The construction industry goes as far back as human existence itself. I can almost imagine the first “developer” putting a few skins, branches, and some leaves as a roof over a crude lean-to and asking the folks wanting to get in out of the cold for some fruits and perhaps an arrowhead or two for the privilege of owning their own home!

The evolution of homo-sapiens brought in the industrial age. That progress led to the establishment of many industries – agriculture and construction were, almost certainly, the first ones to be discovered to cover the basic needs of food and shelter for survival. So, the industry has probably been around well before the term ‘industry’ was coined.

We have come a long way from building huts to constructing massive structures like the Burj Khalifa. And this was made possible only with technological advancements. Since completing my architecture over 25 years ago, I have been fascinated to witness the evolution of the industry.

So, here are the top 5 changes that, I believe, have transformed the construction industry in the time that I have been a witness and active participant:

1.     Plan & Design

Imagine keeping manual records of every detail of the plan from its inception to the handing-over phase. And then going through reams of paper when the time comes to fix a leak or, heaven forbid, if a fire breaks out. The thought is frightening in today’s digital world, but we used to do this all the time. Studios used to be a messy affair with sheets and huge rolls of papers containing designs and plans. Duplication and inaccuracy of data both created havoc for the construction crew as well as the facilities manager. The maintenance work got hit due to the difficulty of accessing the right information at the right time.

Owing to this, digitization in the construction industry was very well received. CAD first hit the market only to be overtaken by BIM. The former aided architects and engineers whereas the latter offer an integrated platform not only for ACE but the entire fraternity on the construction site. The centralized source of information made it easily accessible to any stakeholder. Even as BIM adoption grows, today many developed nations mandate the use of BIM for large projects and many construction companies have their own BIM efforts underway.

2.     Tools, Technology, and Equipment

The construction industry is dependent upon its ecosystem. The success of any construction project requires efficiency from the downstream partners and contractors. The excavation of a site, moving and assembling larger pieces or materials, faster procurement, and delivery of the material; all contribute to the success of the project.

Traditionally, there were too many gaps in communication and lags that resulted in the loss of productive hours. Much of this was due to a lack of streamlined orders and procurement, resulting in poorly timed deliveries. One of the leading causes of the lag in the procurement of material was the thumb rule estimation of quantities. With the help of technology, it has become easier to derive precise quantities of the material required and determine the right time to order them.

Evolving technology has also provided us with better earthing machines, concrete mixers, cranes, and conveyors that are efficient enough to do the heavy lifting posed by the demands of modern-era construction. Using pre-fabricated structures or structural elements, that are fabricated offsite, has become viable because of the improvement in the transport of on-site handling equipment (more on that later).

3.     Construction Materials 

The evolution of the construction industry didn’t happen only in connection with how the work is done. With the help of technology, we discovered and created materials that supported the plain steel and concrete structures and provided them with more strength, grace, and durability.

An array of innovative new materials is making an impact in specific areas of construction today. For e.g. honeycomb structures and forms are used for providing greater strength, polyester fiber offers durability for refitting sewers and water pipelines. Today, construction work is being undertaken at demanding locations like Arctic areas, undersea, and at radioactive sites to name a few of these extraordinary locations. The specialized materials aid the cause of out-of-the-box thinking in the construction industry.

4.     Construction Methods

Gone are the days when everything was made at the construction site itself. Off-site assembly and fabrication is an established trend now. Assembling of structural elements offsite has an edge over the on-site assembly. It saves time – the most significant asset in any construction project.

Large-scale public infrastructure works are being benefitted the most with such off-site assembling of elements. Consider the Nagpur Metro project. The project zoomed ahead because of just such a synergy between offsite manufacture and on-site assembly. The pillars for the over-bridge are being constructed on-site, whereas the spans and bridges are made off-site. They are then transported to the location and placed on the pillars through machinery. This has accelerated the construction without causing problems for the public using roads.

5.     Expert Systems and Artificial Intelligence 

Artificial Intelligence is gradually making its way into our daily lives. Many industries have implemented and benefitted from AI. And the construction world is taking notice. The use of computerized expert systems to aid construction work is gaining momentum. Some systems help in diagnosing the effect of wind and vibration problems in structures and in verifying welding performance qualifications. AI use-cases are still scarce on the ground. But as sensor and IoT technology become more common and the amount of data available to the construction company becomes strategically important, AI is bound to go mainstream very soon.

Change is inevitable. Technology has crept into every aspect of construction. And it is letting us make what we previously thought to be impossible, possible. I wonder what the next 10 years will bring.

For a country that recently celebrated its 47th National Day – UAE boasts of several architectural marvels that have built its image as the hottest real estate destination in the world. The real estate sector is one of the key contributors to the UAE’s economy besides tourism. UAE is an exquisite amalgamation of heritage and modern construction. The infrastructural revolution in the UAE was the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who wanted to bring the world’s attention to his country. He did it and how!

Looking at the number of iconic buildings in the UAE, there’s a lot one can learn from some of the world’s most significant construction projects. Here are some magnificent structures in the UAE that we can all learn from.

