What is BIM?

Posted by Ideal Modular Homes on 6th November 2020 -

Technology is rapidly changing the way we work but as with modular and offsite construction, the construction industry has been slow in the uptake of digital processes and innovation. Construction needs to find a way to keep up, especially with the pandemic. 

Covid-19 has pushed digital transformation with organisations trying to catch up on projects that halted or slowed down since March. There are also numerous gaps in which digitalisation can address such as project planning, communication and coordination of workers and stakeholders.

One of the biggest innovations changing the industry is BIM. BIM, or Building Information Modelling, is the 3D model-based process of creating and managing information digitally across a construction projects’ life cycle. Across the industry it’s becoming instrumental in ensuring the planning, design and construction of a project is collaborative and more productive. 

Traditionally, communication has been known to be lacking down to the amount of stakeholders involved in the lifetime of a project, and decision making can be slow with the amount of people approval needs to go through. BIM for construction is used to create and share the right information, at the right time, throughout the design, construction and operation of a project improving efficiency and decision making. 

BIM facilitates a highly collaborative process where every element of a project is detailed in one shared model. Highly visual, this model can be used in analysis to explore various design options and to create visualisations to help all stakeholders understand the building concept. The model is then used to generate the design documentation for final construction. 

Another of the benefits of using BIM is the ability to find issues that may cause a problem further on in the process, bringing about cost efficiencies and eliminating the risk for costly oversights. Everything is planned in advance and projected for ensuring projects can run on time and smoothly. With an increased move to remote working, cloud-based platforms like BIM also support safer working for all those involved. Data and documentation can be accessed anywhere, at any time, providing you have an internet connection, eliminating the need for numerous face to face meetings. 

We operate a paperless factory, where all information is communicated through our bespoke digital system, the digital process is maintained throughout Design - Manufacture - Install and is available at client sign-off. This transparent system allows clear collaboration with external industry professionals, supply chain and clients. Our bespoke volumetric manufacturing system, combined with the successful utilisation of BIM, has created an unrivalled system for collaborative home-building based on sustainability, speed, quality, value and style. 

The benefits of BIM in construction are vast, from efficient planning and decision making to analysis and forecasting, we’re seeing more and more businesses starting to embrace digitalisation through BIM. In construction, it can innovate the industry and try and address some of the issues caused by the pandemic.