Past, Present and Future Directions in Building Information Modelling

(BIM)

Chimay J. AnumbaFREng, PhD, DSc, Dr.h.c., CEng, FICE, FIStructE, FCIOB, FASCE

Professor and HeadDepartment of Architectural Engineering

Pennsylvania State University

Preamble• Penn State:

– Over 82,000 students on 24 ‘Commonwealth’ campuses across PA– Main campus is University Park with about 45,000 students– University Park is located in Central PA (3-4hrs from Philadelphia,

Washington DC, New York, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, etc.)

• Architectural Engineering: – One of 12 Depts/Programs in College of Engineering– About 500 students (400 UG and 100 PG)– About 25 faculty (7 of whom are adjunct)– Department was 100 years in 2010 !!!

• Degree Programmes: – 5 year B.A.E– Integrated B.A.E./M.A.E + Integrated B.A.E./M.S.– M.S., M.Eng., Ph.D. in Architectural Engineering

AE Dept.’s Latest Claim to Fame:$129m Energy Efficient Buildings Research Grant

Past

Present

Future

Reflections on BIM…

Scope• Historical perspective• Developments…from CAD to BIM• Growth in BIM Uptake:

– Most AEC firms now have some level of BIM adoption– Many clients/owners now require ‘BIM’ as part of bid

submissions (UK mandates BIM use by 2016!)– Many degree programs developing BIM courses

• Are we there yet?– Has BIM development reached an optimum level?– Does industry adoption signal end of ‘BIM research’?

• Potential future directions…– Making the most of existing systems– Extending current BIM functionality– BIM as leverage for other capabilities

Historical Perspective…

• Aristotle: ‘The soul never thinks

without a picture/image…’

• Visualization is a critical part of design:Without this externalization, it is arguable whether an

artefact has indeed been designed• Earliest architectural drawings date back to

2000BC:Etchings on stone tablets

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/File:Aristotle_Altemps_Inv8575.jpg

Early Professional Practice . . .

• The Master Builder:– ‘Master’ with multi-

disciplinary education:• architecture, mathematics,

engineering, materials, technology, etc.

– Single point responsibility

• Limited requirements for data sharing and/or visualization…

The Current Context. . .• Growth in specialization/academic disciplines:

– architects, structural engineers, building services engineers, quantity surveyors, contractors, suppliers, sub-contractors, etc.

• Fragmentation at several levels:– project team members– stages in project life-cycle– project knowledge– etc.

• Globalization exacerbates this• Need for shared views/models!

Definitions

• What is BIM?– Butterflies in Motion?– Building Information Management?– Building Information Modelling?

• Building Information Modelling:– ‘a modeling technology and associated set of processes

to produce, communicate and analyze building models’- Eastman et al, 2007

– ‘a digital representation of physical and functional characteristics of a facility…’

- NBIMS, 2009

Professor Gifford AlbrightJuly, 1968

MODCON:Man-Machine System for the Optimum Design and Construction of Buildings’

Vision (1961): ‘a computer operation with both verbal and graphic printout that will allow an architect, engineer and others to sit down together and quickly conceive, design and specify a building on the basis of total performance criteria’

Early BIM Pioneer?

‘Over the Wall’ Syndrome

Collaboration Tool/BIM

Integrated Project Team

Satisfied Client

Developments…

Sketchpad (1965)

IGES/DXF STEP IFC/NBIMS

Revit Model

Other Developments…

• Product (Data) Modelling• Parametric Modelling• Process Modelling• Integrated Product & Process Modelling (Project

Modelling)• Project Team/Supply Chain Integration• Lifecycle Integration (concept to disposal)• Etc.

Signature/Iconic Buildings:- new challenges- new opportunities

BIM offers:- Mechanism for design, construction, commissioning, operation and lifecycle facility management of buildings

Current BIM Status

• Industry uptake…• Sophisticated software tools…• Integration of geometric modelling with:

– Energy models (Energy +, Modelica, IES, etc.);– Structural analysis and design;– Lighting (Radiance, DaySim, etc.)– Estimating/Costing (QTO, etc.)– Sustainability => ‘Green BIM’– Etc.

• Incorporation of BIM into education…

BIM in Education

BIM Education at Penn State• Students use AutoCAD in 1st year drawing course• Revit now used in 2nd and 3rd years for building

modelling• Integrated BIM Studio in 4th year links AE

students (construction, lighting/electrical, mechanical & structural options) with architecture and landscape architecture students.