1. Burj Khalifa

It would be unjust to begin with any other building than the Burj Khalifa – the tallest structure ever to be built on the earth! The Burj Khalifa stands at a staggering height of 828m and is located in the city of Dubai. The structure was built over 6 years from January 2004 to January 2010 when it was first opened to visitors. The exterior of the structure was completed in October 2009. The structure created 15 world records, some of which are unlikely to be broken soon.

Overview of the structure:

• The structure is spread over an area of 2,80,000 sqm
• 165 floors above grade level and 3 floors basement area.
• 2,50,000 cubic meter of concrete was used
• 39,000 tonnes of steel rebars were used
• 22 million working hours were invested in the construction of the structure

The biggest challenge while attempting to build the tallest building in the world was to understand and control the dynamics of wind effect while designing the massive structure. In inspiring fashion, the design team integrated wind engineering principles to mitigate the impact of wind as the structure rose higher. The team planned on diminishing the width and shape of the structure as it spiraled higher into the sky, thereby cutting down the wind dynamic effects, movement and acceleration.

The desert lily inspired the design of Burj Khalifa. The Y-shaped base was designed to provide stability to the building while keeping in mind the direction of wind and source of light. The lower floors up to 108 are used for residential and hotel space since it provides a 360-degree view of the surroundings with ample natural light.

2. Abu Dhabi Midfield Terminal

Abu Dhabi – the capital of UAE, is expected to have an inflow of over 20 million passengers in the next two years. The Abu Dhabi Midfield Terminal is one of the largest infrastructure works going on in the city today. The terminal is located between the two existing runways at the Abu Dhabi International Airport and that’s why it is named as Midfield Terminal. The new terminal is a part of Abu Dhabi’s 2030 project of reshaping and positioning the city as a tourist hub. In a significant move, the authorities mandated the use of BIM while issuing the tender for the Midfield Terminal. The project has immensely benefitted with the use of integrated BIM services. The terminal is designed in an ‘X’ shape, which is believed to reduce the passenger walking time and maximizing aircraft parking space.

The key features of the project:

• The MTF has 7,42,000 sqm of floor space
• The terminal can handle 8,500 passengers every hour
• It s expected to serve 84 million passengers per year
• The designers claim that minimum connecting time for international passengers will be 45 minutes from gate to gate
• The MTF houses the world’s largest indoor arch – 180m long and 52m high
• The terminal will have 65 gates out of which 8 gates are equipped to host A380 aircraft
• The terminal capitalizes on natural light making it an energy-efficient structure

3. Palm Jumeirah

Palm Jumeirah is one of the three archipelagoes under Dubai’s Palm Islands project. It is the largest man-made artificial archipelago in the world. In many ways, Dubai and UAE were put on the global real estate map in 2007 when the final breakwater stone was laid. The project was unique and perceived to be unthinkable due to the construction challenges posed by the location of the islands. It was an ambitious project that worked for Dubai and the UAE. The construction of Palm Jumeirah began in 2001 and the first phase of the project was completed in just six years. Palm Jumeirah opened its gate to the world in 2007. Nakheel, the developer, said that the material used to build the Palm was enough to create a 2m high and 0.5m wide wall that would run around the world three times! Now, imagine the challenges of constructing such a site. The lesson from the project was that even as ambition rose, skills, technique, and technology can help achieve even those rarified heights.

Key features of the project:

• Use of more than 1 billion cubic meters of sand – the most used in any construction project in the world.
• 7 million tonnes of rocks were used.
• The Crescent is a large rock breakwater created to protect the islands. The breakwater is lined with around seven million tons of rocks which were individually placed by a crane after being approved by a diver based on GPS coordinates.
• The design of the crescent was modified after the completion of land reclamation. The closed crescent resulted in obstructed water circulation which caused stagnant water between the fronds. The crescent was modified to have two openings to allow the water to circulate between the fronds.

4. Dubai Frame

In February 2018, Dubai added another feather to its cap with the Dubai frame. It is the largest photo frame in the world. The frame stands between the old and the new city. Tourists can enjoy a 360-degree view of both the parts of the cities from the frame. The structure comprises 50 stories and is built of glass, steel, and aluminum. The ground level consists of a museum with 3D exhibits of Dubai’s history along with a future gallery that provides a sneak-peak of the city in 2050 making it a perfect amalgamation of the past, the present, and the future. The structure offers a uniquely Dubai inspiration on how to bring together the innovative and the historical in a perfectly functional manner.

Key features of the structure:

• The frame is 150m high with a 93m long sky deck.
• The 116 sqm switchable smart-glass panels on the floor of the bridge turn transparent from translucent as visitors walk by.
• 2,900 sqm of laminated glass was used.
• It took 4 giant hydraulic jacks and two days to raise the central bridge.
• 9,900 cubic meter of concrete was used in the construction along with 2,000 tonnes of steel.
• Expected to have 200 visitors per hour.

5. The Capital Gate

The Capital Gate, also called the leaning tower of Abu Dhabi, holds the Guinness World Record for “The World’s Furthest Leaning Man Made Tower.” The tower is an architectural marvel with an eighteen degrees lean westwards. The design was inspired by the world-famous Leaning Tower of Pisa. The Capital Gate leans four times more than its design inspiration in a stunning lesson on how to learn from the past and then push the envelope far far beyond that.

