BIM Project IT Guidelines

Carl Agar – Director

Norman Disney & Young

July 2011

The Scenario

BIM Project

All drawings to be in 3D

Federated models being produced

Federated models being used for meeting reference

Need to share model files via internet PM system

What do will you need

Fast workstations

Central storage

Good backup

Fast internet connection

3D modelling software e.g. Revit

Federated modelling software e.g. Navisworks

Project Office

Internet PM

BIM Manager

Contractors

Link

CompileFederated

Model

ClashReports

ClashReports

DWG

DWG

DWG

Model Generation & Integration Process

• Model Setup & Standards• Project Filing Structure• Location & Orientation• Project Levels & Grids• Site Segmentation• Stakeholder Models Structure• Federated Models Structure• Model Authorised Uses• Required Levels of Development & Authors• Model Naming Protocol• Document Naming Protocol• Room & Space Naming Protocol

• Element Classification System• Equipment Naming Protocol• System Naming Protocol• Asset Naming Protocol• Material Naming Protocol• Object Parameters• Visualisation Requirements• Construction Sequencing (4D)• Cost Estimation Modelling Practices (5D)• Data Collection, Release & Transfer• Coordination & Clash Detection• Cad Package Specific

BIM Plan Requirements

• Model Setup & Standards• Project Filing Structure• Location & Orientation• Project Levels & Grids• Site Segmentation• Stakeholder Models Structure• Federated Models Structure• Model Authorised Uses• Required Levels of Development & Authors• Model Naming Protocol• Document Naming Protocol• Room & Space Naming Protocol

• Element Classification System• Equipment Naming Protocol• System Naming Protocol• Asset Naming Protocol• Material Naming Protocol• Object Parameters• Visualisation Requirements• Construction Sequencing (4D)• Cost Estimation Modelling Practises (5D)• Data Collection, Release & Transfer• Coordination & Clash Detection• CAD Package Specific

BIM Plan Requirements

3D Model Files

Storage

Backup

Moving

3D CAD – How big are the CAD files?115 Batman Street– 3,000m2 office building

115 Batman Street– 3,000m2 office building

3D CAD – How big are the CAD files?

3D CAD – How big are the CAD files?115 Batman Street– 3,000m2 office building

3D CAD – How big are the CAD files?

Discipline Revit File Size – Mb

Architectural 14 Mb

Fitout 43 Mb

Mechanical 36 Mb

Hydraulics 16 Mb

Electrical 40 Mb

Fire 22 Mb

TOTAL 171 Mb

Federated Model File (Navisworks) 23 Mb

115 Batman Street– 3,000m2 office building

3D CAD – How big are the CAD files?SAHMRI – 28,000m2 laboratory

SAHMRI – 28,000m2 laboratory

3D CAD – How big are the CAD files?

3D CAD – How big are the CAD files?SAHMRI – 28,000m2 laboratory

3D CAD – How big are the CAD files?

Discipline Revit File Size – Mb

Architectural 124 Mb

Fitout 28 Mb

Facade 100 Mb

Structural 98 Mb

Civil 11 Mb

Mechanical 147 Mb

Hydraulics 95 Mb

Electrical 61 Mb

Fire 30 Mb

TOTAL 695 Mb

Federated Model File (Navisworks) 82Mb

SAHMRI – 28,000m2 laboratory

Moving Files Around

Internally

Externally

Device & Networks Transfer Rates

Device Speed Mbytes/sec

Fibre Channel 2,000

SATA [1.0] Disk Drive 1,500

SATA [3.0] Disk Drive 3,000

FireWire 800 800

USB 2.0 640

WIFI (802.11g) 54

Internal Network 100 or 1,000

Internet connection 2 - 10

NBN 100 – 1,000

Getting the Data to the Internet

Memory PC Disk LAN Server Internet Transfer0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

