduling, sections, elevations, and walkthroughs. It is sure that proper use of them will help you save time and money.

Ownership of elements is another significant factor. Ownership of an element means the discipline that originally modeled an element. It is the responsibility of the owner of an element to pay extra attention to the coordination of that element.

It is always advised to model every element type only once, as multiple instances of the same element stretched across disciplines will create a headache for coordination and collaboration between models.

Once the design is finished, construction starts. The construction manager and field superintendent will work together with the design team. They check whether the design intent is followed and run their own clash detections on all models. The Navisworks monitoring and workflow tools help to report the identified problems and to track them through resolution. If BIM is used early in the design stage, construction can be made easier. BIM creates a solid link between design and construction that makes revolutionary changes in the industry.

Determine the returns received on the BIM Modeling cost incurred during the pre-construction or design phase.

Tremendous changes have occurred in the construction industry with the development of technology. Nowadays, typewriters and drawing boards are replaced by computer software to produce construction documentation. Another most important revolution in the construction industry is Building Information Modeling (BIM), which makes a significant change in efficiency and accuracy. Implementation of BIM can reduce the design fees that should be paid. But, at the same time, BIM Modeling cost under BIM implementation is increased.

• BIM transfers the quality digital information from briefing through design and construction and finally to the owner-operators of the building. So, the person, who gets the most benefits from BIM, is the owner-operator. Some of the important features of BIM are the following.
• BIM helps analyze building design and thermal calculations and reduce energy use significantly, as it enables the use of renewable energy, improved design of the building fabric and services, and simple decisions like the building’s position with respect to its environment.
• BIM provides the clients with high-quality digital information, with which they can help the maintenance of the facility. The digital information ensures happening of maintenance on an optimal schedule.
• With the help of Modeling the building, the clients can make informed decisions at design time about the quality of the products and they can be installed in their facility.
• Another major benefit of BIM is cost saving. It is very difficult and costly to correct the clashes between the structure and the services on the construction site. The costs will increase along with the increase in the number of clashes and that will lead to a great loss to the owner. As BIM helps early detection of clashes, this problem can be solved to a great extent.
• Working with incomplete or badly coordinated construction documents may force the construction team for further information. It is also expensive to rework on the design if the construction has already started. As BIM enables digital construction at design time and the physical construction second time, this problem is solved.

All these above-described points do not mean that design fees are reduced in BIM. But, if you are ready to spend extra on designing in BIM, you can save 20% on construction costs and 60% on operation costs. The method to reduce BIM Modeling cost in the design phase is to create pre-design templates combined with common building elements such as geometric constituents and provisions. It helps produce similarly replicated buildings through the BIM template. So, we can save and improve designs by using standardized digital construction templates.

To conclude, even though the designers have to face the rise of design fees in BIM adoption, they get the value to the construction process and reward for this. However, if the designers get repeated business orders for similar projects from clients, the fees will reduce. But, the use of BIM increases the efficiency of these projects and the margin of all members of the construction team.

A professionals cost depends on the worth added by the designer during the project. BIM models, through running simulations, handing over usable asset data and designing out clashes and waste, enable the designers to offer more value to their clients than the traditional design methods can. Demonstrating this value to the clients and receiving fees in proportion to the added value is the responsibility of the architects and engineers.

The level of development of a building information model (BIM) for a built asset is known as the ‘level of detail’ or ‘level of definition’ (LOD). LOD working Group formed by BIM Forum started developing the LOD framework into a consensus-based standard. It helps to define the reliability of the information contained in a BIM at the assembly and component levels. In the first attempt, the group interpreted the basic LOD definitions of AIA for each building system and subsystem. Then they compiled examples to illustrate the interpretations. They developed the specifications to address model element geometry by considering quantity take-off, 3D coordination, and 3D control and planning, the three most common uses.

According to the AIA, the LOD framework can help efficient communication, as it recognizes that various elements of the project will develop at different rates.

