Technology

What is BIM?

Building information modeling (BIM) covers geometry, spatial relationships, light analysis, geographic information, quantities and properties of building components (for example manufacturers’ details). BIM can be used to demonstrate the entire building life cycle, including the processes of construction and facility operation. Quantities and shared properties of materials can be extracted easily. Scopes of work can be isolated and defined. Systems, assemblies and sequences can be shown in a relative scale with the entire facility or group of facilities.

Recently the architectural, engineering and design communities have transitioned to the use of software for design that creates a three-dimensional model. This model is still a design document, yet it has more information and provides a model that can be viewed and easily manipulated. Even with the use of sophisticated software, it is still incumbent on the general contractor and subcontractors to produce shop drawings from design documents that provide a realistic representation of the installed product. From there, software generated documents produce 3D models to be combined with the architectural and structural model into Autodesk® Navisworks® for coordination and constructability review.

How Does ROEL Utilize BIM Technology

At ROEL it has been a longstanding operational procedure to coordinate the mechanical, electrical, plumbing (MEP), architectural and structural disciplines on a project. This practice began back when a light table was used to place different drawings atop of one another to look for clashes or conflicts, and then transitioned to utilizing CADD and layers for each discipline. Now as technology has evolved, so has the coordination and design process for ROEL.

ROEL maximizes industry-leading BIM tools to coordinate integral project disciplines with accurate shop drawings used to fabricate ductwork and/or pre-fabricate conduits. By doing so dramatically raises accuracy levels and enables early conflict resolution prior to any physical work taking place on the project. Such proactive clash and conflict detection makes it possible for design change or modification decisions to occur in a non-rushed, controlled environment, allowing for constructive thinking. Additional benefits achieved are:

  • Greater efficiencies in the field
  • Reduced troubleshooting in the field
  • Increased trade focus on constructing
  • Improved final product quality