The experts from the leading Czech design and construction consultancy firm Obermeyer Helika and BIM Consulting talk about how best to use the potential of BIM.
Building Information Modelling (BIM) is a method for creating, administration, and using digital information about buildings and infrastructures. BIM uses tools and technologies such as 3D modelling, common information sharing environment and project management software to provide a comprehensive view of a building or infrastructure throughout its entire service life. In short, this method allows for better understanding and communication about the building using a digitized model. The model contains both geometric information about the building and technical and functional information about its individual elements and systems. This allows for better planning and coordination of the construction work and management of the building once it is completed.
One argument is that BIM can make the construction and subsequent management of a building more efficient and less error-prone. This should also mean financial savings. The opposing argument, however, asserts that given the costs involved in implementing and working with the digital model itself, the question of the resulting cost reduction is highly questionable. „The solution to this apparent conflict is the correct setting of priorities and requirements for BIM before its implementation. It is essential to answer the question of what we want and why we want it. And it is only based on this analysis that we may apply BIM tools in a way that avoids unnecessarily complex functionalities that we will ultimately not use in practice,“ says Jiří Kos, the Sales Director at Obermeyer Helika.
Two very interesting case studies in this area have recently been created in Prague 12. The city council of this Municipal District used the BIM method already in 2016 – as one of the first – in the project for the construction of the new Prague 12 city hall. Although the benefits of BIM were evident both for the creation of the project and for the construction itself, the question of further usability of the data obtained by the BIM method was not very clear in the beginning.
„In conclusion, the situation can be summarized as follows: whoever knows „why they want what they want“ can always use the potential of BIM effectively. And by doing so, to behave like a proper manager in the design, construction, and administration of the building. It is important to have goals and a plan for how to use BIM to maximize the benefits and avoid unnecessary costs,“ comments Jiří Kos of Obermeyer Helika.
