The BNds Team authored the Building Information Model (BIM) Standards for the San Diego Community College District and brings an expertise that has become standard protocol for several California Community Colleges Districts. Many of our team members are involved in defining national standards for the use of BIM during design and construction. We see each project as an opportunity to further advance and develop these practices. We use BIM technology tools to support team collaboration, project efficiency, virtual design coordination and ultimately to control project cost and schedule. Our BIM strategies include the following practices:
Defining Expectations
All BNds projects begin with the development of a BIM Implementation Plan. The plan defines standards, conventions, and project goals. With a comprehensive plan our team is able to positively influence project cost, schedule and quality.
Program Verification
Conforming that all critical needs are addressed from the very beginning is crucial to overall project success. BNds fully utilizes the BIM database as a tool to facilitate the programming phase of design. Prior to design modeling, the BIM database is populated with all program requirements which can then be scheduled, sorted, filtered and compared to make sure that all of the project requirements are satisfied throughout the project’s development. This body of data is immediately available to test solutions against the project requirements.
Energy Analysis
Through the use of environmental applications, our models are analyzed for optimal achievement of each project’s sustainability goals. True testing of the BIM model for regional site specific solar patterns, thermal envelope integrity, and energy system performance allows us to accurately track compliance with the Project’s energy performance goals.
Model Development
Not all models are created equally. There are two parts of a BIM model; information and model elements. To clearly define BIM deliverables, we develop a Level of Development (LOD) Specification. This defines the level of modeling and information that is embedded in the model and establishes the model author at each phase.
Modeling Beyond Components
Through the use of clash-detection technology, the BNds team delivers higher quality documents coordinated to reduce construction conflicts. As our design evolves, non-building components are also modeled to allow for proper installation, operation and maintenance of the facility. This includes zones of influence, equipment clearances, and miscellaneous items such as tree boxes, ladder access for facility maintenance.
E-Specs for Revit
Specifications are fully integrated with the BIM model. This tool interfaces with Revit’s parametric database, instantly updating the project specifications to the requirements of the building model.
Mobile CA
The BIM model continues to be a meaningful tool during the course of construction, BNds utilizes mobile solutions throughout construction administration. All construction data is stored on the cloud, including contract documents, pay-apps, photos, RFIs etc., and can be accessed securely and remotely at the
Past Results
Technology alone cannot deliver the level of results we have all come to expect. Experience has proven that it is the combination of technology and a collaborative ideology that yields the greatest returns. With the proposed integration of BIM technology BNds projects have achieved high levels of efficiency, accuracy and precision and support an Integrated Project Delivery environment.