Key features of the structure:

The building sits on 490 piles drilled 30m under the ground to accommodate the gravitational, seismic, and wind forces due to the lean.

• The tower is built upon dense mesh and reinforced steel
• The tower is 160m high and has 35 stories.
• The tower houses Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi
• The free form internal atrium dynamic glass roof allows natural light deep inside the tower
• Advanced diagrid technology was used to construct the intricate design
• The reinforced basement of the tower was built with 6,000 cubic meters of concrete
• 21,500 tonnes of steel was used for constructing the tower

The UAE is home to some mesmerizing architectural structures. Even upcoming infrastructural projects look set to ensure that the UAE stays on the global real estate map as the country with the most iconic structures. There’s much for the construction sector to learn from these iconic structures, their scale, ambition, and technology. The lessons look set to continue.

Facilities management is a multidisciplinary profession that deals with the functionality, safety, efficiency, and management of a building or premise. Clearly, the effective and efficient management of a facility is dependent upon the integration of information, process, data, people, and technology. The facilities management discipline aims to provide a good quality of life to the people inhabiting the facility as well as increased productivity of the core businesses that inhabit it.

Managing a facility like a hospital, shopping centre, residential, and commercial building is no mean task. The facility managers need to always be on their toes to ensure the continued smooth running and the safety of the inhabitants on the building at any given point in time. This requires collating massive amounts of data and personnel coordination, along with creating situations for the seamless flow of accurate information. In such a challenging role, the topmost challenges faced by facility managers are:

· Integrating data

· Accessibility to data

· Keeping records

· Controlling costs

· Coordinating with the teams

· Managing aging equipment and buildings

· Anticipating disruption

· Taking timely action

BIM and Facilities Management

Effective management of the facility starts with gathering the most comprehensive, current, and complete data about the structure as it stands when people occupy it. A missing piece of information can prove fatal for the facility manager during an emergency. A massive amount of data is created during the construction phase, not all of it in synch. Every individual contractor involved during the construction phase uses different tools and models to generate and manage the data relevant to them. The use of various software and technology leads to incompatibility and confusion. This has driven the need for a centralised platform to share, exchange, and control data.

BIM technology helps in reducing the inconsistencies in the base data of the building as it is created. And the value can continue as the data builds up as the building operations carry on. BIM incorporates all the changes and modifications made over time in a facility’s design, thereby providing the facility managers access to information that is up-to-date and complete.

Apart from the centralization of data and information, BIM plays a crucial role in addressing other challenges faced by facilities management too. Let’s look into them:

1. Digitisation of data

The BIM information is recorded and stored in a digital format, which makes it easier to keep track of the records. The digitization of data helps in preventing any loss of information, unlike traditional record-keeping. Any input of data is stored forever in the digital files. It’s available to find when needed. As a facilities manager, access to every bit of information is vital, and data in digital format is a great help.

2. Accessibility of data

The integration of data at a centralised platform in BIM is its biggest asset. Facility managers can access information at a click from anywhere. The information can be accessed fast and easily. This helps in mitigating miscommunication and avoiding any errors due to loss or unavailability of useful information during the operational phase of the building on an ongoing basis. This can help improve the efficiency and effectiveness of facilities management.

3. Collating data in existing structures

Of course, BIM can also be useful in the task of assembling data for an existing structure. The available data can be captured in the BIM software through integrations with laser scanning and by generating a 3D model of the existing structure. This can provide access to comprehensive building data that can be used to optimize the operational efficiency of an existing structure.

4. Seamless flow of information

The BIM software makes information from each team and operational element available at a centralised platform. This can be accessed by facility managers, their team members, maintenance contractors, and equipment vendors, as needed. The centralised data allows the facilities management teams to coordinate and communicate efficiently with each other and align their efforts during an emergency. Their efforts are better aligned since they would all be working on the basis of the same version of the truth as far as the building information goes.

5. Cost-effectiveness and savings

The costs of running and managing a facility can run amuck without accurate information and data. Having the most accurate present picture of elements like the plumbing, utilities, security systems, and other elements can help drive efficient responses to problems. BIM can give the most current and comprehensive information that can help facilities management teams respond better to issues like water leaks, short-circuits, fire and other unforeseen events. The work can be better directed and reduce rework and wasted efforts in fixes.

It’s clear that BIM is useful not only while facilities are being constructed but can help maintain existing structures as well. Accessibility to facilities data is most vital for facilities management, and BIM provides just that.

In recent years, Building Information Modeling (BIM) has become a familiar platform not only for the management of a project’s different from-design-to-construction phases but also for the management of the building itself and its assets throughout the entirety of the building’s lifecycle. In fact, not only private companies endorse the use of BIM but a few governments have started mandating its use, as well.

Most definitely with its usefulness in the construction industry, BIM is here to stay. However as its use expands and grows within the sector, BIM is continually evolving, making it intimidating to adopt for some construction professionals and companies. Additionally, there are so many unfounded myths out there that a lot of construction businesses have been missing out on the benefits of BIM. Today, we will discuss the five common myths about BIM and elaborate why they simply are not true. So listen up!

