Essay: Building Information Modeling (BIM)

Building Information Modeling (BIM) provides a new way of designing buildings and managing the design and construction processes. This method brings together geometry and non-geometrical information in a single data environment. BIM creates a virtual model of the building that can be exploited during the operational life of the building. BIM offers easier process for creation and completion of a project.
1). Background.
The Walkie Talkie building in London is formally known as the 20 Fenchurch Street. It is named the Walkie Talkie because of its design characteristics. The Walkie Talkie is a 34-storey building and is 160 m high (525ft). The building was built in 2010 and completed in spring 2014. Uruguayan architect Rafael Vi??oly designed the building. The upper three floors of the building are curved where the upper floors cost more because of its bigger space. The cost of the building was more than ??200 million and is the fifth-tallest building in the city of London. The Walkie Talkie has a large viewing deck with bars and restaurants in the upper three floors. The Walkie Talkie is a unique space and has been designed to create an open and exciting place of leisure, which offers the guests to experience London from a different viewpoint. The building gives the area a nice view due to the nature of the building that has a glazing fa??ade and a unique shape. Due to the unique nature of the Walkie Talkie building a complete rail-less system on a glass roof 160 meters above street level is installed. Materials were moved on the site when they are needed because of the space limit. Continual organization with crane and delivery teams was required to get the materials up to the roof.
The design of the Walkie Talkie is owned by (Land Securities Group Plc) and (Canary Wharf Group Plc). The building caused the sunlight to be focused on the building and causes public, statutory and private issues. It caused heat on the street below the building, which also led to melt cars. The Walkie Talkie opened a garden inside the building in the upper three floors due to its design characteristics. The Sky Garden (Walkie Talkie) has a great view across the city of London in the upper three floors. Assisted by two fast lifts for visitors to arrive to a beautiful landscaped garden with a viewing area, terrace, caf??, bar and restaurant inside the building. The building was designed to meet the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology (BREEAM). The building has low carbon technologies with a natural gas fuel cell and photo voltaic cells in its fa??ade. The building’s exterior has double- and triple-glazed glass and aluminum cladding to allow the building for a better chance to combine into its surrounding, although its size and unconventional shape, by reflecting the atmosphere and periodic light changes within its glazing. The glass of the fa??ade makes a strong view across London. (Como), which is the devoted commercial office prepared a provider under the company (Mace) that has been chosen by Liberty Specialty Markets as a project team to provide the Walkie Talkie building. The Liberty Specialty Markets is a new process made by combining the company’s Lloyd’s Syndicate, Liberty Mutual Insurance Europe and U.S.-based Liberty Mutual Reinsurance.
2). Mission of BIM system for the 20, Fenchurch Street (Walkie Talkie building).
The BIM (Building Information Modeling) is a process connecting the creation and organization of digital representations of physical and functional features of places, buildings and projects. BIM is used for projects and offers visualization for the constructors by producing the whole project on different software’s. The main role of BIM for project is that it visualizes the project to the clients and constructors of the project. BIM (Building Information Modeling) is the method enabling every single person involved in the construction of the project understanding the building by using a digital model. By modeling the building in digital systems enables the involved project team to improve their engagements to result a greater communication. BIM system is a method of working and information modeling and information management in a team where all the team members are working to the same standards.
BIM is used on the Walkie Talkie building to ensure the building is spaced efficient. The 4D model in BIM is a series of 3D shape models and it allows the project team representing live and time proceedings to calculate lifecycles and spaces of the project. BIM is used on the Walkie Talkie building to have site logistics and roads that are strategic constructed. BIM is used to construct the project with less physical work. It ensures that the project team involved understands the challenges of the project greatly and easily. The use of the 4D model and BIM allows the involved team not appearing on site continuously and challenge the issues practically. BIM changes and extract material quantities automatically when any changes are made in the model. BIM create material ordering, fabrication, and delivery programs for all components of the Walkie Talkie building. BIM models are created to scale in 3D space and all major systems can be visually checked for improvements. BIM is used on the Walkie Talkie building to achieve a well-timed project constructing and designing the Walkie Talkie building accurately without construction disruptions. The cconstruction processes will be organized without delaying or awaiting other processes to be completed by allowing team members to inform each other in case of any additions o changes to the project.
