The World according to BIM
I’m one of those people that reads a magazine about 4 or 5 times. (More about that some other time) I was on my third or fourth read yesterday of the March/April edition of Texas Architect when I came across (again) “The State of BIM” by David Baldacchino.
David does an excellent job of describing the benefits and practical uses of BIM, but there are a couple of areas that David didn’t touch upon; (probably simply a matter of the limited space of print media). I feel that one of these areas is the deep misunderstanding of what BIM actually is. Even by those who think that they are using it.
The number one misconception is that BIM = Revit; or conversely that Revit = BIM. Even with all the information available, there are still Architects & Engineers that just don’t get it. It wasn’t that long ago that a colleague of mine said, “I’m going to start marketing to my clients that we are BIM experts. I’ve bought a copy of Revit for each studio and I figure that by the end of the year we should be fully switched over to Revit, and doing all our projects in BIM.” That was about 2 years ago and as I understand it, he hasn’t fully integrated the entire office, yet.
Since I haven’t yet seen it spelled out in plain English, please allow me to do so. “Revit is a 3D drafting program. BIM is what you do with it”. That’s pretty simple but how about if we reverse it.
BIM is: The Modeling of Information about a Building.
Many Architects drool over the 3D aspects of Revit. There is no doubt that it has massive potential to reduce errors as well as cut costs in both design & production. (Yes, I am a big supporter of Revit) but often these Architects convince themselves (and their clients) that this is BIM, when it’s not. What’s more, only 27% of those who claim to be “using BIM” actually share that model with the contractor. (There was no data on how many property owners end up with the model) So, for the other 70%, understand that if your not sharing the model - your not using BIM. Your just 3d modeling. And if you did take the time to input all the data for the model – ie: links to specs, products, manufacturers etc. and then chose not to share it with the contractor and owner – your a damn fool. Because you have wasted your time and money. So be honest with yourself and your clients. Are you going to actually complete and share the Building Information Model, or are you just going to draw in 3d? The answer is fine either way. But be honest about it.
Now in all fairness, it’s possible that those who are not sharing the model and are withholding the information are doing so out of fear of liability. (We would hope that these are the architects who are just using Revit for productivity gains and quality control, and are not deluding themselves into thinking they are doing BIM) Certainly, this is a prudent course of action. Until the courts have decided how liability is dispersed with a BIM model, few are willing to stick their neck out.
Personally, I have no problem with issuing a Building Information Model. (Assuming I was paid for it) Why? Because the architect ALWAYS gets sued. If someone trips on the rug, the Architect gets sued. If a crack develops in the wall, the Architect gets sued. If the light is too dim or if it is too bright, the Architect gets sued. My point is, if there is any kind of lawsuit – the scum sucking lawyers will drag in the Architect. Relevance is Irrelevant. My philosophy is simple, Lawyers are the lowest life form known to man and they know that $2 million dollars (+/-) is sitting on the table of the Architects insurance agent. One way or another, they are going to get a piece of it. In the name of justice, of course. So with this in mind, why not share the model anyway.
Accept the fact that your probably going to get sued – PRICE THOSE COSTS IN YOUR FEE and then do what is right for the project and the owner. Follow through with the Building Information Model. If you don’t get sued – great, you got a bonus.
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Posted by Michael E.
on May 28 2009. Filed under News Briefs.
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Amen about lawyers, I am still medicating my posterior orafice from the last one I hired.
Great post! I have some misgivings about BIM, myself. Although I enjoy the concept it is going to open Pandora’s Box, not only within firms but also with the the public who sees what we do, as simply, ‘typing in commands’, such as: “Big Building.” or “Eight stories” And the thought of having a manager like I USED to have…he would now think it is even EASIER than before, it would be a NIGHTMARE. There is a vast chasm in frrms between people who use the software and those who don’t. Moreover, the effort to narrow that divide has always been on the part of the user, the managers have made little, nay, ZERO attempt to understand. They would rather retain their own misguided strawman of what they THINK it is as opposed to what it really is.