BIM, Beyond the Blueprint: Leveraging the Data Behind BIM and VDC in Modern Construction

David Moorhead, BIM / VDC Department Manager at B & I Contractors

In this article, I explain how B&I Contractors has shifted from the traditional "CAD" approach to embrace "BIM/VDC." Our firm has used this approach and these innovative tools to counter labor shortages and materials scarcities and significantly minimize rework. We aim to leverage BIM to become a "10x multiplier" on most projects and a value to the project teams, not a task or cost. I am excited to highlight some aspects of BIM/VDC that have enabled this transformation.

Having traversed over 20 years in the mechanical contracting industry, I've observed and taken part in the transformative shift to Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Virtual Design and Construction (VDC). Today, more construction firms are finding the value of BIM and VDC extends far beyond creating component-rich 3D models and 2D plans; it's about the data behind the design.

BIM DATA

It's not just fancy graphics; it's the construction game-changer upon us. Think of Building Information Modeling (BIM) as your treasure trove—housing not only stunning visuals and clash-free coordination of the project but also what lies behind those elements. You can find data on the exact materials, weights, lengths, connection sizes, weld inches, location in the building, phasing, connected systems, equipment model number, manufacturer's product info, handing, and you can even embed a link to a website or submittal cut sheet. You can bury the schedule-of-values information, costs, and tracking status…it is almost endless. In many cases, all this data can then be filtered, sorted, and placed on a schedule(s) or exported in any way your firm needs. Many companies are linking this data to Power BI dashboards, ERP software, digital twins, and hosts of software-as-a-solution available to meet your needs.

Slow down David!

I vividly recall those words echoing with the exact annunciation of any of our firm's managers. This is how I realize my pitches of ideas are ten steps ahead, not the 2-3 more often listened to. At B&I, our journey toward embracing BIM Data didn't happen overnight; it's been a process since around 2016. It is a journey marked by both failures and successes. Sometimes, it surged forward swiftly; other times, progress was gradual. Our leadership's 'fail fast and learn' approach has been instrumental in our revolution alongside the industry's advancements. We have navigated this path despite limitations in time and resources, even as we have taken on more work and consistently recorded record profits year after year. Through this journey, we have realized that BIM and this data have played an increasingly valuable role in our continued growth and success.

While the 3D coordinated models and detailed shop drawings are essential starting points, many firms now understand that VDC and BIM hold a broader scope beyond visualizing projects or enhancing drawings. There is a growing emphasis on extracting and using data embedded within these models. This shift underscores the importance of leveraging data to enhance precision and streamline operations at construction sites. Embracing this broader perspective allows firms to unlock the full potential of BIM and VDC, surpassing traditional limitations and redefining their impact on construction efficiency.

We all must start somewhere, but always remember: Garbage-in, garbage-out.

Low Hanging Fruit(s)

Go, wait, go, stop. To start, you can find some high-value, simple data and processes to work through to demonstrate some of this data value to the team. In most cases, like the example below, these byproducts are already there and may only require minor adjustments for work to begin. Small teams and quick feedback loops with the right people can accelerate this and prepare you for large-scale trials quicker than you think.

Let your skilled installers install! One of the most significant advancements is taking modeled items from coordination models and exporting precise points. These points can be used with laser total stations to accurately place hangers, sleeves, and wall openings, ensuring that every element is positioned correctly according to the design. Setting these hangers embeds before concrete is poured and even post-pour layout on the floor and transferring them to the deck above can save significant time. On most projects, you can see around 1000 duct straps hanging across the floor, ready for the team to throw ducts into them as soon as the floor is released for overhead rough.

Pipe sleeves, floor drains, equipment pads, and even wall openings can be laid out (ahead of your scheduled duration) with data pulled from BIM. The more accurate the data in your hangers, the better data you can get out. It could be hanger cutlists, ancillary counts, elevation tagging information, and more. You can also start with a simple point layout to have anchors drilled.

Put down the crayons! For ages, top talent in your firm was responsible for handling and counting equipment and devices. In today's age, it almost doesn't seem reasonable to let a human count items on a BIM project. With Mechanical rooms and spaces getting smaller and Owners looking for cheaper equipment than the Basis of design, this can often lead to rearranging this equipment during coordination to get items to fit and function. If you are releasing equipment from contract drawings, your team can find itself trying to rework things in the field when shop drawings don't work (and therefore, "BIM don't work," as they like to say). When your BIM team works with the proper equipment families in BIM coordination, the value can extend beyond exact physical dimensions and shop drawings working correctly for installation crews. They can ensure inlet and outlet sizes and connections are correct, needed clearances are shown and accounted for, and the counts and handing can be scheduled for review and release with a few clicks.

