The GC's Summer Reading List for 5D BIM
Posted by Holly Allison on Wed, Jul 13, 2011 @ 09:28 AM
Did your kids come home from the last day of school with a letter from their next teacher listing the books they need to read over the Summer? As a good parent, you promptly extracted that list from the bookbag and posted in front and center on the refrigerator trying to make sure these books are spread out over the Summer months and not crammed into the last days of August. You even warned your children about the crazy calculus professor you had in college who wanted chapters 1 through 5 read and the exercises turned in on the first day of class.
Well, we wish we could escape these lists, but even as adults, we need to become expert in several areas – especially those that impact our careers and business profitability. We always reference the quote from page 24 of the last McGraw-Hill BIM SmartMarket Report, “Your career and the prosperity of your company depend on becoming familiar with the tools, processes, and value propositions of BIM.”
So we’ve come up with the Summer Reading List for 5D BIM – a collection of the most popular articles from our executives and product managers. Each week 1,200 AEC/O professionals read these articles and comment on them – making the pieces come alive with real-world experiences and anecdotes.
Work your way through the lists with your team to get lively discussions going. Instead of genres, we’re using functional departments and roles to divide the subject matter. So we have reading lists for your BIM Task Force, the Estimating Team, Scheduling Team, Coordination Team, and the Executive Team. Be sure to post your comments and engage directly with the authors. And we promise, no book reports are due in September.
For the BIM Task Force…
5 Pieces of Advice for GCs Considering BIM
Many GCs come to Vico for advice on how to get started with BIM. Here are 5 recommendations for new BIM departments and their managers.
10 Things Every BIM Manager Should Know
It’s a great time to be a BIM Manager in construction. It’s a chance to combine your love of building with the latest technology and Lean methodologies. You get to carve out strategy and help everyone with the tools that they need to win new business and successfully execute profitable projects.
Why You Need an MPS for EVERY BIM Project
The MPS is a protocol for bringing information together from all the design disciplines, estimating, and scheduling. It ensures each team member knows what he needs to produce, at what point and at what level of detail and can plan accordingly.
What Can Be Done to Improve BIM Model Fidelity?
There are several ways to dramatically improve model fidelity issues in a BIM construction project: use the model progression specification (MPS); employ reputable 3D modeling services; utilize the Vico 5D Standard Library and Warehouse; take advantage of Vico Office features to override poor model quality. The end goal are BIM models suitable for construction: 5D estimating, 4D scheduling, and 3D constructability.
Top 10 Reasons to Do 5D BIM
There are at least ten reasons to deploy BIM across the enterprise. Our customers are exploiting their capabilities with 5D BIM to win new business.
Manage What You Can Control
What can GCs do to weather the current economic crisis? The answer fits on one powerpoint slide: manage what you can control, focus on quality, lower risk, reduce debt. A well-executed BIM strategy delivers on 3 of the 4 and is a powerful way to differentiate your firm with technology.
Planning Work Phases for a VDC Project with the Model Progression Specification
This article examines three examples of general contractors and owners implementing the Content Plan and Model Progression Specification.
Does the Commercial Construction Market Need the BIM SAT’s?
There is a lot of BIM-Washing going on on bid day. Is your firm “the genuine article” or just “a poser”? Perhaps we as an industry should require certification, or at least the SAT’s for BIM.
Go Deep with Vico
Some GCs only scratch the surface with BIM. They don’t realize that 5D BIM is used to win the deal, do clash detection and coordination, construction-caliber quantity takeoff, location-based scheduling, and iterative cost planning. Go deep with Vico’s series of executive workshops, video training series, and comprehensive product FAQs.
One Model or Many?
Why should an owner pay a GC to build a model if the architect has already provided one? What is the difference between a design-intent model and a means and methods model?
What Role Do YOU Play in the BIM Strategy?
Each department in a General Contractor firm plays a significant role in making 5D BIM successful. These departments, from the preconstruction team to the operations team, have resources to help them succeed and thrive with BIM.
The Top 10 Ways to Derail Your BIM Project
Construction firms can be their own biggest enemy when trying to implement BIM without considering process change, training, and even the right personnel. It's easy to believe that BIM is as easy clicking a mouse, but true 5D BIM deliverables, success, ROI, and winning new business comes from good leadership and vision.
For the Scheduling Team…
Location-Based Management for Construction
Yes, we did write the book on it! This college text compares and contrasts traditional CPM and activity-based scheduling with location-based scheduling. The book also highlights the popularity of location-based management projects around the world: from the Kamppi Center in Helsinki to the Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo, California.
Reduce Project Risk with Location-Based Schedules
Location-based management systems promotes the early resolution of scheduling conflicts and the reconciliation of assumptions which decrease the risk level of the building project.
