BIM has revolutionized the construction industry by fostering collaboration, minimizing errors, and optimizing project efficiency. Among its many applications, BIM coordination plays a pivotal role in ensuring the seamless construction workflows. By integrating different disciplines and resolving the potential clashes before even the construction begins, BIM coordination minimizes the delays, rework in addition to the unexpected costs. BIM Coordination Services helps in streamlining this process thereby ensuring the better project execution as well as enhanced efficiency. The below blog will help you uncover everything about BIM coordination and how it will be beneficial for the AEC professionals.
The Core Concept of BIM Coordination
The process of BIM coordination involves integrating different building components and systems within a digital model to identify and address the conflicts before the actual construction begins. It brings together the architectural, structural, mechanical, electrical as well as the plumbing (MEP) models into a single federated model thereby ensuring that all the project stakeholders are aligned well. This process helps in detecting clashes, streamlining workflows and also enhancing the overall project efficiency.
Key aspects of BIM Coordination Includes:
- Clash detection and resolution
- Seamless integration of multidisciplinary models
- Improved collaboration and communication
- Enhanced constructability and cost efficiency
BIM Coordination Steps
Effective BIM coordination involves a structured approach to integrating, analysing along with refining the project models. Here are the primary steps involved:
- Model Aggregation: Different discipline-specific models (architectural, structural and MEP) are combined into a single coordinated model.
- Clash Detection: Using BIM software, the clashes between elements (e.g., HVAC ducts conflicting with beams) are identified. Studies suggest that the early clash detection can reduce the project costs by up to 10%-15%.
- Issue Resolution: The Project teams collaborates to resolve the detected clashes by modifying the designs or even adjusting the layouts.
- Validation and Approval: The updated models undergo a thorough validation to ensure the compliance with the design intent as well as the project requirements.
- Continuous Monitoring: The federated model is continuously updated throughout the project lifecycle to reflect the design changes and also ensure the smoother execution.
The Necessary Tools for BIM Coordination
Several advanced tools facilitates the BIM coordination enabling the real-time collaboration along with the improved accuracy. Some of the widely used software solutions includes:
- Autodesk Navisworks – A powerful tool for model review, clash detection as well as the coordination with an accuracy improvement of up to 40% in detecting the design conflicts.
- Autodesk Revit – A BIM modeling tool that enables the seamless integration of various building components thereby reducing the design errors by up to 30%.
- BIM 360 Coordinate – A cloud-based solution for real-time collaboration and clash resolution which enhances the productivity by 25%.
- Solibri Model Checker – A quality control tool used for model validation as well as the clash detection which reduces the project risk factors to a greater extent.
- Tekla BIMsight – A collaborative platform for reviewing and coordinating the models efficiently.
Key Outcomes of BIM Coordination
Implementing the BIM coordination effectively results in the multiple benefits that contributes to a streamlined construction process:
- Clash Detection and Resolution: Identifying and addressing the conflicts in the BIM models prevents the costly on-site changes. The types of clashes include:
- Hard Clash: The Physical overlaps between the elements (e.g., a duct passing through a beam).
- Soft Clash: The Code violations or the required clearance issues (e.g., insufficient space between mechanical components).
- Workflow Clash: Scheduling and sequencing the conflicts (e.g., installation order mismatches).
- Reduced Rework: By detecting and resolving conflicts early, the reworks and delays are minimized with the reports indicating a 20%-30% decrease in the rework costs.
- Cost Savings: Avoiding clashes during the construction helps in reducing the material wastage as well as the budget overruns with BIM coordination reducing total project costs by up to 10%.
- Enhanced Collaboration: The project teams work cohesively with a single source of truth thereby improving the decision-making and project communication by up to 50%.
- Time Efficiency: Automated clash detection accelerates the project timelines and ensures the smooth execution with project timelines reducing by up to 7%-10%.
- Improved Quality: By ensuring that all the systems aligns well before the construction enhances the overall project quality and sustainability.
- Sustainability: The BIM coordination enhances the sustainability by optimizing material usage, reducing waste by up to 30%, improving energy efficiency as well as ensuring the compliance with green building standards such as LEED and BREEAM.
Conclusion
BIM coordination along with the Architectural BIM Services is the key to achieving the effortless construction workflows by promoting integration, collaboration and efficiency across project teams. With advanced tools and structured coordination processes, the construction firms can mitigate risks, reduce costs and also improve the overall project delivery.
