A significant paradigm shift is seen in the construction industry with BIM turning into an increasingly a viable platform. New technologies are introduced, and more companies are benefiting from reduced costs and productive work processes. If we have to gear-up in our BIM projects, we need to follow the following new trends.
Beyond 3D
Today, the BIM world is not restricted to only 3D. Companies use BIM 4D, 5D, and 6D software. While 4D BIM offers a high-quality visual format of the construction schedule, 5D and 6D BIM boost the quality by adding cost and materials. The added details like geometrics, aesthetics, thermal and acoustic properties in the project enable engineers to understand how a decision affects the costs of the design. 6D BIM is basically more strategic and long-term in nature and hence optimizes the construction ROI.
Modular pre-fabrication and construction
Modular construction results in reduced costs and accelerated construction as the building elements are already prepared and assembled in the workshop before the construction begins. MEP engineers are able to generate pre-fabrication drawings on the basis of the information available in BIM models. Workflows from installation to design and pre-fabrication are being streamlined and expedited.
Enhanced diversity in BIM tools
Today, there is a growing variety of all-in-one suites and packages that provides much greater functionality with lower investment to meet the client's preferences.
GIS meets BIM
GIS and BIM are coming together, raising the prospect of more holistic design environments in construction and infrastructure projects throughout the city. GIS allows BIM to place buildings within the wider context of other structures, utilities, and the environment, including topography, water resources, coastal barriers, cloud coverage, model of air quality, aircraft noise, solar energy potential, and demographic data. This helps decision-making by improving the design, influencing the building’s location, orienting and selecting construction materials. BIM receives the data on features like roads, pipelines, and electrical transformers from ArcGIS files and ArcGIS can connect with Revit and BIM 360 programs. An additional boost has come up with visualize consortium being set up to bring together data from discrete asset systems and combine it with BIM and GIS to enable the more efficient management and construction of infrastructure assets.
Drones
Many construction sites are heavily dependent on the use of drones. As drone technology continues to develop rapidly in the accuracy and precision of its readings, lesser human involvement is seen. Today, as the technology is turning out to be much more efficient and cost-effective, more construction companies are willingly and openly embracing it.
Internet of Things (IoT)
Internet of Things (IoT) is changing the way installers and modelers function. Orders and modeling are now becoming more convenient with cloud apps. Today, smart thermostats and intelligent ventilation systems are being used in the installation sector. The advantages of IoT come into the picture while releasing BIM data to prefab workshops, suppliers, or modelers. Using updated data, the design process can be directly executed with ready-to-order products which can be delivered directly to the building site.
Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR)
AR and VR are ushering radical shifts in construction. Today, though VR is an emerging trend, the uses and benefits of AR are becoming more popular. While VR is the tool for displaying building design and is used for stunningly accurate 3D visual modeling, AR is becoming the most prominent tool for clash testing and remote management. This allows to start planning and plotting sites before breaking the ground instead of using safety goggles.
BIM goes green
BIM provides sustainable advantages to construction by considering materials and energy properties during the design phase and constructing energy-efficient buildings. This reduces energy costs, CO2 emission, loss on demolition or recycling of a building.
A data-driven sector with an emphasis on collaboration and real-time communication is around the corner. Hence, the construction stakeholders are experiencing higher productivity rates and fewer painful project delays. With mixed reality and IoT on the rise, adopting technology over the next few years will prove to be more important than ever.