https://www.americancityandcounty.com/wp-content/themes/acc_child/assets/images/logo/footer-logo.png
Banking Technology
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • Expert Insights
    • Back
    • Expert Insights
    • Commentaries
    • Smart Cities Council
    • Co-op Solutions
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
  • Resources
    • Back
    • Resources
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • American City & County Awards
    • Events
    • Municipal Cost Index – Archive
  • Magazine
    • Back
    • Digital Editions
    • Reprints & Reuse
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Privacy Statement
    • Terms of Service
  • Administration
  • Economy & Finance
  • Procurement
  • Public Safety
  • Public Works & Utilities
  • Smart Cities & Technology
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Expert Insights
    • Back
    • Commentaries
    • Smart Cities Council
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
  • Resources
    • Back
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • American City & County Awards
    • Events
    • Municipal Cost Index
  • Magazine
    • Back
    • Digital Editions
    • Reprints & Reuse
    • Subscribe to AC&C
    • Manage AC&C Subscription
    • Subscribe to GovPro
    • Manage GovPro Subscription
    • Advertise
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Cookie Policy
    • Privacy Stament
    • Terms of Service
  • newsletter
  • Administration
  • Economy & Finance
  • Procurement
  • Public Safety
  • Public Works & Utilities
  • Smart Cities & Technology
acc.com

Commentaries


Commentary

Why BIM, why now

Why BIM, why now

Microdesk President and CEO Michael DeLacey explains building information modeling's advantages in design and construction.
  • Written by contributor
  • 9th August 2017

By Michael DeLacey

​
Building information modeling (BIM)’s ability to reduce project cost, shorten schedules, improve collective understanding of design intent, and improve overall project quality is making it a de facto standard for design and construction. 

The initial catalyst for the transition from a 2D computer aided design (CAD) process to BIM was the construction industry’s recognition that there was substantial savings to be had by coordinating construction in 3D vs. 2D. A Stanford University Center for Integrated Facilities Engineering (CIFE) study identifies that this process is saving up to 10 percent of the contract value and reducing schedules by up to 7 percent.

Based on these results, many public and private sector organizations have developed BIM mandates and protocols, and are including them in design and construction contracts. 

The U.S. General Services Administration, U.S. Veterans Administration, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, higher education, healthcare and private developers are embracing BIM and contractually mandating its use. Municipalities, however, are lagging. State and local governments must begin leveraging BIM’s many advantages by adopting mandates.

Beyond the many benefits listed, there are macroeconomic factors that will drive BIM’s standardization and make it a necessity.

Easily Accessible with Wi-Fi

A key component of BIM is collaboration and sharing of information across disparate project teams. The fact that Wi-Fi is quickly becoming ubiquitous and smart devices including smartphones and Wi-Fi enabled tablets are used extensively allows project teams to access BIM information where and when they need it.

Market research company comScore reports that 42 percent of mobile phone traffic and 90 percent of tablet traffic travels by Wi-Fi. Access to Wi-Fi is widespread and expanding globally at a rapid pace. This combination leads to endless possibilities of when and where people will be able to access and work on BIM projects.

Cloud storage advantages

The fact that we now have easy access to Wi-Fi and convenient devices with which to collaborate is coupled with the pervasiveness of cloud storage and applications. We no longer need complex and expensive server and data access infrastructure to purchase, configure and maintain. Most BIM applications provide apps that allow for storage, distribution and interaction with the Model using the Cloud.

In addition, the nature of the Cloud and Cloud-based applications enhance BIM’s effectiveness, transparency, and efficiency for the entire project team.

Technology-oriented workforce

The Millennial generation, roughly defined as those born between 1980 and the year 2000, is the largest generation in U.S. history, outpacing even the Baby Boomers. This generation has not only embraced technology like smartphones, tablets and cloud-based applications, they fully expect that what they experience in their personal lives will translate into their professional lives. If they can access movies and music, on demand and on any device, why would they not be able to access their work information in the same way?

Organizations that have prepared for and embraced the expectations of this new workforce have accelerated the transition to BIM and extended its value.

BIM delivers transparency

Using the integrated visualization capabilities of BIM and leveraging the cloud distribution capabilities, organizations can now share more information to a wider audience and in a more meaningful way. This means that city and county transportation departments, transit agencies, housing authorities, school districts, and other municipal entities will develop stronger relationships with the public while maximizing the effectiveness of their capital programs.

It is time for local, county and state governments to adopt BIM and realize the benefits it will deliver.

 

Michael DeLacey is principal and CEO of AECO industry consultancy Microdesk. He has 28 years of experience in integrating technology into the planning, design, construction and operations and maintenance process specializing in building information modeling (BIM) and enterprise asset management (EAM).

 

_____________

To get connected and stay up-to-date with similar content from American City & County:
Like us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter
Watch us on YouTube

Tags: Public Works & Utilities Smart Cities & Technology Commentaries Commentary

Twitter


AmerCityCounty

A new #report ranks the 52 American #metropolitan areas with over 1 million residents based on their… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

14th February 2019
AmerCityCounty

Today, we announced the six winners of American #City & #County's 2018 Crown Communities awards! Congratulations to… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

12th February 2019
AmerCityCounty

The @CityOfNOLA #CityCouncil is calling for the @NFL to review its rules after the @Saints lost the… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

29th January 2019
AmerCityCounty

Is your #city among #UHaul's top 25 #GrowthCities for 2018? buff.ly/2S8hptr https://t.co/rI4x0Lcdql

25th January 2019
AmerCityCounty

The personal information for approximately 1,470 #Knoxville, Tenn. #government employees was inadvertently posted o… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

25th January 2019
AmerCityCounty

““Seconded” staffers, or temporary #procurement professionals at #DallasAreaRapidTransit handle varying heavy workl… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

23rd January 2019
AmerCityCounty

As the longest #GovernmentShutdown in U.S. history continues with no sign of abating, city governments are stepping… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

15th January 2019
AmerCityCounty

Florida Governor @RonDeSantisFL formally suspended #BrowardCounty, Fla. Sheriff Scott Israel on Jan. 11, following… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

15th January 2019

Newsletters

Sign up for American City & County’s newsletters to receive regular news and information updates about local governments.

Expert Insights

Learn from experts in the public and private sectors about best practices and how to optimize your government’s operations.

Municipal Cost Index

Updated monthly since 1978, our exclusive Municipal Cost Index shows the effects of inflation on the cost of providing municipal services

Media Kit and Advertising

Want to reach our digital and print audiences? Learn more here.

American City and County

© American City and County 2019. All rights reserved.

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Cookies Policy
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service

Related Links

  • IWCE’s Urgent Communications
  • IWCE Expo

Follow us

Websites are now required by law to gain your consent before applying cookies. We use cookies to improve your browsing experience. Parts of the website may not work as expected without them. By closing or ignoring this message, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
X