MP5666 BIM from a Contractor’s Perspective - …aucache.autodesk.com/au2011/sessions/5666/class... · MP5666 BIM from a Contractor’s Perspective Class Description ... • CADWorx

Speaker: Michael Smith; Director of Virtual Design and Construction

Company: Harder Mechanical Contractors, Inc.

MP5666 BIM from a Contractor’s Perspective

Class Description

This class is designed for all participants of the construction industry. You will learn how a

prominent mechanical contractor implemented Autodesk® Building Information Modeling (BIM)

and 3D modeling software to advance the company's ability to compete, win contracts, and

leverage BIM prior to and during construction. We will explore a number of projects that present

a variety of interesting MEP coordination challenges and serve to depict how Autodesk software

is instrumental in achieving success during construction. Architects, engineers, and contractors

alike will benefit from the real-world experiences that will be presented during this class.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Learning Objectives

At the end of this class, you will be able to:

• Explain construction industry trends to utilize BIM

• Describe the value-added benefits of BIM in a construction project

• Describe how various Autodesk software products are applied to construction processes

• Identify the positive impact of BIM in construction

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

About the Speaker

Michael is the Director of Virtual Design and Construction for Harder Mechanical Contractors, Inc. Headquartered in Portland, Oregon, Harder Mechanical Contractors was rated as the fifth (5th) largest specialty mechanical contractor in the United States by ENR in 2010. As Director, he manages all facets of the company’s BIM resources. He has 30 years experience in the AEC industry that includes consulting engineering, CAD/BIM management, construction, and the Autodesk Channel.

Email address: [email protected]

BIM from a Contractor’s Perspective

2

Construction industry trends to utilize BIM

Historic Perspective

In order to explain recent trends in the construction industry to utilize Building Information Modeling

(BIM) it is important to review the historic use of CAD technology in the industry. By doing so, we can

get a perspective on the current pace of BIM implementation by the industry and gain an understanding

of the reasons that construction companies are now engaged in rapid adoption of BIM.

Although Architectural and Engineering firms progressively advanced in the use of 2D CAD software to

document projects throughout the last two decades of the 20th Century, it wasn’t until the emergence of

BIM software products such as Revit Architecture, Revit Structure, and Revit MEP through Autodesk®

innovation that the AEC community began to change the way that projects were designed and

documented. During the past decade, BIM introduced a paradigm shift in the way that projects are

designed and moved design professionals away from traditional 2D drafting techniques towards 3D

modeling methodology which ushered in a new age of construction.

Prior to the advent of BIM, most contractors used project contract documents (CD’s), or more

commonly referred to as Issued For Construction (IFC) drawings, as the primary reference during

estimating and construction. Surprisingly, many detailed construction projects by hand when necessary

and still do. Only large contractors could afford to utilize 2D CAD software such as AutoCAD for detailing

and/or have in-house CAD staff dedicated to this activity. Even fewer could justify the time and expense

of applying 3D CAD software solutions in a project.

In 2004, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) published a report stating that poor

interoperability and data management costs the construction industry, approximately $15.8 billion a

year, or approximately 3-4% of the total industry. Since this report, many have labeled BIM, a

technological information management process and product, as the answer to this problem.

The National BIM Standard (NBIMS), states a BIM (i.e. a single

Building Information Model) is defined as “a digital

representation of physical and functional characteristics of a

facility”. Furthermore, a BIM represents a shared knowledge

resource, or process for sharing information about a facility

forming a reliable basis for decisions during a facility’s life-

cycle from inception onward.

In the words of the NBIMS Executive Committee Leader and

former Chief Architect of the Department of Defense, Dana K.

“Deke” Smith, R.A., “A basic premise of BIM is collaboration by

different stakeholders at different phases of the life cycle of a

facility to insert, extract, update or modify information in the

BIM to support and reflect the roles of that stakeholder”.


3

As BIM software such as Revit has continually improved since its acquisition by

Autodesk® in 2002 and other software solutions such as Revit Structure were introduced

in 2005, the validity of BIM in North America gained momentum. With the introduction

of Revit MEP in 2006, the stage was set for BIM software to replace 2D CAD production

with a new 3D BIM methodology. Software improvements in recent years have resulted in the AEC

industry’s acceptance of BIM as the de facto standard for design and construction.

