The entire process engineering consulting team should actively benchmark against leading international enterprises and projects in terms of technology. Embracing new technologies such as BIM, big data, digital engineering, and intelligent systems is essential to enhance project management efficiency, reduce waste, and cut costs. Implementing BIM technology can elevate service quality and economic benefits across all consulting units. He Guanpei categorizes BIM software into two groups: those for creating BIM models and those for utilizing them. Building on this classification, this article summarizes and analyzes the functions and advantages of using BIM models in managing engineering project information, starting from model creation.
BIM model creation relies heavily on popular, representative software like Revit and Bentley, known for their excellent data exchange compatibility. These tools provide a solid model foundation for various analysis software, including scheduling, construction quality management, and cost management, enabling one-time modeling with multi-channel applications. Additionally, software such as Guanglian Da and Luban not only import external models for analysis but also offer strong modeling capabilities themselves.
During the project initiation and decision-making phase, BIM models assist with architectural planning, concept demonstrations, building performance evaluations, site analysis, as well as sunlight and skyline studies, boosting the efficiency of information processing. Using techniques like animation and walkthroughs to present BIM models and their analysis results offers a more intuitive, three-dimensional experience, which is particularly beneficial for owner presentations and design demonstrations. Furthermore, integrating BIM with information technologies like GIS and GPS facilitates efficient early data collection, organizes complex and scattered information effectively, supports risk prediction and decision-making, and helps develop optimal investment plans.
In the stages of surveying, design, and bidding procurement, BIM models enable visual and collaborative design, pipeline integration, clash detection, quantity takeoff, cost estimation, and calculations. These capabilities enhance designers’ information processing skills, speeding up calculations while improving accuracy. BIM also supports real-time multidisciplinary information sharing, making communication and collaboration significantly more efficient.
During construction, installation, and final acceptance phases, BIM technology mainly supports on-site management, construction plan simulation, progress tracking, material tracking, digital construction, site supervision, and delivery of as-built models. This accelerates the collection and processing of construction information, assists managers in real-time monitoring of site activities, helps prevent and resolve engineering issues, and reduces construction errors and costly trial-and-error.
In the operational management phase, BIM models assist owners with maintenance planning, building performance analysis, asset and space management, building system analysis, disaster emergency simulations, and more. Leveraging pre-project information and utilizing models and data generated during design and construction enhances everyday maintenance and management tasks. When problems arise, 3D monitoring models help managers quickly develop solutions and trace responsibility based on recorded information.
Beyond addressing specific needs at various project stages, BIM’s diverse functions enable comprehensive information management throughout the entire project lifecycle. For cost management, BIM’s capabilities—such as quantity takeoff and financial calculations—allow tracking of quantities and pricing information from the investment budget stage through design estimates, construction drawing budgets, bidding controls, change orders, claims, settlements, and final project evaluation.
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