Building Information Modeling (BIM) is one of the key concepts required for successful information management throughout the project. BIM works as the center of the design phase and is a must for any construction design practitioner. Besides of being important for the design disciplines, it’s an enabler for quick creation and uniformity of data for the rest of the construction project.
Some enthusiastics claim that the centralized data storage in the BIM model will solve the problems for the whole industry. Unfortunately, this is not the case.
BIM model can be used effectively where there is a need for visual-centric data, ie. during the design, at site for viewing the design and reporting progress, visual management reporting etc. The list is long and very impressive.
In addition to BIM, there are needs for number-centric data as well. And that data needs to be refined for various purposes. There is a fairly recent concept called Quantity Information Management (QIM), that uses BIM models to extract design data intelligently and then turn it into construction (production) quantities. The quantity system enables further use of quantities for costing, scheduling, procurement and logistics.
The data produced by QIM system is just not available from BIM. Thus, QIM complements BIM perfectly.
As a conclusion, there is a need for both BIM and QIM in a construction project. The simplified rule of thumb is “BIM for pictures, QIM for numbers”.
(And yes, you need much more than that)
Filed under: Construction Design, Construction Project Management, Construction Quantity Surveying, Construction Scheduling | Tagged: BIM, building information modeling, costing, QIM, quantity information management, quantity surveying, scheduling
Janne Saarikko
Teppo Grén
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“BIM for pictures, QIM for Numbers”. I agree that BIM is not enough, but disagree with “BIM for pictures”, if that was the case our previous technologies were good enough. I understand, BIM is very capable of generating metadata (non-picture) also. Although, BIMs today ‘may not be’ experts at it, it relies on QIM for perfection.
advanirajesh,
I agree with you, completely.
I just wanted to make this “pictures” provoking simplification because with BIM is considered by many as the ultimate solution to all construction information management problems.
As far as I can see BIM always requires a graphical presentation. Accounting and procurement people are not most effective digging tendering information from a BIM model. They rather have a dull but functional list refined for their purposes.
This is a never-ending discussion, which should continue.
Revit already does the estimating portion for you and scheduling if im not mistaken.
Exactly what are the lacking features or features that are not working properly in Revit?
I’m going to be doing a masters thesis in BIM (well QIM to be exact), and i can also write software code (good thing they’ve opened up Revit so you can extend its functionality). My background is building construction, so i am fully versed should you like to get technical.
Thanks!
Sina,
Estimating and scheduling are included in Revit as feature topics, yes.
The question is how useful and ideal that is for professional quantity surveyors and schedulers who want to have item-based actual figures and detailed simulations for materials, resources and scheduling.
(And then also want to provide the information to the site management and backoffice accurately and in time).
Sina, it would be interesting to hear more about your thesis on BIM/QIM.
Why don’t you drop me a line. You can find the contacts through “about”.