1. BIM is just a marketing hype for 3D modeling

There is a lot of misconception that BIM is just a marketing hype for 3D modeling. Although 3D modeling is an integral part of BIM, it is not its only component. BIM is an over-encompassing 3D-based process that allows collaborative work between engineers, architects, contractors, and building owners. For many construction organisations, BIM is already a standardised process of how they do work and business. With BIM technology and tools, designers and construction teams can communicate about design and construction and can coordinate data and information across different levels. The implementation of BIM as a lifecycle process allows the use of models to extract actual locations and measurements. This new workflow allows the field team to have more efficient processes with accurate models and less rework. “BIM is integral to everything we do on our projects. It’s a lot less expensive dealing with issues such as clashes in the virtual world than in the real world,” Sandra Wilkin of Bradford Construction said in a 2014 BIM panel discussion.

2. BIM is for big firms and big projects

This is another false sentiment. BIM is not only for complicated and time-consuming projects. Regardless of size, construction projects essentially deal with the same problems. There is value in working with BIM even on small projects, whether privately initiated or government facilitated. No matter the size, BIM is useful in calculating design costs, and in saving time on estimating and budgeting. BIM allows project members to make changes and update documents and plans automatically.

3. BIM is expensive and time-consuming

There is actually little data published on the actual cost of BIM in a construction project. So far, there is no public data available comparing relevant costs of BIM implementation versus their monetised benefits. There is also no evidence supporting the concept that BIM takes more time. Obviously, BIM will require some monetary and time investment when you first adopt it and the scale of investment will vary on factors. Studies, however, show that there is a 20-25% potential efficiency savings from working in a BIM environment. BIM’s efficiency gains rely on finding accurate data faster in one single data source and hence, being able to make accurate data-driven decisions. Realising those efficiencies reduces the overall risks and results in saving you lots of money.

4. BIM implementation requires a new staff team

This simply is not true. You can actually train an existing team or round up your existing staff into a team to implement BIM. BIM implementation doesn’t have to be so difficult. With BIM advancements, even your onboarding can be streamlined workflows that share needed information between your office and the field. Newer technology makes it easier to integrate your BIM model in the field and collect real-world data in real-time. As a matter of fact, the most successful companies in implementing BIM are those who trained their existing project managers, engineers, and teams to integrate BIM into their existing processes.

5. BIM transition results in productivity losses that cannot be regained

It is a common assumption that implementing a BIM solution results in irrecoverable productivity losses during the transition period. Old data suggest an average 25-50% productivity loss during the initial transition and training. However, these initial productivity losses are easily dismissed by productivity and efficiency gains. For Lott + Barber Architects, their productivity gains outweighed their initial productivity loss. Similar Revit users in 2004 experienced productivity gains of more than 50% and close to 20% experienced productivity gains greater than 100% in the long run. Clearly, you not only regain your productivity losses but you also add productivity gains once your BIM solution is in place.

Final word

BIM is a very useful process and tool that will benefit designers, engineers, architects, contractors, and building owners. It allows a complete view of your entire project information while it communicates accurate data to all your relevant stakeholders. Hopefully, this brief article has cleared up the common BIM myths that cause unnecessary and false anxiety in the construction industry. May we help shed light on those moving to or are in the middle of their transition to BIM. We urge you to get started with your BIM transition today; it’s not as complicated as everyone leads you to think!

About the author: Anastasios Koutsogiannis is Content Marketing Manager at LetsBuild.

Before we get into a comparison between the two methods, we first need to establish what each one is and what these terms mean.

2D CAD Drafting

2D CAD Drafting and Drawing is the method of creating technical drawings and producing annotating designs for all your needs. CAD is an acronym for Computer-Aided Design, which designers use to develop floor plans for buildings, layouts for numerous purposes such as landscaping, control plans, and plans in general.

2D CAD Drafting is a method that has been used from the days of old, replacing complicated technical drawings via pen and paper. It’s a revolutionary way to design whatever you like without the need for stencils, and instruments, and with some room for error.

Another perk of 2D CAD Services is the flexibility of the program itself. It allows you to add annotations to anything you like and improve your design without the need to do it all over again. You can add as much or as little information and data to your 2D technical scheme with ease.

3D CAD Modeling

The next step in the evolution of 2D CAD Drafting is 3D CAD Modeling. This newer technology allows the user to do everything they could with 2D CAD Drafting but add a 3D rendering aspect to the project itself.

A 3D model is a part file you create in your program so that you can print it later! A 3D file is a model along with the co-responding environment you’ve placed it in. The focus is on the point. There are two different types of 3D models, and they are used to create two different things.

Solid Model

A solid model is a model you’ve created within your 3D modeling program, that is used to determine analytics data of the model you’re trying to create.

Think of it as the most realistic representation of your finished product stats. These models are used to acquire and analyze the data of your finished product, such as its capabilities and flaws you can improve on.

Surface Model

Surface models are another type of model you’ve created with your 3D modeling program and are mostly used to represent the shell of your object. They are used to fine-tune the appearance of the model itself and closely represent how the model will look when it’s created.

Which one is better?