This data-centric approach can also streamline the ordering and procurement process. By having detailed information about every part of the model, teams can confidently order materials, reducing waste and ensuring that the right materials arrive at the right time.

Twice the work in less time? Moreover, BIM has become integral to prefabrication. Our fab shops have yet to experience a weather delay and can run multiple shifts. (One of our shops is currently running three shifts). With project sites seldom working beyond daylight hours, our safe, modernized, and climate-controlled shops can significantly reduce the number of connections made in the field by doing them in one of our shops. This prefabrication approach allows our team to shorten on-site durations, often getting multiple jobs done at the same time that would take one traditionally stick-built project. Many components can be prefabricated off-site by creating detailed 3D models with proper data and 350+ Levels of Detail (LOD), saving time and enhancing quality control. When these prefabricated elements arrive on-site in pre-assembled sections, they fit perfectly into place as if they were part of a well-orchestrated symphony. Attention to detail and the correct data for each component is vital. Elbows drawn in BIM with a shorter radius (bad data) than the manufacturers produce will create headaches in the field when nothing fits.

Cutting apart and fixing prefabricated items is a costly, time-consuming process and will have teams with a bad taste for Prefab on their jobs.

It's how much? The introduction of 3D scanning technology has further revolutionized our approach. While the initial cost of purchasing a 3-D scanner was nothing to blink at, we now have three we own. We quickly found the ROI can pay for itself in a job or two. (You can find local firms who scan and compile a project for much less than the initial purchase price. Your team can then see how this can fit with your workflows.) We can virtually eliminate clashes in the field by incorporating 3D scans of existing facilities into our models, seeing every granular detail and existing item, regardless of what contract drawings said would be there. This proactive clash detection reduces shutdown times and shortens project durations, as potential issues and omissions are resolved long before they can impact the construction schedule. Combining 3D scanning and BIM coordination, even the most stubborn off-field teams have come around and now ask if we are scanning existing areas on projects. The crews already spend time in these areas before construction begins, doing research and taking measurements; why not spend a bit longer and capture the actual physical space that you can look at and measure repeatedly to ensure no detail was overlooked?

Robots are not coming for our jobs. However, augmented reality on iPads will overlay the BIM coordination model with physical objects in the real world and will not require a costly headset. This appears to be a means of Quantity Control in the field we are testing. While it won't tell you if your branch lines are 2" over from where they should be, the accuracy is good enough on standard-issue iPads to let you know you are missing a set of branches while you walk through the building reviewing progress. While there are vacuum-style robots that print lines on the ground, robotic dogs that will walk through and do progress scans, flying drones, and helmet-mounted cameras that record something while you walk a job, I don’t see value for our firm in this yet. (gulp) But we are talking with a manufacturer who will rent us a robot to drill in thousands of overhead anchors based on our BIM data, but if it saves our employees drilling thousands of shoulder burying holes overhead, there could be something practical in that!

These key advantages illustrate some entry-level points and examples to build from and get your team going and excited about BIM and the data behind it. Items like this can help your firm gain exposure to BIM and VDC beyond mere visualization on screens and iPads. This new look at BIM projects can fundamentally alter how construction projects are planned, executed, and managed. The ability to export precise points, streamline procurement, leverage prefabrication, and implement proactive clash detection represents a small part of a seismic shift in construction methodology. It's not just about building structures; it's about engineering efficiency, accuracy, and progress.

In conclusion, the true power of BIM and VDC lies in the data beyond the blueprint. As we continue to harness this BIM data, we are improving our construction processes and paving the way for a future where buildings are constructed with unprecedented precision and efficiency.

***While my article stressed data, I did not go into specific metrics and data we found at our firm. Working with Peer Companies, we found that the numbers and variables can vary from firm to firm. Everything from labor rates, logistical costs, AHJ, EORs, and GC/CMs can change the expected results, even from project to project. Every project we approach has unique high-value targets and BIM delivery game plans. So, while the data is not here, I will say that we have grown into this BIM approach in the last ten years, from having three total CAD team members to over 30 full-time BIM/VDC Team Members, with open positions posted and still needing to outsource some BIM overflow. Please feel free to contact me on LinkedIn with any questions. linkedin.com/in/david-moorhead