“To be careless in making decisions is to naively believe that a single decision impacts nothing more than that single decision, for a single decision can spawn a thousand others that were entirely unnecessary or it can bring peace to a thousand places we never knew existed.”
? Craig D. Lounsbrough, Flecks of Gold on a Path of Stone: Simple Truths for Life’s Complex Journey

Construction is an inevitably sequential process. One thing leads to another. Reversing a previous action is costly, time-consuming, and hard. On the other hand, a well-considered decision can set you on the path to successful project completion with the most optimized investment of effort and resources. So, how can we improve the chances of optimal decisions?

BIM or Building information modeling is already becoming a mainstay of the architecture, engineering, construction and operations industry. But with BIM, a carefully curated building information model can also be utilized for making better decisions about the planning, design, development, and operation of the facility.

Incorporating BIM in construction projects allows the following possibilities:

1. Optimized construction planning: The centralization of data in BIM facilitates quality control early in the project lifecycle. The data updated by all the concerned parties helps in creating a 3D visualization of the final facility. The 3D visualization helps in analysing the practicality of the design – whether the design can be implemented and what is the best way of doing so. Such decisions, when taken at the right time, show an impact over the entire lifecycle of the project.

2. Quantity estimation: One of the most wasteful tasks in a construction project is deriving accurate estimates for the quantity of the required raw material. A construction project can be marred by both over as well as under estimation of the quantity. BIM helps drive much better decisions about the accurate quantity of raw material required. It also allows much better decisions to be made about when these materials would be required. This eliminates waste and allows the project manager to adhere to the projected budget and maintain an efficient logistics schedule. That, in turn, results in avoiding time lags caused due to unavailability of raw material.

3. Better collaboration and communication: BIM technology allows easy collaboration and sharing information in real-time between teams and stakeholders. This ensures that all the team members have access to up-to-date project data at all times, anywhere. The accessibility to accurate data helps in eliminating construction errors during the design phase. The elimination of design error help saves time lags during the construction phase caused due to rework or redesign. Time is an essential resource in a construction project. Any time saved is money saved in terms of labour hours and logistics.

4. Better coordination and early clash detection: The BIM-facilitated seamless coordination between all the concerned parties allows the team managers to identify clashes as the construction proceeds. Such clashes cause rework that brings in delays and wasted effort. Even as such clashes may not be apparent very early in the design phase, even within the short term if teams become aware of impending clashes, they can plan for workarounds and plan the immediate effort much better.

5. Safety and risk mitigation: Construction safety is in focus now. This is even more true when the construction site is in harsh or hazardous locations. BIM gives site managers and others tasked with safety, the most accurate and comprehensive data about the construction facility that allows them to make better decisions about the construction keeping safety in mind. For instance, if the model shows that as the facility takes shape a particular stage could present some specific challenges then the option is available to call for some expert help, deploy technology or add more resources at that point in time.

6. Operations and facilities management: A construction project generates humungous amounts of data which can be very useful for the continuing operation and facility management of the building. The collated data in BIM makes it easier for the facilities manager to make better plans for the ongoing management of the facility. The as-built feature comes handy for driving better decisions during renovation or refurbishment works. The digitally centralized data makes it easier for the operations and facility manager to access information regarding the building, which in turn promotes data-driven decision-making about the smooth functioning of the building during its lifecycle.

The most crucial thing in any project is the ability to make/take efficient decisions at the right time. The efficiency of decision-making in a construction project is mainly dependent upon the availability of data. BIM offers an abundance of accurate and current data about the project in one central location. The accessibility of the information enables accurate decision-making across the project lifecycle, right from planning through the construction and, even, into the maintenance phase.

There’s no longer any question that Building Information Modeling (BIM) has revolutionized the way the AEC industry operates. BIM has delivered a significant impact on long-term projects in terms of economic as well as technical viability. Owing to the cost benefits and various other advantages from the power of BIM, many countries have mandated the use of BIM technology for public projects. This move, in itself, speaks volumes about the significant potential of BIM technology in a construction project.

BIM applies across the design as well as the construction phase of a project. Of course, the life-cycle of a construction project doesn’t end at the handing-over of a facility; it is a continuing cycle. Many traditional construction projects accepted the project life-cycle to end at the handing over process, but, in this era, facilities management is a part of the construction project, and BIM plays a vital role in helping the facilities managers in operating and maintaining a building.

So, the long-term application of BIM technology ensures the efficient design, effective implementation, and smooth functioning and maintenance of a building. The objectives of cost, quality, sustainability, and safety can be met efficiently with BIM technology. The collation and availability of large amounts of data at a centralized location have made operations easier for all the stakeholders of a construction project.

Let’s focus on one key community of stakeholders, the Project Manager.

