Building InformationModeling The term BIM has the sameanonymity of any acronym: ASTM, EPD, BCS. Itpaints a concept with a stroke that makes itseem foreign and unreachable for many of us.When we strip that away and refer to thisconcept as Building Information Modeling, theterm takes on some meaning. The idea isdesigning a building with all the actualinformation being contained in the model. Thismodel holds all the data needed to do astructural analysis, an architectural rendering,a thermal comparison, a cost breakdown.Theoretically, there is no need to go back tosquare one with a model every time a newcalculation is needed; the same model worksfor each different analysis.

The key word in that statement is theoretically.The challenge that BIM is facing now is twofold:

• Many models do not transfer informationwell between analysis programs. A designcreated in an estimating software program(cost analysis), for instance, cannot bereadily imported into an architecturalmodeling program. Companies havedeveloped workflows to establish the bestway for information to be generatedthroughout their design process, but evenwith these in place, there are manyoccasions where changes made later in thedesign or construction process are notreflected in the model.

• Not all materials are BIM-ready. Informationmust be available for all materials, both in asingle unit state as well as an assembly

configuration, for the model to be helpful.Without this data, it would be impossible torun any sort of analysis.

BIM-M The challenge that the masonryindustry has taken on is to bring masonry intoa BIM-ready state. BIM for Masonry (BIM-M) isthe industry initiative for the US and Canada toachieve that goal. There are several work -groups focused on various aspects of BIM-M.Material suppliers have been tasked withcategorizing what information is needed formasonry to be BIM-ready. There are so manyattributes to any product, wrapping your head around everything that encompasses amaterial may seem daunting. A simple exampleshows the size of the task needed here.

A Cup of Coffee I started drinkingcoffee in college. Those late nights and earlymornings studying for Dr. Pollock’s steeldesign course catch up to you quickly.Unfortunately, my morning cup(s) of joe hasbeen one habit I’ve never been able to break.If we look at a cup of coffee as more than justa drink, and instead try and break it down intoall its characteristics, we will get a flavor forthe material supplier’s BIM-M project.

• Coffee is Black One of the definingcharacteristics of coffee is its color. But thephysical color says much more about thedrink than just what it looks like. Blackcoffee is bitter, it has no additives, and mostlikely it is brewed differently from a mochaor latte. By drinking black coffee we aregetting a basic cup. But there are variations

to the level of black a cup of coffee can be.There are light roasts, dark roasts, mediumroasts, roasts from specific countries, roastsfrom specific types of beans and roastsroasted in a particular way. Just by stating acolor, we have opened up myriaddifferences that set one cup of coffee apartfrom another by factors not taken intoaccount by the word black. It is the samewith masonry. In the US, a grey block istypically an 8" x 8" x 16" concrete masonryunit (CMU). There is no added color to makethe unit lighter or darker or some othercolor. Depending on where the materialsare sourced, there is a large variation ofshades that this block can be. For thatmatter, there are a large number ofconfigurations into which a simple unit canbe manufactured. Face shells can be thickeror thinner. Webs can be removed, reduced

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The BIM-M Materials Workgroup is determiningwhich data needs to be included in a BIM model.Just as a cup of coffee has many characteristicsthat differentiate it from the next, so do each ofthe products known as masonry unit.

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Deciphering Complexities in CategorizingMyriad Masonry Materials

MasonryDeveloping BIM-Ready Masonry

Technology

Buzzwords There are very few buzz words in theconstruction community larger than BIM. Sure we have thingslike sustain ability and transparency, green and resilient, butnothing holds quite the weight that BIM does when it enters a conversa tion. We may think BIM is a monumental task thatonly geeks with large computers can under stand, but as acommunity in general, we have a very limited view at thispoint of what BIM even means.

