How Architects Use BIM for Design

Building information modelling (BIM) is used by architects and engineers to improve design and construction to build dynamic and streamlined structures. Furthermore, roughly 83 percent of those who employ architectural BIM modelling have seen a positive return on their investment.

By integrating the multi-dimensional model to the 2D drawing, BIM provides designers with great potential to develop and create more successfully.

Let’s take a closer look at how architects use BIM in their design work.

How Does the BIM Process Work?

BIM has aided design in the transformation of design and building projects. It allows design teams to work more efficiently and explore designs prior to construction.

Although every firm has its own BIM operating procedures and guidelines, architects often follow the following key steps in the BIM process:

Predesign 

This step determines whether or not BIM may be used on the project. The first step is to create a BIM roadmap that outlines how the BIM tool fits into the overall strategy of the firm. By recording short- and long-term strategic goals, the roadmap can aid in the development and improvement of the architect’s workflow. Through building analysis simulation, it assists in identifying strategies to exploit BIM.

Schematic Model 

After making the appropriate BIM decisions with CAD, the architect begins developing the schematic model in a BIM environment utilising real elements.

Presentation of the Schematic Model 

The architect then conducts a walkthrough of the schematic model or a depiction of it. During this lecture, specific technologies such as Revit are used. After a few adjustments, the team finalises the design.

Schematic Design 

Scheduling and estimating are completed at this time. Scheduling ensures that the building is completed within the allowed time frame while estimating keeps track of the project’s costs. Counting all the pieces of a process project from a 2D plan, on the other hand, might be a time-consuming task. However, BIM streamlines the process and saves time.

Interference Checks and Coordination Reviews 

Architects, engineers, project managers, and construction managers meet on a regular basis during this stage of the design process. Interference checks and coordination evaluations are conducted during these meetings. BIM makes this process easier by providing a number of collaborative tools. Furthermore, these meetings aid in the early detection of any errors during the design phase.

Element Ownership

Another key issue to examine is element ownership. It is the process of determining which discipline modelled a particular aspect. The owner of a certain element, also known as the model element author or MEA, must pay special attention to the element’s synchronisation.

Construction 

After the design has been created, the construction process begins. Because scheduling and estimating were completed during the design process, it means that goods were acquired and the timeline was adjusted to ensure that the construction was completed on time. The construction manager and field supervisor work with the design team during the construction phase to ensure that the design is carried out. BIM facilitates collaboration by establishing a tight link between design and construction. As a result, the transition from design to the building is rather straightforward.

What is the Rof BIM in the Design Process?

One of the main reasons that BIM helps to improve design is that it allows designers, owners, and builders to collaborate. The design, implementation, and decision-making processes are all greatly aided by having the same source of information.

Architects can also benefit from BIM in the following ways:

Improved Communication

BIM allows all stakeholders involved in the building design to communicate all relevant information. This means that all of the team’s architects will have rapid access to the most recent designs. This reduces ambiguity and enhances collaboration.

Better Visualisation

BIM allows computer aided designers to see buildings in 3D BIM (height, breadth, and depth) as well as 4D (time to complete each piece) and 5D (dimensions of the building) (cost at each stage). These detailed visualisation tools aid in the speeding up of the design to the construction process.

Preconstruction Simulations 

BIM helps architects to envision and design the entire project during the preconstruction phase. They can study the space and make design adjustments before starting construction using space-use models and visualisations. Having a better picture allows you to make less costly modifications later.

Improved Subcontractor Coordination 

BIM greatly increases subcontractor coordination. It also aids in the avoidance of clashes through automatic clash detection. This cuts down on the amount of rework required. By allowing for a quick examination, BIM allows for the avoidance of unforeseen complications.

Enhanced Quality

There are higher-quality designs and construction procedures due to computer aided, accurate recording and computation of critical designs. Construction managers can use BIM to see where each component needs to go. This ensures that the building’s activities run smoothly.

Better Planning

By reducing construction schedule hurdles, BIM helps shorten project cycles. It aids in the more precise planning of timetables. This, combined with better coordination, can help you finish projects on time and budget.

Building Upkeep Is Easier

BIM allows you to see what a building’s expected operational costs will be once it’s finished. This can assist in making better judgments to increase cost savings and, as a result, make future building maintenance easier.

For architects, BIM is a priceless tool. In fact, it’s probably safe to argue that architects who use BIM have a better chance of producing superior designs while saving money and streamlining processes.

If you have an upcoming project and are looking for high spec drawings built on the industry-standard Building Information Modeling Service, then get in touch today.