The difference between using traditional 2D models to build compared with using building information modeling is simple, says a subcontractor involved with Miller Children’s Hospital patient tower project.
BIM provides better constructability, higher efficiency and, in the end, increased productivity, says Jim Bratton with Dynalectric, a subcontractor on the hospital project.
“If a picture is worth a thousand words, a model is worth millions,” Bratton adds.
Bratton was one of a panel of professionals who spoke and gave behind-the scenes insight regarding the Miller Children’s hospital patient tower addition during the Turner Logistics Conference held in Long Beach in June.
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Begun in late 2006, the $86 million hospital tower is expected to be finished in spring 2009 and is using BIM technologies.
The use of BIM on the project has resulted in better communication, more deadlines met and fewer conflicts on the project.
The BIM process has also made it easier for the contractor, subcontractors, architects and owners, as well.
For owners, BIM reduces cost because there are fewer change orders, lowers liability and creates a 3D record of the project, says Noah Boro, project engineer for Turner Construction, general contractor on the Miller Children’s hospital addition.
“It’s a particular interest of a lot of health care clients who have hundreds and hundreds of smoke detectors and valves and everything else that they have above the ceiling that they have to maintain,” Boro says.
Design firm TAYLOR was moving into using BIM on other projects when the Miller Children’s hospital project arose, says Mike McLane, principal with the firm.
TAYLOR was eager to work in BIM on this project, he adds.
Building Information Modeling Goes Mainstream
“Having the ability to do it in three dimensions instead of two dimensions is just a natural part of the process,” McLane says. “It really is a great way to do it.”
One of the benefits of using BIM on this project was the design team could access 3D models of the project either on site or in the office, McLane says. He describes situations where the architects would be called about a problem and they could adjust the model, say by moving ceiling heights or walls just a little bit, to solve it.
“Working as a team and working in three dimensions, you're able to resolve the issues much quicker,” McLane said.
From the contractor’s perspective, the BIM model has helped the Miller project team identified potential clashes, Boro says. For example, one potential clash between seismic bracing and ductwork was eliminated easily within three hours compared to the weeks it would take if the problem was not noticed earlier in the construction phase, he says.
The BIM model also helped eliminate problems in complex building environments, such as radiology and operating rooms where a number of different installations are needed, including light fixtures, filters and steel supports for operating booms, Boro says.
Building Information Modeling Goes Mainstream
“Being able to do essentially a virtual mock up of these spaces is very beneficial in terms of coordinating them and being able to install them in the field efficiently,” he says.
Clashes are also eliminated because there is a sequenced installation process where everything is coordinated through the model, Boro says.
“There’s no ‘Well, let me wait until this person does this so I can see where I need to go,’” he says.
Bratton says the benefits of BIM for subcontractors are many, including constructability, fewer clashes and, importantly, more prefabrication.
“The more we can pre-fab, the faster that we can work, the less time spent on the job handling material,” Bratton says.
Dynalectric has measured some of the benefits of using BIM and is seeing productivity increases as much as 30% on some projects, he says.