The construction industry is poised on the cusp of a critical paradigm shift. Some great advancement has taken place over time. Technology is powering better plans of action. The traditional ways are being improved with a new set of principles that hope to encourage the value of digital processes while embracing changes in disruptive technologies.

As engineers and contractors unite to discover new and better methods of collaborating and delivering projects, the capability of BIM processes is now acknowledged to deliver better project performance through more streamlined methods. The ability to capture, design, and simulate various infrastructure resources is progressing and providing new levels of visualization.

Building Information Modelling (BIM) is now an accepted method, supported by technology, to collaborate better and share data across the lifecycle of a construction project. It has also, for long, been a catalyst for a change in the way we manage, design and develop a construction project. BIM promotes more structured real-time capture of project data. Over the process, it brings more accuracy to the building construction and enables the exchange of significant project information between the various stakeholders. Moreover, further developments in BIM are slated to make construction projects more productive and affordable by including revolutionary sustainability and safety measures.

But the value of BIM is only now becoming apparent as an enabler for tomorrow’s technology movements. BIM’s comprehensive data gathering, structured and seamless collaboration, and better integration with other software solutions like ERP systems could unlock even greater value by forming the foundation for some truly disruptive process.

Here are 3 technology waves that will have to depend on BIM in one way or the other for their widespread application.

1. Artificial Intelligence: In terms of project design and planning, AI can make a huge impact from initial design modeling, to project planning, to ongoing diagnostics. Of course, AI heavily dependents on data. And that comprehensive, structured, and accurate data can be best captured from BIM.

With BIM driving AI, architects, designers, and contractors, can visualize an entire project and experience construction progress in real-time even before it happens. Complex interactions between parameters and factors can be baked into these visualizations.

Also, safety on a construction site requires the proper foresight, planning, and protocol. BIM with real-time AI can equip construction site managers with the insights they need to ensure safety for themselves and all the team members on the site. Potential on-site risks could be eliminated through prior warning. Heavy machinery, such as cranes, loaders, and trucks, can be more easily coordinated on the construction site.

2. Augmented Reality: Augmented reality is an emerging trend in the construction industry because of its ability to visualise a modified version of the real world through a lens. Just like BIM is a way to build a structure virtually before you build physically, AR is a way to see (and experience) virtually before you build.

Augmented reality paired with BIM can help provide accurate and detailed comparisons between what has been planned with what has been built to evaluate progress and deviations on the spot. Such implementation of augmented reality in building and construction processes can help save money on rework.

Another advantage of using augmented reality is that people can collaborate and solve problems effectively even while being in different locations. AR can also be used to provide training that is more immersive and contextual. In such situations, using the BIM model as a base will help ensure that everyone is working with a single version of the truth. This will ensure consistency and accuracy.

3. Sustainable construction: Sustainable design has turned into a strategic imperative in recent years. Today, the focus is both on building green and on green buildings. It’s also apparent that much of sustainability in building practices is about reducing waste in materials as well as in energy and expense. And BIM plays a crucial role in promoting that.

BIM is an ideal catalyst to drive sustainable building practices as well as improved and more energy-efficient building performance. Consider this in the context of making environment-friendly material choices and energy-efficient construction practices. Both need to be based on a solid foundation of comprehensive planning, accurate information, and real-time monitoring. The delivery of data required for these improvements is a key value of BIM.

The most significant benefits of BIM for sustainable building design are:

1) Integrated project delivery

2) Design optimisation.

BIM has helped construction professionals deliver complex and involved construction projects around the world. But as the world of construction is changing, it’s time for the role of BIM to evolve too. A data-driven sector with an emphasis on technological improvements and real-time collaboration is around the corner. And BIM will play a central role in that too.

First some definitions for those who need them.

For this post, let’s consider that multi-family housing is a type of housing facility where multiple housing units are built within one building or a few buildings within one complex. In some cases, units in a multi-family residential building are classified as condominiums. Here typically the units are owner individually instead of renting from a single apartment building owner. Many communities incorporate multi-family residences such as cohousing projects. From the perspective of their construction though, let’s consider that some common parameters apply to all multi-family housing.

The residential space and particularly the multi-family sector holds incredible potential for development. In most developed nations the residential multi-family market is responsible for a significant portion of all construction activity.

Of course, such a project has its complexity. The sheer size, scale, and delivery pressures are obvious issues. But while constructing a multi-family housing facility, a variety of other difficulties are encountered, such as:

• Coordinating with the multiple teams
• Integrating information
• Access to information
• Tracking and monitoring
• Timely action

A massive amount of information is created during the construction and development stage and not every significant bit of it is recorded. Every individual contractor involved during the construction and development stage utilises various tools to produce and process the information applicable to them. In such a fragmented environment, a missing piece of data can prove disastrous for the project.

This suggests the need for a centralised platform to share, exchange, and project information in real-time (or near real-time). In that context, BIM brings clear advantages to this construction and development process.

As most here already know, Building Information Modeling (BIM) is an intelligent 3D-model-based process that gives engineering, building, and development experts the insight and tools to productively plan, design, validate and collaborate while building. BIM is utilized to plan and document building and infrastructure designs. And obviously, multi-family residential projects can be improved with a well-thought BIM Modelling strategy.

BIM gives a clear understanding of the materials utilised, the building life cycle of a specific structure, and the expense of building it. Better project coordination and collaboration with stakeholders, efficient work processes, 3D perceptions, and improved project results are just some of the advantages of using BIM processes. The other advantages include:

1. Representation: By working with intelligent 3D models, it is possible to document some different highlights that 2D projects can’t. With 3D models, sales teams can generate spontaneous visuals which act as a great marketing technique while sell multi-family developments.

2. Multi-family Detailing: The benefit of BIM is the capacity for creating details quickly. Data can be added to a current structure data model to communicate further information about the project. This is a great application for residential BIM modelling.

3. Time and money: When the whole team is working on a BIM model, loads of time can be saved by pulling data from the BIM files. Rather than starting similar work all over again in a new work process, data can be passed on to any person in need. All the important data can be found in a single location.

As is evident, in the context of multi-family housing, every detail about the structure is transparently visible with BIM. The model can be utilised for analysis to explore structure options and to create visualizations that help stakeholders understand what the building will resemble before it is built. The model is then used to create the design documentation for construction. BIM not only helps the design and development teams work more efficiently and productively, but it also enables them to capture the information created during the process to benefit workflows and tasks. It allows them to improve operations and maintenance activities.  BIM data can likewise improve procurement and resource planning.

It’s well known that BIM helps prevent clashes between teams working on different facets of construction like plumbing, electricals, HVAC, etc. With multi-family housing this is a significant benefit, given the added complexity of a variety of layouts and unit designs that may be in play across the entire campus.

BIM is valuable not only while facilities are being built but also can help maintain existing structures too. Accessibility to facilities information is most vital for facilities management, and BIM provides exactly that. BIM technology helps in reducing the inconsistencies in the base data of the building as it comes up. And the value only grows as the information builds up as the structure does too. BIM incorporates all the modifications and alterations made over time, thereby giving the facilities managers and maintenance teams access to data that is accurate and complete. This becomes a massive advantage for large multi-family housing projects with day-to-day maintenance needs impacted by the lives and actions of so many residents.

BIM technology is intended to support contractors and builders to construct more effectively. And as it happens, BIM fulfills just such a role in the construction of multi-family housing too.