What is BIM?

The acronym BIM stands for Building Information Modeling. We can define BIM as an information model of a building project that comprises all the information sufficient to support all the processes of the project life cycle, which can be directly interpreted by different software applications.

When we make a digital model of the project and incorporate information of all its elements and the relationship between them, then we talk about BIM.

The use of technological tools to increase efficiency and transparency in public works is a global trend. BIM is a system for planning, management and execution of infrastructures that is already mandatory in many countries and that by the end of 2019 will also be a legal requirement in Spain.

A European directive establishes that from next year and progressively all public tenders will require the use of BIM, a technology that unifies design, measurements and installations in a single program.

The use of this methodology allows cost savings of 20% and contributes to the improvement of the final quality of the project by reducing the risk of construction errors. In countries such as the United Kingdom, Finland, Norway and Sweden it is already an essential requirement and in the next five years it will also be mandatory for access to public building and civil engineering contracts throughout Europe.

In Spain, the Ministry of Public Works has set up a Commission to promote the implementation of BIM in the Spanish construction sector. And in some Autonomous Communities it is already being considered for the awarding of new tenders.

    

Advantages of the BIM environment

Better coordination

It is a system of collaborative work between all the agents involved in a construction process.

It centralizes all the information in a single model, transcending the visual aspect of the building and basing it on data. Therefore, the representation and the data are permanently linked. If any modification is made in one of these plans, it is automatically updated in the other.

Virtual construction

BIM makes it possible to create a virtual replica of all stages of the project life cycle. For this purpose, intelligent elements such as walls, beams, roofs,... with physical and technical characteristics.

With this method, more time is dedicated to the project, detecting failures during this phase. Thus increasing the profitability of the project, since the resolution of errors during this stage is less costly than on site.

Likewise, this system requires thinking and designing all the details, otherwise the model remains unfinished.

Unique reporting model

The database, which is ultimately the model, gives rise to new services that can be exploited. In this way, you can estimate costs in a more detailed way or schedule the administration of the work. It also facilitates the generation of images from a single model and all the necessary documentation.

In addition, the information contained in the BIM model can be corrected or consulted from different and multiple platforms. With the advantage of being able to access them remotely and instantly.

Thanks to the different software used, it is possible to share and exchange information, facilitating the collaboration processes.

Facilitates the relationship with the client

Being able to show the client the progress of the design of the work in 3D, is an indisputable added value.

ARRAM Consultores' BIM implementation experience

The Building Information Modelling system has been a revolution in the working methods used so far. For ARRAM Consultants, BIM is a strategic tool that will mark the present and future of construction. The BIM environment incorporates geometric, time, cost, environmental and maintenance information. This is an evolution of the usual design techniques based on drawings.

The implementation of BIM in companies means considerable time savings and optimization of the entire process. This translates into greater profitability and quality of the project. In ARRAM Consultores we have been carrying out projects in BIM environment since 2016 when we started to implement this methodology in the group.

 

The future of the industries goes through the creation of the "Digital Twin" model of the factories, based on BIM (Building Information Modeling).

With the high-precision "Digital Twin", which closely resembles the real system, we will obtain a valuable tool for the operation and maintenance of the industrial plant.