Well, the answer to this question depends on your needs. What you are looking for will determine which method or program is better for you, and we’ll help you find out your needs right here!

While most PC’s can run 2D CAD Drafting without any issue, to use 3D CAD modeling, you have to invest in a higher performance machine.

Another question that comes to mind is, why do you need to use said programs? You don’t have to use 3D CAD modeling if you’re looking to create something simple, although you can.

3D CAD services are more advanced – there are no doubts about that. But with its perks, it also brings more requirements. You don’t have to employ 3D CAD Modeling if you’re working with layers, line types, and line weights.

A big perk of 3D CAD modeling is that it’s simple to present to someone. If someone is not a technician, the chances that they will understand a 2D CAD drawing are very scarce. But with a 3D Object, they can easily navigate and observe – you’re most likely to get a positive response.

Why is this useful, you might ask? The answer is simple! If you’re trying to get something approved, the process is much quicker if the person approving it can understand what they’re shown. It’s much easier to present an object than a technical drawing.

You’ve made an error, oh no! Don’t worry! Editing anything with 3D technology is an absolute breeze. You need to locate it, fix it with a few strokes of your mouse, and it’s over with. Using 2D drawing technology, the process is much more tedious. Just locating the problem is a problem in itself and redrawing the whole thing could be a nightmare.

2D drawings are for technical purposes only. The visualization of 2D drawings can’t be used for marketing purposes, as people who understand what they are viewing are either competition or very scarce. Showing functionality through this method is tough.

3D drawings are visually orientated, so visualization is an easy task to accomplish. They can be used for marketing purposes and show how an object will react and compete in a real-life and real-time situation. Showing functionality through this method is unavoidable.

So, to finally answer the question of which method is better, we’ll list some pros and cons of each one. Based on this information, we leave the realization to you.

Pros of 2D CAD Drafting

It’s far cheaper than 3D CAD modeling, so it’s a very cost-effective alternative to 3D CAD modeling. Learning the ins and outs of 2D CAD drafting is simple, and you can find your way around the program with no problem.

Formatting is simple, as you are working with. DWG extensions exclusively. Sharing your information and data with others is an absolute breeze, and you don’t have to worry about compatibility issues.

Cons of 2D CAD Drafting

It’s a bit too simple. Even if you can create 3D models through this method, the program itself does not allow you to visualize your creations.

Editing is a nightmare. Repetitive and tedious tasks such as redrawing and trimming paths and lines can take up a lot of time that could be used to create better models and drawings. Creating 3D models, even if you can’t visualize them at all is a straining task, and requires a lot more effort.

Pros of 3D CAD Modeling

3D CAD modeling is used to create 3D models easily. Every 3D model created has an automatic 2D rendering, so you’re killing two birds with one stone.

Editing is easy and takes a little time out of your workday, giving you more time to work on the model itself.

3D CAD modeling, although more advanced, can be simpler than 2D CAD drafting at times. It’s much more user and consumer-friendly. The user interaction with 3D CAD modeling is simple, as the person looking at the design can observe it in a real-life simulation. Making perks and additions is as simple as one two three.

Cons of 3D CAD Modeling

The only cons of 3D CAD modeling boil down to the hardware that is required to run the software itself. There aren’t any advantages of using 2D if 3D technology is available. 3D is an assertive and impressive thing to present to your clients, and it’s a simple way to create whatever you’re striving to create, present, or sell.

Therefore it’s always advisable to get professional help from companies like Back office Pro Company for proper 2D and 3D CAD services for your requirements.

In one of its reports, Allied Market Research (AMR) estimated a worldwide BIM market of $11.7 billion by 2022—a compounded annual growth rate of 21.6 percent between the years 2016–2022. The same report also revealed that Asia-Pacific is the fastest adopter of and is going to lead in BIM usage, with Europe as the second and North America as the third fastest-growing market.

Numbers like these confirm that BIM adoption is becoming more mainstream in the construction industry. By facilitating the optimum use of resources and collaboration, BIM paves the way for maximum ROI.

The catch here is that even with these immense benefits, on-site BIM adoption sometimes lags in some construction companies. Let’s explore why. And what can be done to drive up on-site BIM usage?

Key BIM usage challenges

There’s no denying that for construction firms in some geographies, one of the reasons to implement BIM is that it is mandated. In the UK, for example, BIM is mandatory for all public infrastructure projects. Other construction hotspots like Abu Dhabi have followed suit. It’s fair to say that at least some of the uptick in BIM is to comply with such mandates.

In such situations, it’s not uncommon for the construction firm to be unclear about their exact BIM requirements. Vague requirements, expectations, and guidelines to be followed by the downstream contractors inevitably follow. When the contractors are not clear or convinced about the utility, it becomes difficult for them to explain the same to the team in the field.

Another problem arises when the construction firm doesn’t have sufficient knowledge and capabilities to implement BIM appropriately. This results in slow, fragmented, and inconsistent adoption that impacts on-site utility as well.

Other potential challenges include the workers not having sufficient know-how of BIM, not knowing where to look for further information or help, how to consume the information BIM provides, what actions to drive based on that, who to go for guidance, and so on. This is, in many ways, the biggest challenge. In essence, it’s a question of the workers on-site not “believing” enough in the value of implementing BIM. There is an inertia prevalent driven by confidence in how they have always done things -why change?

