Towards the end of the last decade BIM adoption for clash detection, coordination had gained acceptance. Now it was necessary to move beyond this and look at what more can be done using the BIM models. Dimensions of BIM from 3D to 8D were a topic of discussion and a significant number of organizations decided to implement these. Having an integrated 5D BIM platform was being mandated on some large infra projects. Using the BIM models to create asset models for facility management was also gaining acceptance.

All this meant that digital transformation was happening at various levels. The pandemic hit us in 2020 and the entire ecosystem was impacted. But this also opened for us new avenues of working. Working remotely, using technology to speed up construction, ensuring that there are minimal time and cost overruns on projects gained importance, along with acceptance of digitalization.

In the examples we are sharing, we wish to highlight that BIM adoption has matured and it should be looked at the norm.

Phase 1: Maha Metro – 2016 – Ongoing

Maha Metro is the first organization in the country to implement 5D BIM project visualization. 5D BIM is a digital project management concept that integrates many software’s seamlessly. This implementation has enabled Maha Metro to control quality, cost and time very effectively.

In a country where large infrastructure projects have gained notoriety for time and cost overruns and have often delivered dubious quality, using the new 5D project management platform, Nagpur Metro has broken from the traditional vicious circle of project management and delivered consistent quality along with timebound completion.

The traditional approach followed in the construction industry often struggles to deliver the project on time and within budget. Lack of precision and exactness in the process of information flow leads to conflicts between stakeholders. Design management, document control, quality assurance, timely completion, cost control, risk mitigation, maintaining safe construction environment and effective operation and maintenance of services are among the most common challenges faced by the construction industry. Reduced rework, reduced coordination problems, better communication between various stakeholders, reduced documentation errors, fewer claims, reduced paperwork, reduction in time and cost overrun, reduction in lifecycle costs are amongst the main benefits of 5D BIM.

The results show that 5D BIM based digital project management system integrates all the processes, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the project, right from design through operation and maintenance.

Nagpur metro was the first 5D BIM implementation in India. This project has certainly paved the way for many such applications now. In the last 2 years (2020-2021) almost all public infrastructure projects are mandating BIM and its various dimensions to be digitally integrated with planning, construction management, cost monitoring, asset management and even digital twins.

Phase 2: Mixed Use development – 2022

The current state of BIM adoption and implementation is drastically different from when we started 18 yrs ago. BIM implementation is mandated as part of the scope from day 1. Contracts include this, consultants have the required knowledge and owners are ready to look at the long-term benefits this first step will provide.

On a very recently started project we have seen the acceptance of implementing BIM and going beyond. Some highlights are:

• This is a mixed-use retail centre situated in Mumbai. BIM has been mandated by the developers
• RFP was generated, bids were invited, and a bidding portal was used
• The RFP mentioned that a design model will be provided by the developers. This was an example which demonstrated that there were no barriers to adoption, design had started with 3D, BIM standards were available, and goals has been clearly laid out.
• Architect and MEPF consultants on this project are building their own models. The BIM team at Excelize is only building structural models
• The architects have setup CDE and are driving the entire workflow.
• Bids had to submitted with prior experience documents, reference check contacts, approach and methodology for this project, team profile, confirmation on capability of using CDE
• Technical evaluation was done through presentations and discussion with the client’s team.
• The scope extended itself beyond BIM modeling, as laid out in the contract. It included:
  • Architectural base BIM model
  • BIM model for structure.
  • Extracting Bill of Quantities (BOQ) from clash free design model
  • 2D GFC extraction for structural services.
  • Construction simulation (4D), cost management (5D), asset model, Digital twin
• The client decided to implement Digital twin in phase 2 as the technology and process would have expectedly evolved as they reach this phase in 3-4 years.

BIM standards and implementation framework

Though BIM is a technology that can be pivotal to enhancing productivity and optimizing costs for construction, it is not guided by a set of standards or rules for its implementation.

As there is no single body mandating BIM, the standards and implementation framework has been decided largely by users. BIM Execution Plan (BEP) is the first attempt at creating a framework and standing of processes involved.

Back in 2010, Excelize worked on an airport project, wherein no BEP was generated, no standards for the project were documented. In 2014, the Excelize team worked for an IT giant that was setting up 10 campuses in India. While BEP wasn’t generated for this project as well, the standards were setup and made mandatory too.

In 2015, the BEP for Maharashtra Metro was well detailed and thought out. It was generated in consultation with all the stakeholders and owners. As part of the BEP, employers’ information requirements, master information delivery plan, task information delivery plan, Level of Details (LOD) matrix, and Level of Information (LOI) guidelines, were documented and implemented. BS PAS 1199 standards were followed for this project.

In 2020-2021, we have many tools that allow us to generate the BEP. Based on the project or organization goals, BEP can be generated to various global standards. There is a movement that insists on the adoption of a uniform, global standard i.e., ISO 19650.

