From YouTube to University: Your Guide to Learning More About BIM

10 Sep, 2024, No comments

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:

Social networks, blogs, and podcasts
Courses
Conferences
Books
Higher education

How pre-construction validation using BIM Can Prevent Cost Overruns and Design Errors in Construction

3 Sep, 2024, No comments

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.

Heritage Reconstruction: How to Reduce Costly Errors Using 3D & BIM. Part 2

27 Aug, 2024, No comments

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.

Heritage Reconstruction: How to Reduce Costly Errors Using 3D & BIM. Part 1

20 Aug, 2024, No comments

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.

Why 3D MEP Models Are a Game Changer for Small Homes: Reducing Surprises and Slashing Costs

13 Aug, 2024, No comments

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.

Which Free BIM Viewer is Best? Navisworks, Solibri, Autodesk Viewer & Open IFC Comparison. Part 2

6 Aug, 2024, No comments

In this video I compare 4 free building information model viewers - Navisworks Manage, Solibri Anywhere, Autodesk Viewer and Open IFC Viewer. Which one is the best?

Part 2 - Autodesk Viewer and Open IFC Viewer.

Which Free BIM Viewer is Best? Navisworks, Solibri, Autodesk Viewer & Open IFC Comparison. Part 1

30 Jul, 2024, No comments

In this video I compare 4 free building information model viewers - Navisworks Manage, Solibri Anywhere, Autodesk Viewer and Open IFC Viewer. Which one is the best?

Part 1 - Navisworks Freedom vs Solibri Anywhere.

Boost Your Real Estate Ads: From 2D Layouts to 3D Visualizations

23 Jul, 2024, No comments

If you are looking to rent or sell your property, high-quality pictures and detailed descriptions are fundamental to your advertisement. However, there are a few other free methods I have used to help in this process, including 3D and building information models.

Less Waste, More Savings: The Advantages of BIM in Home Building

16 Jul, 2024, No comments

I recently listened to a discussion about circular construction and the potential for reusing older materials to reduce waste. There are numerous opportunities to minimize waste, starting from the design phase, continuing through construction, and extending into the building's use phase. Waste can take many forms, including resource waste (also resources used during occupancy, like water, gas etc.), as well as time and financial waste.

When building my house, I leveraged the benefits of Building Information Modeling (BIM) to enhance my project and noticed several significant improvements in waste reduction. In this post, I will explain the benefits that BIM can bring to both small and large construction projects in terms of reducing waste.

Cutting Costs Early: How BIM Revolutionizes Financial Forecasting for Home Construction

9 Jul, 2024, No comments

Using Building Information Models (BIM) for financial forecasting allows homeowners to gain a precise understanding of construction costs early in the design process and continuously throughout it. This approach significantly reduces the likelihood of unexpected costs for your dream house.

Traditionally, construction cost estimates are provided only at the end of the design phase. This late-stage estimate often limits your ability to make adjustments to stay within your budget. Moreover, these late estimates can be highly inaccurate and misleading.

BIM in Small-Scale Home Renovation Projects

2 Jul, 2024, No comments

I have often heard that BIM is beneficial only for new construction projects. While this is certainly NOT true for large-scale renovation projects, are there any benefits of BIM in small-scale renovation projects? Read on to explore some case studies I have encountered over the years.

Video Tutorial: Avoid Costly Construction Errors with Clash Detection in Home Design (Part 2: Automatic Method)

25 Jun, 2024, No comments

In this video, you can learn simple techniques to find and report design issues such as clashes.

In part 1, it was explained how to use manual methods such as walkthroughs and dynamic sectioning to find errors.

In part 2, it will be shown how to use automatic clash detection with a free tool Open IFC Viewer. To learn about other functionalities of this tool, check out my other free guide HERE

Video Tutorial: Avoid Costly Construction Errors with Clash Detection in Home Design (Part 1: Manual Method)

18 Jun, 2024, No comments

In this video, you can learn simple techniques to find and report design issues such as clashes. In part 1, it will be explained how to use manual methods such as walkthroughs and dynamic sectioning to find errors.

The tool used in this video is Autodesk Viewer. To learn about other functionalities of this tool, check out my other free guide: Autodesk Viewer Tutorial

A Step-by-Step Video Guide to Using the Open IFC Free Model Viewer

11 Jun, 2024, No comments

Open IFC Viewer is a free desktop software that allows you to view 3D building information models shared in the IFC file format. You can download the software here: https://openifcviewer.com/

Extracting Building Quantities Using 3D & BIM for More Accuracy and Savings. P3: Automatic Method

4 Jun, 2024, No comments

In the final video of this three-part series, I explain how to extract quantities from 3D building information models automatically, significantly improving speed and accuracy compared to quantities extracted from 2D drawings alone.

Extracting Building Quantities Using 3D & BIM for More Accuracy and Savings. P2: Semi-automatic Method

28 May, 2024, No comments

In the second video of this 3 part series, I explain how to extract quantities from 3D building information models semi-automatically and how the quantities extracted even from simple models can be much more accurate that relying only on 2D drawings.

Extracting Building Quantities Using 3D or BIM for More Accuracy and Savings. P1: Manual Method

21 May, 2024, No comments

In this video I explain how to extract quantities from 3D building models using manual counting and why it can be more accurate than traditional 2D drawings. For more information about the tool used - Autodesk Viewer (free online viewer) check the Free Guides section.

Why Drawings Extracted from BIM Outshine Traditional 2D Processes for Your Future Family Home

14 May, 2024, No comments

Building your small family home is a journey filled with excitement, anticipation, and countless decisions. Among these decisions, perhaps one of the most crucial is how you'll create the blueprint for your home. Traditionally, architects and builders have relied on simple 2D processes to draft these plans. However, with advancements in technology, there's a better way: Building Information Modeling (BIM). In this article, I'll explore what are the most common issues found in 2D drawings and how drawings extracted from BIM offer significant advantages over traditional 2D methods for small family home construction.

How Clash Review Saved Thousands for My Family House

7 May, 2024, No comments

A clash review is a process in which 3D models from various project disciplines are merged, and using various methods, design errors are identified. Checking can also be performed on individual models. Essentially, this process constitutes quality control of the design, but from a different perspective.

Once issues are identified, they can be prioritized and resolved. This activity can be undertaken early in the design phase when partially developed models are available, thus preventing time-consuming rework later on.

The outcome of this process is a significant reduction, or even complete elimination, of unexpected and costly errors during construction.

The Cost & Savings of Having Your Home Design Done Using 3D & BIM

30 Apr, 2024, No comments

Having your home modeled in 3D or using the building information modeling (BIM) process is fundamental to leveraging the various benefits of these technologies, such as improved design quality, higher precision estimates, and fewer errors during construction. You can read more about 'The Value of 3D Models During the Design of Your Home' in the blog post.

To access these models and utilize their benefits, there are three options available.