Tips for improved BIM planning __

Tips for improved BIM planning
27. September 2022 3 min.

Do you already use digital tools for your BIM planning? Or are you about to start a project that requires Building Information Modeling? Then our tips make BIM planning easier for you.

You already know from our last post on Building Information Modeling: If you implement and use BIM correctly, you will benefit from many advantages. All parties involved benefit from developing a better understanding of the construction project, improved communication, quality control, and costs are reduced.

Our general and data-related advice will help you get the most out of your BIM project and related planning.

 

How to improve the planning of BIM projects

The world of Building Information Modeling is complex. No less complicated are the implementation and use of BIM during a project. But don't just make sure that your BIM software works flawlessly. Also consider your environment. Equally important are the people involved in the project and your personal dealings with them, as they all go through the various processes of the project together.

Set goals for the use of BIM

What do you want to achieve with the use of BIM? With a clear objective in mind, it is more likely that the use of BIM will be worthwhile in the long term. Possible goals include improved project coordination, increased efficiency and, cost reduction.

Using the SMART method, your objective can be formulated efficiently – and more comprehensibly for all parties involved. Your SMART BIM goals are then specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.

Examples of other SMART goals:

  • With the use of BIM, we want to improve communication between all project participants in the next two weeks.
  • With the use of BIM, we want to minimise problems and conflicts by 10 percent in the next three months.
  • By using BIM, we want to improve the accuracy of our project plans in the next quarter.

Create a clear BIM plan

Your BIM plan should include not only your goals, but also the way you want to achieve them. For each project participant to know what role they are playing, an additional overview that summarises roles and responsibilities can be useful.

Have new tasks arisen or postponed schedules? Then don't forget to update your plan accordingly and inform the project stakeholders if necessary.

Choose the right BIM software for your project

Do you already have a software program that you use for Building Information Modeling? If not, the selection should be based on your needs and your project. The challenge for you is to find the right program as software programs on the market focus on various aspects of BIM.

Think about what kind of project you're working on, how big and complex your project is, and the budget you have at your disposal for it.

Don't forget to communicate with everyone involved

Without regular and joint exchange, no project can run successfully. This also applies to BIM projects. Good communication is crucial.

Does your project expect that a lot of information is continuously shared among the participants? Then a communicative exchange with each other is all the more important.

Make sure you have a system in place to manage BIM files and documents. In this way, you accelerate, strengthen, and simplify the data exchange between all project participants. This flow of information also improves the flow of communication.

Make sure that the management system is easy to use. Everyone should be able to access the information.

 

What you should pay attention to when it comes to data for BIM planning

Without detailed information about your project, you can't start BIM planning. Therefore, find as much data as possible. Also, check with the people involved in the project for more useful information. Once you have collected all the documents, you should take a closer look at this collection and pay attention to the following details.

Check the relevance of the data

What role does the available data play for your project? You can selectively sort out information that is not relevant. This leaves only the documents that you really need for BIM planning.

Check the quality of the data

Digitalisation is increasingly appreciated in the construction industry: more and more physical assets are receiving digital representations. This representation can only be created with high quality data. When analysing, capturing, storing, and sharing, pay attention to the highest possible data quality.

Check the data for functionality

Everyone involved should work with the same data and data formats. Inform the project participants about the data format to work with. Also check all available data for it. In the next step, it is important to pay attention to the functionality of the data. Without functioning or complete data, there are problems with BIM planning and the flow of your project.

Check the amount of data

A uniform data format allows you to reduce the amount of data: only the data that meets your project specifications and your BIM planning remains.

 

BIM planning: Keep an eye on the program, processes, and project participants

More and more companies in the construction industry are recognising the value of Building Information Modeling. But if you use BIM in your organisation or as part of a project, you will quickly realise that many things must be taken into account, not just when applying BIM programs. It is also important to consider the people involved in the project who use the BIM software and the processes that belong to Building Information Modeling. With the help of our tips, you can pay even better attention to these aspects.

Does your construction project require the BIM planning of a piping system made of engineered polymer? Our design department uses professional software such as INVENTOR or REVIT to design distributors or other components you need for your piping system. We are happy to send you the finished CAD drawing, data, and an associated parts list following a final check and production release. You can then transfer this information to your own planning software. We are happy to support you in the field of BIM:

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