Exchanging data from BIM model for Facility Management

Background
Use of BIM during design-only or construction-only with little consideration for future uses of the data embedded in the model, are examples of “little bim”

“BIG BIM” is characterized by data that, once created or captured is then reused over and over throughout the life-cycle of an asset, making the entire process more efficient, less costly and more sustainable.

3D + Information = BIM Modeling
3D + Time = 4D Construction Sequencing
3D + Cost = 5D Estimation
3D + F M = 6D Life cycle management

At the financial completion of construction projects the construction manager typically delivers a truck-full of boxes of paper (or CD's containing e-paper) to the facility manager. It is assumed that this information can assist the facility manager to maintain, operate, and track assets within the building. More often
than not, however, this information is delivered months or years after the building has been occupied and placed in a storage room where it is never used…

Today, most contracts require the handover of paper documents containing equipment lists, product data sheets, warranties, spare part lists, preventive maintenance schedules, and other information. This information is essential to support the operations, maintenance, and the management of the facilities assets by the owner and/or property manager.

Gathering this information at the end of the job, today's standard practice, is expensive, since most of the information has to be recreated from information created earlier. COBie simplifies the work required to capture and record project handover data.


What is COBie?
Construction Operations Building Information Exchange (COBie) is a conventional Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet format which allows the exchange of facility management data.

Objective—
Objective is to transform existing, wasteful paper or e-paper deliverables, into a deliverables that contains the same information, but in a new reusable format.


Value creation for the owner…
- Better handover deliverable @ lower costs (labor, printing, +)
- A “usable” handover deliverable (aka, no more “piles of paper or CDs”) = “we can find what we want” – during and after construction
- Data transfer to facility management systems immediately, not months or years
- Lower operations costs
- Improved field efficiency: Finding documents needed to do maintenance adds hours to each work ticket
- Reliable data on systems/equipment results in better energy efficiency,
- Lower risk of failures
- Inventory of items + accurate warranty start dates = better service Management
- Owner facility and operations teams can update data/documents back to model

Procedures—
COBIE2 data can be generated by many different means, depending on the project phase and team capabilities.
The data can be added directly into the COBIE2 spreadsheets.
The Onuma System offers a clear path for building COBIE2 data during planning, schematic design and design development.
Both Tokmo and Vela Systems offer ways to add the data using web-based tools that assist data collection. They make it easier to get proper information in the right fields in a repeatable way during construction.
Vela Systems even lets you barcode components and then use barcode scanning to expedite the process.

With COBie2 it is possible to—
• Have Single-entry of manufacturer's data that remains consistent from design through construction to operations;
• Assign uniquely identified equipment, furniture, fixtures and other objects to specific rooms;
• Produce a COBIE2 Excel file from a Building Information Model;
• Use a COBIE2 Excel file to create a low-level-of-detail Building Information Model;
• Change data in a COBIE2 file and have it automatically change in the Building Information Model
• Change the Building Information Model and have the data automatically update the COBIE2 Excel file
• Have COBIE2 data populate CAFM/ CMMS software and provide many other productivity improvements

Following are BIM software which can help to generate COBie spreadsheet but not limited to
• Autodesk Revit
• Bentley Architecture
• Graphisoft Archicad

At present following Organizations are using COBie
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (www.usace.army.mil)
• U.S. General Service Administration (www.gsa.gov)
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (www.va.gov)
• U.K. Government (http://www.bis.gov.uk) (http://www.bis.gov.uk/policies/business-sectors/construction/research-and-innovation/working-group-on-bimm)

References—
• BIG BIM little bim by Finith E. Jernigan
• building smart Alliance www.buildingsmartalliance.org/index.php/projects/cobie
• WBDG - The Whole Building Design Guide http://www.wbdg.org/resources/cobie.php

7 Do’s and Don’ts for a BIM Implementation

Robert Green’s Project Checklist and Do’s and Don’ts for a Realistic BIM Implementation

1. Choose a BIM test project
Do: Take a typical design task that your team members understand and evaluate how it works using BIM methods.
Don’t: Try to design the next Taj Mahal on your first BIM project.