Tyler Witthuhn, EIT

Originally published in SMART|dynamics of masonry Vol 1 No 2

dynamicsofmasonry.com INNOVATION | TECHNOLOGY Vol 1 No 2 2013 SMART |dynamicsofmasonry 35

or enlarged; the unit can have ears or anopen end or be fully solid. With bothmasonry and coffee, a simple statementsuch as grey or black can deliver a vast arrayof units (or cups). Any BIM model needs totake these characteristics into account.Having just a grey block included in themodel doesn’t cut it.

• Coffee is Special More exactly, there arespecial types of coffee. I can drink a cup ofblack coffee, but there are also espressoitems such as lattes, mochas, frappachinosand Americanos. Each of those has a subsetof characteristics to itself. There aredifferent flavors, production methods,toppings and syrups that can be added orremoved to create that perfect, individualdrink. It is the same with masonry. We havefull-size units, half highs, split face, groundface, fluted, the list goes on. Each drink fallsunder coffee and each style of CMU fallsunder masonry.

• Coffee is Tasty Not only is coffee tasty, but it has different tastes. It can be bitter,strong, weak, or full-bodied. The samegrounds can produce very different cupsjust by adding a varied amount of water. A masonry unit is precisely the same;

different water content, aggregate type andcement mixes can provide a large variationin strength, absorption or smoothness fromthe same geometric unit.

• Coffee has Cousins Many other hot drinksthat we consume are not coffee but are ofsimilar stature. There are teas, hotchocolates, apple ciders and (shudder) decaf.In the same way, the masonry industry is not just CMU; we must look to the needs of clay brick, natural stone, manufacturedveneer stone and cast stone. Each hasspecific characteristics that the others do not. Any BIM model needs to take that into account.

Back to BIM-M: MaterialSupplier Workgroup So what isthe point? Something as simple as a cup ofcoffee--or a masonry unit--is incrediblycomplex. In order to correctly model astructure, it is important to characterize thecorrect level of detail and complexity for eachpart of the assembly. The challenge for theMaterial Supplier Workgroup is to draw theboundaries for what is masonry, and knowingwhat the necessary data pieces to modelmasonry are. The group has solved the firstconundrum with this simple statement:

A masonry unit is anything laid by amason as part of a wall assembly.

This broad definition allows the group toconsider materials such as veneers, connectors,mortars or grout that may not be normallymodeled when looking at a structural masonrywall. These are all important parts of masonryassemblies and greatly affect the construct -ability, cost analysis, sustainability and morewhen it comes to BIM modeling .

Answering the second part of that question,what necessary data pieces to model, is amuch more challenging task. Basic functionsevery model needs are geometric shape,structural capacity and thermal efficiency butwith more and more advanced digital analysis,this workgroup’s job includes a fair amount oflooking into the crystal ball. We must try topiece together what analysis will look like for the next decade and provide that view to software manufacturers who will beimplement ing this. New design constraints likeenvironmental product declarations (EPDs) or the functional resilience of a structure will eventually be modeled. Knowing whatinformation those classes require is a largepart of the coming work.

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dynamicsofmasonry.com36 SMART |dynamicsofmasonry Vol 1 No 2 2013 INNOVATION | TECHNOLOGY

Determining the Right DataThere is also the challenge of providing toomuch data. Or, more than providing, requiringtoo much data. Designers only model a buildingto a specific level of detail. They know that aparticular wall will be comprised of one buildingmaterial or that openings will be placed in setlocations, but rarely will an architect specifythe exact wall tie to use on a veneerapplication or the specific block to act as a backup. These specifics are added later by architects, general contractors,construction managers, engineersor maybe the masons themselves.In order to create a living,breathing model that isenvisioned, the industry mustconsider this challenge andprovide solutions. Eventually, thelevel of detail for a model willinclude the exact block, brick, tie,grout or mortar that is actuallyplaced in the field. As we get closer to this reality, it becomes important for there to be BIM models for each stock keeping unit(SKU) a producer provides. As with provid ingtoo much information when it is not needed,

we cannot ask for too much informa tion whenit is not practical to give. These are allquestions the workgroup is answering.

