【Daily Discussion】Utilities - BIM Technology - 20200722

Visualization: Visualization refers to the \"what you see is what you get\" approach. In the construction industry, the practical use of visualization plays a very important role; for example, construction drawings typically show information about various components using lines, but the actual structure of those components has to be imagined by those working in the construction field. For relatively simple things, such imagination is acceptable. However, in today’s construction industry, there are various architectural forms, and increasingly complex designs are being introduced. In such cases, relying solely on human imagination becomes somewhat unrealistic. Therefore, BIM provides a visual approach that enables people to present the previously linearly represented components as three-dimensional, tangible models. In the construction industry, visual representations are also used in design, but these are created by assigning the task to specialized teams dedicated to producing such visualizations, based on linear data; they are not generated automatically from the information of the components themselves, and as a result, there is a lack of interactivity and feedback between the components. In contrast, the visualization concept introduced by BIM allows for interactivity and feedback among components. In a BIM building information model, since the entire process is visualized, the results can be used not only for creating visual representations and reports, but more importantly, communication, discussion, and decision-making during the project’s design, construction, and operation phases all take place within this visual framework. Coordination is a key aspect in the construction industry; whether it’s the construction firms, the project owners, or the design agencies, everyone is involved in coordination and cooperation. Once problems arise during the implementation of a project, it is necessary to bring together all relevant parties to hold coordination meetings in order to identify the causes of those construction issues and find solutions. Subsequently, changes are made and appropriate remedial actions are taken to resolve the problems. So, does coordination for such issues really have to wait until problems arise before it can be carried out? During the design phase, various conflicts between different specialized fields often occur due to insufficient communication among designers. For example, when arranging pipes in fields such as HVAC, since each set of construction drawings is created separately, during actual construction it might turn out that structural elements like beams get in the way of pipe installation. These are the kinds of conflicts that are common during construction. Does coordinating and resolving such issues have to wait until they occur? BIM’s coordination capabilities can help address such problems; in other words, the BIM building information model can facilitate the coordination of conflicts between different specialties during the early stages of building construction, generating coordinated data for use in those processes. Of course, the coordination function of BIM is not limited to resolving conflicts between different specialties; it can also address issues such as the coordination between the layout of elevator shafts and other design elements as well as clearance requirements, the coordination between fire compartments and other design elements, and the coordination between underground drainage systems and other design elements. Simulation: Simulation is not limited to modeling buildings that have been designed; it can also be used to simulate things that cannot be operated in the real world. During the design phase, BIM can be used to conduct simulation experiments for various aspects that need to be modeled in the design, such as energy efficiency simulations, emergency evacuation simulations, sunlight exposure simulations, and heat conduction simulations. During the bidding and construction phases, 4D simulation can be employed (a three-dimensional model combined with the project’s timeline), which allows for the simulation of actual construction processes based on the organizational plan, thereby helping to determine appropriate construction methods to guide the work. At the same time, 5D simulation can be conducted (cost control based on 3D models) to achieve cost management. In the later operational phase, simulations can be carried out to demonstrate how to handle everyday emergency situations, such as simulations of personnel evacuation during an earthquake and simulations of firefighters’ evacuation procedures. Optimality: In fact, the entire process of design, construction, and operation is one of continuous optimization. Of course, there is no essential inevitable connection between optimization and BIM, but better optimization can be achieved by utilizing BIM as a foundation. Optimization is constrained by three things: information, complexity, and time. Without accurate information, it is not possible to achieve reasonable optimization results. BIM models provide information about the actual existence of a building, including geometric information, physical information, and regulatory information, as well as information regarding the building’s state after any changes have been made. When the complexity reaches a certain level, the capabilities of those involved are not sufficient to grasp all the information; thus, the help of certain scientific technologies and equipment is necessary. The complexity of modern buildings often exceeds the capabilities of those involved in their construction; BIM and various optimization tools associated with it make it possible to optimize such complex projects. Currently, BIM-based optimization can be used for the following tasks: (1) Optimization of project plans: By combining project design with return on investment analysis, the impact of design changes on returns on investment can be calculated in real time. This allows project owners to make their decisions based on more than just the appearance of a design, enabling them to determine which design option better meets their needs. (2) Design optimization for special elements: For example, irregular designs can be seen in the podiums, curtain walls, roofs, and large-scale spaces. Although these elements account for a small proportion of the overall building, they often represent a much larger share of the investment and workload compared to other parts of the building. They are also typically areas where construction is more difficult and where there are more issues during construction. Optimizing the design and construction methods for such elements can lead to significant improvements in both construction time and cost. Printability:

Visualization, coordination, simulation, optimization, graphical output capability

Visualization, coordination, simulation, optimization, graphical output capability

1. Visualization. 2. Coordination. 3. Simulativeness. 4. Optimality. 5. Printability.

1. Visualization. 2. Coordination. 3. Simulativeness. 4. Optimality. 5. Printability.

1. Visualization. 2. Coordination. 3. Simulativeness. 4. Optimality. 5. Printability.

1. Visualization； 2. Coordination ； 3. Simulativeness ； 4. Optimality ； 5. Printability.

Visualization, coordination, simulation, optimization, graphical output capability

Visualization, coordination, simulation, optimization, graphical output capability

Visualization, coordination, simulation, optimization, graphical output capability