BIM IMPLEMENTATION IN THE OFFICE

 

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The German BIM guide for Architects - Implementation in the Office [2], published by the Federal Chamber of Architects - BAK and the Federal Association of Architects' Chambers in cooperation with the North Rhine-Westphalia Chamber of Architects, is a good description of how to incorporate BIM into your practice and what should be analyzed before its implementation . Below, he quotes its most important fragments:

 free translation

Digitization in construction is progressing inexorably. It opens up new possibilities, gives opportunities, but also brings challenges. The introduction of digital methods in construction is more of a marathon than a sprint. Therefore, it is especially important that you go step by step in the right direction. In this brochure, the Federal Chamber of Architects provides practical help: The path to digitization must not lead to restrictions in market access. Therefore, the Ministry of the Interior is in favor of an open and producer-neutral standard of data exchange. Together with the Federal Ministry of Transport, we launched the initiative "BIM Germany - Center for the Digitization of Construction" to jointly lay the foundations for openBIM in federal construction. The building structure and infrastructure are considered together and synergy effects are used. We will share the results with the entire construction value chain. Apart from technological change, digitization is also a cultural change. A collaborative team and a collaborative culture must be even more important for future projects. Communication plays a key role in this. The advantages of digital processes are particularly evident in the days of Corona. Projects with a high demand for communication and coordination need not stop if the people involved are using digital methods. Let us use these experiences from the crisis on the path to digitization and treat today's challenges as the impetus for tomorrow. Let's shape our digital future together. Now is the time!

ROLE DISTRIBUTION IN BIM: In standards and guidelines (DIN EN ISO 19650, VDI 2552), in current literature and other publications, many roles or functions are often associated with the term BIM, often quite often in reference to the necessary expertise, certification or specialization. The most important functions are easy and clear to define:

BIM Author: Anyone who inserts information into a building model (generic or specialized model) is a BIM author. This can be a planning architect, an engineer (specialist), a draftsman or a building modeler, as well as a construction manager. With the proper configuration of the project, the contractor can also assume the role of a BIM author, if stipulated in the contract.

BIM Coordinator: The BIM Coordinator connects the individual (specialized) models and ensures compliance with the established standards and goals of the BIM Processing Plan (BAP). His tasks also include checking for collisions with other models and supplying special models for different use cases.

Overall BIM Coordinator: Typically, this function is taken over by the architect and project manager. The overall coordinator is the interface between the client and other BIM functions involved in the project and connects the building models of all other planners, specialized planners and engineers according to the BIM Processing Plan and Customer Information Requirements (AIA). In basic standards such as DIN EN ISO 19650, this model is also referred to as "spring", ie a coordinated and summarized model. The next task is to update the BIM processing plan and coordinate the models with the BIM manager.

BIM Manager: A BIM manager is typically assigned to a customer, and in collaboration with the customer, creates customer information requirements and advises on creating and sharing a common data environment (CDE). The BIM manager defines the BAP milestones (who needs to provide what, when and at what quality data?) And, if necessary, adjusts the BIM processes and BIM use cases. Granting and monitoring access permissions and processing permissions to the building model - the key word data security - is one of its tasks.

While the tasks of the BIM author, BIM coordinator, and overall BIM coordinator can be in one hand, the BIM manager should be separate in terms of staff. As the insurance industry now sees strong similarities to project management, this function for architects is usually not covered by professional indemnity insurance. In larger offices, the functions of authors and coordinators are usually divided into several arms. But an individual office can also fulfill all of these functions.

BIM user: A BIM user can be a craftsman working on a construction site, but also a customer who receives a commissioned data model and uses it for other applications such as building maintenance, rental or dismantling.

LIFE CYCLE CONSIDERATION: Like biological processes, the property of ry can usually be represented in a circular phase model. The phases start with planning and lead through implementation, to the operation phase of the property, and finally to demolition or possible revitalization. The duration and proportion of the phases throughout the property life cycle varies. For comparison, the classic HOAI service phases are also mentioned here.

Planning - Develop an idea and check the legal, technical and financial feasibility conditions (pre-design) - Develop a design with all technical contexts, up to planning that is ready for approval and feasible (design and approval plan) Data-driven service description or BIM model (implementation planning).

Building - Execution of a plan by commissioning real estate construction contractors (award). - Accompanying the implementation process with construction management to ensure customer objectives (construction management and accounting)

Operation - As the core of the life cycle, the use phase is by far the longest phase. It corresponds to the actual intended purpose of the property development. At this stage, investments made in the previous phases must be depreciated - This stage may be extended if the property has been renewed, refurbished or modernized in the meantime in terms of construction and building technology.

