Tuesday, 10 February 2015

Revit modeling services for renovation projects cannot be executed without point cloud files

Developing 3D models for renovation projects is not that simple as it is for fresh construction projects. Even though same 3D modeling software is used by design and construction professionals for developing building information models for renovation projects problem arises due to insufficient and chaotic information about the existing building. In other words for developing 3D BIM models for renovation projects availability of correct building information of the existing structure is a must.

Prior to the application of laser scanning technology in renovation projects, design and construction professionals used to involve in the tedious and strenuous task of surveying the structure manually. The process of surveying as-built structure used to take a lot of human efforts and time and there used to be no surety of the calculations being accurate. That is why earlier architects and engineers used to find it difficult to execute renovation projects.

The complications faced by architects and engineers in the manual survey process raised alarms which ultimately resulted in the adoption and application of laser scanning technology for the execution of refurbishment, retrofit and renovation projects. Application of laser scanning for surveying the building derived extraordinary results. That is why laser scanning technology has been adopted by AEC industry globally for the quick and seamless execution of renovation projects.

Laser beams emitted from high end laser scanners which are placed near the as-built structure easily insert inside it and when they reflect back they come along with point cloud data. Millions of point clouds are acquired by survey team liable for surveying the structure by scanning the building form different sides. Point cloud data that is collected with the support of laser beams contain the complete information about different disciplines of the as-built structure such as architecture, structure and MEP.

But what is required from AEC professionals is to stitch the multiple scans together for availing comprehensive information. Now the survey company handovers the point cloud data to the clients who then deliver it to a service providing company. The service providing company makes use of point cloud data in Revit modeling services. Building details can be viewed by modelers when a point cloud file is opened by them in Revit and based on that information they create BIM models for renovation project.


Monday, 9 February 2015

Is engineering outsourcing industry growing because of BIM’s adoption?

In the last few decades engineering outsourcing industry has witnessed drastic growth and it has now evolved as an important source for construction companies to hire engineering services. Outsourcing industry plays a major role in providing engineering consulting services to construction giants, contractors and AEC firms etc who are largely involved in building design and construction.

One of the major reasons for the growth of engineering outsourcing industry is the rapid industrialization that is experienced by most of the nations today. Another important reason is that Architecture, Engineering and Construction Industry is now making use of Building Information Modeling services for executing construction projects which can be easily hired by contractors from outsourcing companies. The growing use of BIM modeling services in construction industry is indirectly accountable for the growth of engineering outsourcing companies. Because of increasing use of BIM in construction industry, outsourcing companies are also getting piled up with the orders of architectural, structural and MEP modeling services and this is ultimately leading to the productivity of engineering companies.

The more orders for the execution of BIM services are received by an engineering firm the more it grows. Since drafting and modeling is completely digitalized now, any type of complicated designs and models can be created by the modelers of architectural and engineering companies and they can be delivered to clients on the required time. Due to the digitalization of preconstruction engineering services distance between the clients and the service providing company hardly matters. This ultimately means that one can hire engineering services from any part of the world and can go ahead with the construction of building projects.

Design created in the form of 3D models can be communicated or transferred swiftly to any part of the world due to its digital attributes. How much ever far the company may be but it can deliver the services to clients within seconds once their execution is completed.

Apart from BIM modeling services, clients can also hire clash detection and coordination services along with 3D architectural rendering services from an engineering outsourcing company on highly cost effective prices.
            

Friday, 6 February 2015

Get rid of all the design errors by hiring clash detection and coordination services!

Because of their potential benefits to the clients Building Information Modeling services are in high demand in the industry. Be it modeling, coordination or clash detection services all of them are truly important for clients when it comes to attaining effective building design for the building in making. BIM is now used in each and every step in construction process be it planning, designing and construction it is implemented everywhere and has been successful in providing effective outcomes.

Building construction is one of the most intricate and complex process wherein AEC professionals are accountable for design and construction of different building disciplines. In the preconstruction phase individual architects and engineers are accountable for design development of different building disciplines which include architecture, structure and MEP. The architectural framework of the building cannot be designed by anyone else apart from an architect as he/she is the only competent person who can perform this task. Again for designing structural framework of the building a competent person is required and that person is structural engineer. Similarly for designing MEP systems MEP engineers are necessary. And since different types of technical experts are needed for the design development of various building disciplines it becomes the inevitable reason for the occurrence or existence of clashes between the model elements of different models.   

