3.10.1 Standards for Coding
One key issue that arose from a review of existing work in the BIM field focuses on the lack of standardized methods for coding within the BIM Environment. From a design point of view within the UK, the Uniclass standard from the NBS (NBS, 2016) is the most prevalent method of coding objects during the design stages of a construction project. This supports most aspects of construction elements, however, it is focused on the design aspect and there is no specific requirement at the moment to integrate the costing coding mechanisms within the BIM during the design phase. In particular, the New Rules of Measurement (NRM suite) needs to be fully integrated into BIM from an early stage of the design to support cost estimation from the initial concept stage throughout the life cycle of the project.
3.10.2 Lack of 5D BIM Protocols
BIM Execution Plan (BEP) is vital in delivering information uniformity from project inception (strategic brief and definition). The information generated is project specific reflecting Employer’s Information Requirements (EIRs) and developed in conjunction with all project participants – internal and external. “By utilizing the RIBA-DPoW across all professions, we are better able to manage project deliverables, developing individual discipline models coordinated and guided by the BEP” (Kell and Mordue, 2015). The level of detail (graphical data) expected to be delivered at each workstage is largely defined by a key interdisciplinary guiding document – Design Responsibility Matrix
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(DRM) which is a key resource in project and design development. The DRM is a guiding resource for outputs at different workstages, defining the level of detail needed at each workstage and the ownership of each building element. It is always a good practice to define the contractual deliverables early in the project as basic design requirements – constituting clear definition to the team on workstage deliverables, the time needed for the deliverable and the purpose of the information (Mitchell, 2012). All UK-centric developed project standards are with a single purpose of building up confidence, that design development, workstage outputs and project collaboration can be uniformly delivered. With advanced degree of “NBS Digital Toolkit” establishment, the QS and Cost Managers is expected to gain a good level of understanding towards digital cost information development and efficiencies in overall project lifecycle creating ultimate commonality across the industry. Developing an industry baseline for information delivery and checks will activate means of confirming compliance against a set of project defined deliverables, more coordinated data-rich information, aligned LODs and LOIs standards - driving efficiencies in the design, construction, and operation of built assets and increasing reliability on information quality (Mitchell, 2012). It is a good practice to define information requirement at each workstage throughout the design and construction phase for greater project and cost efficiency. The QS and Cost Managers can deploy LODs and LOIs as workstage baselines or check mechanisms to confirm compliance of various agreed workstage outputs (given agreed BEP), reflecting client’s brief at the commencement of the project. The principle can be further engaged across disciplines to confirm the LODs and LOIs agreed requirements against each building element at various workstages for cost information. The graphical information represented in the
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design has a direct effect on the non-graphical information as the greater the graphical items, the more data are available when viewed within costing software (RICS, 2014). To populate design stages, with the required cost information and avoiding high LOD model objects; it is extremely important the QS and the cost managers understand the existing relationship between RIBA-DPoW stages and NRM classification requirements (Appendix E). The output of cost information at each stage is apparently the design inputs at that stage, therefore to avoid the common issues of designing to the correct level of detail in BIM projects – it is imperative for the QS and cost managers in collaboration with the design team to regulate information uniformity (LODs & LOIs) at each stage of the digital plan of work using agreed BEP that is project specific. Adopting a consistent early defined object naming protocol (like NRM object descriptors) allows successive developments in the model to align cost comparisons through the cost plan stages as well as benchmark costs across projects against held data (RICS, 2014). Once successfully implemented, digital quantity extraction is made easy then the QS and cost managers can have their value add in interrogating design deficiencies and queries with reference to client brief rather expending so much time in quantification. The BEP has to be tailored to address project needs.
3.10.3 Level of Detail / Definition
Level of Development is the degree to which the element’s geometry and attached information has been thought through; that is the extent or degree of reliability of the project team members on the model information (project data) when using the model (reliable output), (BIMFORUM, 2013; RICS 2015). Level of Development as defined in the UK PAS1192 documents as a combination of Level of Detail – amount of graphical
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information included in the model element and Level of Information (LOI) - non- graphical information (such as spatial, specifications, performance, certifications, workmanship, standards etc) is the description of the model information throughout the project and develops alongside level of detail as the model progresses.
The UK Government drive towards BIM implementation did not alter to a greater degree the underlying principles required to effectively manage project designs and delivery processes. The changes are however embedded in the technological process which requires effective and proficient management skills to harness its overall benefits. The challenges of design management across individual disciplines do not vary significantly in comparison with BIM processes within existing design process; manual drafting, 2D, CAD and BIM – the communication requirement for information flow is still same but the technological influenced standards in BIM however delivers a more structured, managed and efficient information sequence with little or no risks and consequently improving outcomes (Kell and Mordue, 2015). Providing digital information that is consistent at same level across design stages; establishing a collaborative work practice among project stakeholders is the basic change required to achieve level 2 BIM. It then follows that standardization across design board and workstages will support equivalent information output for all project stakeholders (internal and external). The structured framework and organization for design deliveries and methodologies developed by RIBA called RIBA-DPoW is a vital resource to achieving uniformity of information across design development and/or design progression – thus engaged to optimize design/information outputs. The defined workstages (stage 0 – stage 7) and equivalent outputs at each stage reveals the intended level of detail (geometric or graphical data) to
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be delivered by each design discipline across workstages (Kell and Mordue, 2015). According to Kell and Mordue, (2015), there is far greater need for common, aligned geometric and information outputs if BIM benefits must be harnessed and achieved. Industry needs to agree on how to exchange data effectively and consistently throughout the project phases on a discipline to discipline basis – both geometric and non-geometric (level of information - non-graphical data). The geometric design development and resultant information output at various workstages must be aligned for other BIM uses like quantification parameters, digital measurement, and energy analysis to be achieved. The UK construction industry needs a robust and reliable means of exchanging digital information that is readable, easy to check and to validate at each stage of development since recent interviews with the industry practitioners revealed current issues around data exchange and interoperability (IFC) that must need to overcome and IFC’s inability to serve as medium for all model file exchange and transportation due to file format variations. Developing an open system and standardized data libraries of knowledge for generic use for certainly support effective benchmarking and collaborations (Pittard and Sell, 2016).
3.10.4 Issues of Upskilling Existing QS Workforce
BIM has taken the construction industry towards a new paradigm and the education sector is catching up with the changes required. Initiatives such as the UK BIM Academic Forum and the UK BIM Task Group Learning Outcomes and the inclusion of BIM within a range of professional benchmarks have led to the inclusion of the concepts, philosophies and technical knowledge of the BIM process being included in curricula. However, this is somewhat ad-hoc at the present time based on previous research
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(Underwood et al, 2015). In particular, there is little reference to how those involved with the cost and 5D element of BIM should engage through existing curricula. In order for the sector to develop the next generation of QSs’ and Cost Consultants, more is needed to formalize the delivery of 5D both with existing courses. In addition, the collaborative nature of BIM also requires a shift in the teaching and delivery of all construction courses to ensure that subjects such as cost estimation and cost management are not taught in isolation but are seen as an integral part of the construction process and delivered via a collaborative mechanism.
In addition to teaching the philosophies, students currently engaging in academia and those already within the industry have a need to be upskilled in the use of the latest tools and technologies available. This will strengthen BIM education and awareness of digital demands in today’s strategic and operational industry practice. This must be a strategic decision from higher level management who has an understanding of the benefits of 5D BIM integration into within a project life cycle.
3.11 EMERGING RESEARCH FOCUS TO SUPPORT SEAMLESS 5D BIM