3). BIM software to every Professional discipline in the Walkie Talkie building.
Different BIM software’s are used for the Walkie Talkie building by different professional disciplines. (See Appendix 1)
4). Similar BIM cases as the Walkie Talkie building.
Similar BIM cases to the 20, Fenchurch Street (Walkie Talkie building) is the 240 BLACKFRIARS, LONDON. The 240 Blackfriars tower developer Great Portland Estates decided and aimed for a higher BREEAM rating to fascinate tenants with placing a greater demands on the environmental performance. To balance the cost allowing a higher energy performance and to organize the improved MEP design the client Great Portland Estates decided to use BIM on the 240 Blackfriars tower. Mace is the contractor of the project and they tendered for the project in mid-2011 after BIM was thrown down in the Government Construction Strategy. AHMM Architects of the 240 Blackfairs tower created an advanced package of 2D information. BIM specialist and technologist were chosen by Mace to convert the 2D information into a 3D design model, and then integrate it with structural and MEP models from Structural Engineer AKTII. The models were brought together using Autodesk Navisworks, and the resulting combined model was then used in all design team meetings and for design coordination like the Walkie Talkie building. It was required to assemble a plant room in a complex structure 100 m of the ground to use the 3D model to prepare the build process with the design and construction teams and subcontractors.
Another similar BIM case to the Walkie Talkie building is the 5, Churchill Place building. Designed by HOK International Ltd. the clients and the contractors of the 5,Churchill Place building are the Canary Wharf Group. The 5, Churchill Place building has a very similar BIM case as the 20, Fenchurch Street building. The 5,Churchill Place building is developed by HOK used BIM in a combined method with the design team. They have created a single project environment to support full coordination as quick as possible in the design process. The building was designed to achieve a BRE Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM), rating of excellent, and the computability of the design data similar to the Walkie Talkie building. The use of BIM for the building provided the design program for concept design. This enabled a better communication and understanding of what the team members where working on and how the building would be constructed. BIM also ensured the delivering of the design drawing be on time and organized up to date. Revit enabled the project to be finished on time and a great budget. The details produced for the building were coordinated callout views from the virtual building model. These views were placed than on sheets after. Working with the model as a background enabled the detailer to know the exactness profile of which elements need to be improved. The use of the 3D views helped to interrogate more details and constructs. The architectural model was used as background information for the structural concrete, steelwork and analysis model to demonstrate the structural engineer’s design. The sharing of the model data and the ease of interoperability improved the workflow coordination.
5). Feasible BIM system and it’s advantages.
Bentley RAM, STAAD and ProSteel are recommended to be use on the Walkie Talkie building by the Structural Engineers and the fabricators to carry out the work designed by the Structural Engineers. The Structural Engineers involved on the Walkie Talkie building are responsible for the steelwork of the building producing more work in less time using separated workflow to make faster profit by using Bentley RAM, STAAD and ProSteel. The structure of the Walkie Talkie building is structured in a way that won’t deflect, rotate, vibrate exceptionally or collapse to remain stable and safe during its use. The Structural Engineers combining analysis, design, documentation and detailing increases output by using Bentley RAM, STAAD and ProSteel on the Walkie Talkie building. The Bentley RAM, STAAD and ProSteel is recommended for the Walkie Talkie building because it offers a wide-ranging of structural products anywhere for the Walke Talkie Structural Engineers. This allows a smooth workflow of analysis, design, detailing, documentation, plant, and civil applications for the Walkie Talkie building by the Structural Engineers. Also this BIM software has the most wide-ranging structural software portfolio offering post-tensioned slab and mat design, reinforced concrete design, steel connection and more other compacts, which offers more work in less time for the Structural Engineers allowing them designing the structures of the Walkie Talkie building impressively with great time management and expenditures savings.