BIM & Project Managers

To a large extent, the success of a project depends upon the capability of the project manager. It’s important that the roles & responsibilities of a project manager should be clearly defined. BIM aids the project manager in fulfilling the onerous responsibilities of the role and duties by providing a centralized system that allows all the expertise & knowledge of all the involved parties to be brought together. BIM offers the seamless integration of information and ideas that help in mitigating clashes faced during the construction phase.

Let’s look into how & why project managers can use BIM:

1. Effective Communication & Coordination in the Team

A successful construction project is a result of hard work and input of various involved teams. Traditionally, every team from architects, engineers, builders, electricians, and operations works independently. BIM brings all of them together and creates a centralized pool of information that is accessible to anyone from anywhere at any time. This feature has facilitated effective communication between all the departments, resulting in perfect coordination in the team. The main task of a project manager is to ensure seamless coordination amongst the different groups, and BIM makes this tedious task more manageable.

2. Accurate Timelines & Estimations 

Achieving timeline and cost objectives play a crucial role in defining the success of any construction project. BIM allows project managers to draw significantly more accurate timelines and cost estimations. The accuracy of the calculations during the planning phase helps in ramping up the effectiveness of the planning function and improves the financial planning of the project.

3. Phasing-out On-Site Redesigning

Every constructed building ends up being different from its original blueprint. The design tends to evolve as the construction process begins. Over time, these deviations tend to cause time lag and budgeting issues because of the impact on work that follows such changes. Such work ends up having to be changed on the fly, in response to the ground reality. This takes time, costs money, and consumes resources. BIM allows the Project Manager to document the ongoing work better and prevent such situations.

In addition, the clash-detection feature in BIM allows the project manager to identify any issues in the design that could cause clashes between different teams before the construction begins. This helps in saving not only time on redesigning but also the amount of raw material required and ensuring timely delivery of the project.

4. Accurate Estimation of Raw Materials

One of the most demanding tasks faced by a project manager is deriving estimations for the raw materials required. An inaccurate estimation, both over and under estimation, of raw materials, will result in time lag and over-expenditure. This directly affects the budget and timeline of the project. BIM helps in delivering accurate estimations and reducing the burden on the project manager of manual calculations.

5. Handing-over and Facilities Management

The role of a project manager in today’s times is not limited to the construction phase. An effective construction project is one that supports efficient operations of the facility even after the handover. The project manager has to ensure that the facilities manager has all the required information for operating and maintaining the building during its operating life-cycle. The centralization of data in BIM helps make it easier for the project manager to handover information to the FM. The BIM models, by virtue of being updated, tend to reflect the as-built state of the structure better. This ensures that the FM provides updated and accurate information to the facilities manager.

As is apparent, the application of BIM plays a vital role in the management of the project. A project manager can leverage the capability of BIM to deliver a successful construction project. BIM reduces the burden on the project manager of manually calculating and managing tasks. It seems clear that for a construction project to be successful today, project managers would do well to adopt BIM technology.

Construction projects have experienced considerable waste and inefficiency in the past. This has an impact on project completion timelines, project profitability, and even sustainability. AEC contractors specifically, and the construction industry in general, have chosen to adopt BIM to address these major challenges.

The utilization of BIM in the AEC industry is on the upswing as architects, contractors, and engineers are adopting Building Information Modeling (BIM) in their projects. BIM is finding favour with them as it is an extremely practical and productive approach towards project design, development, and project management. BIM offers engineers and architects a platform to better design and deliver structures based on standards and other environmental restrictions. BIM provides not only better data but also effective quality as the segments and workflows are fully digitized.

Effective inculcation of BIM enables an organization to set up an improved collaboration among the engineers, contractors, architects, and site-managers. An effective BIM consulting strategy empowers these organizations to integrate data-rich models and project databases to construct a virtual portrayal of the project before they build it and to then keep it updated as the project progresses. BIM provides all the team members easy access to all the data, making collaboration simpler, reducing dangers and improving profits.

There’s no longer any doubt that this technological advancement has deeply impacted structural design and project execution in the construction industry. In that context, let’s zoom in on how AEC consultants, contractors, and companies work with BIM?

How can the use of BIM benefit AEC companies?

Architects and designers are utilizing Building Information Modeling to control structure construction, project planning, and sequencing. BIM empowers them to generate multiple design alternatives and check the constructability of the structure for each of them. AEC BIM consultants can design better project plans before going on to the site. BIM also helps extensively over the course of the project delivery by improving collaboration, proactive clash detection, and transparent ongoing tracking and monitoring.

The AEC industry utilizes BIM for the following:

• 3D visualization, clash identification, practicality analysis, constructability review, quantity and cost estimate, environmental analysis, and data for facility management.
• Improved construction and development efficiency,
• Enhanced collaborative efforts and data sharing among the team members,
• Reducing on-site risks and danger throughout the project,
• Promoting efficiency by minimizing errors or mistake between designers and engineers,
• Ensuring accuracy and reliability.