Throughout the first decade of BIM software

adoption by the AEC industry, facilities owners

and managers watched BIM evolve into

software tools and processes that could

dramatically enhance the way that facilities are

designed, improve construction efficiency, and

ultimately benefit operations and management

throughout a facility’s lifecycle.

Today, numerous facility owners view BIM as an essential requirement of new project construction and

require general contractors and subcontractors to execute pre-construction BIM best practices during

their project(s) for the following reasons.

• BIM is a data-rich, object-oriented, intelligent and parametric 3D digital representation of the facility.

• BIM is a tool for visualizing and coordinating A/E/C work and avoiding errors and omissions.

• BIM is an open standards based info repository for facilities lifecycles.

Autodesk Navisworks Acquisition – A milestone in construction

SAN RAFAEL, Calif., Aug. 9, 2007 — Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK) today announced it has completed

the acquisition of NavisWorks (JetStream) for a purchase price of $26 million, plus a

working capital adjustment. NavisWorks was a privately-held company based in Sheffield,

England, that provided software for 3D coordination, collaboration, and sequencing in

design and construction commonly referred to as Virtual Design and Construction (VDC).

The addition of Navisworks technology to the Autodesk portfolio enabled Autodesk customers to

aggregate design information from multiple platforms, including both Autodesk® and non-Autodesk

solutions. Likewise, Navisworks capabilities enabled us to overcome some of the interoperability

challenges we have all been faced with in the construction industry.

The Navisworks software acquisition was instrumental in solidifying BIM adoption to occur in the

construction industry. It represented the missing component in the construction BIM workflow of what

we now refer to as MEP Coordination. With Navisworks, a myriad of file formats from a variety of


4

sources can be integrated into one Federated 3D Model of the construction project, examined for

system conflicts and continuity, and managed as one project representation by all stake holders.

With the acquisition of Navisworks software, the construction industry recognized that it could utilize

the software to enhance contractor capabilities to improve construction efficiency and coordination

between trades. In just a few years, project contract verbiage began to require general contractors to

conduct MEP Coordination as an integral part of project execution.

Current Trends

The recession of 2008 dealt a heavy blow to almost every economy and market sector throughout the

world. The impact on the construction industry was catastrophic, to say the least. Surviving the

recession has been a challenge. Many companies were faced with their demise while other more

fortunate companies saw the opportunity to reinvest in their own capabilities during economic hard

times and planned to emerge from the recession stronger than ever.

Over the past four years, BIM has been a hot topic of discussion within the construction industry. We

have also seen a growing trend by contractors to implement 3D CAD and BIM technology in order to

comply with project pre-qualification specifications, improve their competitive edge and ability to win

contracts, and differentiate their company from the competition. The use of NavisWorks in the AEC

industry has grown to the point where it is almost ubiquitous in construction firms as well as multi-

disciplinary A/E firms using BIM.

A prime example is the 2009 McGraw-Hill Construction’s cutting-edge market intelligence SmartMarket

series report entitled “The Business Value of BIM” which found that “BIM

adoption has grown dramatically, now in use by half the North American

construction industry”. http://www.construction.com/

The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. publishes numerous textbooks and magazines.

The highlight of the McGraw-Hill Construction Outlook 2012 Executive

Conference held in Washington, DC on October 19, 2011 was the

presentation of McGraw-Hill Construction’s Dodge 2012 Construction

Outlook. The report examines the prospects for the construction

industry in 2012 as reflected in Dodge construction start statistics for

all major sectors. New construction starts are expected to reach $412

billion in 2012, barely budging from the 2011 total. That being said,

there is every reason for any contractor to implement BIM immediately

if it has not done so already. Competition is fierce and BIM capabilities

will continue to be a contributing factor in wining contracts in 2012.


5

BIM Implementation at HMC

As a mechanical contractor, Harder Mechanical Contractors, Inc.

