CLARIFY THE MISSION

Every construction project is unique and working with BIM Coordination is no different. The project teams are going to have different desired outcomes with various expectations and goals. Start by asking, “What does a successful BIM project look like for you?” The answer to this will vary based on the company, experience, and expertise, but understanding the teams you are working with will allow you to clearly define the mission.

DEFINE Model Development EXPECTATIONS

The level of coordination required on a project will vary based on numerous factors; the size and type of building, materials and installation methods, contract styles and schedules, model and coordination capabilities, or the technology available on and off site. Whether 2D, 3D, 4D, 5D, 6D, or (we’ll stop there) tilt-up or precast, layout or prefab, high-rise or hospital. The BIM plan needs to adapt to the tools, capabilities, and needs of the project. Know what is necessary to be successful, discover what is available, and define what is required to ensure everyone has the information they need.

OUTLINE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

In any construction project there are multiple teams from different cultures and disciplines coming together to collaborate. Each of these disciplines is like parts of a body with different skills, knowledge, and experience. Each team needs to understand what is provided and what is required. Define expectations such as Level of Development (LOD), milestone deliverables, coordination engagement, and hierarchy. Don’t forget to outline how these expectations will be measured and verified for group accountability.

ESTABLISH SHARED DOCUMENTS

This is the one area where most BIM projects create either efficiency or headaches. I’ve seen too many BIM projects managed as if having a location to store the files is enough; such as an FTP or cloud-based file storage. The issue is not in using these sites, as they are critical to the success in sharing large amounts of information. The problem occurs when these sites are un-managed, setup inefficiently, or are not the right tool to create a lean and open shared platform. When this occurs, the shared document site can quickly become a digital landfill where one could get lost looking for the right information and no file version can be trusted. The key to setting up shared document sites is planning for efficiency and security through syncing, versioning, and access control.

OPTIMIZE WORKFLOW

In the “old ways” of doing business, project data and documents flow linearly from one project team to another. It worked great with paper-based communication, but that method does not adapt to the evolution of connectivity and technology we have today. The software systems that were developed based on these old workflows have proven to require massive amounts of data entry and the collaboration happens outside of the system. Projects must adopt an Integrated Project Collaboration philosophy allowing all the project participants to work within the same environment. In real time, solutions are discussed and documented as if everyone was in the same room. Similar to the tools available for sharing digital data and documents, there are many tools available to optimize the workflow in coordination. Establish the workflow in the execution plan and create the guidelines for the software tools to be used.

BIM TO THE FIELD

Once all the coordination is complete and the team is confident the building can be put together without any conflicts…what comes next? For starters, everyone must agree to the routing and model elements used for coordination. Secondly, accountability must be established among the design and construction teams. The agreement is typically completed through a sign-off procedure and is most effective when accomplished before shop drawing approvals. Last, it is critical to ensure that the layout and content of the model transfer to the field. Since 2D drawings are still most prevalent, field and design drawings need to be produced directly from the coordinated models. Technology such as cloud-based models, augmented reality and virtual reality are rapidly growing making this process simpler and more effective.

KNOW THE END GAME

Some of the most valuable, or costly, aspects of BIM lie with the use of the building models and data after construction is complete. An effective execution plan will account and plan for how the models and data will be optimized throughout the life-cycle of the building. With more and more data being incorporated into the models, each team from design through construction can significantly affect the quality of the information provided to the facility management teams. Have the conversation early and make sure the design and construction teams know their part in the process.

BONUS:

Keep it simple. Keep iT Specific. Keep it Fluid.