top trends - seiler-ds.com · top trends [ ] 7 bim the autodesk 3d printer. image courtesy of...

7 Technology Trends that are Game Changers for Public Sector BIM Explore how new technologies and concepts are changing the way the public sector designs, engineers, and manages buildings and infrastructure.

Building Information Modeling (BIM) is changing the way both the public and private sector work together to design, communicate, solve problems, and build better projects faster and at less cost.

In 2006, the GSA mandated that new buildings designed through its Public Buildings Service use building information modeling in the design stage and BIM adoption continues to grow. Across the AEC industry in general, BIM adoption has jumped from 28% to 71% in North America between 2007 and 2012 alone, while 40% of U.S. building owners expect more than 75% of their projects will involve BIM in the next two years.

As BIM practices and technologies continue to evolve, what does the future hold?

From mobile-enabled BIM to simplifying the prefabrication of building materials and systems, we take a look at seven technology trends that are changing the BIM landscape for the public sector.

[1] BIM and MobilityAccording to McGraw Hill’s latest SmartMarket report on the adoption of BIM, mobile access to BIM models is a significant priority for project stakeholders and contractors.

“61% of the contractors with very high BIM engagement say that new or upgraded tablets and other mobile devices for their teams represent a key investment for the next two years.”

Mobile-enabled BIM tools such as Autodesk BIM 360™ construction management software make these goals a reality. Gone are the days of carrying pads of paper and tubes of drawings on the job site. Instead, users can take advantage of new ways to manage field processes, such as quality, safety, and commissioning checklists; distribution of plans and drawings; and mobile 2D and BIM construction document access.

13861 SUNRISE VALLEY DRIVE, SUITE 400 | HERNDON, VA 20171 | www.dlt.com | 888.447.2223 | DLTSOLUTIONS

TOP TRENDS7 BIM [ ]

[2] 3D Printing – Model Concepts Fast and InexpensivelyAccording to Gartner , the 3D printing industry is set to boom in 2015, with worldwide shipments expected to grow 98%, followed by a doubling of shipments in 2016. “…3D printing is a real, viable and cost-effective means to reduce costs through improved designs, streamlined prototyping and short-run manufacturing,” says Gartner.

The manufacturing principle of a 3D printer is fairly simple. Just like an inkjet office printer, it deposits material, layer by layer, to build any object out of a 3D CAD model. These quick, inexpensive to scale 3D models allow designers and engineers to model multiple concepts and make smarter decisions. Any 3D structure, from vehicles to houses can be modeled. After all, BIM models are 3D – the perfect ingredient for 3D printing.

Autodesk is pioneering a new open software platform for 3D printing, called Spark. Spark will make it more reliable and simpler to print 3D models, and easier to control how that model is actually printed. Tight integration between hardware and software is critical to a successful 3D printing process. To make this happen, Autodesk is also introducing a 3D printer built on the Spark platform.

[3] 3D Laser Scanning Gets Affordable The promise of field-accurate site conditions inside a 3D building information model is becoming a reality on construction sites and in early design discussions, thanks to better software import capabilities and newer, less-expensive laser scanning technologies.

Laser scanning works by capturing the shape and appearance of a building or structure with a laser then converting that data into what’s known as a point cloud. This point cloud can be imported into a BIM model using reality capture software such as Autodesk ReCap.

Laser scanning is nothing new, LiDAR scanning using aircraft-born lasers has been used by government surveyors for many years and adoption is increasing thanks to falling costs and increased accuracy. NOAA, for example, uses LiDAR to produce more accurate shoreline maps, make digital elevation models for use in GIS systems, and to assist emergency response operations. LiDAR is also a core part of many 3D information modeling projects thanks to ability to quickly support the creation of 3D objects. The GSA’s Office of the Chief Architect (OCA) is currently

encouraging, documenting, and evaluating 3D laser scanning technologies on a project-by-project need basis.


TOP TRENDS7 BIM[ ]

The Autodesk 3D printer. Image courtesy of Autodesk. 1. McGraw Hill SmartMarket Report 2. Gartner Identifies the Top 10 Strategic Technology Trends for 2015

Point cloud data generated using LiDAR supports the speedy creation of 3D models. Image courtesy of NOAA.