Phase 1: JIO world – 2014

BIM Modelling services were sought by a leading telecom giant for the construction of an international exhibition and convention centre. Request for Proposal (RFP) was floated, and 5 bids were received. An interesting enhancement in the evaluation criteria was the emphasis on prior work experience, over being just restricted to commercials. The principal contractor – Samsung Korea – was appointed to evaluate this process also. They visited the Excelize office, reviewed the company’s processes, quality audit protocols, team capabilities and even the license compliance for the BIM tools to be used in the project.

This is a convention and exhibition centre spread over an area of more than 8 million square feet comprising of high-end retail, Theatre, convention and exhibition centre, service apartments, residential, commercial offices, etc.

Observations:

• This project coordination would have been a massive challenge if BIM was not deployed.

• Roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders were clearly defined when related to BIM implementation

• The modeling approach was a hybrid one:

• • • Design models were provided by foreign design consultants

    • During the construction phase, the BIM team was asked to build the architectural, structural and services models.

    • MEPF (Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing Fixtures) consultants were to build their own models.

• On-site team was responsible for coordination with contractor’s team and the principal contractor was responsible for the construction planning and simulation of design.

• This was the first project that had a requirement for an as-built model along with asset tagging

• This was unique and one of the biggest projects with mixed use design, multiple designers and consultants were involved in the project. To get timely resolution from the consultant was the biggest challenge for coordination.

• Owners team should appoint a BIM champion to drive BIM modelling and allied services. It cannot be done through the contractor as they do not have the complete view of the project.

• Asset strategy should be thought and formulated early in the lifecycle as this affects the LOD of the model

• 4D construction simulation was done but was not used for catch-up planning.

• Models built were not used at coordination meetings but only the clash report was reviewed.

Phase 2: Campus for a large IT services company – 2015

An IT giant required BIM support for setting up multiple campuses. It was mandatory for the project team to setup standards; no BIM execution plan was set up for these projects though.

The Request for Proposal (RFP) had a very clear scope of work identified and the deliverables were documented. A contract was drafted clearly stating these aspects.

Observations:

• The scope extended itself beyond BIM modeling for clash detection and coordination, as laid out in the contract. Besides modeling for clash detection and coordination, it included:

  • Extracting Bill of Quantities (BOQ) from clash free design model and bill verification for the BOQ from model and contractor’s Running Account (RA) bills

  • 4D BIM dashboards and reporting to management

  • Appointment of on-site BIM coordinator

• Most of the issues stemmed from the top-down approach. No time was given to site teams to adopt and evolve through processes.

• Contracts made with the contractor had not specified BIM verification which created tremendous resistance at the contractor’s end.

• Owners kept tweaking the design even while the construction was being done, so many changes had to be incorporated in real-time.

• BIM models were not used to generate the 2D. It was a 2D to 3D effort, which was the reverse of the usual approach which made it more cumbersome.

• Site changes on materials resulted in consumed quantity not matching tender quantity or BIM quantity as estimated in the plan

• On-site coordinator took around 6-7 months to feel included as a part of the team.

• The adoption on the first project was a failure and as BIM consultants, Excelize team faced push back from everyone. By the time, the team started work on the third location, the acceptance had increased manifold.

BIM mandates

BIM will gain momentum only when its implementation will be mandated by the government or at an enterprise level. The adoption of BIM has been mandated in many countries globally, though there is no such mandate in India. The advancement of BIM implementation solely relies on the success or benefit achieved on every project at an organizational level.

For many years in the past decade a BIM Consultant would implement BIM on any project only for coordination during design phase with an objective to get accurate quantities for estimation & bill verification during the construction of the project. Since 2020 while the world has been battling with COVID19, adoption of BIM has increased threefold especially the architecture and design firms. BIM has also been regulated due to mandated in the private sector in India.

The Public sector has been prompt in regulating BIM Implementation depending on the size of the projects and the ease of managing. Even with the successful implementation of 5D BIM on the Maha metro project in Nagpur BIM has not become a mandate on all the metro projects in the country. Likewise, infrastructure projects are looking beyond regulation of BIM implementation and are now looking to adopting digital integration platform in construction phase of projects for the ease of asset management during lifetime of the project. This includes incorporating BIM models, project plans for 4D simulation and monitoring and integration with ERP tools for 5D cost management. All this is possible with mandates at various levels.

Phase 1: Mumbai Airport – 2008

This mega structure is spread over an area of 5 million sq. ft. The complex design was fully coordinated using 3D BIM models. Excelize team was entrusted with the challenge of showcasing the benefits of BIM adoption for coordination. A Proof-Of-Concept (POC) was conducted for a small area before the work on the entire terminal was done.

No BEP was generated, no standards were defined and documented, and only BIM goal was to generate coordinated 2D drawings from clash-free models.

