Past, Present and Future Directions in Building Information Modelling (BIM) Chimay J. Anumba FREng, PhD, DSc, Dr.h.c., CEng, FICE, FIStructE, FCIOB, FASCE Professor and Head Department of Architectural Engineering Pennsylvania State University
Preamble Penn State: Over 82,000 students on 24 Commonwealth campuses across PA Main campus is University Park with about 45,000 students University Park is located in Central PA (3-4hrs from Philadelphia, Washington DC, New York, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, etc.) Architectural Engineering: One of 12 Depts/Programs in College of Engineering About 500 students (400 UG and 100 PG) About 25 faculty (7 of whom are adjunct) Department was 100 years in 2010!!! Degree Programmes: 5 year B.A.E Integrated B.A.E./M.A.E + Integrated B.A.E./M.S. M.S., M.Eng., Ph.D. in Architectural Engineering
AE Dept. s Latest Claim to Fame: $129m Energy Efficient Buildings Research Grant
Reflections on BIM Past Present Future
Scope Historical perspective Developments from CAD to BIM Growth in BIM Uptake: Most AEC firms now have some level of BIM adoption Many clients/owners now require BIM as part of bid submissions (UK mandates BIM use by 2016!) Many degree programs developing BIM courses Are we there yet? Has BIM development reached an optimum level? Does industry adoption signal end of BIM research? Potential future directions Making the most of existing systems Extending current BIM functionality BIM as leverage for other capabilities
Historical Perspective Aristotle: The soul never thinks without a picture/image Visualization is a critical part of design: Without this externalization, it is arguable whether an artefact has indeed been designed Earliest architectural drawings date back to 2000BC: Etchings on stone tablets
Early Professional Practice... The Master Builder: Master with multidisciplinary education: architecture, mathematics, engineering, materials, technology, etc. Single point responsibility Limited requirements for data sharing and/or visualization
The Current Context... Growth in specialization/academic disciplines: architects, structural engineers, building services engineers, quantity surveyors, contractors, suppliers, sub-contractors, etc. Fragmentation at several levels: project team members stages in project life-cycle project knowledge etc. Globalization exacerbates this Need for shared views/models!
Definitions What is BIM? Butterflies in Motion? Building Information Management? Building Information Modelling? Building Information Modelling: a modeling technology and associated set of processes to produce, communicate and analyze building models - Eastman et al, 2007 a digital representation of physical and functional characteristics of a facility - NBIMS, 2009
MODCON: Man-Machine System for the Optimum Design and Construction of Buildings Early BIM Pioneer? Vision (1961): a computer operation with both verbal and graphic printout that will allow an architect, engineer and others to sit down together and quickly conceive, design and specify a building on the basis of total performance criteria Professor Gifford Albright July, 1968
Over the Wall Syndrome
Collaboration Tool/BIM Integrated Project Team Satisfied Client
Developments Sketchpad (1965) Revit Model IGES/DXF STEP IFC/NBIMS
Other Developments Product (Data) Modelling Parametric Modelling Process Modelling Integrated Product & Process Modelling (Project Modelling) Project Team/Supply Chain Integration Lifecycle Integration (concept to disposal) Etc.