[4] Energy Performance ModelingEnergy modeling is one reason for the growth of BIM, but until recently it has been a time-consuming and labor-intensive process. Today, Autodesk is leading the charge with new products and apps that allow designers to perform energy analysis early in the conceptual design phase – making it easier for teams to adjust designs to maximize energy performance.

Green Building Studio is one such solution. This cloud-based software allows architects and designers to perform whole-building analysis, optimize energy consumption and work toward carbon-neutral designs early in the design process.

Revit users can also take advantage of green building tools. For example, Energy Analysis for Revit® software is a cloud-based energy simulation service that supports sustainable design. It’s also available with both Autodesk Building and Infrastructure Design Suites.

Free mobile and web-based tools such as Autodesk FormIt™ bring green BIM to the field. FormIt is an architectural modeling app that helps architects and designers quickly iterate ideas on a mobile device and includes energy simulation features that provide instant energy performance feedback based on early design decisions. These concepts can then be integrated into Revit and BIM for further development.

As Autodesk looks to bring tighter integration between building performance analysis and BIM workflows in Revit and FormIt, look out for more apps in the future.


TOP TRENDS7 BIM[ ]

[5] BIM and Facilities ManagementGovernment facility managers have a difficult but essential job – they must ensure that a building and its services are functioning as designed and as required by the building occupants. At times, the role of the facility manager is made more difficult when mission-critical data is not easily accessible or is missing altogether. That’s why BIM is increasingly being used to integrate building design and planning with post-construction facility management.

With traditional 2D designs of buildings, facility information isn’t transferred to the post-construction phase of the building life cycle. This lost information results in costly and inefficiently managed buildings. BIM changes that quite significantly. By using BIM during the planning and design phases, it is now possible to retain valuable information and relationships about the various components that comprise a building.

In digital form, the building information can more readily be shared and analyzed during the post-construction phase to improve facility management decision-making, reduce costs, extent building life, and improve occupant efficiency. BIM is such a game-changer for facilities management that the GSA is advocating the use of BIM “…to leverage facility data through the facility lifecycle to provide safe, healthy, effective and efficient work environments for our clients.”

[6] BIM for PrefabricationPrefabrication requires a high degree of accuracy, most notably in assembling mechanical, electrical and plumbing components.

The use of BIM models to support digital prototyping is a natural fit. The information contained in these models can be used to create instructions for digitally fabricating building elements. This reduces errors, saves money in the production of design-intensive custom components, and improves collaboration among architects, fabricators and builders.

Digital fabrication can be used during many phases of the project lifecycle, supporting both design activities (3D printing of scale models of design options) and production tasks (creating actual building elements). While BIM-based digital fabrication is just starting to gain traction in construction, it has the potential to bring productivity gains and advantages seen in the manufacturing sector to the building industry.

[7] Augmented Reality – Bring BIM Models to Life on the Job SiteCommunicating the 3D intentions of BIM is becoming much more accessible thanks to augmented reality – a 3D world view on a mobile 2D device with themes such as GPS or visuals integrated into the real world view.

Using an iPad or smart phone, augmented reality software, like the Autodesk InfraWorks 360 mobile app, brings BIM models to life on the job site. Possible uses include viewing a proposed project within current environments or developing and viewing intelligent 3D models of above and below ground infrastructure such as utilities, telecommunications and buildings.

Augmented reality isn’t just for construction sites. Autodesk Showcase®, for example, lets users quickly transform 3D CAD models into interactive walk-throughs and presentations, making it easier to evaluate aesthetic and functional aspects of the design in real time.


TOP TRENDS7 BIM[ ]

An exciting example of augmented reality applications comes courtesy of VTN Consulting who worked with the city of Las Vegas to build a 3D BIM model of the above- and below-ground infrastructure in the core downtown area. The firm used Autodesk’s InfraWorks software the firm used Autodesk’s InfraWorks software to model the infrastructure, and is using the free InfraWorks tablet app to view BIM files in the field. Photo: VTN Consulting

Additional Resources If you are ready to learn more about Autodesk solutions for transportation and infrastructure projects, take advantage of these additional resources:

The Autodesk Government Team at DLT Solutions 888-447-2223 [email protected]/autodesk

BlogVisit our blog for government design and engineering professionals and get regular insights, news, tips, case studies and more. www.acronymonline.org


TOP TRENDS7 BIM[ ]

top trends - seiler-ds.com · top trends [ ] 7 bim the autodesk 3d printer. image courtesy of...

Documents