It is well known that AEC projects are susceptible to various negative influences. The construction environment is extremely dynamic and there are multiple players simultaneously working on the site. It is also true that poor coordination is commonplace in such an environment due to inconsistent sharing of information, outdated data, and differing priorities. Issues such as loss of data during data transformation, errors in workflow integration, and lack of coordinated efforts are the norm. To prevent such issues, AEC companies are adopting BIM.

This allows the AEC company to:

1. Update info: With BIM, the team members get better control over the project information they have to work on. The BIM model gets updated as the project evolves. This ensures that any changes made in the structure are captured. The differences between plans and ground-reality are eliminated allowing for better-informed plans and decisions.
2. Use information throughout the lifecycle of a project: BIM empowers the project members to access all the available data throughout the various stages of the project. This is especially useful as the project keeps developing and ongoing decisions need to be made.
3. Avoid coordination errors: BIM helps with better workflow integration. With BIM, it is easy to establish a common language for the processes. Clashes are visible early and to everyone in the system. This reduces all the possible coordination errors in a project. That, in turn, reduces rework.
4. Utilize best-of-breed solutions: BIM provides a sound, consistent, data foundation that enables project managers to use diverse programming tools for various applications. With BIM, an AEC organization can choose tools depending upon the requirements of a project secure in the knowledge that the tool will deliver the desired impact based on comprehensive, current, and accurate data about the construction site.

BIM can deliver real value to the process of design and construction of projects. This is why a large number of AEC organizations are adopting this innovative technology to expand the delivery of their projects. Even as construction continues to stay challenging, SEC companies are on the frontlines of trying to bring about tech-driven change. The adoption of BIM technology is enabling more AEC organizations to address key concerns of efficiency and effectiveness.

The Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MahaMetro) recently reported that the Nagpur Metro project was completed in a record time of 27 months. That’s not the only feather in its cap. Nagpur Metro is being regarded as the greenest metro system in India.

There’s no doubt that the Nagpur Metro project stands as the perfect example for megaprojects in India and the rest of the world. So, what are the lessons we can learn?

Factors that contributed to the successful completion of the project:

1.     Effectiveness of consultation with stakeholders: This is a public infrastructure project first and last. It’s critical to make room for the role of the public to ensure success. From the conceptualization stage, the communication between the project leaders and the public should be strong. The public should understand the plans, the benefits to them, and the likely hardships they may encounter along the construction phase. No project of this size is trouble-free. Having the public in the project’s corner when the inevitable problems surface can be a critical advantage. This facet was one of the most significant characteristics of the Nagpur Metro project.

2.     Use of technology: The power of BIM was used by Nagpur metro to make the construction of the metro more secure, faster, and qualitatively better. This helped the team plan better, be more efficient with resource utilization, collaborate better, and prevent avoidable clashes and rework. This was key to being able to deliver a fast, efficient, and on-budget project.

BIM has not only been available and beneficial during construction but will play an equally important role in the operation & maintenance phase of the project. It has effectively addressed the massive document management challenge for the project. Nagpur Metro project is the first such effort in India to adopt the 5D BIM technology by incorporating ERP with BIM and various world-class software for project management. The single source of truth provided by the BIM platform enabled the entire team of Nagpur Metro rail project to get the right data at the right time for productive decision making.

3.     Intensive tracking and monitoring: Projects of this size are never lacking for the involvement of experts with experience in railway and other metro projects. The challenge has often been, how to make the best use of their expertise? How to ensure that their expertise is called upon just when it is likely to have the maximum impact? This is where BIM helped by providing the project managers transparent visibility into the real-time status of the project at all times.  Regular tracking of work undertaken by the consultants and workers was scheduled. This provided clear visibility of likely problems in time for action to be taken to mitigate their impact. Expert help could be proactively pulled in to offer fixes or workarounds before the problem got out of hand. This also made it possible to communicate the issues and the solutions to all the involved parties well in time. This also contributed to `bridging the communication gap and accelerating the tasks.

The Nagpur metro is a great example of quality, effectiveness, efficiency, and speed. It got that way by utilizing globally tested digital technologies, latest construction tools and techniques, green initiatives, and the passion and skills of its employees. Nagpur Metro Rail Project was planned, designed, and executed with many innovative and unique features.

1.     A multi-layered metro project: Nagpur Metro is a multi-layered metro with India’s first four-layer transport system. The continuous and ongoing work of the flyovers, roads, highways and the metro are coming up in a similar vertical space. The three and four-layer transport framework will be a modern wonder when completed.

2.     Greenest metro in India: The sustainable solutions used in developing the Nagpur metro makes it the greenest metro in India. 65% of the energy requirements of the Nagpur Metro project are met from the solar panels attached on the rooftop of the metro rail, depot boundary walls, stations, depot shed, etc. The energy generated from the system is also added back to the grid and the power required is drawn from local sources. The project also recycles every single drop of water it uses.

3.     Fastest completed project: The Nagpur Metro project is the fastest completed project of its type. The project foundation was laid in 2015 and the trial runs were held within just 27 months. This is an unprecedented pace for such a massive project.