Content required for BIM Modeling levels elements are defined below by the LOD framework:

• LOD 100: The model element can be graphically represented in the model using a symbol or other graphic representation. However, it cannot fulfill the requirements for LOD 200.
• LOD 200: The Model Element is graphically represented as a generic system, object, or assembly with the proper size, quantities, shape, orientation, and location within the Model. We can also attach the non-graphic information to the Model element.
• LOD 300: Here the Model Element is graphically represented as a specific system, object, or assembly in terms of size, shape, quantity, orientation, and location within the Model.
• LOD 400: The model element here is graphically represented as a specific system, object, or assembly with appropriate size, shape, quantity, and location. Orientation is represented by detailing, fabrication, installation, and assembly information.
• LOD 500: The Model Element here is a field verified representation in terms of shape, size, quantity, location, and orientation.

DIFFERENT USES OF LEVELS OF DEVELOPMENT IN BIM

There are some issues that are faced by the LOD framework when the BIM model is used for communication or collaboration. That means the problems arise when someone other than the author extracts information from the BIM.

Building systems and components develop from a vague conceptual idea to a precise description during the design process. In the past, there was no simple solution to designate where a model element is along this path. Nobody other than the author knows it.

The precision at which an element is modeled may be easily misinterpreted. There may be hand drawings that range from pen strokes on a napkin to hard lines with dimensions called out. So the precision of the drawing can be easily understood from its appearance. However, a generic component that is placed approximately may look exactly the same as the specific component placed precisely. Therefore, something other than appearance is required to state the difference.

We can infer information, which the author doesn’t intend, from a BIM. Similarly, we can measure the unstated dimensions precisely. In earlier days, we had to put aside all these issues saying that some of the information in the model is unreliable and may not be relied on it. But, the LOD specification helps the author to state the reliability of given model elements clearly.

In a collaborative environment, people other than the model author have to depend on information from the model to move their own work forward. So the model users are required to know at what time the information will be available to plan their work. LOD framework will help with this.

The LOD specification can describe the state of development of different systems, assemblies, and components within a BIM providing an industry-developed standard. Thus it can address all these issues. This standard facilitates the detailed definition of BIM milestones and deliverables and thereby improves efficiency and effectiveness in communication and execution.

The level of detail of a building information model improves along with the progress of the project. From a simple design intent model, it develops through a detailed virtual construction model, then an operational model. Various aspects of the model will develop at various rates. The development may pass through different members of the project team from the employer to the contractor, consultants, and suppliers, and finally back to the employer.

Reference:

BIM Levels AIA: http://bimforum.org/lod/

BIM Levels UK: http://www.thenbs.com/topics/bim/articles/bim-levels-explained.asp 

Building information modeling (BIM) is a widely used collaboration process in the construction industry. BIM technologies are becoming an unavoidable element in all areas of a construction process like bidding, pre-construction, construction and post-construction. Nowadays, owners demand BIM services from everybody engaged in the construction industry including architects, general contractors, and engineering firms. However, general contractors and construction managers are struggling to get maximum output from BIM. Here the uses and advantages of BIM building modeling for general contractors and construction managers are narrated.

The traditional project delivery approach, the traditional use of 2D Computer Aided Drafting (CAD) technology, and the size of construction firms cause the fragmented nature of the construction industry, which will lead to a lack of labor productivity. Design-Build, which is the traditional construction project delivery approach, fragments the responsibilities of participants during the design and construction stages. That means this approach restricts the opportunities of the general contractor or the construction manager for a collaborative involvement during the design phase of the project. Moreover, the common and traditional two-dimensional CAD drawings cannot encourage a truly collaborative approach.

The Building Information Modeling process includes virtual design and construction of the project. The traditional approach does not facilitate the involvement of the general contractor or construction manager in the construction process until the completion of the design phase. That is why it cannot promote the advantages of BIM. Therefore the better project deliveries to collaborate and to improve the use of BIM are construction management at Risk, Design/Build and Integrated Project deliveries (IPD). So, the general contractors can collaborate through BIM during the design phase and provide maximum input. It also maximizes the ability to influence the cost and schedule.

USE OF BIM TO GENERAL CONTRACTORS:

VISUALIZATION

As a result of visualization general contractors get an idea about the final product. They can easily understand how the project will look like at the end.

