Maximizing the benefits of BIM, even on small projects, requires just three key steps:

Let me break these down for you.

We will build it anyway is a common saying I hear about the usage of BIM in construction projects. And I agree - we have been building homes for thousands of years without any advanced technology, but I doubt there are many contractors that would not use electric tools nowadays, or designers that would not use computers to design. Just as those technologies became essential for efficiency and precision, BIM is on a similar trajectory. However, like any technology, BIM must be used correctly and for the right reasons. Misusing it or adopting it without clear goals can lead to wasted expenses, delays, and frustration.

Finding the right contractor to build your dream house is one of the most critical steps in your journey. Once your dream design is complete—essentially serving as a handbook for what needs to be built—the next big task is to find the team to bring it to life.

Tendering is largely a numbers game. You gather construction cost estimates, compare them, and use them as one of your primary decision-making tools. While other factors like reputation and communication skills are also important, they often take a backseat to cost considerations.

So, how can you leverage the power of BIM to make these estimates as accurate as possible? Let’s break it down into two key processes.

Building Information Modeling (BIM) has been touted as a revolutionary technology in the construction industry for years. However, despite its potential to streamline processes, reduce costs, and improve project outcomes, BIM remains a niche practice.

At a recent BIM conference I attended, I noticed that most of the visitors were those who had already adopted the technology. However, when I spoke with a few attendees who hadn't embraced BIM, I encountered some deeply skeptical views. Here’s my take on why BIM adoption continues to lag behind.

Over 2,600 MEP (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing) 3D objects were modeled for my home during the design phase. These models exclude wires, fixtures, and other smaller elements. My point is that modern single-family homes are complex engineering projects. Neglecting careful consideration of solutions during design can significantly impact your well-being during occupancy, while creating detailed building information models can provide invaluable insights and benefits.

While I truly believe BIM (Building Information Modeling) can benefit anyone planning for a new building—whether large or small—one of the biggest challenges with BIM is determining what you actually need versus what might actually help. After more than a decade managing BIM across various projects, I’ve observed two major pitfalls that stem from over exaggerating BIM requirements.

Imagine knowing, with reasonable accuracy, how much your house construction will cost at the very start of the design process—and, beyond that, being able to compare various design options. This is one of the main benefits of incorporating Building Information Modeling (BIM) into your project. In this article, I’ll explain how BIM can help you make more informed choices for your build.

Though BIM can bring tremendous benefits to almost any construction project, there are also risks associated with its use. A risk is an uncertain event or condition that, if it occurs, can have a positive or negative effect on a project's objectives.

In this blog post, I’ll examine the main risks related to BIM, categorized by risk types, and discuss how to manage and address them.

Building Information Models (BIM) represent real-life objects like walls, floors, pipes, and equipment. While it may seem logical to model as much as possible to harness BIM’s full benefits, doing so can be time-consuming and costly. So, how do you determine the "right" amount to model?

Building Information Modeling (BIM) is regarded as a breakthrough in construction, largely due to its integration with technological advancements. Beyond offering new ways to approach design, BIM, when utilized effectively, can significantly enhance traditional processes such as collaboration, efficiency, and transparency, to name a few. This is because more information is available, more frequently, to more people — and it is presented more clearly.

Last week marked the start of a new school year for many countries, and I decided to explore the opportunities for learning more about digital construction and Building Information Modelling (BIM) technologies. BIM encompasses a wide range of topics tied to specific roles, such as clients, estimators, engineers, and emerging roles like BIM coordinators, 4D specialists, and more. It also involves various tools, including Revit and others.

In this blog post, I have compiled information on five key educational resources:

Your building design is nearly complete, having been developed using traditional 2D methods. You’re either planning to tender for contractors or have already selected one, but construction has not yet begun or is still in the early stages.

Is there a way to reduce risks, such as cost increases or unpleasant design changes, that might arise from significant design errors at this stage?

Yes, there is—and Building Information Modeling (BIM) is one of the principles that can help, particularly in more complex projects, such as the reconstruction of existing buildings or the construction of new buildings with intricate shapes or functionalities. I refer to this process as "pre-construction validation," and during it issues related to blueprints, constructability and quantities can be identified. In this post, I will explore its principles and benefits.

To fully leverage the benefits of Building Information Modeling (BIM) during the design process, initial condition (inventory) models must be created. Ideally, this should be done using 3D survey data as discussed in Part 1, although in some cases, standard measurement methods or a combination of both can be used.

Reconstructing heritage or historic buildings is often notoriously challenging due to the many unknowns that can lead to significant design changes during construction and increased costs. However, modern technological advances—such as Building Information Modeling (BIM), LiDAR 3D surveying, and other —have evolved significantly, enabling the reduction of these unknowns with a relatively modest initial investment.

In this two-part article, I explore some of these innovative tools and processes to help you minimize unexpected surprises during the reconstruction of heritage buildings.

In small residential projects, it’s quite common for detailed designs to focus primarily on architectural and structural elements, leaving the MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing) system routing for contractors to determine during construction. However, given the increasing complexity of MEP systems and the sheer number of components—pipes, lighting, mechanical equipment, maintenance areas, etc.—I believe it is crucial to include a detailed MEP design as well. But what about incorporating a 3D environment? Is there a significant advantage to creating 3D models for MEP systems in small residential projects? In this blog post, I will explore the benefits, including insights from my own experience with my house.