That is why when models for different building disciplines are entirely completed the implementation of clash detection and coordination services become imperative and necessary for them. During clash detection services the entire models are examined by design and construction professionals for determining clashes. When clash tests are organized by Navisworks users they make use of clash detective tool and check the elements of one model against the elements of another model for determining clashes between them. For example an element of structural model such as column is checked against the elements of architectural model such as floor for identifying clashes between them.

Countless clashes are determined during the process and constructive solutions are provided for them by applying modifications on the models. This step is followed by coordinating all the multidiscipline models as one single model.  In this manner all the design errors are eradicated between model elements which ultimately assist in flawless construction.
  

Wednesday, 4 February 2015

Overriding factors behind BIM’s adoption by AEC professionals?

BIM which is frequently called as Virtual Design and Construction is great technology or process as you may call it. There are countless advantages of adopting such a process or technology which makes use of distinguished methods for the execution of construction projects. We no more exist in such a world where construction projects require only human efforts and labor since technology has overtaken or replaced all the hardships faced by human beings during construction.  Currently AEC professionals are making massive use of effective tools and software technology in construction and this have been proved tremendously fruitful for them in terms of flawless execution of the project.

Building Information Modeling is accountable for taking design and construction of building projects to an entirely new level considering the fact that fewer or no rework occurs when a project is executed by implementing this.

BIM helps architects and engineers to achieve an intelligent design for the building in making whit the assistance of effective software like Revit. BIM supports design development team members to evolve an idea into an intelligent building design which has enough strength and potential to perform better. Unlike the 2D images which were quite prevalent in the past when it comes to refereeing them for building construction, 3D models remain at the heart of BIM led construction.  By utilizing Revit architects and engineers create sophisticated 3D, 4D and 5D BIM models which solve all the difficulties of design and construction professionals arise during execution of construction projects.

As changes are accepted quickly by Revit models, this provides a distinctive platform for AEC professionals to search new design ideas and quickly implement them in the model for experiencing their practicality. So in this way unique design ideas are discovered and implemented in the project during design development process.

Apart from procuring productive design, BIM assists in the creation of construction schedules and simulations videos and both of them give more clarity to AEC professionals in terms of understanding all the aspects of construction process. General contractors are the greatest benefiters of construction schedules as it helps them in supplying significant equipments and materials on the construction site.

Cost estimates that provide clarity on construction budgets helps general contractors in utilizing the same budget for obtaining better results in terms of obtaining effective services and materials. 

Monday, 2 February 2015

What makes BIM coordination so important for architects and engineers?

BIM coordination is an important step in project execution as it assures design and construction professionals that the multidiscipline 3D models created by them can exist in harmony with each other. But coordination process comes in the later stages of preconstruction phase as in the beginning focus is directed towards the development of 3D models. In the initial stages of project lifecycle design and construction professionals fully concentrate on developing effective design for architecture, structure and MEP and this is achieved by them with the assistance of Revit. Revit is unique software that allows AEC professionals to create a design in 3D which can be effectively analyzed by any team member and can be communicated to anyone since it is in digital form.

Revit reinforces the development of explicit building design since effective tools are integrated in it. Multidiscipline models are created in close cooperation of interdisciplinary design development teams for maintaining accuracy in the models. Accuracy in the models can only be maintained if design members have the accessibility of correct information that is necessary for generating models. So in this way with the close cooperation of design development teams’ remarkable 3D models are developed which largely contain precise information in them that is used in actual construction.

Though Revit models are known for their accuracy but since they are developed by different teams there always exists a chance of errors in them.  To fully secure that model elements of multidiscipline models can coexist together execution of BIM coordination is compulsory. So before coordinating the models it is important that errors in them should be identified and resolved. That is how clash detection process comes into picture and resolves half of the problems of architects and engineers. Cashes are detected through clash detective tool of Navisworks which is also a Building Information Modeling software. Model elements of one model are compared to the model elements of another model for determining clashes between them during clash test. Countless clashes are identified during this process and they are effectively sorted out by AEC professionals. For sorting out the clashes they are required to make alterations in the position or location of the elements so that they can coexist with each other. Clash detection process is followed by coordination process which is performed by using Revit.

After clash detection no problems are faced by AEC professionals in coordinating multidiscipline models.  BIM coordination model is the outcome of coordination process and it is exceptionally accurate as it is developed after resolving all the clashes.