3D COORDINATION

As BIM helps collaboration of the construction team with the engineer, architect and the owner at early stages of the design phase, the efforts of general contractors and specialty contractors can be coordinated in advance of construction. It will result in reduced design errors and a better understanding ahead of time of the work to be done.

PREFABRICATION

Reduced field labor cost and time, as well as increased accuracy in good quality construction, are the main advantages of prefabrication. Building Information Models include the specifications, finishes, sequences, and the 3D visual for each component to provide this level of accuracy. So, the contractors can generate details for the product in their fabrication software using BIM.

CONSTRUCTION PLANNING

The scheduling and sequencing of the model involved in the construction planning coordinate virtual construction in time and space. The schedule of the anticipated construction progress can be integrated to a virtual construction. This is the responsibility of general contractors to plan for coordination, shop drawings, approval, fabrication, transportation, and installation. They have to ensure the lead time for the material is accounted. So, they can get enough time to install or assemble. General contractors are able to update this information on their models. They can achieve accurate building practices with the use of BIM technologies.

COST ESTIMATION

Quantity take-off and pricing are the two main elements of cost estimation. An expert cost estimator is required to analyze the components of a material and how they get installed. We can extract the quantities from a Building Information Model to a cost database or an excel file. The quantity extraction from BIM model helps the general contractors to increase the productivity of estimators, especially in the collaborative work approach of the construction and design team.

RECORD MODEL

At the end of a project, the construction managers can provide the owner with a record Building Information Model, which contains the integration of the as-builts from the subcontractors.

To conclude, BIM initiates 3D coordination between subcontractors and vendors during the early design phase. As BIM is able to influence the cost, it can increase its impact on a project.  BIM enables the team to come up with ideas and provide solutions to the problems before they become high-cost impacts on the project.

BENEFITS OF BIM TO GENERAL CONTRACTORS:

• General Contractors can provide construct-ability, sequencing, value, and engineering reports
• Collaborative visualization of expectancy and needs of the project
• Decreased MEP coordination time
• Decreased RFIs
• Avoidance of extra expenditure
• Saving time and labor at the site
• Avoidance of schedule delays during construction
• The positive final impression of the owner
• Ability to help an owner with maintenance and renovation

Even though six uses of BIM for general contractors are highlighted here, the most useful feature of BIM for general contractors is BIM 4D scheduling. Using BIM-based 4D scheduling, the general contractors can understand the construction components and schedule progress clearly, which will enable better construction planning and avoid cost overruns. There are different BIM tools in the BIM process that are offered to enable this approach. So the general contractors should have an idea about the tools to accomplish their demands in a particular project.

Looking to Implementing BIM at your organization and would like to know How you could achieve the Optimum benefits of BIM? Click here Free Guide to Uses of BIM for General Contractors.

4D construction simulation helps in delay monitoring.

Being one of the largest and significant industries, the Construction industry has a main role in determining the gross domestic product (GDP) of many several advanced countries. This unique industry exists in a dynamic environment and therefore itself it faces lots of changes, conflicts, and complexity of communications, which will result in the delay and sometimes the failure of the project. Here comes the significance of BIM, as it can assist in creating a traditional delay analysis method. As this method is easy to perform and deliver its message, the problems between all involved parties can be solved earlier.

Understanding the benefits of BIM, several construction firms are now starting to invest in BIM technologies during all stages like preconstruction, bidding, construction, and post-construction. Therefore, owners need BIM service from everybody involved in a project including construction managers, architects, and engineering firms.

“The article aims at understanding current applications of BIM in different disciplines and to comprehend how “Design to Build” and “Build to Design” concepts can be implemented along with focusing on 3D and 4D construction simulation.”

High level of communication and collaboration environment is the most advantageous of BIM. It can cover all aspects of a construction project by incorporating every parameter like time (4D) and cost (5D). AEC uses BIM services in several application areas such as photorealistic rendering, virtual design review, cost estimating, analyzing design alternatives, analyzing execution methodologies, and project document production. A categorized framework has been established for eD/4D model areas of applications into three key phases such as design, shaping, and construction.

