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Building Information Modelling (BIM) is now becoming more widely used within the construction industry to combine technology with improved collaboration on building projects to ensure that they are better managed.
The CAD Room is one company that recognises the importance of a survey as the key driving element of the entire BIM process and offer their clients a wide range of BIM surveying services as part of their extensive BIM service range. Here, we take a look at what they have to say about surveyors and the benefits to BIM stages they bring.
BIM Explained
BIM is an intelligent 3D model-based process that allows for detailed generation and management of digital representations that incorporate physical and functional characteristics of spaces into a build and, as such, offers an innovative approach to the whole design, build and ongoing management of a project.
BIM capability offers so much more than just ensuring that a building project is delivered on time and within budget. By its very nature, construction will happen on land, which throws up topographical and positional challenges, which are a surveyor’s remit.
Involving a surveyor early in the project will see BIM at its most effective and enable it to reach its full potential.
Surveys carried out using BIM offer a complete visualisation of the project, and we know the position and views of a building can be its biggest asset. Detailed interactive graphics provide valuable insight for architectural construction professionals, giving them tools to plan, design, construct and manage the entire building infrastructure.
Surveyors bring benefits to BIM stages
At the initial strategy stage, the ability to incorporate geospatial information gives a full project overview and a definition of the coordinated scheme. This knowledge ensures a collaborative, relevant approach from the outset.
A surveyor can provide feasibility studies, site information, terrestrial data and reviews to allow for existing site conditions to be fully incorporated immediately as plans are drawn up. Using up-to-date data will enable smarter strategic decisions. The surveyor’s expertise will also highlight any initial contractor errors and detect geospatial design flaws, impacting project delivery timescales before the project progresses. The ability to identify potential deficiencies at the concept design stage, where unclear data or perhaps a more suitable option is available, can also save costly changes being required later.
Once the design stage is reached, the surveyor will ensure that relevant technical data is held to carry out survey work and that it is used to update the technical design. This allows for a continuous ‘as-built’ view of the site as it is prepared.
Close site control will ensure that everything happens as and when it should.
A surveyor’s job can continue after the build is complete to re-establish suitable control points where an on-site facilities manager chooses to use geospatial data for navigation.
Site data can be continually updated by the surveyor when the building is in use. They can locate services in the site coordinate system and make any necessary updates as changes happen.
Surveyors embracing BIM will enable it to reach its full potential, with a surveyor’s role in a BIM project becoming vital to short- and long-term project success.
BIM and the Future
Using surveying services of businesses that recognise and embrace the benefits of BIM involvement is the way forward. The UK Government has shown their support and commitment to using BIM in the construction sector, as they believe the combination of improved collaboration and technology will lead to more efficiently managed projects, ultimately leading to better buildings created with more effective budget and delivery controls.
If surveying is taken out of the equation or as often likely brought in too late, the full opportunities afforded by using BIM are missed. For any building project you are considering, why not consult with a BIM surveying professional to deliver project success?
You may also like: How to Choose the Best Surveyors in Melbourne for Your Project
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