(HMC) specializes in commercial, industrial, biopharmaceutical, and

advanced technologies process piping construction projects. HMC

uses project contract documents (i.e. IFC drawings) produced by

prominent engineering firms such as Fluor, CH2M Hill, Bechtel, etc.

and executes projects with traditional means and methods.

Surprisingly, HMC performed most of its in-house detailing activity

using hand drafting methods until just a few years ago. Some

detailers used AutoCAD software to produce 2D isometric drawings

for its fabrication facility. A select few used Bentley AutoPlant to

detail semiconductor tool installations at Intel and participate in MEP

coordination. AutoCAD was also used to view and print project CAD

drawings that were received from consulting engineering firms.

With a seventy-seven year reputation for exceptional performance as a mechanical contractor and a

proven track record of success, HMC continued to win contracts and remain profitable with annual

revues of $468M in 2009. However; HMC also began to see the impact of its lack of in-house CAD

resources as the AEC industry began to shift to BIM and 3D modeling. In 2007, HMC acknowledged a

growing trend of project pre-qualification requirements for in-house CAD/BIM capabilities and

recognized that it would need to address this requirement if it was to continue to remain competitive.

In 2008, HMC was awarded a contract with Genentech, a biopharmaceutical company, for a new

manufacturing facility in Portland, OR which required CAD/BIM capabilities and Navisworks MEP

Coordination. This project launched a company commitment to CAD/BIM technology at HMC.

Three additional projects in 2009; an expansion project for

Providence Hospital, the new Linus Pauling Science Center at

Oregon State University (OSU), and a substantial mechanical

retrofit project at Oregon Health and Science University

(OHSU) requiring CAD/BIM detailing and Navisworks MEP

coordination, solidified HMC’s commitment to CAD/BIM

implementation within the company.

In 2010, Michael Smith, then President of BIMworks, Inc., joined HMC as Director of VDC to manage the

company’s BIM implementation. With HMC’s financial strength and upper management’s commitment

to rapid adoption of BIM, an aggressive implementation plan was developed and executed. Over the

next year, HMC hired a number of new CAD/BIM detailers and invested over $500,000 implementing

twenty new state-of-the-art workstations and a number of new servers. Working with our local

Autodesk reseller, IMAGINiT Technologies, the company added a variety of Autodesk software products.


6

Autodesk Software

* HMC is an Autodesk Subscription customer.

• AutoCAD 2012

• Autodesk Architecture 2012

• AutoCAD MEP 2012

• Revit MEP 2012

• Inventor 2012

• Autodesk Plant Suite 2012

• Navisworks Manage 2012

• Navisworks Simulate 2012

• Navisworks Freedom 2012

• Vault 2012

• Design Review 2012

• True View 2012

Additional Software

• CADWorx Plant Professional

• ISOGEN

• QuickPen Pipe Designer 3D

• Intergraph Smart Plant

• Bentley Explorer

• Bentley AutoPlant

BIM Project Experience

INTEL D1X FAB facility, Hillsboro, OR

INTEL FAB 15 Heat Recovery, Aloha, OR

INTEL FAB 42 facility, Chandler, AZ

INTEL Tool Install, Chandler, AZ

Chemical Plant, Pittsburg, CA

NOAA Pier Project, Newport, OR

REC Solar / Silicon Plant, Mosses Lake, WA

Linus Pauling Science Center, Corvallis, OR

OHSU C Wing, Portland, OR

Providence Hospital, Portland, OR

Kaiser Hospital, Oakland, CA

Genentech Biopharmaceutical, Portland, OR

Note: For additional information regarding HMC capabilities, project experience, and

fabrication facilities visit our website at www.hardermech.com


7

BIM Project Images

Linus Pauling Science Center, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR

Genentech Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing Facility, Portland, OR

Intel Ocotillo Campus, Chandler, AZ


8

Benefits of BIM

HMC has gained a vast amount of experience and knowledge of using BIM technology in construction

projects in the last two years. Here are some of the benefits of BIM in construction that we believe

deserve mentioning.

• BIM is an accurate 3D geometrical representation of the parts and systems of a building in an

integrated data environment.

• Customer service – proposals are better understood through accurate visualization.