DELAY ANALYSIS USING 4D SIMULATIONS

Professionals and Forensic delay analysts must become more aware of the capabilities of 4D implementation in the AEC industry, As-Built models should highlight to the industry.

Case Study: Delay monitoring through 4D construction simulation

Execution of multiple projects at the same time, and monitoring the progress of every project is intimidating. The project owners are very keen to use technology to assist them in monitoring progress remotely.

Monitoring delays in execution is another plus of BIM implementation that is achieved. Simulating the construction activity for planned and actual dates and highlighting these to the client and project team ensures that execution delays are minimal. The clients are able to monitor the execution remotely on multiple projects

The project plan (from Primavera) is linked with the BIM model. To the 3D model, the 4th dimension of time is added and the construction simulation for every activity is generated. This linking is done initially for a baseline project plan and routinely updated (every 2 weeks) for actual updates to the project plan. Using this, delays are highlighted, and the construction sequence is corrected, thus achieving the goals of efficient resources and material management.

4D BIM AND SCHEDULING (TIME):

Construction planning and management: BIM models include tools for a visual depiction of the space utilization of the job site through the entire project construction, which provide a means of verifying site logistics and yard operations. Several temporary components like Lorries, cranes, and fencing can be included in the model. It can also incorporate the traffic access routes for cranes, Lorries, lifts, and other large items.  Using the tools, we can also enhance the planning and monitoring of health and safety precautions required on-site, when the project progresses.

Schedule visualization: Schedule visualization provides multiple sources of accurate real-time information and using this, the project members can make sound decisions. A chart can be used in the BIM model to show the critical path. The chart also gives a visual representation of the dependency of some sequences on others. Advanced BIM models can identify the changes in a design, which will influence the critical path, and indicate the possible corresponding impact of these changes on the overall delivery of the project.

A large project may have more than 100 activities at the proposal and schematic stages. While the scheduled activities are between 500 and 1000 during design development, they will range from 1000 to 10000 or more during the construction document stage. So, it is important to make sure that no information is missing when the project progresses to the construction document.

This July 2015, Construction world released an article focusing on the challenges faced by the Indian Government in implementing the Smart Cities projects.  As the Indian government has planned to launch smart solutions to meet the need of growing urbanization and has approved 100 smart cities project in India.

Many industry experts contributed different solutions to the challenges highlighted in the article. Like,

Mr. Pratap Padode (@pratappadode) says, ¨The Smart Cities mission and AMRUT are likely to infuse a total of Rs 400,000 crore, once integrated with other missions like Digital India, Swachh Bharat, Housing for All, etc.¨

Mr. Kanwaljeet Singh, Business Development, Energy and Smart Cities, Schneider Electric India say’s “At present, only Lavasa near Pune can be classified as a smart city. Other cities (such as Mumbai and Delhi) are still in the process of upgrading their systems and could qualify as smart in the future.¨

¨We have been talking to these cities about the best way to do this, following which they will come up with their procurement procedures,¨ says Aamer Azeemi, Managing Director, Cisco, adding that the company is in discussion with many cities. ¨We have done the complete smart city planning for four cities in the Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor,¨ he shares.

Similarly under the “Utility and Solutions” section where there are two components to any smart city: Physical infrastructure and software. Every city, from ancient times to now, has required roads, water, power, parks, security, transportation, shopping, food production, and services of different types for its citizens. What has changed is that all these facilities can now be designed using the analysis of data. Therefore, you get smarter roads where traffic lights are coordinated with the amount of traffic and smarter water by measuring the amount of water being consumed and then planning how much to buy, how much to clean and purify, and how much to store and distribute. While smarter power and the fine granular measurement can improve load factors and reduce electricity cost, smarter grids for electricity distribution improve the resiliency of power networks. Additionally, smarter transportation, agriculture, and services can be possible by backing every decision with data collection and analytics.

