What is BIM? Learn All about BIM Here!

“BIM is not a roadblock it’s a Journey”

A common question that is asked by many companies, large and small is “What is BIM?” Companies are curious to find out where they can learn about BIM or get to grips with it.

Ireland’s leading BIM Expert Sean O’Dwyer from Procad has put together this short introduction to BIM for beginners. Having worked in the Irish Construction Industry for over 20 years, with experience in Civil and Structural Engineering, Sean has extensive experience in the fields of BIM, Lean Construction, and implementing new workflows.

BIM (Building Information Management) can be a monstrous deployment or just the transition from a paper-based company to a more digitized solution. BIM is an intelligent model-based process that provides insight to help you plan, design, construct, and manage buildings and infrastructure.

So, in a nutshell, BIM is what you or your client want to achieve out of “a project”. There are some scenarios where, as a project manager you want to accomplish the following examples from “a project”:

“A Project” could be….

• Stronger management of assets by an external facility management company with all assets digitally available.
• Ensure all site construction is fully coordinated and clash-free.
• All design-construct-handover documentation all in one location. A CDE (Common Data Environment)
• Reducing the number of site call-outs, RFI’s, and snagging by your own company.

BIM has the capabilities to do all this for you and more! There are many more (projects), benefits and some of these benefits can all be combined in a BIM Execution Plan (BEP).

A BIM Execution Plan (BEP) is a guideline or rule book that people must adhere to in order to ensure consistency and avoid costly or timely delays, etc throughout the course of a project.

The BEP is submitted in response to what the client requires. These are documented in their submitted EIR (Employers Information Requirement) document.

To explain further, BIM is a roadmap and once everyone adheres to it, they will all reach the same destination at the end at the correct time.

The EIR (Employers Information Requirement) is the map supplied by the destination to ensure the journey is on the correct path.

The BEP (BIM Execution Plan) is how you “the navigator” will demonstrate how you will make the destination and what route they intend to take.

IF the BEP differs from the EIR and if the client deems it a better route then the EIR is updated.

“SAFE JOURNEY FOLKS”

We hope you enjoyed todays blog and that you now have a simpler understanding of BIM. Check out our website for upcoming BIM webinars. Also, don’t forget to avail of your free BIM Consultation with Sean.