Potential Solutions for Seamless On-Site BIM Adoption

Assuming that the construction firm builds BIM expertise or finds a reliable partner who can provide them that expertise, the key problem to solve seems to be to convince the people on-site that BIM can help them do their jobs better and to equip them to use the BIM models effectively.

Challenges like these are generally linked to skills and competency, which can prove to be barriers to on-site adoption. Skills gaps can be reduced by making some training tweaks at the organizational level.

Consider that one of the key benefits of BIM is to enhance the overall knowledge of the construction plan through exceptional visualization. While this can become a powerful tool, adopting it on-site requires the folks on-site to assume an entirely different perspective. The on-site teams need to go beyond traditional practices and realize how they can leverage these models effectively in the projects. They will need hand-holding and guidance in the initial stages but the adoption will rise as the value becomes apparent.

From that perspective, the solution to drive seamless on-site BIM adoption could start with the construction company taking charge and providing a clear roadmap to the workers. For instance, they could guide them on how to start using the information provided by the BIM models, where to start, how to gain information on the parts of the project they are working on, and the ways to drive gradual but sustained change.

Some of the best practices in this direction could be –assigning someone in each key team the responsibility of overseeing the adoption drive from the word go. This could be followed by appointing a dedicated resource who could coordinate between the various on-site teams, the contractors, and the suppliers at the operational level.

But even assuming the on-site team knows how to make the most of BIM, how to get them to commit to using the powerful tool? Here’s a story that could show just how.

An IT firm in India we worked for, had such onsite BIM adoption issues. The site team was not using the BIM construction model. Our on-site BIM-coordinator stepped in and played a crucial role in involving the entire construction team. Each day, he made sure that 2-3 people from the site could take a look at the model, see the area where they were working on and prepare for the next step. They were able to get a clear picture of their work as well as how it fitted into the overall plans. They were able to make their own work plans. This pre-knowledge became a sure-shot way to make them appreciate BIM. As a result, given sufficient time BIM model utilization increased on the site significantly. This inevitably drove better planning and tighter execution.

The Wrap

BIM Implementation is rising in construction sites across the world. For firms that are just joining the wave, implementing BIM could be a paradigm shift for companies. By addressing BIM on-site adoption issues, it will be easier for these firms to set things in motion for better outcomes.

Along with the solutions that include organizational changes, they also need to keep on measuring the benefits gained from the technology and communicate those widely. With such focused efforts, BIM usage can become much more widespread and even the on-site teams will be more comfortable using it.

The USA is a global economic powerhouse with the world’s largest and most influential economy. The USA is also home to the world’s largest construction industry with a workforce of over 10 million people. It won’t be wrong to say that the construction industry is one of the pillars providing strength to the American economy. Every year, projects worth $1.3 trillion are undertaken.

The stats are impressive, but perhaps, the reality is not all as rosy. Even though the US has the world’s largest construction industry, construction has become a challenging business to win in.

1.    Slow growth rate and low-profit margins

One of the biggest challenges faced by the construction industry in 2019 is the decline in the profit margins. This is said to be a result of the burgeoning interest rates and equipment rental costs. The construction industry has long depended on debt. In fact, the meagre borrowing costs after the Great Recession encouraged companies to fuel expansion with new debt. The trend carried through and became a norm. High corporate debt stands at $9 trillion today. The construction industry, more than most, faces the challenge of serving massive debt numbers. Add to that a decline in demand. There’s a case to be made that after the boom in multi-family housing, followed by commercial building, the current focus on public infrastructure projects portends a coming construction slowdown. In fact, a survey by the Wall Street Journal predicts that the US economy could experience another bout of recession in 2020.

2.    Adoption and integration of technology

Businesses across sectors are fast turning into technology businesses, but the construction industry, across the globe, still seems to largely rely upon traditional methods, and the US is no different.

According to a survey by JB Knowledge, 39% of the surveyed correspondents cited the lack of IT staff as the biggest limiting factor in adopting more technology. This inability to adopt the latest technology means is impairing the ability of construction companies to dramatically drive up efficiency, effectiveness, sustainability, and impact. This reflects in the results too. While the construction sector has managed to improve productivity by only 1% in the last 20 years, other sectors of the economy have seen productivity gains of three-times as much!

3.    Lack of skilled labour

The JB Knowledge survey also  found that a meagre 24% of the construction employees were comfortable with the idea of adopting new technology, and only 11% of general contractors are using wearable technology. The future will be driven by technology. The construction industry won’t be immune to these changes. The inability to find trained and skilled labour will result in a failure of adopting new technological methods, thereby denting the profit prospects of a company and industry at large.

Of course, the labour shortage is not in the futuristic areas alone. Even in the traditional construction roles, positions are proving hard to fill. The Associated General Contractors of America estimate that as many as 79% of companies in the space need to hire more people.