This considered, the benefits building information modeling (BIM) offers at the various stage are proven. ¨It can play a significant role to make smart cities a success,¨ affirms Sonali Dhopte, Director, Excelize. She highlights some goals for BIM adoption or implementation in smart cities:

• At the design stage: Visualisation of the project leads to a reduction in coordination time; reduction in time by design changes; accuracy in data used for construction as BIM lets us build virtually before building physically.
• At construction stage: Reduction in rework at site owing to clash detection and resolution; the accuracy of Bill of Quantities (BOQ) and consequently material procurement; delay monitoring through 4D construction simulation; availability of an as-built model for facility management.
• At maintenance stage: Integration of design data with maintenance data; the impact of any updates or renovations can be assessed against the data available in the BIM model.

Read the entire article here: “THE SMART CITIES CHALLENGE”

Brief about Ar. Sonali Dhopte:

Architect and Interior Designer since 1993, Sonali has worked with the top architectural firms in the US and India. As Technical Director at Excelize (www.excelize.com), she oversees and guides the BIM technology team and manages project deliveries as per client requirements. As a leading woman Architect, Sonali is a nationally recognized BIM Expert and has presented and participated in various panel discussions in prestigious conferences and has published various articles on BIM in prestigious journals.

The accuracy of BIM Quantity Take-Off and consequently material procurement!!!

If the estimation is not correct on a project, it will affect the business negatively. While underestimation of the cost leads to loss of money, the overestimation may result in failure at the bidding phase. Even though the direct victim of this issue in traditionally fixed-price contracts is a contractor, the impact of poor estimation will be seen in the entire project.

The typical pain areas for BoQ’s industry-wide are:

• As quantity take-off from 2D drafting is not connected to the resulting BOQ dynamically, the surveying team has to take many days in order to visualize the construction of 2D drafting.
• Even though BOQ industry needs the cost and resource-loaded schedule. It is not in the hierarchical structure of the BOQ.
• There are different methods to estimate cost codes and schedule resources at various levels of detail.
• BOQ or the schedule is not the structure for cost controlling and cost capture. But a third structure should be mapped to these two for cost controlling and cost capture.

ESTIMATING PROCESS

A baseline of the cost required at the various stages of project development is called cost estimation. The cost engineer or estimator predicts an amount at a given stage, based on the data available. Even though several types of cost estimation methods exist, Bill of Quantities (BOQ) Unit costs are the most commonly used. In this approach, the bill of quantities assigns a unit cost to each of the components or tasks. If you sum the quantities that are multiplied by the corresponding unit costs, you will get the total cost of the project.  The unit cost method is based on a simple arithmetical principle and is very accurate in estimating. But the proper application is essential. However, there are three key factors that decide the success of this method.

• The first and most important factor is that BOQ should be accurate
• There should be a well-defined framework for the construction procedure, which is commonly called as Standard Method of Measurement (SMM) or Work Breakdown Structure (WBS). The framework should contain a series of tasks with the allocation of quantities to those tasks.
• Estimating tools are the third factor. They are used to calculate cost accurately based on WBS and BOQ and report the expecting estimates in client-defined formats.

Besides the three main factors, there are many other fixed or variable factors like inflation, consumption rates, taxes, currency fluctuations, contingencies, etc., which should be considered by the estimator.

GENERATING ACCURATE BIM QUANTITY TAKEOFF:

The best way to get an accurate BOQ is nothing but the adoption of Building Information Modeling services. The possibilities of common errors in BOQs are minimal in the projects that use BIM processes and technology. BIM represents a single and accurate design model instead of providing several drawings. A BIM model can create a bim quantity takeoff automatically, which means it has the inbuilt intelligence to know about each building element and what it is made of. Therefore, if any change occurred in the design of a model, the BOQ will also be updated.

EXAMPLE OF BUILDING INFORMATION MODELING SERVICES QUANTITY COMPARISON:

Costing is one of the most important aspects of a project to the owners of the project. Controlling cost escalation and managing material is one issue that cannot be compromised.

Quantities for architectural and structural components are extracted at the schematic, tender, Good-For-Construction (GFC), and construction stage. At the schematic stage, it is used for budgeting. While tender, the BIM quantities are compared against the tender costs. As the design is refined at the GFC stage, the revised quantities are used for evaluating change requests. On completion of execution, the bim quantity take-offs from the model are used for bill verification.

