Building Information Modeling – Boon or Bane?

Building Information Modeling (BIM):

Boone or Bane?

Written by E. Mitchell Swann, PE, MDCSystems® Engineer

MDCSystems® is aware of numerous large projects exhibiting major problems despite the ‘spectacular’ abilities of Building Information Modeling (BIM) and other project technologies. Some of these projects have been highlighted in recent industry publications and legal filings. These issues often fall into several common areas which are summarized below.

• Implementation of the Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology
• Development of the base BIM model
• Failure to maintain the BIM model as work progresses
• The “irrational exuberance” of ‘computer-world’ accuracy (aka “false precision”)
• Insufficient data development (thin content or ‘dumb light’ models)
• Real to virtual drift – failure to as-built the model (reduces the effectiveness of the BIM model for life cycle asset management)

Any of the above cited areas can result in unexpected (and under budgeted) changes in the project resulting in a cascade of further uncoordinated changes in the field impacting construction efficiency, time and quality and ultimately cost in both “bricks and mortar” and operations (and sometimes hair or sleep).

MDC®’s experience with both Building Information Modeling (BIM) and “enhanced CAD” technologies is that just putting a new tool in the design-construct process toolbox is not enough. The mere existence of this new ‘tool’ does not change the basic requirement to perform a comprehensive conceptual design, coordinate the design elements prior to issuing IFC* drawings, review and input specific equipment selections and promptly recognize and process design developments and change orders that are part of every undertaking. These are all basic PMBOK (Project Management Body of Knowledge) project management tasks that must always be performed but are not necessarily visible to the casual observer.

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MDCSystems® Attended the ABA Construction Forum’s Annual Conference

Waldorf Astoria, Boca Raton, FL, April 16-18

MDCSystems® exhibited at the Construction Lawyer’s Bucket List Conference in beautiful Boca Raton, FL, for the 2015 Annual Meeting of the American Bar Association’s Construction Forum.

Thank you to everyone who stopped at our display to learn more about MDCSystems® and our professional capabilities.

A special congratulations to Matthew Gillies, Vice President/Senior Attorney with HNTB, who won our exhibit giveaway — an MDC® cooler full of baseball and summer goodies.

Look for MDCSystems® at The Construction ADR Summit, October 8-9, 2015, in Austin, Texas.