Sustainability is a huge issue right now. In the construction world, sustainability is found first in the building product and then in the building or infrastructure as a whole. Thus, along with this concept of sustainability, the potential of BIM in realizing buildings and constructions with a lower environmental impact is increasingly evident. Building information modeling (BIM) has long been the cutting edge of design/construction technology, so it can play an important role in achieving sustainable building goals. But, how do the two relate? Why will the adoption of BIM and its related technologies and processes lead to more sustainable construction?
There are three main links between BIM and sustainable construction:
1. More transparency in the design phase
BIM promotes a more transparent process at the design stage. When engineers add design data to a model and share them, project participants can access the summary in real time. They will see information about recommended products and materials. In addition, it’s better to see how people will develop and install them. From there, they can expect performance after the project is complete.
The transparency afforded here allows contractors, energy engineers, suppliers and more to advise early on the overall building structure and operation of the building. This provides more sustainability at the design stage before the owner spends anything. This means using only environmentally responsible materials and methods, as well as saving time and money on rework and rescheduling.
2. Greater efficiency in the design and construction phases
Using BIM-enabled 3D models means streamlined real-time simulation and collaboration at every step of the process. This allows workflows to be reviewed and enhanced at every stage.
The direct impacts on sustainability are many: it saves time, improves efficiency, improves design, reduces errors. And equally important is to provide a quantifiable opportunity to reduce a building’s long-term environmental impact. The positive results are consistent with the entire sustainable building philosophy.
3. Better control in active phase
Once a project is completed, the easy sharing of 3D models means that the ongoing operations of a building can be realized to its fullest potential. The link to sustainability is evident when long-term maintenance of the structure is at the forefront. All data regarding replacement, refurbishment and renewal is available. Thus, all stakeholders can eliminate surprises as the finished project continues to evolve.
To this end, a number of construction professionals are taking advantage of this aspect by incorporating environmentally conscious, long-term operating recommendations and maintenance schedules into the completed project their parameters. This adds value to building owners, improves overall sustainability and strengthens customer relationships.
Simply put, aspects of integrated design, multi-stakeholder collaboration, common goal setting, effective concept presentation, rapid decision making, and stakeholder dialogue is as integral to sustainable design processes as it is to construction BIM.
There could be many other ways you can think of adopting BIM technologies and methods that can improve the sustainability of your construction projects. Contact Home3ds now for more details about BIM services.