At every stage, the accuracy of BIM quantities exceeds the accuracy of conventional thumb rule calculation. Overall adoption of building information Modeling services helps control cost escalation and disputes during the checking process.

On average, while comparing the benefit of BIM for Accurate Quantification and material procurement it can be summarized through our project experiences that

• Time is taken to calculate quantity from BIM -1 day
• Time is taken to calculate quantity by site team -1 week

The difference in the quantities is anywhere between 1% – 8%.

BIM SOLUTIONS APPLICATION AND BENEFITS TO STAKEHOLDERS:

The availability of software packages that can help prepare bills of quantities is increasing day to day. Bills of quantities are produced with the help of building information Modeling services. They do this task using the information contained in the model. The benefits of integrated BIM solutions are several and they are beneficial for everybody in the construction industry including owners, cost consultants, project managers, and contractors.

Building Information Modeling services help owners take a ‘hands-on’ approach to managing investors, stakeholders, and contractors. Using this technology, the project managers and architects can provide their services on behalf of their clients. Cost consultants can provide various services like rapid and credible cost planning, energy analysis and procurement services, etc. BIM helps contractors support revaluation amendments.

Architectural Engineering Construction (AEC) companies face a number of challenges in executing large complex projects. A construction firm typically faces challenges like availability of BIM Experts, teams resisting to change and accept the use of BIM, the capability to manage information, and most of all bear that additional cost of BIM implementation on the initial stage.

There exist significant limitations in the basic set of design tools. Developers & designers imagine their building projects in 3 dimensions. They visualize their projects as 3-dimensional projects. Their designs are then captured in the language of drawings which are essentially 2 dimensional. These drawings are sent to the construction site and the team of contractors then interprets these 2D drawings to build in 3 dimensions. This transition from 3D to 2D and back again to 3D causes distortion/loss of information at each level.

All major construction projects are executed by a team of professionals – architects, structural engineers, service engineers, various consultants & contractors. This team may not necessarily work out of one location.  Coordination and collaboration between this team are very important for the success of a large complex project. Today industry is limited in the way teams work together & share information – we do this via drawings. Everyone is working on their own set of drawings. A large amount of effort has to be spent to ensure that the work of different consultants is coordinated. With the increasing complexity coordinating from 2D drawings is very challenging.

Change is inevitable in any project lifecycle. Managing this change, ensuring that it’s propagated throughout the design adds more complexity.

While the challenges of introducing a new process to the slow-to-accept-change real estate industry are clear, so are the potential benefits. The owner stands to gain through cost-saving which is one of the greatest advantages of BIM. The major part of the life-cycle cost of a building does not come from the design and construction phase, but from operating the building over 20 to 50 years. Using BIM effectively in all these three phases – design, construction, and operations have been of utmost importance for the clients.

BIM Implementation is taking a good pace and construction companies are also realizing the worth of BIM. The concept of BIM helps in better problem solving, more effective communication, and faster project building in a more cost-effective way. Right from the concept stage to design, construction, and throughout the lifecycle of the project, BIM ensures better decision-making.

With projects to be executed at multiple locations simultaneously and for each to be completed speedily, it is necessary to avoid the problems that are associated with the conventional way of Challenges Faced by Construction Companies.

While the challenges of introducing a new process to the slow-to-accept-change construction industry are clear, so are the potential benefits. The owner stands to gain through cost-saving which is one of the greatest advantages of BIM. The major part of the life-cycle cost of a building does not come from the design and construction phase, but from operating the building for over 20 to 50 years. Using BIM effectively in all these three phases – design, construction, and operations have been of utmost importance for the clients.

BIM Implementation is taking a good pace and construction companies are also realizing the worth of BIM. The concept of BIM helps in better problem solving, more effective communication, and faster project building in a more cost-effective way. Right from the concept stage to design, construction, and throughout the lifecycle of the project, BIM ensures better decision-making.

With projects to be executed at multiple locations simultaneously and for each to be completed speedily, it is necessary to avoid the problems that are associated with the conventional way of working. In the design phase of a project, smooth coordination between various teams that are located at different locations becomes critical. Reducing the design time is crucial and getting a set of coordinated clash-free drawings is even more so.