AcceleratedConventional

Network Download Speeds

Device Rated Line Speed

Download Speed

ADSL Wireless Satellite 1 Mb/s

Wireless 3G 1.5 Mb/s

Next G 3G 7.2 Mb/s

NDY 10 Mb/s6 Mb/s in Aus 1 Mb/s to NZ

ADSL2 14 Mb/s

ADSL2+ 24 Mb/s

Cable 30 Mb/s

Network Download Speeds - Theory

Device Rated Line Speed

Likely Download

Speed

3,600m2 Project 171Mb of Files

28,000m2 Project 695Mb of Files

ADSL Wireless Satellite 1 Mb/s 0.6 Mb/s 4m 45s 19 m

Wireless 3G 1.5 Mb/s 0.7-1.25 Mb/s 4m 16 m

Next G 3G 7.2 Mb/s 2 1m 25s 6 m

NDY 10 Mb/s 6Mb/s 29s 2 m

ADSL2 14 Mb/s 8.4 21s 1m 23s

ADSL2+ 24 Mb/s 14.4 12s 48s

Cable 30 Mb/s 18 10s 39s

NBN 100 Mb/s 100 2s 7s

Network Download Speeds - Measured

Files Source Rated Line Speed

Measured Speed Download Time

150Mb Project File Aconex 10Mb/s 500Kb/s 5m

4Mb Project File Builder 4Mb/s 162Kb/s 25s

695Mb Project Files 500Kb/s 24m

171Mb Project Files 500Kb/s 5m 23s

695Mb Project Files 162Kb/s 1h 13m

171Mb Project Files 162Kb/s 18m

Computers

How Fast

Processor Speed Limits

Practical limit of ~3Ghz clock speed reached in 2003

Manufacturers turned to hyperthreading & multicore architectures

Multicore is running two or more actual CPUs on one chip

Concurrency is the next major revolution in how software will be written.

HOWEVER - CAD is not concurrent - yet

Computer Specifications - Considerations

Moore’s Law – computing power doubles every 2 years

“What Andy giveth, and Bill taketh away”

CAD is single treaded – only uses one processor core

RAM – rule of thumb – RAM usage will be file size x10

Operating System

• XP – 32bit has 3Gb memory limit

• W7 - 64 bit has 16Eb memory limit

Workstations - How much memory?

RAM – rule of thumb – RAM usage will be file size x10

Test - 150Mb Revit file

150Mb file expanded to 1.6Gb RAM 8Gb will do 12Gb to be future proof

Workstation memory usage, OS + Revit2.65Gb

Workstation memory usage, OS + Revit + 150Mb project File4.22Gb

Workstations - How fast?

CAD is single threaded

HP Workstation – Intel Xeon CPU 3.2Ghz – 4 core processors

Revit running flat out to export a file

Only 50% of one processor active

Workstations - How fast?

CAD is single threaded

HP Workstation – Intel Xeon CPU 3.2Ghz – 4 core processors

Revit running flat out to render an image

ALL processors active

Computer Specifications

Specification

Processors Intel i7 > 2.3 GHz

RAM 12Gb (8Gb will suffice)

Graphics Cards 1Gb RAM on AutoCAD Approved list

Operating System Windows 7 64 bit

Disk capacity 200Gb+

Disk Type SSD or SATA 2 or 3

Network cards 1Gb/s

Screen 1 x 27” + 1 x 19”

Budget $3k - $4k

Construction Sequencing – 4D

Federated model software – e.g. Navisworks or Navigator

Name, identify and classify components and systems correctly

Indentifying components with a phasing parameter assists

Model for construction – e.g. Draw a slab as it will be poured

Interfaces to project management software, or

Spreadsheet, or

Can contain the sequence in the federated model file

Cost Estimating – 5D

Generally done by interface to the source 3D files, not federated model

e.g. CostX uses a DWF export

Name, identify and classify components and systems correctly

Degree of accuracy needs to be consistent across project

Assists if the QS parameters are applied to equipment:

Australian Cost Management Manual – Guidelines for Cost Planning Consulting Services

Can be fiddly to get the export correct – test your files with the target software – CostX have a free viewer

Animations

Federated model software – e.g. Navisworks or Navigator

Done using similar techniques as 4D construction sequencing

Name, identify and classify components and systems correctly

Can be done on a good quality workstation

Simple Rendered Images

Simple Rendered Images

Simple to do in 3D modelling software

Helpful if correct materials and colours applied to systems

Not photorealistic

Can be done on a good quality workstation

Photorealistic – Physical Based Rendering

Fluorescent Downlight

LED Downlight

Photorealistic – Physical Based Rendering

Basis is a well constructed 3D model

Materials need to be correctly applied

Name, identify and classify components and systems correctly

Single image will tie up a workstation – e.g. 22 hours

Needs high end render farms

Software Upgrades

Beware the software upgrade

Annual releases

Often cliff upgrades

Need to upgrade across the project team

You may been multiple versions to handle different projects

Average large project will need 3-5 software upgrades of all project files.

In Summary

Fast workstations

Fast network

Central storage

Good backup

Fast internet connection – cannot be too fast

Be aware of the impact of software versions

Thank You