Building Information Modeling Helps Integrate Project Delivery
by February 5, 2012 10:08 am 83 views
A three-dimensional modeling tool that helps project owners is becoming more prevalent in the local building design and construction industry.
Building Information Modeling, or BIM, can be incorporated into the design of projects to help prevent field delays or other problems during the life cycle of a project.
Contractors and subcontractors, project owners and designers take a team approach to spatially coordinating and managing all building data of a particular project.
One BIM project in Northwest Arkansas is rising on the campus of Northwest Arkansas Community College in Bentonville — the $14.2 million Center for Health Professions.
The two-story, 81,000-SF building designed by Crafton Tull is being built by Nabholz Construction Services. It should be delivered to NWACC before the end of the year.
“This is the first one I’ve done [using BIM],” said Rob Dodd, a senior project manager at Nabholz. He said Nabholz is currently using BIM on two other projects in Arkansas.
Dodd said time is the biggest benefit of using BIM, adding the process has been more common on the West and East coasts for several years.
He said the process leads to streamlined communication and front-end problem solving, while building projects faster and at less cost.
“The less time we’re here, the more money the [project] owners get to keep,” Dodd said.
Bill Downing, the coordinator of construction projects at NWACC, has seen every building rise on campus. He said the benefits of BIM are clear.
“If you look at [constructing] Burns Hall up to now, the progression, we are very impressed with this,” he said. “It helps us immensely. It’s an opportunity to really get a feel for the buildings, and for the teachers, they can see what they will be like.”
According to survey results recently released by the Associated General Contractors of America and Computer Guidance Corp., 31 percent of U.S. construction firms are currently using the BIM technology, up from 8 percent last year.
The survey, conducted as part of the 2012 construction industry hiring and business outlook, also noted 47 percent say they expect the use of BIM to increase in 2012 as contractors continue to explore new software and technology to increase efficiency