The Benefits of Combining LBMS and LPS
Both Location-Based Management System and Last Planner System espouse lean construction tenets like pull scheduling, eliminating waste, and de-risking construction schedules. LBMS is very quantitative and based on mathematical equations involving quantities, locations, crew sizes, and productivity rates. LPS is very social and collaborative, relying on teamwork and commitments.
By combining the rigorous scientific quantifications of LBMS with the collaborative, qualitative process of Last Planner, GCs receive a comprehensive planning, scheduling, and controlling solution. The benefits of lower schedule risk and 10% schedule compression have been well-documented.
Location-Based Management from the Owner’s Point of View
Owners want to get bottom-line ROI from BIM and production management systems. CPM scheduling methods fall short as they do not account for quantities, resources, and rates.
Why Construction-Caliber Quantities Matter
It is important to recognize differences between scientific BIM and Hollywood BIM. One key difference is the use of construction-caliber quantities to inform the schedule, the sequencing, and the estimate. By treating durations as a calculation, not a best guess, we can build better construction schedule and manage to them on-site with production control.
Scheduling with Lean Construction Principles
Location-based management and Vico scheduling solutions are synonymous with the lean construction principals of pull systems. The best advantage is forecasting when conflicts will occur and adjusting crew size and productivity as necessary.
The Benefits of Location-Based Management over CPM
Location-based management system is built specifically for construction planning and controlling. This means the quantitative analysis of construction-caliber quantities, locations, and crew productivity for true 4D BIM.
Location-Based Management – A Year in Review
Many people know that LBMS is being aggressively implemented on large hospital projects in California. This blog post summarizes a year of learning, best practices, and take-aways from this construction scheduling and controlling work.
4 Best Practices for Schedule Simulation Movies
GCs have 4 audiences for 4D BIM scheduling movies: the Owner, the subs before buyout, the subs in the trailer, and utilizing look-ahead schedule to solve issues before they manifest themselves. So it is imperative that the schedule, optimized with flowline, be based on quantities by location and crew productivity rates.
The Danger of Using Parallel Processes with Virtual Construction
In a virtual construction environment, the most dangerous course is to run parallel estimating and scheduling exercises. This keeps teams at odds and the owner ends up paying twice.
10 Reasons Why Project Managers Should Champion BIM
Project Managers have a lot to gain from 5D BIM: better management of subs and optimizing Owner satisfaction with cash flow reports, work in place reports, look ahead schedules, and even earned value analyses.
Why a 4D Schedule Must Be More than a Movie
The 4D schedule derives quantities from the BIM geometry. These quantities per location are paired with productivity rates and means and methods and budget constraints to create the optimized schedule.
For the Estimating Team…
The Benefits of Cost Planning Versus Estimating
Traditional estimating can be a time-consuming process that involves multiple interations. Cost planning naturally evolves the estimate as the design changes highlighting cost variances for the project stakeholders.
Does BIM Mean Estimators Are Out of a Job?
Model-based estimating does not mean that estimators need to learn how to model or can be easily replaced with a few lines of computer code. It simply means learning how to work with model-derived quantities.
There Is No Easy Button for BIM Quantity Takeoff
As 5D BIM becomes prevalent in the market, many people believe that you simply push a button to get quantities. However, construction-caliber quantities require properly assigned polygons - either from the geometry or manually painted by the Estimator.
Why 5D Comes before 4D in Vico Office
While the construction industry counts 3D-4D-5D BIM, Vico does it differently. Because of the tight integration between the Estimator and the Scheduler’s workflows, we count 3D-5D-4D. The Estimator’s components and assemblies are linked to the Scheduler’s productivity rates by Task Manager. This way our quantities per location divided by productivity rates equals durations!
When Estimators Block BIM
Instead of just estimating an accurate GMP, Estimators are now required to provide information which is used by the scheduler to build and optimize the schedule, and by the site guys to buy out the project and to control production. The resistance typically manifests itself as downplaying the importance of detailed cost data, and emphasizing the risk of showing model quantities to subcontractors.
Doing Your First Model-Based Estimate
Model-based estimating is a gradual, but rapid, cost planning exercise. As the level of detail increases for particular elements, its estimate grows more precise.
The Role That Level of Detail Plays in Your BIM Estimate
5D BIM utilizes the 3D model geometry and properties from which construction-caliber quantities can be derived. These quantities are then organized by location for scheduling and priced for the cost plan. But the 3D model needs to be at the proper level of detail for the elements being analyzed.
For the Coordination Team…
3D Modeling and Real-Time Coordination
The Vico Services Team has worked on amazing projects all over the world. In our experience, virtual mock ups really help the Owner and occupants design better buildings. This case study describes how doctors and nurses worked with us towards a goal of no change orders on the project.
