Delivering bim projects in the caribbean

Delivering BIM Projects In The Caribbean

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ABOUT US

Argo Development Studio was founded by its Managing Director, David

Campion.

David has lectured and tutored at the School of Architecture, DIT, Ireland and

has over 20 years of industry experience in design and development, working

across a number of sectors in the US, across Europe and in the Caribbean.

The delivery of a number of award winning ‘design build’ projects inspired David

to create his own Development Studio that focused on achieving greater

efficiencies in the design and development process.

Argo provides efficient expertise, cost certainty and on time delivery to its

clients. Argo safeguards the project journey, from concept to completion

through strong leadership serving as a client guardian of built asset delivery.

HERE ARE SOME OF OUR CURRENT PROJECT LOCATIONS

DUBLIN – LONDON – BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS – BARBADOS – HAITI – TRINIDAD –ST.VINCENT - JAMAICA


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CONTENTS

Delivering Bim Projects in The caribbean.......................................................................................... 4

Virtual Environment – 3D .................................................................................................................... 5

Clash Detection System ..................................................................................................................... 7

Scheduling and Planning – 4D ......................................................................................................... 8

Cost Management – 5D ...................................................................................................................... 10

Sustainability – 6D .................................................................................................................................. 11

Life Cycle and Facilities Management – 7D .................................................................................. 13


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DELIVERING BIM PROJECTS IN THE CARIBBEAN

What does BIM mean?

BIM is an acronym for Building Information Modelling.

What does BIM do?

BIM will revolutionise the construction industry throughout the Caribbean. This digital

technology introduces a way to design that is more adept than the likes of traditional

CAD drawings. BIM is a process incorporating new more effective techniques and

technologies that will result in a better and more efficient project. Quite simply, it allows

us to build better buildings, faster and cheaper by producing digital data in a more

accurate, better coordinated and managed way. BIM encourages a collaborative

approach to the design and project management of buildings through the new world

of digital construction that will greatly benefit clients, designers, contractors and all

other key stakeholders.

Traditional 2 dimensional drawings focus on Length, Breathe and Depth using lines; BIM

However adds more dimensions into the process, such as Time, Cost and Performance

Management. BIM provides an accurate virtual model of a building which has been

digitally constructed using ‘Smart Families’. These families are individual digital models

within your overall project model that consist of many parameters allowing you to

populate the families and in turn the project model, with numerous amounts of data, as

seen in Figure 1.


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FIGURE 1 - EXAMPLE OF DOWNLOADABLE SMART FAMILY (BUILDING DOOR) USE TO POPULATE MODELS.

VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT – 3D

BIM, simulates the construction process, which is represented in what is called a “Virtual

Environment.” This Virtual Environment is data rich, encompassing various models of the

project, such as Architectural, Structural and MEP Models. These models are then

combined to form the project’s Federated Model.

BIM’s structured approach, which results in a federated model consisting of precise

geometry and relevant data, guides the fabrication, construction and procurement

activities, needed to formulate the 3D visualization model, as seen in figure 2.


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FIGURE 2 – 3D VISUALIZATION MODEL

The new tailored approach implemented by the BIM process provides a unique

opportunity for the digital technology to resolve several problem areas faced by CAD

projects. Most notably being inefficiencies on the job site due to poor coordination,

communication and lack of accuracy, which leads to time and cost wastages.

CAD consists of mainly just lines on paper that are incapable of truly interacting with

each other and relies chiefly on an error-prone process to identify problems throughout

their early stage of project development. This translates to following up every change in

one view to make sure it corresponds with other views, to ensure that no conflicts have

occurred as a direct result of the recent amendments. As such, drawings made by CAD

are nothing more than just lines on a paper whereas, with BIM aided projects, however

these lines are part of families and are capable of understanding properties (such as

space requirements, manufacturer requirements and operational processes) which can

alert designers to any conflicts present, such as pipe work conflicting with a structural

beam.


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CLASH DETECTION SYSTEM

SO HOW DOES THIS ACTUALLY WORK?

BIM software utilizes a Clash Detection System to pinpoint conflicts throughout the

design process before the design can be finalized. The goal here being to cut cost

associated with ill-timed delays due to unforeseen problems and protection of the

quality of design as seen in Figure 3.

FIGURE 3 – CLASH DETECTION SYSTEM

Interestingly, before computerization, a conflict was identified via a manual procedure

of overlaying drawings upon a light table to identify any observable conflicts.

Moreover, 2D CAD did nothing to solve this conundrum as it basically worked in a similar

way. It was with the advent of the new 3D representation that took into consideration

the identification of conflicts. However, throughout the industry little changed as

architects still opted for old practices and the 3D technology when utilized left a lot to

be desired, as for the most part, it was unable to pinpoint problems relating to spatial

irregularities if objects were within each other. This meant that even early adaptations


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of the technology were still time-consuming and proved utterly pointless, with only

potentially serving to reveal minor clashes.

To solve this problem many software packages used in the BIM process have

implemented the integration of clash detection search capabilities into its software. This

meant that the speed and accuracy at which clashes were identified were enhanced

significantly and issues that would normally hold up construction are being solved

before the project even makes it to site. This evolution of BIM technology was taken

specifically from the gaming industry which has been utilizing a similar system to avoid

virtual items from moving through each other. BIM software became smarter with the

introduction of families, now capable of carrying and understanding data in direct

relation to itself.

