By Steve Rizer
Washington, D.C. -- Of 28 projects evaluated for their implementation of VDC (virtual design and construction)/BIM, how many achieved a perfect rating under the standards of the VDC/BIM Scorecard? Zero, reported Calvin Kam, a consulting assistant professor at Stanford University. He revealed this finding at the AIA (American Institute of Architects) 2012 National Convention and Design Exposition here late last month.
The VDC/BIM Scorecard evaluates the maturity of VDC/BIM in practice based on an industry performance rating framework and measures the degree of VDC/BIM innovation in planning, adoption, technology, and performance. AEC professionals can use the evaluation framework to track and assess the VDC/BIM performances of their projects. In recent years, Center for Integrated Facility Engineering (CIFE) researchers have asserted that the global building industry lacks the research and methodology to objectively assess VDC/BIM in a scalable and repeatable manner.
CIFE researchers formulated and validated the VDC/BIM Scorecard with the objectives of doing the following: track VDC and BIM implementation and performance benchmarks based on global projects; assess individual, project, program, and industry performances; score industry projects based on overall maturity with respect to industry benchmarks as well as maturity in four scorecard areas -- planning, adoption, technology, performance -- and 10 dimensions; and recommend implementation guidance and industry references to project and program stakeholders for continuous improvements using a holistic methodology based on the VDC/BIM Scorecard knowledge repository.
None of the 28 pilot projects that were evaluated achieved perfect scores in the four primary evaluation areas of planning, adoption, performance, and technology, Kam said. No project received a high enough score to reach the scorecard’s “Innovation” level, but two projects merited a “Best Practice” designation. Fourteen projects reached the “Advanced Practice” level, 12 met the criteria for “Typical Practice,” and no project was deemed to represent “Conventional Practice.”
Here is a breakdown of ratings for individual projects:
Kam stressed that the VDC/BIM Scorecard is not static. For example, researchers are investigating the potential for incorporation of return-on-investment information.
GSA Official Discusses BIM Guide for Facilities Management
During a conference session entitled “Emerging Applications of BIM to Facilities Management: What Architects Need to Know about Connecting Design and Operations,” Peggy Yee, a program expert in the U.S. General Services Administration’s (GSA) National 3D-4D BIM Program, discussed “BIM Guide Series 08 – Facility Management v1,” which the agency recently released.
GSA’s Office of the Design and Construction is encouraging, documenting, and evaluating the use of BIM technologies to support facility management and building operations. The overall purpose of using BIM for facility management is to enable GSA to leverage facility data through the facility life cycle to provide safe, healthy, effective, and efficient work environments for its clients. Facility data is created throughout the design and construction process. GSA intends to use and update this data throughout the facility life cycle through small projects, operations and maintenance, and major renovations and alterations. The maintenance of this data is expected to create greater efficiencies such as having accurate as-built information to reduce the cost and time required for renovations, increasing customer satisfaction, and optimizing the operation and maintenance of its building systems to reduce energy usage.
“BIM Guide 08 is laid out very similar to the rest of our BIM guides,” Yee said. “The first section talks about the overall vision and objectives of BIM for facility management. What is GSA really trying to achieve by utilizing BIM for facility management? What are we hoping to gain by utilizing this technology? The second section is [about] implementation value. If a project manager comes to us and says, ‘I want to implement BIM for facilities management. What do I need to do?’ This section really gets into talking about the process, [about] requiring a BIM execution plan, [and other areas].” Other sections address technology assessment, modeling requirements, pilot projects, and other areas.
The document states that the following object types are required in the Record BIM for facility management submitted to GSA: all objects required by BIM Guide Series 02; ceilings; lighting systems, fixtures, and equipment; communications systems and equipment; electrical systems and equipment; mechanical systems and equipment; plumbing systems and equipment; irrigation system and equipment; fire-protection systems and equipment; vertical and horizontal transportation equipment; furniture and specifications; and specialty systems and equipment. Spaces and equipment must include the following information: space and zone objects as defined in “GSA BIM Guide Series 02”; equipment objects with attributes (described in Section 3.2.1 of the report); and applicable controls for specific equipment and equipment series.
In addition, GSA project teams, in conjunction with the PBS Service Center, are urged to define the minimum list of equipment types and attributes required in the BIM Execution Plan, GSA stated. “These requirements are in addition to all current submission requirements set forth in Appendix A of the Facilities Standards for the Public Buildings Service (PBS P-100). A/Es should also follow the PBS CAD Standards for creating 2-D drawings (www.gsa.gov/cifm). To the greatest extent possible, A/Es should utilize BIM as the authoritative source for building information and derive 2D drawings from the model.”
Through the referencing of BIM Guide 08, GSA said it expects to obtain high-quality BIMs for use in facility management. “While full adoption of BIM within facility management will be incremental, this BIM Guide Series lays the foundation for the vision, the technical paths, business processes as well as the minimum technical requirements. GSA welcomes any expert input, collaboration opportunities, and recommendations to the BIM Guide and the process of creating and maintaining facility life-cycle information.”
There are eight pilot projects under way across different GSA regions, Yee reported. The projects have achieved various levels of progress, she noted.
In addition, GSA has been considering facilities-management uses involving visualization of special inventories, a flexible office space initiative, working with tenant customers, and integration with geographic information systems, Yee said. “The idea of a BIM server is another thing we’ve been looking at.”
The document is available at http://www.gsa.gov/graphics/pbs/BIM_Guide_Series_Facility_Management.pdf.
Also during the session, EcoDomus Inc. President Igor Starkov said he does not expect owners of smaller facilities to be able to afford BIM for facilities management in the near future. He believes it will take at least two years for such technology to become financially feasible for small owners.
Exhibitor Briefs
Ascent Center for Technical Knowledge is expected to release “Autodesk Official Training Guide 2013” this summer, Ronda Wiley, courseware business manager for the Charlottesville, Va.-based company, told ConstructionPro Week. The publication has been approved for AIA learning units and qualifies for a 16-hour course length. Chapters will include an introduction to AutoCAD architecture, building model views, scheduling, project practices, and other topics.
Autodesk Inc. announced that several Autodesk Developer Network (ADN) members have released new applications to support Autodesk 2013 3D design, engineering, and entertainment software. “The specialized applications created by ADN members help to further enhance Autodesk Design and Creation suites workflows for building, entertainment, engineering, construction, infrastructure, product, plant, and factory design. ADN partner applications address a broad range of specialized design needs across numerous industries, many of which can be found on the new Autodesk Exchange Apps Store. Applications created by ADN members can also be accessed within Autodesk products, which is expected to help maintain a smooth workflow experience for users. ADN members have released application products for Autodesk 2013 products that are included in various Autodesk design and creation suites, including Autodesk 3ds Max, AutoCAD, AutoCAD Civil 3D, Autodesk Inventor, Autodesk Maya, and Autodesk Revit.