4.    Increase in cost of materials

The global cost of construction materials has grown around 9% since the last year. This has also pushed up overall construction costs by as much as 6.2%. The demand-supply parity has made construction companies run from pillar to post to make ends meet. The increased costs result in low profitability. Several uncontrolled external factors dent the profits margin along with some controllable internal factors that companies often overlook. Poor estimation of raw material quantities, over and under-ordering, and losses under storage cause lower profit margins. Inaccurate estimates also add to increased logistics cost and delays in construction.

How can BIM help in overcoming the challenges?

A lot has been said and written about the pros and cons of adopting BIM technology in the construction industry. The UK construction industry is considered the hotbed of BIM technology. As per an NBS report, BIM adoption saw a staggering rise from 14% in 2012 to 74% in the year 2018. The estimated savings on the initial prototype projects was calculated to be around 2.5% of the total lifetime cost. The BIM Level 2 mandate has helped the UK government in curtailing the cost for public assets by 20%. The UK government is said to have saved $2.1 billion since the BIM mandate. There’s no doubt that BIM works.

That said, BIM is often reduced to a 3D model drawing of a building. But it is far more than just that. BIM is a centralized source of information for all the involved parties. It helps in avoiding the duplication of information along with providing real-time access to accurate information. This reduces the scope of errors due to unavailability of information, eliminates waste, and removes the possibility of time and energy lost due to clashes. This can drive higher productivity and faster project completion. This can help companies get more done with the resources at hand.

Better estimation of costs and raw materials is another critical feature of BIM technology that helps in curtailing construction costs. The 3D model lets the builders derive a certain quantity of the required raw materials. A change in design automatically reflects in the amounts estimated. This feature helps in avoiding over or under-procurement of the raw materials. This helps drive improved financial performance and more efficient working.

Wrapping Up

The construction industry, just like any other industry, keeps evolving. Every day brings in a new challenge. But the future of the world is technology, and any industry that refuses to adapt to technological advancement will find it hard to break free of the shackles that have always held it down. Dramatic changes demand the adoption of disruptive technologies. It’s come to that time for the construction industry in the USA.

Adhering to deadlines in a large-scale construction project is as essential as working within the budget. Every team working on a full-scale construction project, either public or private, knows the importance of completing and handing over the site on time. Anyone operating in the construction industry can vouch for the high pressure around sticking to the deadlines and minding the budget. None of the involved parties from builders, architects, labour, to management appreciate delays. But more often than not, unforeseen circumstances arise and mess with the deadlines.

This is where the combination of ERP and BIM can play a role. If optimally used, construction companies can save on time and money by putting the project back on track with the help of ERP and BIM.

What is ERP?

In our context, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is business solution software that maps the various processes and workflows in the project, lists tasks and assigns responsibilities, and allows greater visibility and trackability at all times. In essence, it provides powerful analytics using data from various construction processes.

It takes an army of people to make a successful enterprise and the construction industry is no different. Construction ERP integrates diverse software systems used by various teams into one comprehensive solution by pulling together all the relevant information and provides the construction/project managers with a set of insights and tools for driving the efficient execution of the project.

In this perspective, the success of a construction project lies in efficient project planning and accurate data management. This can be achieved by integrating BIM models and the ERP management solution.

Benefits of Integrating BIM and ERP

The world is increasingly shifting towards the digital age and it’s clear that technology is going to play a critical role in the success of every industry, including construction. The companies that utilize technology to its optimum level will survive and thrive. Of course, this suggests that the traditional ways of working cannot find solutions for issues arising in the technological age. One of the biggest obstacles in this digital age is the management of the humongous volume and variety of data created at every step of a construction project.

As you become dependent on digital means to drive efficiency then questions about data become important to consider. Is the data accurate? Is it relevant? Is it current? Is it useful to deliver insights? Are those insights actionable? What is the impact of those actions? And so on.

Integrating BIM and ERP allows integration of actions and controls through effective communication of information that is made available to everyone from a central location. Always-on access to updated data will enable managers to get transparency into the real state of the project and then assist with making profitable business decisions.

Of course, there’s much more to ERP and BIM integration than just collating data. Let’s look at the other crucial benefits of integrating ERP and BIM in a construction project:

1.    Financial Management

Contractual work is the norm in the construction industry. Tender bids are issued for large-scale projects. Accurate estimates of material and labour are key in both situations. The BIM + ERP combo can be used to derive accurate estimations for every item in the BOM and for the effort involved in delivering the project too. These calculations are more precise and accurate. This helps achieve more profitable, predictable project resource planning.

2.    Enabling Better Performance

Communication is an essential factor in deciding the success of a construction project. The integration of BIM and ERP provides a centralized source of information for every person working on the project. It feeds into defined workflows so that the right people get the right info when needed. The updates are made and recorded in real-time, thereby eradicating errors due to the time lag in communication. What if scenarios can be analysed quickly along with its implication downstream This helps the people and teams deliver better and be accountable for their efforts.

3.    Avoiding contractual conflicts

The solution helps in avoiding contractual conflicts with the client. It does this by creating a baseline estimate and then keeping track of inventory, raw material requirement, workforce, finances, and budgets of the project against the estimates. The meticulous analysis of the construction facets leaves little to no room for misunderstanding and helps drive more timely interventions if deviations become inevitable.

