How BIM facilitates modeling of infrastructure projects

BIM was frequently applied with commercial and residential buildings. But  in recent years BIM (Building Information Modeling) process and technology is utilized in major infrastructure projects ranging from roads & highway, bridges, dams, water treatment facilities, power plants, transportation facilities, transit, airport projects,   utilities (such as gas, electric, water and wastewater) etc. As for example , the design and construction of the Harbour Way Port Talbot project in Wales, that contains rail and roadwork to join the M4 into Port Talbot and the docks.

Within 2014 the application of BIM for infrastructure projects is going to increase more than 50% as BIM with its digitally-based internal and external collaborative processes offers greater productivity as well as improve efficiency and costs. 

67% of current users of BIM for infrastructure experience a positive ROI on their BIM investments whereas over 40% of the users identified as experts in BIM application for infrastructure experience an ROI of 50% or greater.

BIM contains an intelligent, model-based process in which all the data or information is integrated in a workable model.  City planners, GIS professionals, and civil engineers get the project insights instantly  and create cost effective infrastructure projects. Besides, the users can generate 3D model of entire infrastructure including urban environment, ground infrastructure from accessible BIM data &  import detailed models and create 3D thematic maps.

Data within a BIM model can provide information on utility lines, direction of waterflow, pipe materials, elevations and slopes, connectivity. The model can also contain the date of pipe installation and inspection. This will facilitate to find out the possible trouble areas and improvement areas in a more convenient ways.

3D modeling plays an important role for infrastructure project from planning through lifecycle management. A variety types of data is accumulated and incorporated in layers as well as X,Y, and Z coordinates, geographic information system (GIS) data, parcel boundaries, and aerial photographs. Obtainable roads and buildings and utilities are placed into the model. Detailed analysis is achieved with the formation of the model. Analysis happens simultaneously with design, not post-design.  Additionally, data and relationships are predictable for the future.

BIM is also being utilized to examine geometry, spatial relationships and geographic information, quantities and properties of construction components. Besides, the project team employs sensor measurement and control signals to further evaluate the operation and maintenance of infrastructure.

BIM also provide great benefits for infrastructure projects toward prefabrication and modularization by improving productivity factors ranging from schedule, cost, quality, sustainability and safety. 

BIM also assist to minimize inconsistencies and changes, enhance project quality, reduce project risk, better predictability of project outcomes for infrastructure projects.

Latest innovation in Laser scanning technology with aerial Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) can capture data, geometry, and characteristics precisely and rapidly from infrastructure assets. This data can be incorporated with a BIM model or workflow to produce rich data sources producing an as-built model of existing infrastructure to be useful for designers to visualize & simulate the performance, appearance and cost of renovations. Project stake holders can formulate informed decision to walk around design alternatives, associated structural performance analyses, seismic audits, and cost and schedule visualizations.  

BIM based digital model comprises of data components symbolizing infrastructure elements like materials, weight, loading resistance, and other physical properties that lead to seismic performance and cost or schedule parameters. Utilizing BIM in infrastructure projects the users get the ability to evaluate and study the performance of individual components and assess, compare, and grade the environmental and financial impact of anticipated renovations for an total system. 

BIM features 3D visualization, simulation and analysis to examine numerous design alternatives in advance in the process and deliver more durable infrastructure in future.

BIM empower all the project team members to watch the model of the project from different angle enhancing the communication among the entire project team. 

Some useful software for infrastructure modeling :-

• Autodesk Infrastructure Modeler 2012 
• AutoCAD Utility Design 2012
• Autodesk Civil 3D  

Posted by
Rajib Dey
Visit us at www.bimoutsourcing.com for more information

How BIM creates energy efficiency for building design

BIM plays an important role in creating sustainable design which results in better building. BIM can be applied to support energy performance analyses and operational practices on a project-by-project need basis. So BIM should be implemented at the initial concept stage – well before key design decisions are taken as low-energy can affect the overall design process of a building.

Throughout the life duration of a building, around 80% energy is incurred with heating and cooling of rooms and for other equipment – the outstanding 20% is associated with the production of materials, construction and demolition of the building.

Detailed simulation of energy efficiency completed in the initial stage of design will be the base task in the detailed design of exterior enclosures and building service systems, ensuring that the specified interior climate conditions and energy performance is met after the construction of the building.

If BIM is applied to the design, the usage convenience of the building (comply with the planned functions) is high although the energy consumption is as low as possible. BIM provides dynamic building simulation which facilitates the building to function as a “real world” object and to verify the progress of vital quality parameters.