Digital Project MEP System Routing is recommended to be use on the Walkie Talkie building by the MEP system Engineers. The MEP System Engineers involved on the Walkie Talkie building clarifying Owner, Architect, and the Contractors of the Walkie Talkie building the lifecycle of the Walkie Talkie building by using the Digital Project MEP System Routing. They establishing the project requirements and the client needs by using the Digital Project MEP System Routing to offer a better understanding for the Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing design of the Walkie Talkie building. The Digital Project MEP System Routing is recommended for the Walkie Talkie building MEP Engineers because it allows MEP system Engineers to improve Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (MEP) designs in environmental and 3D situation, which avoid design clashes for the Walkie Talkie building. Digital Project MEP System Routing allows MEP Engineers to reserve space needed for functional and detail layouts of Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing (MEP) of the Walkie Talkie building.
Bentley Power Civil is recommended to be use on the Walkie Talkie building by the Civil Engineers. The Civil Engineers of the Walkie Talkie building measuring the environmental impact and risks related to the building surveying with the use of Bentley Power Civil, which allows them to manage, leading and observing development during each stage of the Walkie Talkie building. The Bentley Power Civil is recommended for the Walkie Talkie building Civil Engineers because is leads to civil solutions in one combined multidiscipline product for survey, site organizing, water and sewer, storm drainage, and street design, which reduces errors and ensures accurate designs improving the constructability of the Walkie Talkie building. It discovers site legal guidelines, and health and safety requirements avoiding unexpected struggles for the site of the Walkie Talkie building.
Bentley Architecture is recommended to be use on the Walkie Talkie building by the Architects with the cooperation of the contractors. The Architects involved on the Walkie Talkie producing sharing ideas with the contractors and the project budgets for calculating the needs of the building by using Bentley Architecture. They undertaking the site selection of the Walkie Talkie building and ensuring the work is carried out to specific standards and is sustainable by using Bentley Architecture. The Bentley Architecture is recommended for the Walkie Talkie building Architects because it allows the Architects creating with unlimited liberty to discover more design options for a better design decision and to forecast cost and performance. The design and construction documents will be automatically matched and rejecting errors and omissions allowing Architects delivering buildings on time and in low-cost, to improve client services and increasing income benefits of the Walkie Talkie building. Bentley Architecture provides smooth combination between design, engineering, analysis, construction, and processes for the lifecycle of facilities, which supports multi-disciplinary workgroups in a managed environment for better communication like the Walkie Talkie building case.
Bentley Facilities is recommended to be use on the Walkie Talkie building by the Facility Managers. The Facility Managers involved on the Walkie Talkie building organizing the project environment for every member involved in the project team of the Walkie Talkie building by using Bentley Facilities. The Facility Managers of the Walkie Talkie reducing the cost and increasing the productivity improving the Walkie Talkie project and achieving all building requirements, preparing the documents of the project and setting the tender for the contractor by using Bentley Facilities. The Bentley Facilities is recommended for the Walkie Talkie building because it allows the Facility Managers of the Walkie Talkie building supporting the management of organizational spaces, corporate assets, and facility-related documents, which offers the best timings and budgets to construct the Walkie Talkie building. The Bentley Facilities also solves disorganized workflows between owner and the sub-contractor to enhance the communication between the team members involved in the Walkie Talkie building project.
CostX is recommended to be use on the Walkie Talkie building by the Quantity Surveyors. The Quantity Surveyors involved on the Walkie Talkie building preparing tenders and contracting the documentation, which including the bills of quantities with the Architects and clients of the Walkie Talkie building by using CostX to establish the Architects and clients requirements and undertaken feasibility studies of the Walkie Talkie building. The Quantity Surveyors minimizing the cost of the Walkie Talkie building achieving required standards and quality for the Walkie Talkie building by keeping track of any changes to the contract by using CostX, which allows to show the profitability of the Walkie Talkie building. CostX is recommended for the Quantity Surveyors of the Walkie Talkie building because it provides a single environment to capture dimensions, developing feasibility studies and producing full Bills of Quantities, which present a highly professional presentation quality for the Walkie Talkie building. Also CostX is able having live links, which allows changes of project drawings automatically be reproduced in the costing and quantities of the whole project, which allowing Quantity Surveyors of the Walkie Talkie building doing less work.