Building Information Modelling (BIM) is a latest technology in design, virtual modelling, Quantity Take Off and Project Management supporting the vulnerable in PMC. We are well equipped to take part in the technology revolution with BIM.
The concept of BIM theoretically emerged and was developed at Georgia Institute of Technology in the late 1970s and grew rapidly after that. The growth happened because of the increasing attention paid to construction teams and firms that found merits in using BIM in order to integrate the process of the construction projects and managing them. The term Building Information Modeling was first used in 2002 to describe virtual design, construction and facilities management. Graphisoft in 1986 introduced its new software as a solution for virtual building. This software, Archicad, was really a drastic improvement in CAD programs of that time since Archicad allowed the creation of three dimensional (3D) models of projects. The terms Building Information Modeling and Building Information Model and the acronym of BIM were widespread when Autodesk released the “Building Information Modeling”.
Construction Project Management : Construction projects constitute the main part of all disciplines projects due to their amount, variety and cost. The U.S. Census Bureau News (2013) estimated that the construction industry would spend more than $874 billion in 2013. These projects range from small residential or retail projects to mega multifunction projects. Needless to say, with any scale of a construction project, there is a necessity for managing it. The management of construction projects requires knowledge of modern management as well as an understanding of all construction processes. Along with the change in technology, organizational arrangement or procedures and new features and methods, the management of construction projects differs.
Construction project management is a series of activities for determining how, when and by whom the work, including all life cycle activities, will be performed. Similar to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) definitions, the construction project manager handles project management planning, cost management, time management, quality management, contract administration, safety management and risk management. The project manager is also in charge of communication between all stakeholders on the project including owner, designers, engineers, professional crew and administrative staffs. Generally, construction project management shares the common and overall characteristics of general projects, therefore, the rules and methods required for general project management can be applied to this type of projects.
In the following aspects a BIM software can contribute in the arena of Project Management.
- Clash detection
- Constructability
- Analysis
- Time and Cost Estimate (4D & 5D)
- Integration
- Quantity Take-off
- Element based models
- Collaboration & Team Building
- Communication