The next generation of design and management of a construction projects is upon us. The days of hauling and marking up 2D drawings is gone and the digital age of developing, reviewing, pricing, scheduling, and managing a project in a 3D environment is the new normal. Building Information Modeling (BIM) is the development of a project in a digital 3D environment that incorporates the physical and functional characteristics of a facility. While the technology is still being refined, the reduced cost and ease of use of these systems has made BIM a industry mainstay.
Aristeo has been involved with BIM projects for many years. Our steel division has used these integrated models to feed the automated equipment in our shop for fabrication. The Lima Engine Program has used BIM extensively to integrate the existing structure with the new mechanical and electrical systems to help avoid costly field rework while reducing the schedule.
The benefits of BIM to our customers are considerable. During the pre-construction phase it allows for a quick way to determine cost and schedule feasibility with various configurations to find the best value. The quality of the design is greatly improved and the visualization aspect allows key decisions to be made earlier in the process. As the model incorporates all of the trades, it compels early coordination that detects clashes of the various systems that can save up to 10% of the construction value due to reduced field changes.