4.     Ratings: All stations, administrative buildings, and depots have been planned and designed to achieve maximum rating from the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC). All Green Norms are being implemented and observed for energy & water efficiency, enhanced comfort, wastewater management, and 100% segregation of waste at source.

The project has admirable sustainable and economic features baked into it right from its inception phase. And that is perhaps the biggest lesson to learn from it. Laurels are not achieved by accident. They have to be planned for, the details pored over and then transformed into reality with lots of effort and teamwork. I’m fortunate to have been a part of this path-breaking project. And I don’t think I will ever tire of saying that!

BIM or Building Information Modeling is rapidly becoming the “must-adopt” standard in building and construction projects. BIM, as a practice, spans the management of the physical structure as well as the other useful information of a construction project. The output of the process is what we refer to as BIM models. BIM is far more than mapping physical space. It incorporates embedded functionality and cost measurements within the plan. These models are the digital files that portray every part of the project and support decision-making throughout the cycle.

Some well-known advantages of adopting BIM are:

· Capture the most accurate representations of the location

· Capture reality

· Maintain control

· Organize steps and processes

· Better collaboration and communication

· Model-based cost estimation

· Improved coordination and clash detection

· Reduced cost and mitigated risk

· Stronger facility management

· Improved construction sequencing

BIM has multiple advantages that are beneficial for the structure and planning of a construction project. There are a few principle areas where BIM can have an impact:

· BIM enables visual representation at an early stage.

· It enhances site planning and coordination

· BIM helps for visual scheduling

· It provides accurate estimation and operational cost savings

· BIM helps to reduce costly errors

· It helps to improve construction predictability

· It permits visualizing the impact of changes in the design before construction

· It allows efficient energy analysis

But that said, the traditional sense has been that BIM’s, model-based approach is utilized for both planning and collaboration. But is that, strictly speaking, true?

Engineering and design are iterative procedures that have usually been manual. Architects, structural engineers and builders all need to view various snippets of information and utilize different layouts. BIM provides practical solutions to make easy changes whenever required. As the use of BIM is growing, the quality and nature of the information collected is increasing, as well. This collected data is precious for planning.

BIM is useful not only for assessing a structure for the achievability of the project but also to provide an insight into the building’s performances in terms of constructability and functionality. BIM helps to integrate knowledge, framework, and business structures in a collaborative process. The possibility of having a digital portrayal of the physical structure in the design and planning stage enables the prior detection of blunders and more transparent evaluation of the design. The control during the preconstruction phase will guarantee constructability by detection of errors, alterations, and irregularities in the project. Building Information Modeling helps reduce frequent changes and cost issues; thus, it can economically achieve space planning and coordination. 3D visualizations enable effective communication in the planning and design phase.

Some of the significant advantages of BIM utilization in the planning and design stage are the following.

1.      Project visualization during the planning stage: Building Information Modeling tools empower proper project visualization and planning at the preconstruction stage. 3D simulation and visualization of the structure enable the clients to have a post-development visualization that facilitates simple modification before the beginning of the project. The overview of the project thus lowers the danger of time-consuming, unwanted and costly changes.

2.      Assessment of cost based upon the project model: The incorporation of material specification facilitates effective construction cost assessment of the model-based project. The time-consuming challenges associated with cost assessment are effectively automated with the use of BIM. This enables estimators to focus on the most extreme element of significant worth that includes recognizing construction risk evaluation.

But what about during the actual construction?

As it happens, there are significant benefits from BIM at that stage too.

3.      Lower expenses and risk: BIM helps to save a lot of money and make construction smoother and more efficient. The data storage libraries in BIM provide better coordination and a single source of truth that lowers the possibilities of using obsolete data by any team. This ensures early clash detection and prevention. Better coordination and collaboration between teams allows more efficient utilization of on-site resources. It also leads to a reduction in the labour expenses put into documentation and miscommunication.

4.      More efficient construction: BIM helps to improve team collaboration and workflow productivity. BIM permits the specialists to access all the available data in a format they need. The frequent use of a single dataset implies that edits made in one configuration are automatically generated throughout the framework, removing the need to update various drafts as the project progresses. It further eliminates the necessity to manually produce other final-product documents such as schedules, colour-filled drawings and diagrams, and 3D models. These can be rendered quickly from the BIM database.

5.      Less “trial and error”: Another benefit of BIM is the increasing number of simulation instruments that permit the designers to envision things such as the sunlight during various seasons or to measure the energy consumption of a building. BIM can do all the investigation, analysis, and modeling beforehand. The model also guarantees an ideal fit of components that are produced off-site )precast and prefabrication), permitting these components to be effortlessly bolted into place instead of creating them on site.

BIM is one of the most reliable tools to share information in construction projects. It serves various purposes depending on the phase of a project, be it design or delivery. BIM is becoming ever more crucial to the digitization of the construction and development industry. It’s fair to say that projects using BIM have a greater chance of success today.