• Faster and more effective workflow processes – information is more easily developed, shared,

can be value-added, and reused.

• Improved representations of process piping installations and constructability issues.

• Improved coordination between trades, Project Management staff, and field personnel.

• Reduction in errors and omissions.

• Better production quality – documentation output is flexible and exploits automation.

• Automated assembly – manufacturer’s digital product data can be exploited in downstream

processes and used for detailing, fabricating, and assembly of systems.

• Quantities and shared properties of materials can be readily extracted from a BIM into a Bill of

Material (BOM) Report.

• Scopes of work can be easily isolated, defined, and documented as work packages.

• Systems, assemblies, and sequences can be shown in a relative scale with the entire facility or

group of facilities.

• Construction documents such as the layout drawings, installation drawings, isometrics,

procurement details, submittal processes and other specifications can be easily interrelated.

• Visualization: 3D renderings can be easily generated in-house with little additional effort.

• Conflict, interference and collision detection: because BIM models are created, to scale, in 3D

space, all major systems can be visually checked for interferences. This process can verify that

piping (as well as other systems) does not intersect with architectural features, steel beams,

HVAC ductwork, electrical conduits, cable trays, etc.

• Fabrication/shop drawings: it is easy to generate shop drawings for various building systems, for

example, piping isometric drawings (ISO’s) can be extracted automatically from the BIM.


9

Lessons Learned

HMC has realized the following positive impacts from applying BIM in construction.

• Up to 40% elimination of unbudgeted change.

• Cost estimation accuracy within 3%.

• Up to 80% reduction in time taken to generate a cost estimate.

• A savings of up to 10% of the contract value through MEP Coordination and clash detections.

• Up to 7% reduction in project time.

Autodesk 2012 products applied in construction

HMC based its BIM implementation plan on Autodesk software products for the following reasons:

• Autodesk’s strength and stability as the leading vendor of CAD/BIM software.

• AutoCAD 2012 is the most commonly used software in the AEC industry, guarantees

compatibility with the majority of project CAD files, and provides a platform for use with other

third party software applications.

• Abundance of knowledgeable AutoCAD designers and detailers in AEC industry.

• Autodesk Architecture 2012 allows 3D modeling capabilities of architectural elements.

• AutoCAD MEP 2012 allows HMC to utilize MEP source DWG files in their native format.

• Revit MEP 2012 allows HMC to work with Revit files provided by consulting engineering firms.

• Inventor 2012 allows HMC to utilize manufacturer’s product geometry created in SolidWorks.

• Autodesk Plant Suite 2012 provides a multitude of Autodesk software products.

• Navisworks Manage 2012 addresses project clash detection and coordination requirements.

• Navisworks Simulate 2012 provides an enhanced workflow by allowing HMC detailers to

develop MEP layouts while viewing Navisworks project files simultaneously in real time.

• Navisworks Freedom 2012 provides a viewing tool for estimators and project managers.

• Vault 2012 provides a file management capability and revision control utility.

• Design Review 2012 allows HMC project staff to view DWF files.

• True View 2012 allows HMC project staff to view and print DWG files.


10

Technology trends in construction

Laser Scanning

HMC has utilized laser scanning to capture existing as-built conditions. We have applied it in two ways.

Points of Connection (POC) Locations

Laser scanning technology can be applied to almost any retrofit or expansion project. Laser scanning

can quickly capture existing conditions with exacting precision and overcome accuracy limitations of

traditional field measurement techniques. This point data is then utilized to expedite precision 3D

modeling and detailing. This is especially evident when working with high-purity process piping systems

found in the semiconductor industry where a 1/32” precision (0.03125 inches) is required.

Point Cloud Data

Point cloud laser scanning

methodology can be quite effective

when capturing existing as-built

information of an area within a

project. It can provide an overall 3D

representation of the existing

condition and provide a visual

reference of content location(s) and

spatial relationships which would take

an exorbitant amount of time and

expense to measure and document.

Image shows pipe routed around electrical conduit in point cloud depicted in white (center left).