2. Select your test project staff
Do: Choose your test process staff in a way that gives you the best chance for success.
Don’t: Waste your time trying to convince the “BIM will never work” crowd to join your first BIM project — deal with them later.

3. Identify IT issues
Do: View your test project as an IT readiness test for BIM.
Don’t: Move forward with more BIM implementation if your testing reveals substantial IT problems.

4. Line up reseller resources and other sources of support
Do: Line up reseller or consultant assistance before you need it.
Don’t: Allow your BIM test project to flounder because you’re too proud to ask for help.

5. Use test project staff to evaluate training classes

6. Work with test project staff to build standards and practices

7. Forecast timelines and budgets.

Read Green’s article for a deeper dive into each of these points, but you’ll have to stay tuned for his next CAD Manager’s Newsletter for a deep dive into points 5, 6 and 7.

BIM with Design-Build future of India

In this, the owner contracts directly with the design-build team (normally a contractor with a design capability or working with an architect) to develop a well-defined building program and a schematic design that meets the owner’s needs.

The DB contractor then estimates the total cost and time needed to design and construct the building.

After all modifications requested by the owner are implemented, the plan is approved and the final budget for the project is established.
FIG-Adapted from workflow and deliverables for LACCD BIM standard on design-build projects (only the BIM-related workflows are shown).

Advantages to Owner:

It is important to note that because the DB model allows for modifications to be made to the building’s design earlier in the process, the amount of money and time needed to incorporate these changes is also reduced.

The DB contractor establishes contractual relationships with specialty designers and subcontractors as needed. These are usually based on a fixed price, lowest bid basis.

DB contractor will be responsible for construction and any changes to design (within predefined limits). The same is true for errors and omissions.

It is not necessary for detailed construction drawings to be complete for all parts of the building prior to the start of construction on the foundation and early building elements.

As a result of these simplifications, the building is typically completed faster, with far fewer legal complications, and at a somewhat reduced total cost.

On the other hand, there is little flexibility for the owner to make changes after the initial design is approved and a contract amount is established.

As design options are confirmed by the BIM model, design contingencies can be reduced and the construction schedule can be solidified. With more accurate scheduling and better cost take-offs, the risk and construction contingencies are reduced and the owner may be able to incorporate green features that did not initially fit the project’s cost model.

Risks Associated With Using Design-build on buildings
The design-builder ends up owning all the risk for the design as well as the construction of the building. Therefore, design-builders that subcontract out the design portion of the work must have adequate protections within their contract documents sharing the design risks with the appropriate parties. They should also examine master contracts with suppliers and other subcontractors to make sure their roles and responsibilities are clearly defined to ensure that the project’s goals are met.

BIM for Owners

• Increase building performance through BIM-based energy and lighting design and analysis to improve overall building performance


• Reduce the financial risk associated with the project using the BIM model to obtain earlier and more reliable cost estimates and improved collaboration of the project team


• Shorten project schedule from approval to completion by using building models to coordinate and prefabricate design with reduced field labor time


• Obtain reliable and accurate cost estimates through automatic quantity takeoff from the building model, providing feedback earlier in a project when decisions will have the greatest impact


• Assure program compliance through ongoing analysis of the building model against owner and local code requirements


• Optimize facility management and maintenance by exporting relevant as-built building and equipment information to start the systems that will be used over the lifecycle of the facility

Important improvements in Revit New Version

 Revit now comes with a new point cloud tool that can connect laser scans directly into the BIM process, helping to accelerate renovation and retrofit projects

 Revit 2012 does include some worksharing enhancements, including color-coding which helps to provide greater visibility into element ownership and status to better manage team workflows

 Key development in Revit is the introduction of new tools for construction modeling, which allows contractors, or even architects, to add constructability to design models. It allows construction methods to be added to building components; for example, breaking up a wall into its individual layers or breaking up a single slab into separate parts based on the sequence in which it will be poured on site. While these different parts can be scheduled differently in 4D construction sequencing, thereby enabling a more accurate construction schedule, they still belong to the same building element from a design standpoint

In Navisworks-A new multi-sheet 2D DWF import capability enables users to open, review and explore 2D data sets alongside 3D models