Dismantling / revitalization - demolition with recycling of residues or - revitalization in the process of degradation or modernization, depending on the degree of recycling of the existing resource or the size of the new investment.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CAD SOFTWARE AND BIM CAD SOFTWARE: Two or three dimensional representations such as lines, rectangles or circles in a CAD program cannot be evaluated as simple data for further processing. Only after adding additional information to the geometric shapes (attributions) do you specify what they represent and what the component should be. The BIM software prepares which attributes a given object should have and assigns to structures - mostly reserved - standard material and dimension values. Unlike CAD software, BIM software also allows you to determine the type and number of materials required and, when you add the appropriate data, calculate the price. This attribution creates a consistent building or data model. Some BIM support programs are most commonly used by architects, while others are also used by technical building services and structural engineers. In the case of the first mentioned programs, data exchange between all planners is difficult; for the latter programs, collaboration is usually easier due to less data loss when adopting appropriate models. The result of working with a functional BIM program are always parametrizable objects, links with alphanumeric information about the material, design and properties, as well as the structuring of buildings in the building structure, which can be further processed in other specialized models.

SERVICE DESCRIPTION: The “BIM Contract” requires a proper description of BIM related services. It is not enough just to give a general indication that BIM is to be used in planning. Because BIM describes the planning methodology in a comprehensive and overarching manner. From this, you can derive the individual processes and applications that are to be implemented in a specific project. They are also called BIM use cases. Existing technical publications and standards can be used to describe services. However, they should not be taken over without further reflection. In Germany, there are no generally accepted standards and a uniform understanding of BIM services yet. Therefore, the required services should be checked against the requirements of the future project, and the basis may be the service profile already proposed by BAK for real estate planning using BIM. Here, traditional HOAI service descriptions have been adapted to work digitally with BIM models. In addition, "special services" have been defined, which are not included in the HOAI-calculated rates in BIM projects. The service description is mainly designed in the Customer Information Requirements (AIA) and BIM Processing Plan (BAP). At AIA, when bidding for a service, the client describes the contractual requirements for the BIM processes. Here, first of all, the due results are defined. At BAP, the people involved in the project (contractor and client) jointly define in detail how these results are to be achieved after the conclusion of the contract. Here, the commonly agreed specifications for the individual work steps are documented.

CONTRACTUAL RULES: The architect's contract in a narrower sense is still based on classic bilateral exchange agreements. Agreements with other project participants will also not change significantly. However, it is advisable to take into account additional legal regulations regarding the use of BIM. They can be integrated into contracts as additional clauses uzule or included as a separate attachment, the so-called "Special Contractual Conditions" (BIM-BVB). In this way it is possible to regulate which digital planning bases are available to the architect. to what extent they should be taken into account and checked and who is responsible for their content. Liability limits for BIM-related services can be defined, in particular for the use of software, the use of component databases, and the transfer to other formats. There is also a need to regulate the legal quality and binding nature of contracts concluded at BAP, and special regulations may be required for coordination processes. Questions arise as to how these functions work, how are they supposed to be controlled and what kind of involvement are undertaken by third parties. As the digital design platform is generally used in BIM projects, its use must be regulated as well as the binding nature of the information exchanged through it. If necessary, BIM-specific services must also be considered separately when approving architectural services. Finally, clauses on copyright, usage rights and data protection should be foreseen. With regard to the examples above, it is true that not every aspect of every contractual relationship needs regulation. It depends on which BIM services are provided and to what extent BIM is integrated into the project. In particular, it also decides to what extent the data is actually exchanged directly with other project participants. BAK has also published guidelines for drafting contracts. (see "BIM for architects - performance, contract, remuneration", BAK).

When it comes to professional liability insurance, BIM projects require little effort. Current insurance solutions provide liability insurance for all services that are part of the architect's "scope of duties". If planning services are provided, the way in which they are delivered is not critical. Therefore, planning with BIM is also part of the job description and is insured. There is no need to adjust the insurance contract or even purchase additional policies. However, some insurance companies only offer an explanation in their contracts that the work is also insured using BIM. The limit of traditional insurance is only reached when services are taken over that are no longer covered by the professional profile of the archive. . Even if the professional concept is constantly evolving, there are tasks in the context of BIM that cannot be understood as typical architectural execution. This includes the operation of the digital design platform, the development of new software and especially some services that are now mostly summarized under the concept of BIM management. BIM management includes, for example, strategic consulting for the client on the use of BIM and the selection of BIM use cases, the creation of AIA and the ongoing review of BIM data for compliance with technical requirements. Such services do not fall within the normal scope of an architect's services and are therefore not covered by professional indemnity insurance without a separate contract. Something else is about coordinating planning services by combining specialized models. The coordination and integration of various planning disciplines is one of the core services of HOAI and the job description. This also applies when it is done in the form of several BIM models. Therefore, the BIM coordination, which should be understood in this way, is insured.

Sources:

[1] pixabay.com

[2] Bim for Architects - Implementation in the Office - Federal Chamber of Architects - BAK and the Federal Association of Architects' Chambers in cooperation with the North Rhine-Westphalia Chamber of Architects;

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