All BIM Modeling Services Are Not Created Equally
3D models are great for visualization; but the real value of BIM is when the model serves as your what-if answer generator. 3D Modeling services should include geometry, quantities, locations, constructability reports, schedules, and estimates.
Clash Detection and Coordination in a 5D BIM World
Clash detection and coordination can occur in 2D, 3D, and even 4D BIM. Vico Services has designed four coordination offerings (in addition to our standard coordination resolution service) to address these needs: design-intent coordination, 2D drawings change reports, coordination drawing sets, and virtual mock-ups.
Rethinking 3D BIM Coordination
Can traditional clash detection be improved? Yes, with coordination resolution and a system priority structure for MEP that gets subs involved early.
Coordination Resolution – 40% Faster than Traditional Clash Detection
Vico Services has developed the 2D-3D-4D coordination resolution process which decreases the time spent on clash detection by 40%, while still maintaining the goal of zero change orders.
For the Executive Team…
HR Alternatives for BIM
Vico offers several options to help GCs develop a deep BIM bench: project engineers, onsite project managers, modeling teams on retainer, and even certifying current staff on Vico Services’ Six Sigma virtual construction best practices.
Can You Say Change 24 Times?
5D Virtual Construction does require significant change but there is real reward. Leaders can point to project costs avoided, fewer reactive RFI’s, compressed project schedules, and a genuinely collaborative process that delivers a superior owner experience. They can also point to better performance in recruiting top talent and higher employee morale even with today’s torrid work pace. Perhaps most importantly, these leading firms are winning the projects they want to win; easily differentiating themselves from those builders who have yet to embrace this change.
BIM Doesn’t Come in a Box
Buying some modeling software, some clash detection software, and hiring a recent CM graduate to use them just isn’t a viable BIM strategy. True BIM adoption takes guts to change the status quo.
The Benefits of 5D BIM for Builders
When all is said and done about 5D BIM and virtual construction, the holy grail is to be able to sit in front of the owner and say: I can tell you pretty confidently what that is going to do to the project. And to have everybody else in the room understand why you are concluding that and know where your numbers came from and agree to it.
Why Integrating Virtual Construction Matters to the CIO
CIOs hold the key to successfully deploying 5D BIM across their organization. With Vico’s leveraged integration, a change to the model automatically changes the cost and schedule. Creating models does not involve an IT strategy, but seamlessly connecting all departments using BIM as the enabling technology is – and that’s a powerful advantage for the company brand.
Today’s Construction Market Challenges
This frank discussion of the current construction economy was excerpted from the Vico Unplugged webinar. We examine the many shades of BIM available for general contractors in today’s commercial construction market and how Vico’s software and services department has responded to help GCs.
5D BIM Versus 50-Yard-Line Tickets
Construction firms have a choice: the can differentiate themselves with 50-yard line tickets or 5D BIM. While Owners might like the game, they will love the scientific rigor with which their project is managed.
Does the Commercial Construction Market Need the BIM SAT’s?
There is a lot of BIM-Washing going on on bid day. Is your firm “the genuine article” or just “a poser”? Perhaps we as an industry should require certification, or at least the SAT’s for BIM.
Get on the BIM Path
“Going BIM” is more than models. True 5D BIM means creating a live model that help you deliver data-driven answers to every question that arises from project conception through completion. Vico offers a series of executive workshops to keep your firm on the BIM Path.
What Can We Learn from Other Disruptive Technologies?
The disruptive technology in the American Revolution was the long rifle. In today’s commercial construction market, 5D BIM is the game changer.
Resistance to Change in 5D BIM Implementations
Implementing 5D BIM invariably encounters resistance to change. This blog entry recounts typical objections from schedulers and planners used to CPM methodologies.
One Model or Many?
Why should an owner pay a GC to build a model if the architect has already provided one? What is the difference between a design-intent model and a means and methods model?
Isn’t It Time to “Walk the Walk” with BIM?
What is the #1 reason to use BIM? To win more work. Plain and simple. But with so many GCs putting models on a computer screen, how can you differentiate 5D BIM to an Owner? You have to learn to “walk the walk” and make BIM capabilities a priority in your firm.
We will be posting "extra credit" resources for each of the departments, so please check back. And for those of you who would rather watch the movie than read the article, we do have webinars that can be substituted. We also offer a step-by-step guide to our 5D virtual construction workflow with video tutorials. These videos are just 2-5 minutes in length, but illustrate how to use a particular piece of functionality. You can access the video library index and view just what you need, or download the complete set of training videos. We have training videos for Estimators, Schedulers, Supers, and anyone who does CM Reporting.
Please be sure to add your recommendations in the Comments Section below.
Happy Reading from Team Vico!