4.    Streamlining data across projects

Handling multiple projects or multiple facets of a single project at a given time is bound to create confusion in communicating information and instruction within the organization. Going through data for numerous projects on excel sheets and various other software amongst different departments is a cumbersome task. The BIM + ERP solution streamlines this chaos into one centralized source that is accessible for every employee of the organization. It helps break down the chaos into smaller, more manageable tasks, and allows individuals and teams to address them better.

5.    Increased efficiency and productivity

A centralized source of information for everything from cost estimations, inventory management, human resources, project management to facility operational management helps to increase the efficiency of the project. Provisioning resources based on these accurate estimates ensures that there is less downtime due to material or resource unavailability.

It’s fair to say that better planning is the backbone of more efficient execution in a construction project. From that standpoint, the future of the construction industry may lie in the integration of BIM and ERP-driven business strategies. Such seamless integration of BIM and ERP may well help drive higher ROI for the projects undertaken by a construction company.

You would have heard me often say that BIM technology is playing a pivotal role in revolutionizing the construction industry. Adoption of this digital technology is growing in India and many countries like the UK and Germany are mandating the use of BIM for public infrastructure projects. Several known challenges in the traditional construction methods can be minimized or completely eradicated with the use of BIM. It’s not only the industry but also the academia that has taken a keen interest in the application and implementation of BIM in civil engineering, architecture, project management, operations, and facilities management.

I believe that the effective use of BIM can help in increasing the efficiency of our construction industry. It’s a widely accepted stat that a construction project takes roughly 20% longer than the initially estimated time to complete and is approximately 80% over budget. A potent BIM implementation can play a crucial role in controlling these time and project costs.

BIM is mostly considered as 3D modeling software, but in reality, it’s far more than that. The seven dimensions of BIM allow us to add focus on time, cost, as-built, and sustainability. The technology helps in rectifying errors, controlling costs, efficient planning, and better operations management of a facility. This means that, apart from improving construction operations, it could play a key role in defining a sustainable and competitive construction strategy as well.

Benefits of Integrating BIM in Construction Strategy

The role of BIM in construction strategy is often debated. BIM can be considered as an extended version of the project manager in a construction project. BIM helps in integrating the different aspects of a construction project through effective communication. It can validate the design for constructability by building a visual picture. And, it can help, estimate accurate project costs and times. The seamless collaboration between the various teams is an added benefit.

The BIM model considers the entire lifecycle of a facility from design to operations along with all the required information. The virtual model of the actual facility provides an insight into the physical and logistical characteristics of the facility. The digital prototype plays a significant role in meeting the design shortcomings before the construction begins, thereby reducing the time lag occurring due to redesigning or rework during the construction phase. Let’s look into some significant benefits of integrating BIM into the construction strategy:

1.   Effective communication and team building

More often than not, lack of effective communication amongst the involved parties causes errors that result in increased costs and delays in a construction project. In the absence of BIM, the interested parties work independently to achieve exclusive goals from the project. BIM unifies and integrates the architects, engineers, operations and systems management, and project management into a collaborative process. The collaboration leads to a unified and common goal definition right at the planning stage, thereby improving the chances of all the teams being aligned at each phase of construction.

2.   Cost and time estimation

Time and cost are two major factors attributing to the success of a construction project. BIM model helps in estimating costs and the time required during the designing and planning phase. The model-based cost and time estimation helps in eliminating human error by providing the most accurate numbers. Getting a reliable estimate of these parameters at the construction planning stage can significantly ramp up the effectiveness of the financing and planning function and in the case of commercial real estate projects helps in driving sales.

3.   Eliminating on-site redesigning and rework

The final constructed building is often quite different than its first blueprint. Every design undergoes numerous changes before the construction begins. The digital prototype of the facility provides a real-time view of the building. The visualization of the final design in the preconstruction phase allows the involved parties to analyse the constructability of the design. Without BIM, these changes are observed during the construction phase, and time is lost while reworking the design. The BIM model helps in eliminating such situations. Having an accurate picture of the facility as it is, rather than imagining the design can help drive expansion and future redevelopment strategies.

4.   Cost reduction with material quantities

Calculating quantities of the raw material is crucial in any construction project. Traditionally, the consultants estimate the quantity with the help of 2D drawings and thumb rules, which often results in over or under-estimation. The quantity take-offs with BIM are far more accurate and precise, which helps in reducing costs due to wastage or lack of raw materials. Being able to procure materials with confidence can help the procurement teams get better deals and assure a more predictable supply of materials over the duration of the project.

5.   Building handover and operations management

The most important thing during handing over of a building is the building information which plays an essential role in the operations management of the facility. The digitally centralized information in the BIM model is easily accessible to the operations management team, unlike the traditional way where one needs to manage a bunch of files and papers making it challenging to access information during an emergency or crisis. This has strategic implications on issues like driving efficient energy usage, green practices, and safety management.

I guess the point I’m making is that BIM has more to offer than just faster and more efficient construction. The benefits of integrating BIM into your construction strategy are aplenty. I hope that the widespread adoption of BIM technology will revolutionize the construction industry by raising the bar a notch higher for all of us.