Observations:

• The input data was incomplete with inadequate information. Using these at site would have resulted in a lot of on-site decision resulting in potential delays.
• A lot of clashes were detected and resolved using the model. This ensured that
  • Minimal decisions were taken on site
  • No undocumented changes at site
  • Very little rework at site thus time and cost overruns were minor
• Every designer had his/her perspective for resolving the clashes. Excelize team took initiative to document the rules for clash resolution that could be shared with the design teams, and this led to the first piece of standardization
• Value engineering exercise was conducted in coordination with design team at site, which involved re-design and second round of clash resolution.
• Clash free areas and models were produced which the site team was not capable of viewing. Lack of trained staff, infrastructure (hardware/software) and resistance to accept change were some of the barriers to implementation. At the end of this phase, walkthroughs were generated from the model which the team used for inspection during installation.

Phase 2: Star rated Hotel – 2012

The goal for this star rated hotel project was to demonstrate the benefits of BIM models through the design and installation phase. The ability to visualize the entire space in 3D, to plan the services routing more efficiently, identify clashes early in the design process and how all of this supports the onsite team during the installation process were some indicators.

Observations:  

• The client team was comfortable with their traditional approach of design co-ordination and had been rather reluctant to change. It was incredibly difficult to convince them in favour of BIM adoption
• There was no team identified to review and utilize the information that would be shared by the BIM team and no training was imparted to the existing team for deploying BIM
• Information in drawings was incomplete, so, models had to be made based on certain assumptions.
• Excelize worked remotely on building the model had a part time BIM coordinator driving the in-person meetings, getting clash resolution
• After one-on-one meetings with different team members, there was a gradual shift in their approach towards viewing the model. A bottom-up approach worked in realizing the value of BIM models.
• As the project was on the verge of completion, there was openness to using BIM during construction as a coordination and visualization tool and sought appreciation by team members

BIM adoption

The transition from traditional construction methods to using BIM has brought a revolution among all the project stakeholders. For architects, BIM enhances their designing capability which brings refinement in design which in turn reduces unnecessary re-work.

The next set of people to adopt BIM were the project owners. The benefit achieved is accuracy in estimation which in turn helped in material procurement and cost, transparency among other stakeholders of the project during coordination and construction was key for the owners to adopt BIM.

In due time contractors and other stakeholders observed the efficient gains from BIM adoption. They are today the biggest proponents of BIM and this gives them the ability to build faster, smarter, reduce errors and wastages and eliminated unbudgeted problems.

We would like to share the BIM Story in India; through our journey of almost 2 decades. Through a series of articles, we will share India’s BIM story with parallels to Excelize BIM journey.

PART 1

The journey of Building Information Modelling (BIM) in India has moved from doubt to acknowledgment to utilizing the higher possibilities of BIM. Excelize Software (www.excelize.com), serving the global Architecture, Engineering, Construction and Operations (AECO) industry from its headquarters in Aurangabad, has been a pioneer in this transformational journey for almost two decades.

Construction & Architecture have gone through a transition since their shift in design communication from 2D (Computer Aided Design) CAD drawings to 3D models. BIM models came in handy for the architects and builders as it helped in visualizing their projects accurately. BIM models also helped to outdo the constraints of 2D drawings as it integrated all the project-relevant information in just one model during the construction of the project. The ability of BIM is to align and incorporate data precisely to enhance good communication among project stakeholders (clients, architects, engineers, and contractors). It is also a starting point for use of advanced technology applications like artificial intelligence, robotics, etc in the AEC industry. Excelize is optimistic that technology is going to be a key enabler for the AECO industry in the times to come.

BIM is not just automation it leads to creative, logical, analytical, and critical thinking and enables a process that accelerates operations. The adoption of BIM has also been influenced by the implementation of policies and construction standards. It is safe to say that BIM is a center of information management for all projects, irrespective of location, standards, scale, after-construction use, nature of construction, and others.

Potential benefits of BIM

At the beginning of this millennium, there was significant growth in the number and types of projects being constructed. There was an increase in projects with advanced security systems and sustainable energy requirements. This brought up the necessity of having a tool that would have all interactive data

right from design to the construction in one place and would also be available during the lifetime of the project for facilities management & maintenance. Thus, most of the project stakeholders started gaining interest in BIM.

By 2015 most of BIM users began to see BIM as a ‘Must Have’ tool. Using BIM, it was possible to track and monitor potential issues such as cost overruns and cost to completion based on the progress of present construction. During the operations and maintenance stage, locating and accessing assets, and identifying challenges in accessing the assets are some benefits that are also gaining interest.

We have seen stakeholders visualizing the design flaws when they could see the model much ahead of construction. Clash detection and coordination using BIM models help save time during the coordination stage by almost 1/3 of the time required using the conventional method. Coordination issues are rectified in the model which in turn helps reduce in wastage of material and time. Construction sequencing helps in checking on time progress during construction of the project and helps in making catch-up plan if there is any delay. Another important benefit is having an asset model which is generated with up-to-date information about the project constructed at the site. This model helps during the entire lifespan of the project for facilities management.