BIM helps to strengthen the consistency, uniformity, and usability of forecasted energy use and energy cost results. Thus BIM provides an array of opportunities - comprehensive and precise energy estimates in advance in the design process, enhance life-cycle costing analysis, boost opportunities for measurement and verification throughout building occupation, and improve procedures for gathering lessons learned in high performance building. BIM based energy modeling can be applied to design and building operation, facilitating an overall cutback in energy consumption. BIM provides more traditional energy modeling practices, and discover opportunities to exercise BIM to support facilities management.

BIM generates efficient basic information on a constant basis for the simulations to evaluate the emerging usage convenience and energy necessity in the quickest possible time span. The assessment of usage convenience will include the temperatures forming in rooms in summer, lighting levels with natural light, light glare, temperatures of enclosures, air flow owing to the interaction of ventilation and convection etc.

The models utilized for building simulation are brought up to date all along specification of other models of building information. In the preliminary phase much information in the models is pre-conditional. With the development of the project, they will be substituted with actual choices. The role of comparison of various options is to demonstrate the impact of one or another pre-conditional decision on the development of the final result. In the phase of the preliminary model (preliminary design) the model contains adequate amount of details, facilitating to execute and submit calculations for checking of the completion of least obligations of energy efficiency, issuing of energy compliance, and will be the base task in the comprehensive design of exterior areas and building.

In general the decisions taken all through the modeling of draft volumes have the greatest impact. As for instance the choices of compactness of the building, its orientation and facade apertures location and size have great impact on the interior climate as well as energy requirement. Therefore different decisions should be supported with sufficient thoroughness through building simulations and comparison options – justifying for example the use of smaller windows or thicker heat insulation layer in exterior enclosures.

Advantage of BIM for energy modeling

• Notify the decision-making procedure on the energy use entailments of diverse alternate design choices.
• Create a representation or model of the performance of inexhaustible energy strategies, for example waste heat recovery, solar thermal systems, and solar electric systems.
• Make a reduction in the expense of purchasing green power by making optimal energy performance of the building.
• Analyze large-scale impacts for instance building configuration and orientation in conceptual design.
• Describe the primary energy uses in schematic design realizing which loads (space heating, cooling, lighting, water heating, etc.) are most frequents and provides guidance on the building design phase to be targeted for energy savings.
• A detailed energy model in design development provides parametric analyses to appraise alternate specifications and more fully understand the trade-offs between initial cost and life-cycle cost.

Posted by Rajib Dey
Business Development
rajib@jobs2india.com
Global Associates (Pioneer Company in 3D modeling with BIM & Sketchup)

visit our BIM sites
www.bimoutsourcing.com
www.bimcoordination.com

BIM can enhance project visibility by providing 4D scheduling

The accurate construction schedule can efficiently communicate the project plan among team members for the successful completion of the project.

Now-a-days BIM is an inheritant part of construction scheduling. BIM can be integrated with construction scheduling to facilitate 4D scheduling. Thus BIM assists to communicate the project plan visually in respect of the timeline to the project team prior to the commencement of actual construction.

A large project involves many stakeholders. So it is very important to schedule the whole project in order to bring out the amount of material, number of labors and possible expenditure. BIM Outsourcing helps them in the project management by providing the BIM model with lots of usable information. A proper sequence helps them to track and analyze any problem and detect conflict and mitigation.

BIM can be utilized to provide 4D (scheduling integration) and 5D (cost/productivity and resource loaded estimating) capabilities for the completion of project cycle and generating synergy among existing systems.



By connecting the CPM construction schedule to the BIM, the 4th dimension of time is added to the model. This leads to a virtual construction simulation facilitating a graphically wealthy and animated representation of the planned construction sequence set against time. The project controls capabilities are also developed. The project managers get the ability to focus their resources by highlighting the critical path activities inside the model.

4D schedules are a influential tool for design and engineering documentation and analysis, phasing, more accurate cost estimating, optimized means and sequence of work, invoice reconciliation with work complete on-site, on-site production control with the Superintendent and the Subs, design intent and construction plan, an information rich as-built model for facilities management, well organized trade coordination and communicating planned work to the different kind of audiences as well as project stakeholders and those directly liable for project execution.

With the help of 5D construction scheduling, precise bills of quantity are generated, which can be utilized for amalgamating cost and schedule. This leads to incorporate estimators, cost managers, and planners into the scheduling process.


Advantages of BIM for construction scheduling :-

• Lessen and or eliminate costly delays which can affect your construction schedule.
• Facilitates communication with your subcontractors more competently and successfully
• Organize procurement orders to make the delivery of key materials in time
• Assists for executing the construction activities in time
• Enhance the responsibility between the project owner, general and subcontractors
• Enhance project visibility, increased profits, reduced costs, faster cash flow and earned value reporting

Posted by Rajib Dey
Business Development
rajib@jobs2india.com
Global Associates (Pioneer Company in 3D modeling with BIM & Sketchup)

visit our BIM sites
www.bimoutsourcing.com
www.bimcoordination.com