Green Buildings with BIM Part 3: Construction

Traditionally, construction is one of the least environmentally helpful activities that humans can engage in. We use heavy machinery which guzzles oil to remove trees and plants from their natural habitat, disrupt the ecosystem above and below the soil, and create sometimes substantial amounts of waste. These are the old norms in construction, from at least 50 years ago. Now, an awareness of the environmental impact of various tasks, and the use of Building Information Modeling (BIM) to minimize these, is rewriting history. Today we are looking at how the construction phase of a project can be made cleaner and greener than ever by utilizing 3D modelling processes to create green buildings.

How does BIM ‘green’ the construction process?

There are several main ways that utilizing BIM technology can help the green credentials of construction project. These include:
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Green Buildings with BIM Part 2: From Concept to Detailed Design

It is much more difficult to create an optimal environment within a building when it has already been designed, compared to working to specific goals from the planning phase. This can be expressed in fewer words: ‘You can put lipstick on a pig … but it’s still a pig’! In terms of green buildings, this means that systems like grey water tanks, solar panels, recycled office furniture and low energy appliances are the lipstick. If the building was not well-designed to take advantage of natural sunlight and ventilation, to be able to catch its own rainwater and provide it’s own soundproofing and if it constantly requires heating and cooling to maintain a comfortable temperature – it is a pig. Today we are looking at using building information modelling in the conceptualisation and detailed design phases of a construction project to ensure you don’t end up with a lipsticked pig.
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Green Buildings with BIM Part 1: Determining Requirements

The biggest impact on the natural environment is the built environment – as we start to see the effects of generations of ignorance about how human activities impact the natural world, there is a growing push towards green technologies. Green building design is about more than adding a grey water system and using solar panels, though. These measures are important, but the building’s design can make quite a difference in the demand for resources and therefore reduce load on whatever water and power systems are in place. We are launching a two-part look at how building information modelling pushes green design to the forefront of a construction project, and specifically at the requirements-listing phase.
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BIM for the Bird’s Nest – A Case Study

The Bird’s Nest, officially known as the National Stadium, caused quite a stir when it was unveiled in 2008. It was both hated and loved, but for architects, engineers and construction workers around the world, it inspired another emotion – awe. This project was enormously detailed, and could not have been achieved in as short a time, with as low costs and little room for error, had it not been for building information modelling technology. We look at how BIM made it possible for the structural engineers, steel detailers and construction team to put the Bird’s Nest together in time for the Olympics.
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Implementing Building Information Modelling In Small Firms – Best Practices

Building information modelling is one of the newer construction and engineering technologies available and it is much like any other capital improvements to the business. In the short term, it requires an investment of time and money. In the longer term, both employees and managers wonder how they did without it. With careful planning and management and some expert help at critical points, you can help ease the transition to using building information modelling in a small firm and be reaping the benefits much sooner. We look at how, with guidance on timing issues, human issues, and equipment issues, the transition to BIM can be a small business success.
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The Changing Face of Technology in The Construction Industry

The role of technology in the construction industry has changed dramatically in the past decade. The integration of computer based, three dimensional imagery in the design, planning and construction process is no longer a fancy tool to attract prospective clients; it is an essential part of a business that cannot be forgone. Those that have not embraced this technology run the risk of being outdated and outdone by competitors.
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