Industry Insights - Revit Structure
Well the anniversary of the future from Back to the Future has passed, so now it’s all history. We are supposed to have flying cars, hoverboards, self-lacing shoes, food hydrators, and the Cubs were supposed to win the World Series. Some of these things have, in some form, come to fruition, but we don’t have flying cars, and well, the Cubs tried, right?
Although these things didn’t all come to pass there are still some pretty cool things regarding our industry and focused on the world of Building Information Modeling (BIM). It’s an interesting time to be involved in the technology side of things, but it’s also a good time to just be involved in BIM. I want to look at an old truth of working in BIM, the people creating the models, and some technology that we should be implementing with our modeling.
Collaboration, Collaboration, Collaboration
BIM should drive collaboration, or we aren’t doing anything but modeling. We know that, we have been told that from the beginning, yet we still don’t collaborate. We should be having BIM kick-off meetings to have an understanding of what is expected. We should be having coordination meetings early on to avoid a bunch of rework and we should be having clash detection meetings to make sure what we pushed through coordination is going to work in the field. Are these meetings going to catch every issue? No, but if we are having the conversations up front we will be more apt to catch the things that are simply taken care of early on.
Many firms claim to be using BIM, but only in the regard that they are using the software that creates a model. They aren’t creating fully developed models that other disciplines can use, or at least use and feel confident about. If I had a nickel for every time a consultant referred me to a section that is covered in 2D elements and lines to coordinate what hasn’t been modeled correctly, I would be a rich man. There isn’t anything more frustrating than when you are down to the wire and you realize the model isn’t done properly so now you have to “fake” your model and sections to make it work.
BIM is supposed to be an answer to these type of issues. What I find interesting is you can always tell which firms don’t use the software as more than a drawing production tool because they are always the ones that use every buzzword in the industry. They read the latest news on the world of BIM, but don’t actually apply it in their modeling practice. I always breathe a sigh of relief when I hear a consultant answer questions with a straightforward yes or no, or with an idea of what they did on another project that turned out well.
As an industry we need to have legitimate expectations of what it means to work on a BIM project and how not to hinder other disciplines that are utilizing all the letters of BIM.
The Modeler
We have come a long, long way from the days of the CAD drafter of yesteryear. That being said, not everyone has made that transition yet. Many are staying in a 2D world when the rest of the consultants are working in the 3D world. This truth becomes evident very quickly on many projects.
The industry as a whole has not taken the role of modeler and integrated it into the entire design process and it is something that needs to change. No longer are you handing off red lines or details to a drafter who recreates them in AutoCAD®, whether they work or not. You are now giving them the tools to create the model virtually and to prevent issues in the field from happening. They can no longer just recreate details and must be more involved if you expect to get more out of them.
We have taken a different approach in our office, and we aren’t the only ones. There was a time where the model was locked down only for the modeler, and viewer mode was used by all else. This kept the model safe from the amateur user, but didn’t promote collaboration. Since that time we have integrated our EITs and our PMs into modeling roles. The rule of thumb is if you can fix it as quick or quicker then marking it up, just take care of it yourself. There is still a necessity for markups and for someone whose role is to model, but when an EIT or PM can just change sizes on structure as they are designing it, it saves much time as well as costly mistakes.
Essentially, the drafter no longer exists in a BIM world. You have to be able to see and understand how the building is going to be put together to be able to deliver a good model that can be used for collaboration. This has always been the case with BIM, but definitely isn’t instituted in many cases.
LiDAR Scanning
One of the goals of BIM is to reduce errors and RFIs by having a more complete model, but why aren’t we starting with a more accurate existing conditions model?
The typical method is sending out two technicians, or perhaps more, to take pictures and dimensions of the existing conditions. Even with the use of laser distance measurers and lots of photos there is always going to be a dimension missed that is critical to the project or an area won’t be photographed. When that happens we either send someone back into the field to verify the dimension, or we state the infamous VIF (Verify in Field) note on our drawings.
That’s where LiDAR scanning comes into the picture, or actually creates a 3D picture. Also known as a point cloud, it is the most accurate existing building conditions tool that you can utilize. It is a line of sight laser that creates a 3D point cloud based on the intensity of the laser. Once you are done scanning you have a 3D mesh representation of the existing conditions that is accurate down to 2 millimeters. With the scans it also takes pictures that can be overlaid with the mesh to give you a panoramic view of the area that was scanned.
Many people in the industry have heard of this technology, but very few are utilizing it. Many are scared away by the cost of buying the machine or the hassle of bringing on another consultant into the project. Others would like to do it, but aren’t sure what to do with it when they have it and others just don’t like to try new things.
The cost of the machine has been dropping rapidly as more companies get into competition with one another. Depending what your needs are you don’t have to have the top of line that scans for 330 yards when all you are doing is interior renovations. The machines are much more affordable and will continue to become so.
I think the biggest hold up is the group that says, “What do I do with it after I get the point cloud?” If you are working with a consultant that just sends you the scan and walks away, you need to find another consultant. They aren’t bringing any benefit to the process and are just taking your money. The consultant should be able to give you an option to create a level 300 model from the scan for your use that includes walls, floors, roofs, major structural components, as well as piping and ductwork. You should also be able to quickly set up a rough floor plan from the scan in a matter of minutes that you can use for layouts in existing buildings. They must also have a fast turnaround time.
For those who don’t like change, it’s inevitable. Otherwise we would still be drawing by hand. There was a change from hand drawn to CAD and again from CAD to 3D design software. Change is going to happen at a greater speed as technology continues to be developed at breakneck speeds. If you don’t start adapting you will be forgotten.
I believe the industry needs to start using this tool on all projects that involve existing conditions. It will create a better collaboration from start to finish.
There are also roles it can play in new construction and many other avenues of business. I believe the possibilities are limited only by us.
Figure 1: Point cloud imagery
Where Do We Go from Here?
The technology is going to get more exciting and cutting edge is the new norm as we move forward. But if we aren’t looking at our process of using the technology, properly staffing the people using the technology, collaborating with the technology we have, and not looking for bigger and better ways to use this technology we may as well go back to the days of drawing construction documents by hand.
If we utilize the right process, the right people, and the right technology we should be delivering well thought out and designed plans that are much more valuable to the end client. We are now capable of delivering so much more than just a piece of paper, and the possibilities are endless.