Construction used to be a traditional industry where things moved at a slow pace. But no more. Innovation and trends in the construction industry have kept pace with the rise in demand for new advancements. Technological advancements are now driving the construction industry forward at a pace not seen earlier. For instance, drones make it possible to study and map a site easily, faster, and at a lower cost. Smartphones and tablets make communications a breeze. Digital applications and other software-driven solutions make it possible to map out even the nitty-gritty of a project. Even the use of robots is seemingly within easy reach. New technological advances are continually changing the construction industry. Technology seems set to cause unimagined disruption in the construction industry.

This change is enabling us to build taller, stronger, and more energy-efficient structures. Technology has also made construction sites safer and workers more efficient. This has led to an increase in productivity, improved collaboration, and coordination, and easier handling of more complex projects. Today, new advancements in construction are being developed at a faster pace. But it is also true that Building Information Modeling could well be the most vital element driving most or all of these technological innovations.

A few of the technologies that are moulding today’s construction site and the role of BIM are listed below:

1.     AI & Machine Learning: Construction firms are currently using data to settle on better choices, increase productivity, improve safety on construction sites and reduce risks. With artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning systems, firms can turn the information they have gathered over the years to predict future results on projects and gain an advantage when estimating and offering on construction ventures. AI also improves worker efficiency and productivity by reducing the amount of time wasted, moving about the site to retrieve instruments, materials, and tools to perform specific tasks. But where will these technologies get extensive, current, and strategic data about the structure to be impactful? BIM is the obvious place to turn to.

In fact, when you extend the discussion to Big Data and Analytics, the value becomes even greater.  Construction firms are turning to analytics to get data-driven insights that help them improve efficiencies as well as effectiveness. Analytics is helping them understand trends in work that has already happened and make predictions about work that could be coming up. In that scenario too, the comprehensive, current, and coherent information available from the BIM models can amplify the impact of the Big Data and Analytics initiatives.

2.     Robots & drones: Robots are also being utilized to monitor job-site progress with real-time, vital information to improve work productivity. Drones and rovers equipped with high-definition cameras are being used to click pictures and scan the construction site every day with accuracy. Drones are already in use at construction sites. Drones can survey entire sites in a shorter span which helps to save much time, which also leads to saving a great deal in labour costs as it requires less human involvement. But these technologies are expensive. Their use must be strategically directed. Every action must be carefully planned. It would be hard to achieve that level of accurate direction without basing it all on an accurate and updated BIM model. In return, the model can also be enriched with the latest and most accurate information captured by the drones. There is synergy all around.

3.     Cloud & Mobile Technology: Today, mobile devices are ubiquitous. Most software solutions are also primed to utilize cloud technology. The coming together of these two factors ensure that it is always easy to use and operate cloud-based software from anyplace, at any time. The advantages of cloud-based software include the inexpensive storage of limitless amounts of data that can be accessed instantly. This is making rich project information available to all members of the project team. But when married to the power of BIM this combination can deliver unprecedented value. Think of how this can improve collaboration between teams on-site, for instance. The BIM model can become the commonly accessible, single version of the truth all the teams refer to and base their plans on. This will ensure smooth work, fewer clashes, better work planning, and smarter resolution of issues.

4.     Augmented & Virtual Reality: Virtual Reality provides workers with exposure to situations such as confined spaces or working at height in a safe and protected environment. Virtual reality (VR) is beneficial in providing construction site safety training and equipment operator training. Augmented reality (AR) is another innovative technology that can significantly improve safety on the construction site. There are various ways that AR can be deployed on construction sites. It assists in developing a more detailed safety plan and provides training on heavy equipment. When allied with robust BIM models the AR and VR strategies can become much richer, more detailed, nuanced, and impactful. That will ensure that the AR/VR driven training can set the information the workers are being exposed to in a specific context. This will make the training much more meaningful and impactful.

We know that BIM helps to visualize the finished structure with all its segments and systems before the construction even begins. Potential issues and difficulties can be recognized and fixed to avoid physical errors, damages, and costly revisions. Designers and contractors can benefit from the technology by incorporating it right from the design stage. BIM generates a digital representation of structures in 3D models to facilitate better cooperation. This leads to better design and development of buildings. The kind of vivid visualization made possible by BIM helps in better collaboration and communication.

Even with these innovative technologies contributing to the success of the construction industry, it’s clear that one technique that retains relevance in these technological advancements is BIM.

Autodesk, Inc. unveiled the Autodesk Construction Cloud this year at the Connect & Construct summit. There has been much conversation in recent times about the need for the construction sector to embrace new technologies like the Cloud to improve effectiveness. Collaboration seems to be a focus for everyone. The Construction Cloud promises much in those areas. Of course, Revit has been a key part of our own business operations for years now so we keep a close eye on the innovations emerging from Autodesk. In that context, I thought it would be a good idea to take a look at what could change with the Autodesk Construction Cloud.

