Entry Level - Learning Content
3. A New Way of Working
3.1 Information Management
Under digital ways of working, information is managed using newer and more effective approaches. When information is expected to be exchanged, the recipient of the information provides a description of what they will need, and what format it is expected to take. Contrast this to older approaches where the provider gives an “information dump” that the recipient has to then sort through. While the newer methods can put some additional burden on the provider, in reality it can also save them considerable effort because they can focus on just what is needed and not become distracted by extra information.
These expectations are communicated through a set of documents known collectively as “information requirements”. These information requirements specify “what” is expected and “how” it will be delivered. In many cases, they also describe the purpose of the information. This can help when evaluating different options to allow professionals to choose solutions that are best suited for the purpose.
It is very common for information requirements to flow from one stakeholder to the next, with each adding further details and expectations. This also provides clarity for all stakeholders to understand who has which responsibility. While these responsibilities still fall along professional standards, it helps define expectations where professional roles overlap. Figure 4 describes some of the information requirements under digitalized approaches.
When information is exchanged between stakeholders, it is commonly done using models. Depending on requirements, these may be through access (typically “read only”) to models or may be through specially formatted exports of model contents. In general, information that is proprietary to a company is not exchanged, but in practice this does not affect things. Typically proprietary information is what is used to make decisions, but the resulting decisions themselves can be freely shared.
Figure 5 Information Management expectations under digitalized approach
3.2 Building Information Modelling
Building Information Modelling, or BIM for short, is the process of using digital tools to design, analyze, approve, and document the creation and utilization of a built asset and is an integral component of digitalized information management processes. BIM works by having professionals use standardized processes and approaches that are based on industry best practices.
While many individuals have their own definitions of BIM, the most official is presented as part of the ISO 19650 standard which defines BIM as “Use of a shared digital representation of a built asset to facilitate design, construction and operation processes to form a reliable basis for decisions.”
Building Information Models (BIMs) are a collection of digital objects that have attributes and relationships that describe an item and its role in the physical built asset. These models describe not only built assets, but also the design and construction models to convey and construct the physical representations. Digital objects may contain geometry, such as doors and walls, or may be more abstract concepts like weather or “purpose”.
Models are designed to be used collaboratively, where different stakeholders can use the CDE to access and view (and in some cases edit) the model according to permissions and use. This allows, for example, an engineer to create and modify a structural model based on up to date architectural designs, and to also inform the mechanical designer to plan their work around the structural elements.
Because physical objects are represented as 3D objects, communication can happen using both data as well as with both visual and contextual cues, greatly facilitating communication and understanding. And because designs are digital, it is possible to create software that looks through the model in automated or semi automated manners to detect any elements of the design that go against constraints.
3.3. "Dimensions" of BIM
Many stakeholders follow a consistent pattern for the way they model and utilize information which has given rise to an informal naming convention about how BIM is used. In general, adopters will take the information they are already familiar with and build models around it. As they gain familiarity, over subsequent projects they will expand on the information they place within models and how those models are used to make decisions. This has also given rise to an informal description of BIM use and a way to roughly judge an organization’s BIM maturity. While the modern approach is moving away from the use of this “dimensions of BIM” terminology, it is still used by many practitioners, and is often useful to people new to the sector to understand how BIM is commonly adopted.
When beginning, most practitioners will take the information they already use and tie it to geometric data within models. According to the most pure form of information management geometry is not strictly necessary for BIM (for example one comment asset management platform uses spreadsheets to store and exchange information), most implementations will include models of objects with a three dimensional representation. If for no other reason, most people find the visual representation is a convenient way to communicate between colleagues. Many people consider this baseline of what constitutes BIM and will refer to it as “3D BIM”.
Typically, once practitioners are used to dealing with geometric data, they will add information related to sequencing and project scheduling, to understand how things happen over time. This information allows practitioners to better remain “on time” and to understand the required lead times during physical construction and operation, as well as to prevent work being done in the same location by multiple parties who would likely interfere with each other. This is known as “4D BIM”
The next element that is generally added is costing, pricing, and productivity information, which helps project managers monitor and control costs. Having this information allows for better estimations of how decisions will impact costs. It also allows project managers to monitor budgets, and remain within project scope. This is known as “5D BIM”.
Other “dimensions” of BIM exist, and are in use by different practitioners, though there is not as much consensus on what these dimensions represent.