Compiling everything there is to know about amasonry unit into an accessible database is nolaughing matter. Perhaps we already have inplace the largest and most important resource.That is the connection with industry profes -sionals nationwide who are providing input and expertise to the initiative. Without these

individuals, this projectwould not even be possible to start. This information isbeing brought togetherby a university that has shown excellencein this field for morethan 30 years. GeorgiaInstitute of Technologyis providing all theacademic work to turn the information

gathered from industry experts into a functionaldatabase. Overseeing the project areProfessors Russell Gentry and Chuck Eastmanbringing with them a com bined 50 years of experience in the BIM world.

BIM READY

Material Supplier WorkgroupBrian Trimble, Brick Industry Association

Chad Piles, Block USADon Strange, Interstate Brick

Duane Rondeau, Besser MachineJack Kennedy, York Building Products

Kurt Siggard, Concrete Masonry Association of California and Nevada

Tim Michael, Advanced Cast StoneKevin Torok, Oldcastle

Wayne Buoni, Boral BrickJessee Hawthorn, Cast Stone Institute

Rocky Jenkins, CemexSteve Prince, Cemex

Ted Light, ACM ChemistriesJeff Elder, Western States Clay Products Assoc.

To volunteer for the Material Supplier Workgroup,contact Jeff Elder, project manager at

jeff.elder@interstatebrick.com | 801.280.5290.

More than 71% of commercial andinstitutional structuresbuilt in North Americalast year required BIM designs

• Tradesmen’s Master Estimator, with On- Screen 3D Estimator (OS3DE) allows you to take-off your masonry walls and render them directly on the fl oor plan(s) in 3D.

• Take a virtual tour through the fi nished project and see how the building is put together. Review and catch any costly mistakes before you submit your bid!

• Tradesmen’s offers an .IFC export for your projects that require a model for BIM. There is no need to seek out and pay an outside service thousands of dollars for each project requiring a BIM model.

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Masonry Computer Estimating That Does It All ... in 3D!

And while these are incredible resources, wealso have ideas that make this project simpler.For instance, there is virtually an infinitenumber of colors in the world that we cansee. Does that mean there will be required an infinite number of the same unit all withslightly different colors? No, that is clearly anexpectation that is unrealistic. All that is reallynecessary is that we know the unit has color.Later, we can choose exactly what color thatis. We would not need, or want, a list of unitswith every variable shade of aquamarine.While this may be a slightly absurd example,think about all the variables in all the units inall the applications – considering that noteverything will need to be provided at alltimes is comforting.

Reaping the Benefit Bringingmasonry into the BIM universe sounds like anincredible task. What is the benefit for all thiseffort? Simply: market share. More than 71% of commercial and institutional structuresbuilt in North America last year required BIMdesigns. Some of those projects weremasonry. However, without the full tools of BIM-M, the industry was selling itself short.Taking these steps toward BIM-M will provide

valuable information to all segments of theindustry. Things like:• Accurate and faster cost analysis and

take offs for producers and contractors• Better coordinated job sites and

material deliveries for producers andgeneral contractors

• Improved safety provisions and workflows for masons

• Detailed views of complicated areas for contractors

• More advanced modeling techniques for engineers

• Accurate views of a project to help and realize an architect’s vision

These are just some of the important advances BIM-M will bring to masonry. Moreimportantly, BIM is how design will be donefor generations to come. If masonry does nothave the tools to compete in these arenas,projects will invariably use other buildingmaterials. The Material Supplier Workgroup is dedicated to making sure that does nothappen. So raise your cup of coffee!

Tyler Witthuhnis a projectengineer at the NationalConcreteMasonryAssociation.

In this capacity, he manages projectsrelated to concrete masonry researchand development. Witthuhn is pursuinghis Master of Science at Georgia Tech,while acting as a research assistant onthe BIM-M project. He received hisBachelor of Science in Civil Engineeringfrom Washington State University inPullman WA. There he focused onstructural design while minoring inmathematics. tyler.witthuhn@gmail.com509.595.1676