The Construction Cloud is being spoken of as a best-in-class innovation to connect teams, workflows, and information. It’s an innovative approach to bringing together a network of professionals and firms, and ground-breaking predictive analytics to enable your business to flourish across all the phases of construction.

The construction industry is at a crucial turning point. Organizations no longer want to settle for fragmented teams and disconnected information. This is a great opportunity to break down barriers and build a foundation that supports all the members – from contractors, subcontractors, builders, designers, and owners – through all stages of construction and development, from structure to operations.

With the Autodesk Construction Cloud, a new way of working of connected construction and unmatched integration between the office and field teams could begin.

Autodesk Construction Cloud is based on the basic principle of:

· Design

· Plan

· Build

· Operate

At the center of Autodesk Construction Cloud are some proven development solutions:

· Assemble

· Building Connected

· BIM 360

· PlanGrid

The Construction Cloud incorporates three core components to help construction companies work more effectively and efficiently, collaborate with experts, and get insights that will help then plan and execute, even future projects, better.

1.  Advanced Technology: The solutions we know so well. These are built for simple operations that help in aligning organizations, offices, and teams from design through to development and operations.

2.  Builders Network: This is an ambitious attempt to build the industry’s biggest network of owners, builders, architects, and contractors. The platform could enable these folks to connect with the right partners for the right projects. This is exciting because it could create a kind of thriving marketplace that provides more opportunities for the people with the skills and more functional bandwidth to the people with the need.

3.  Predictive Insights: This is a look into the future. Most industries have embraced Big Data and Analytics. The availability of data is not a problem with our business. Now we can leverage that data to get AI-driven analysis that provides the designers and builders with powerful insights to reduce risks by predicting effective outcomes. This can help plan projects better, optimize resource requirements, improve construction safety, and help drive more sustainable practices.

The benefit to construction companies is that they can harness the power of the latest in construction technology to connect the entire construction cycle seamlessly. This will help them to create winning strategies to bring more efficiency to projects by improving project management to control costs and increase profits.

At a more granular level, Autodesk Construction Cloud:

1. Promises to help team members collaborate from anywhere. It should enable the easy flow of data from design creation to the job site.

2. Is built with BIM 360’s CDE or common data environment. This guarantees that the entire team will collaborate on a coordinated record set.

3. Brings the construction industry a step closer to a unified solution with all our information available on the same platform so that the data is not lost.

4. Makes it easier for field teams to capture videos directly.

5. Could enhance BIM 360 modules.

Jenny Moshea, head of technology at Sellen Construction said at the launch, “Autodesk Construction Cloud brings together advanced technology—which Autodesk has always been known for—with the network of the building community—which is the core of what we do as an industry—underpinned by predictive insights. This is the next evolution, the connected tissue that brings it all together, so the construction lifecycle is no longer disjointed.”

The connected tissue of the construction lifecycle -that’s a good way to look at a solution that seems to be all about creating efficiencies through connection and collaboration between teams, business entities, and the data our projects produce in such large quantities.

Did you know that over 100 workers died during the construction of the Hoover Dam? The scale of the effort and the challenging location was found responsible for many of these tragic deaths.

It’s largely true that the face of the construction industry hasn’t changed dramatically since the early 20th century. But small and significant changes have been seeping into every area even as we speak here. Innovation has started infusing everything within the industry from the hardware of our machines to the software being increasingly used. But the construction industry is a dynamic work environment, requires the use of heavy equipment, and carries some inherent risks. Much of construction involved environments that are inherently hazardous. Think bridges, tunnels, oil rigs, and roads across harsh landscapes. These hazards contribute to an unacceptably high injury and illness rate among those who work in construction and this has become one of the major concerns for the industry.

Construction companies and contractors have been implementing safety tools and programs to decrease and even prevent work-related hazards on construction sites in hazardous locations.

Research has shown that it becomes harder to influence or prevent construction injuries as the project progresses and that “the most effective form of safety programme elements occurs at the planning and preconstruction phases of a project.”

But this post is about another tool that can help with safety on such construction sites located in hazardous environments. That tool is Building Information Modeling (BIM). BIM-based software models could be a significant asset when used by design and construction professionals for site layout and safety planning.

BIM enables the company to create plans in sequential order alongside a 4D model. Having a 4D BIM model helps visualize the job site and work through various areas and events. It shows where there could be risks and where the weak points are with more accuracy. These can be taken into consideration when putting together the site.

That apart, Building Information Modeling (BIM) can be used in worker security training, safety planning, job hazard analysis, mishap investigation, and facility and maintenance stage safety.

BIM and Improving Site Safety at Hazardous Locations:

The attributes of the modern construction business, its projects and site activities are very challenging because of the complicated interchange of numerous partners and organizations. This complicated set up is also a test for site safety management. BIM technology-powered new tools, communication possibilities, and strategies addressing site security aspects can help construction companies advance to a higher-quality of site safety planning.

