Why Use BIM?

Construction tools – you’re thinking hard hats, hammers and machinery. You’re not thinking technology and 3D modelling but you should! Imagine a project with reduced snags, improved team collaboration, lower risks and cost savings. This is what BIM brings to the delivery of your project.

What is BIM?

Building Information Modelling (BIM) provides a project information model to enable a virtual design and construction methodology. It is comprised of geometric model components embedded with information to enable collaborative coordination, scheduling and analysis of the building.

What do BIM and REVIT bring to your project and to our construction process?

mac use Revit and BIM to advance the design model to handover status through the following integrated delivery processes:

• Advanced design development – Interactive visualization of the finished building before commencement on site.
• Coordination and Clash Avoidance – Collaboration methods which address any errors long before they have any bearing on cost or schedule.
• Documentation – EIR response, BIM Execution Plans and further documentation required by PAS1192-2.
• Common Data Environment – In compliance with BS1192:2007.
• Asset Information Model – Developed to the required Level of Detail / Definition.
• As-Built Status – Point cloud and survey verification.
• Level of Information – Integration of COBie parameters and outputs.
• Facilities Management – Cost reductions through BIM based O+M.
• Future Proofing of Facilities – Maintainable assets of the future will send live performance data back to the Asset Information Model.
• Lessons learned – Contribute to a leaner integrated project delivery cycle (IPD) for future projects, using the latest cloud collaboration technologies.

Meet the mac team

Eoghan Harris, M.Sc. Construction Informatics (BIM lv. 2), acting as mac’s Information Manager is responsible for the development of the Asset Information Model. He ensures adherence with project protocols and the timely production of information, delivered in accordance with the project procedures and Employers Information Requirements.

Gemma Murphy, B.Sc. in Architectural and BIM Technology and currently studying for her M.Sc. in Applied Building Information Modelling and Management acts as model information originator. She retains responsibility for accuracy of the authored content and standard compliance checks before information is released to the Information Manager.

BIM in Practice

Eoghan and Gemma are stationed at Oracle Block A, where they utilise the following BIM processes:

• Clash Detection – Collaboration methods which address errors before they had any bearing on cost or schedule. mac implemented a ‘Clash Avoidance Strategy’, mitigating the risk of construction issues through automated  coordination.
• As-Built Status – Point cloud verification analyses the impact of variance in existing structural slab and soffit levels. This is vital to coordinate services as the ceiling and raised access floor voids are minimal.
• Level Of Detail – Appropriate LOD is used to inspect the impact of services, supports and clearance zones, without impacting schedule through excessive modelling.

They have also developed a complex pharmaceutical project to handover in the past year during which the following was managed:

• Successful delivery of COBie asset information. This deliverable raised significant challenges as a relatively new requirement to the Irish Industry.
• Coordination and clash avoidance between several different systems in densely populated ceiling voids.
• Integration of sub-contractor models in different BIM formats raising challenges relating to shared coordinates and model exports.
• Development of Design Intent to Virtual Construction Model including specialized tile grid ceilings and support rods.
• Development of Canteen model as per spec on behalf of sub-contractors with limited BIM capability.
• On-site verification of as-built model requiring regular project team meetings to collaborate several sub-task teams information requiring a federated interior model hosting master 2d sheets.
• .IFC format model specification for AIM handover.
• Quality control of 2D deliverables including all annotations and dimensioning.

Click here to learn more about these projects.