• BIM/IPD Thesis - an option in 5th year capstone project

BIM/IPD Thesis

• 3 Student Groups of 4 – one from each option• Projects: NY Times Building, Millennium Science

Complex (PSU), Ice Hockey Arena (PSU)• Replicates real world experience• Students’ collaboration skills and technical

knowledge (depth and breadth) greatly enhanced• Final presentations to large industry jury… • Penn State has won 4 national awards: AIA (x2),

NCARB, Autodesk

BIMINTEGRATING BIM INTO ACADEMIA … INTEGRATING ACADEMIA WITH BIM

Architecture Landscape Architecture 

Mechanical,       Structural,Lighting/ElectricalEngineering

Construction Engineering

Immersive Construction (ICon) Lab at Penn State

BIM Implementation Guides(www.bim.psu.edu)

Project Execution Planning(www.bim.psu.edu)

BIM PROJECT EXECUTION PLANNING PROCEDURE

BIM for Owners Guide

• Maximize benefits of BIM to owners

• Link BIM to operation/FM• Huge potential for lifecycle

asset management

BIM PLANNING PROCEDURES

Additional Information at bim.psu.edu

NO!!!

What is Missing?

• Concurrent Conceptual Design Support• Seamless Integration:

– across disciplines/processes/tools/etc.• Proactive Process Control• Link between BIM and Physical

Construction• Support for Whole Building Lifecycle:

– Concept -> Design -> Construction…Demolition• Etc.

Future Directions in BIM• BIM technology not static…• Major BIM software developers and third party

developers looking to add functionality• Potential future directions should seek to:

– Make the most of existing systems– Use BIM as leverage for other capabilities– Extend current BIM functionality…

BIM and Beyond… • Emerging Directions:

– Context-Aware Virtual Prototyping (CAVP)– Telepresence/Human Integration– Building Knowledge Modelling– Automated Compliance Checking– BIM for ‘X’ Abilities (nD Modelling)– Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS)– Mixed Reality– Evidence-Based Virtual Prototyping– The ‘PRINT’ button (automated transition from Model

to Building)– Etc.

Avionics

Physics

Pic Database

Control

Physics

Context-Aware Virtual Prototyping

Display and manipulation of model information based on key context parameters: location, role, device, time of day, etc.

Context Dimensions

ContextDimensions

User ID(e.g. Foreman,

Project Manager, Site Supervisor, Electrician, etc)

Location(e.g. on-site office,

close to cranes, Floor 1, etc)

User Device

(e.g. PDA, Tablet PC, Notebook,

etc)

User Activity

(e.g. Inspect the work, pick up

skips, roof wiring on ground floor,

etc)

Time(e.g. Excavation,

foundations, formwork placement,

finishing, etc)

Telepresence in BIM…

Building Knowledge Modelling(BKM)

Data Information Knowledge

Building Data Modelling

Building Information Modelling

Building Knowledge Modelling

Embedded Knowledge 1

35

Embedded Knowledge 2

Automatic Compliance Checking

• Easier with more embedded knowledge• Support needed for:

– Ontology development– Semantic interoperability– Natural Language Processing– Standards processing– Etc.

BIM for ‘X’ Abilities

• Design for ‘X’ Abilities in Concurrent Engineering• nD Modeling: 4D/5D + …• BIM Support for:

– Concurrent Conceptual Design– Safety Management– Energy Efficiency– User Behaviour Modelling– Operation and Maintenance (‘BIM for Owners’)– Decommissioning/Demolition/Deconstruction…– Etc.

Virtual Model

Physical Construction

Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS)

Bi-directional Coordination

CPS Deployment Scenario

• Light Fixture Tracking and Control

Mixed (BIM) Reality…AR or AV?

Experience-Based Virtual Prototyping

‘PRINT’ - BIM to Construction

• Next logical step…• Automated ‘printing’ of buildings from virtual

models• Current efforts led by:

– University of Southern California– Loughborough University

Concrete Printing at Loughborough!

Conclusions• BIM has come a long way• Current industry uptake is encouraging but business and

cultural changes still need to be addressed!• Cost of missed opportunities HUGE but often ignored in

evaluating the cost of non-adoption!• We are NOT there yet…• Much more needs to be done…• Next generation of engineers will speed up progress• Perseverance needed: path from research to mainstream

adoption can be very long!!!• Doing nothing is not an option!

Questions

Past, Present and Future Directions in Building Information Modelling (BIM)PreambleAE Dept.’s Latest Claim to Fame:�$129m Energy Efficient Buildings Research GrantPastScopeHistorical Perspective…Early Professional Practice . . .The Current Context. . .DefinitionsSlide Number 10Slide Number 11Slide Number 12Developments…Other Developments…Slide Number 15Current BIM StatusBIM in EducationBIM Education at Penn StateBIM/IPD ThesisSlide Number 20BIM Implementation Guides�(www.bim.psu.edu)Slide Number 22Slide Number 23BIM for Owners GuideSlide Number 25Slide Number 26What is Missing?Future Directions in BIMBIM and Beyond… Slide Number 30Context Dimensions Telepresence in BIM…Building Knowledge Modelling (BKM)Embedded Knowledge 1Embedded Knowledge 2Automatic Compliance CheckingBIM for ‘X’ AbilitiesSlide Number 38CPS Deployment ScenarioMixed (BIM) Reality…AR or AV?Experience-Based Virtual Prototyping‘PRINT’ - BIM to ConstructionSlide Number 43ConclusionsSlide Number 45Slide Number 46Questions