BIM uses include visualization, scope explanation, logistics planning, coordination, collision identification and avoidance, structure approval, construction planning, analysis, virtual mock-ups and what-if scenario visualizations. This information can be tightly integrated with relevant information about the hazards of the location to deliver insights and predictions about what could go wrong. The combination of information can help safety managers and supervisors check safety arrangements across the site in different conditions. Each item can be validated and married to additional information such as the location of safety equipment, areas of storage of potentially hazardous materials, and, even, temporary obstructions created during the ongoing construction.

BIM provides safety managers with the ability to perform advanced sequencing and dimensional analysis to track and oversee site logistics and layout. The information can be used to identify potential patterns, problems, and hazards around the site. This could pave the way for coming up with alternate solutions to minimize risk on site. For instance, if a large portion of the structure is created off-site in a restricted environment, this implies fewer risks on the job site. Slips, trips, falls, and other issues can be avoided as the work is being done under controlled conditions on a construction site. This can also lead to lower risk in various risky activities in hazardous conditions. This could also, potentially, reduce the need to store equipment and material on site. Essentially, less work and less material at hazardous locations equals less risk.

BIM also allows for better integration of design processes. The outcome is that designers taking advantage of BIM can create and demonstrate design in manners that have been unimaginable in practice until now. These capabilities also facilitate better coordination and collaboration between teams on-location. BIM prevents such errors by enabling dispute detection where the computer model highlights which parts of the structure are wrongly in contact. There are fewer clashes, less need for rework, and fewer occasions to address issues “on the fly” and under time pressure. This reduced vulnerability and improves the potential for compliance with laid down safety norms.

In essence, this is the crux of BIM for improving worker safety in such locations. BIM defines the virtual development of a facility before its actual construction. This allows a “risk-free” pre-analysis that allows construction companies to reduce vulnerability, improve safety, and simulate and analyse the potential effects of all actions. And that is central to improving safety across construction sites located in hazardous locations.

Surely everyone here now knows that BIM (Building Information Modelling) is a 3D model-based software that provides architecture, and construction professionals the knowledge and tools to design, construct, and maintain infrastructure more efficiently.

It’s probably just as well known that BIM serves as a common knowledge resource for information about a facility forming a reliable basis for a variety of choices during that lifecycle. BIM creates a common language between all the parties involved in a construction project and brings them together on an integrated platform. BIM becomes the framework to plan, collaborate, and evaluate the cost and time performance of projects. In essence, it draws a big picture of a project using visualization.

Central to BIM is its accurate geometrical representation of the parts of a structure in an integrated data environment. Other related benefits naturally follow:

• Enhanced project collaboration
• Better project quality and execution
• Improved productivity
• Faster project delivery
• Reduced construction costs
• New revenue and business opportunities

But with that array of benefits, there are some complexities the construction industry must address with regards to BIM.

1. The cost of BIM: The biggest concern for any business organization is the cost of adopting BIM. The initial expense of the solution is not a major problem. BIM implementation is not complete just by upgrading of software. To draw out the full benefits, all the related components of business operations from applications to vendor component specifications would have to be integrated into a coherent system. Additionally, different levels of training would be required.  And then there’s the cost of specialist BIM talent. And speaking of talent.

2. Lack of BIM experts: Most construction companies do not have sufficient staff equipped to deploy BIM techniques and principles. Hiring these people seems like an obvious solution but that’s not so easy too. Especially for small and mid-sized construction companies in locations away from the major technology centers, it’s hard to find people skilled in technology and amenable to make their career in such organizations.

3. Data exchange: Data exchange between teams has traditionally been something the construction industry has never been great at. This problem could be exacerbated by BIM. BIM models have complex 3D geometry, behaviour, and a lot of data attached to each object. Also, BIM models deliver tremendous volumes of data to the onsite construction teams on a regular basis. This suggests a consistent and high volume bidirectional flow of information is necessary. Creating and maintaining that level of data exchange could become a problem for traditional construction companies.

4. Level of project complexity: Construction projects range in complexity from the trivial to the truly massive. The issues are very different as the projects become larger. BIM users having insufficient experience in addressing complex projects may actually cause critical coordination problems while trying to implement BIM for such projects.

5. Cultural issues: Changing a long-established method of working can cause some problems. Processes would have to change, entrenched habits would have to be transformed, and new layers of reporting, monitoring, and feedback would have to be deployed. BIM has its own characteristics that need addressing. Combined with the staff skills issue this could cause friction between teams and management layers. This could impact BIM adoption on site as well as reduce the impact of the implementation.

There are a variety of changes that could be undertaken by a construction organization to successfully adopt BIM.

6. Seek a BIM service partner: A painless way to kick off your BIM journey is to partner with a BIM service provider organization who can understand your requirements, be it architecture, structure, design coordination, or development plans. A BIM service provider will bring the required expertise and experience to the table that can all but eliminate the hurdles that may arise in the project.