Not only does the process of BIM speed up the problem solving of clash detection, it

also breathes new life into areas such as Scheduling and Planning, Cost Management

and also the Life Cycle and Facilities Management of a project, in turn making each

sector far more efficient. These areas are brought in and considered at much earlier

stages of a project and, similarly to clash detection, many problems are solved before

they have even occurred.

SCHEDULING AND PLANNING – 4D

Timing can be a major issue on a project. Traditionally projects get held up due to issues

arising on site and thus the timeline for the project end date gets pushed further on. The

process of BIM allows Gantt charts or spreadsheets of project timelines to be integrated

into Federated BIM Models allowing us to create virtual construction simulations from

the very beginning to the end of a project before you even break ground.


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FIGURE 4 – SCHEDULING AND PLANNING (4D) WITHIN THE VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT

This process, which can be as detailed as a step by step 3D simulation of how a detail

should be constructed and how long it should take, points out more potential conflicts

and helps to further shape the projected end date of the build, so that we can deliver

the project on time.


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COST MANAGEMENT – 5D

When using CAD to form a project you draw in lines, however 3D modelling within the

BIM process introduces families. Almost everything in the project model is a family.

Examples of these, are everything from Walls and Floors, to Doors, Windows and all

forms of Furniture. These families are integral to the process of BIM and contain what are

know as parameters. One thing these parameters allow us to do is add material cost to

a family, so for example if it knows the cost of concrete per cubic metre, we can follow

a straight forward procedure where the computer calculates the amount of concrete

used in the build and also exactly how much it will cost, it then produces the material

take off itself. This significantly speeds up the process of having to trawl through

drawings determining where concrete is being used and then adding it all up to

calculate the total cost.

FIGURE 5 – COST MANAGEMENT WITHIN SOFTWARE


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SUSTAINABILITY – 6D

The building simulation capabilities of BIM assist property owners as well as facility

managers in achieving sustainability goals for green building models and energy

efficient building structures. We are able to make informed scientific decisions very

early on in the design process thanks to accurate components of software packages.

These components help us to do numerous amounts of things to achieve greener, more

energy efficient buildings such as, using solar and shading studies to better understand

the positioning and orientation of a building on a specific accurate geolocation to

optimise or minimise the amount of light entering the building at different times of the

day, leading to design decisions such as, window location or the possible introduction

or omission of canopies, or other shading devices, based on the accurate scientific

results achieved within the software testing. It can also lead to vital energy saving

decisions such as, at what orientation and how many solar panels would be needed on

the roof in order to maximise the amount of solar energy gained and in turn minimise

the amount of cost spent on energy use in the building. Some other examples of

components that can be utilised in these software packages can give us calculations

on heat loss or gain, air flow in to, out of and through the building, internal

temperatures, humidity levels, natural internal illumination at all times of the day,

carbon levels and HVAC system requirements. All of this data can then very simply be

turned into straight forward, easy to read graphics to help understand your greener

building design more clearly. With this comprehensive understanding on sustainability

trials and importance of inhabitant comfort and safety, we encompass comprehensive

support across design, analysis, evaluation and verification of energy efficiency in

buildings. BIM can assist during design and throughout the whole project lifecycle by

using this data to enable faster, safer, less wasteful construction and more cost-


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effective, sustainable operation, maintenance and eventual decommissioning.

Figure 6 – Whole Life Cycle

SYNCHRONISED BIM INPUT PROVIDED BY ALL PROJECT PARTNERS’ AIDS SUSTAINABILITY IN MANY WAYS:

Plan changes made while the project definition is still flexible can be

accommodated without cost and time penalties.

Whenever one team member makes an alteration, all other disciplines are

aware and can adjust their input or find an alternate solution.

BIM enables instinctive clash detection, eliminating the need for ad-hoc solutions

and saving time, cost and materials.

Harmonisation of design, cost planning, production and construction allows for

precise ordering of materials and equipment, eliminating waste and rework.

Sustainability development introduces Facility Management which will build upon some

of the groundwork put in place by the earlier stages; in making sure that the project

upkeep is dealt with in a systematic manner ensuring feasibility is maintained

throughout the life cycle of the project.


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LIFE CYCLE AND FACILITIES MANAGEMENT – 7D

Another parameter that can be given to these families is one dealing with

maintenance and life cycle of an item, be it anything from a window to a refrigerator.

This data can then be pulled out onto schedules making it quick and easy to form

operation and maintenance guidelines, telling you how something should be looked

after or when something needs to be changed, and ensure the longevity of the

building after handover. As well as this, the projects Federated BIM Model including all

project data will be given to the client at handover. Then down the line if changes

need to be made, such as an extension to the building, the Federated Model,

consisting of all the families, will have the relevant information to allow that process to

be quicker and easier than it would ever have been before.

FIGURE 7 – FACILITY MANAGEMENT

In conclusion, BIM is critical in order to achieve high efficiency and productivity

throughout the Caribbean construction sector. The adaptation of such technology,

when integrated successfully, as seen throughout Europe, will transform the manner in

which we design and project manage buildings.

Clients need not be worried about BIM, but be cognizant of the benefits as our BIM

experts will assist you and your team with any BIM related queries which you may have.


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Contact us today and make your next project, a BIM Project!

Tel:1-246-428-1182 • Email: [email protected]

Website: www.argo-ds.com

tel:1-246-428-1182

Delivering bim projects in the caribbean

Engineering