Point cloud data can also be used to check and validate BIM models for accuracy. This is especially true

in new construction. Once structural steel and concrete are completed laser scanning can be applied

prior to the installation of MEP systems. This allows the structural elements of the project to be

accurately captured and As-Built without being compromised or hidden by MEP systems.

Although laser scanning for point cloud data development is valuable, we have also seen conditions

where accuracy can be compromised. This is especially evident in conditions where objects are

extremely congested and result in hiding other objects. Objects themselves can blur accuracy if they are

highly reflective. A prime example of this effect is metal surfaces such as stainless steel and chrome.


11

Mobile Technology

Mobility is absolutely necessary in the construction BIM workflow. With the

ability to transport BIM models from place to place, the construction team can

access the BIM on an as needed basis rather than having to stop an activity and

go off-site to view or investigate an aspect of the BIM on a workstation. This

constitutes a tremendous time savings and eliminates wasted time and

expense. Minimizing adverse impacts to a construction schedule is paramount

in successful project management.

Laptops are an essential component in day to day construction success which

enables construction team members to take the BIM from the office workstation

into the field. They are also a valuable tool for taking BIM into MEP Coordination

meetings. Real time interactivity with the other trades can expedite the

coordination process. At HMC, we utilize Dell M6600 laptops with a minimum of

12 Gb of RAM and 2 Gb video cards.

iPad technology is growing in both capability and popularity. They are rapidly

becoming part of the BIM workflow in construction. There are many applications

that support both 2D and 3D native DWG™ CAD files for the iOS platform. Multi-

touch navigation allows pan, zoom, and 3D orbit of DWG files. There are apps for

Bid Management, BIM, LEED, estimating, viewing drawings, calculations, etc. For

more information about iPad applications try looking at this website.

http://blog.softwareadvice.com/articles/construction/the-best-construction-management-apps-for-the-

iphone-and-ipad-1082510/

Cell phone applications in construction are numerous. They include simple phone calls, two

way communications, email, and advanced apps for construction. For a comprehensive list

of cell phone apps try looking at GoogleDocs at

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?authkey=COajw-

MK&key=0AiO1FFCnXI6IdHZCOFROTlgzcXRxV0U2eDZLVFdMT0E&hl=en&authkey=COajw-

MK#gid=0


12

REVITKeys iPhone Screenshots

REVTKeys from Autodesk is a list of 158 keyboard

combinations for Autodesk Revit Architecture 2010 - 2012.

Arranged in 14 categories, this tool makes it easy to find

the keyboard shortcut you are looking for or learn new

ones. Utilizing REVITkeys for Revit Architecture will speed

up your work and help you learn new skills.

GoBIMGoBIMGoBIMGoBIM is a BIM document viewer. http://go-bim.iankeough.com/

goBIM™ allows users to easily manage navigation for models ranging

from 2Mb – 4Mb in size (varying file size dependent on iPhone model),

with options to manage larger models, dependent on additional load

time from the Web. NoteNoteNoteNote: GoBIM Designer Ian Keough has recently

joined Vela Systems.

Vela Systems provides Field Management Software for

construction. Unlike carrying pads of paper and tubes of

drawings on the jobsite, Vela Systems combines mobile

technologies at the point of construction with reporting

for management. http://www.velasystems.com/

Cloud Computing

The future use of cloud computing will have a dramatic impact on

the AEC industry. Cloud computing is the delivery of computing as

a service rather than a product, whereby shared resources,

software, and information are provided to computers and other

devices as a utility (much like a electrical grid) over a network

(typically the Internet) which are accessed from web browsers,

desktops, and mobile apps, while the business software and data

are stored on servers at a remote location. Contractors like HMC

will need to invest in more robust server technology in order to

support cloud computing company wide. There is also the issue of

past investments in software products and how that investment (which can be substantial) will factor

into the use of cloud computing expense. HMC has invested in BIM capabilities and resources in order

to improve the company’s ability to compete and win business. Cloud computing represents the next

technological advantage that HMC will implement as a leading mechanical contractor.

Documents

MP5666 BIM from a Contractor’s Perspective - …aucache.autodesk.com/au2011/sessions/5666/class... · MP5666 BIM from a Contractor’s Perspective Class Description ... • CADWorx