Signature/Iconic Buildings: - new challenges - new opportunities BIM offers: - Mechanism for design, construction, commissioning, operation and lifecycle facility management of buildings
Current BIM Status Industry uptake Sophisticated software tools Integration of geometric modelling with: Energy models (Energy +, Modelica, IES, etc.); Structural analysis and design; Lighting (Radiance, DaySim, etc.) Estimating/Costing (QTO, etc.) Sustainability => Green BIM Etc. Incorporation of BIM into education
BIM in Education
BIM Education at Penn State Students use AutoCAD in 1 st year drawing course Revit now used in 2 nd and 3 rd years for building modelling Integrated BIM Studio in 4 th year links AE students (construction, lighting/electrical, mechanical & structural options) with architecture and landscape architecture students. BIM/IPD Thesis - an option in 5 th year capstone project
BIM/IPD Thesis 3 Student Groups of 4 one from each option Projects: NY Times Building, Millennium Science Complex (PSU), Ice Hockey Arena (PSU) Replicates real world experience Students collaboration skills and technical knowledge (depth and breadth) greatly enhanced Final presentations to large industry jury Penn State has won 4 national awards: AIA (x2), NCARB, Autodesk
Immersive Construction (ICon) Lab at Penn State INTEGRATING BIM INTO ACADEMIA INTEGRATING ACADEMIA WITH BIM BIM Architecture Landscape Architecture Mechanical, Structural, Lighting/Electrical Engineering Construction Engineering
BIM Implementation Guides (www.bim.psu.edu)
Project Execution Planning (www.bim.psu.edu)
BIM PROJECT EXECUTION PLANNING PROCEDURE
BIM for Owners Guide Maximize benefits of BIM to owners Link BIM to operation/fm Huge potential for lifecycle asset management
BIM PLANNING PROCEDURES Additional Information at bim.psu.edu
NO!!!
What is Missing? Concurrent Conceptual Design Support Seamless Integration: across disciplines/processes/tools/etc. Proactive Process Control Link between BIM and Physical Construction Support for Whole Building Lifecycle: Concept -> Design -> Construction Demolition Etc.
Future Directions in BIM BIM technology not static Major BIM software developers and third party developers looking to add functionality Potential future directions should seek to: Make the most of existing systems Use BIM as leverage for other capabilities Extend current BIM functionality
BIM and Beyond Emerging Directions: Context-Aware Virtual Prototyping (CAVP) Telepresence/Human Integration Building Knowledge Modelling Automated Compliance Checking BIM for X Abilities (nd Modelling) Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) Mixed Reality Evidence-Based Virtual Prototyping The PRINT button (automated transition from Model to Building) Etc.
Context-Aware Virtual Prototyping Display and manipulation of model information based on key context parameters: location, role, device, time of day, etc. Physics Avionics Physics Control Pic Database
Context Dimensions User ID (e.g. Foreman, Project Manager, Site Supervisor, Electrician, etc) Time (e.g. Excavation, foundations, formwork placement, finishing, etc) Context Dimensions Location (e.g. on-site office, close to cranes, Floor 1, etc) User Activity (e.g. Inspect the work, pick up skips, roof wiring on ground floor, etc) User Device (e.g. PDA, Tablet PC, Notebook, etc)
Telepresence in BIM
Building Knowledge Modelling (BKM) Data Information Knowledge Building Data Modelling Building Information Modelling Building Knowledge Modelling
Embedded Knowledge 1
Embedded Knowledge 2 35
Automatic Compliance Checking Easier with more embedded knowledge Support needed for: Ontology development Semantic interoperability Natural Language Processing Standards processing Etc.
BIM for X Abilities Design for X Abilities in Concurrent Engineering nd Modeling: 4D/5D + BIM Support for: Concurrent Conceptual Design Safety Management Energy Efficiency User Behaviour Modelling Operation and Maintenance ( BIM for Owners ) Decommissioning/Demolition/Deconstruction Etc.
Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) Bi-directional Coordination Virtual Model Physical Construction
CPS Deployment Scenario Light Fixture Tracking and Control
Mixed (BIM) Reality AR or AV?
Experience-Based Virtual Prototyping
PRINT - BIM to Construction Next logical step Automated printing of buildings from virtual models Current efforts led by: University of Southern California Loughborough University
Concrete Printing at Loughborough!
Conclusions BIM has come a long way Current industry uptake is encouraging but business and cultural changes still need to be addressed! Cost of missed opportunities HUGE but often ignored in evaluating the cost of non-adoption! We are NOT there yet Much more needs to be done Next generation of engineers will speed up progress Perseverance needed: path from research to mainstream adoption can be very long!!! Doing nothing is not an option!
Questions