7. Make it realizable to everyone: With the adoption of BIM, there can be paradigm shifts that can be experienced at every stage of structural development. Drive home to everyone involved the benefits of the platform and the new collaborative approach. Focus the training on the specific context of the benefits of the solution to their day-to-day work. Make it obvious how this will help them do better at their jobs.

8. Train even your BIM trainers: While it is a given that training is fundamental, imparting training to the correct sources at the right time is more crucial and important. Training to get acquainted with BIM culture and characteristics, processes, roles, practices, and workflow is important. Providing the right training to the project managers along with the team is vital in this context.

This can help ensure that the BIM strategy is deployed successfully and meaningfully. Like with any transformative new solution, the initial challenges can seem formidable. But once overcome, the benefits are too many to ignore.

India is one of the fastest-growing nations in the world. The infrastructure development taking place in the country drives this growth. All around us, India is experiencing major infrastructural advancements and transformative projects which will become key success drivers. And the aviation sector could be next in line for the infrastructure transformation.

One of the challenges for the growth of the aviation sector has been providing connectivity to the smaller centres and improving the facilities in locations that have outgrown their current scale. And that’s why modern airports are being planned across the country.

We need modern technologies to fuel this airport boom and build the infrastructure of the future. Some of the best airports worldwide have used advanced innovations like BIM and it’s the right time for India to adopt this best practice to realize the nation’s vision in infrastructure development.

For the benefit of the folks tasked with planning these airports and who happen to read this piece, a bit of explanation first. Building Information Modelling (BIM) is a multi-dimensional visual representation of the design beyond the traditional 2D representations. By baking in dimensions of time, project status, and cost, BIM has the ability to bring together various disciplines involved in the planning and design, execution, and maintenance phases of construction projects. BIM is, of course, highly useful for building a structure that involves critical design.

But clearly, this definition is not needed. And that’s what this post is all about.

With a solid focus on innovation and a focus on advanced technology, the Airport Authority of India (AAI) has mandated the use of BIM as the design and planning platform for the construction and development of airports.

An airport includes various facility elements that must be constructed. The work includes civil, MEP, landscape, and interiors. Multiple areas need attention like the runway, control tower, and terminal buildings. The focus must be on utility as well as appearance. Hence the design is complex in nature. And the comprehensive model of BIM makes it come together beautifully. The integrated approach of BIM facilitates a better understanding of workflows and facilitates the creation of an effective timeline with negligible errors. And I say this based on our previous experience of having working on the BIM models for the Mumbai International Airport.

Here are some great things I see emerging from this decision of the AAI.

1.      The use of BIM will help enhance collaboration across the entire project from design, creation, and construction to operations and maintenance. BIM will centralize access to the data model and let the project team members at multiple sites leverage the data models regardless of their physical location. This will also let team members see each other’s work and communicate with one another in real-time. BIM will help to better visualize the design for the air terminal for all those involved in the planning and construction. This will help them plan better for upcoming tasks and ensure that the appropriate resources are available in time. This should allow projects to get delivered on time.

2.      Airports cost a lot of money to build. A massive amount of materials and resources are poured into that construction. And, it’s also true that a significant portion of that is wasted. Problems like over-ordering are common. Under-provisioning for key materials is also not unknown. This leads to having to order materials in smaller quantities, with urgent timelines which often costs more. Clearly, efficient estimations of the materials required can help save a pretty penny. And BIM can provide just that efficiency.

3.      The use of BIM will minimize clashes between teams working on different areas like plumbing and electrical. This will help reduce rework and minimize errors. This should result in greater cost consistency, improve plan execution and design optimization. From being able to collaborate in the design, early planning, to construction and operations, BIM can brings together all the pieces of the puzzle. With thousands of people working on the site, communication at scale is important. It will enable everyone to review the master model, see each other’s concerns; conflicting elements; inaccurate or missing structure components, and critical zones, both for coordination and installation. This will help save time as well as money.

4.      BIM will help optimize the upcoming maintenance tasks of the facility by providing a reliable base structure to define management plans. This will make maintenance more proactive, sustained and comprehensive. This could help make airport operations more efficient and trouble-free once launched. This is of critical importance when you consider the sheer volume of moving parts that come together every day in even the smallest airport. This can also help make the ongoing airport operations more energy-efficient and, hence, more environmentally friendly. In fact, this focus on sustainability can be built in right at the design stage by focusing on integrating energy efficiency in the structure.

BIM, when implemented from the first stage makes it simpler to build, transform or reconstruct (a part of) an existing structure.

The decision to utilize BIM will enable better plan and construction efficiency, reduce cost, and could also deliver a more positive impact on the environment. The creation of the nation’s air terminals with the added power of BIM could well set new benchmarks for various upcoming airport infrastructure projects everywhere.