thinkBIM - Half day GetBIM conference - Leeds

This Wednesday I am attending the GetBIM conference in Leeds. I'll also be chairing one of the roundtable sessions. An overview of this session is below:

- http://www.thinkbim.org/

BIM and Specification 
Construction documentation has traditionally included drawings, specification and bill of quantities all issued on paper. The aim of Building Information Modelling is to fully coordinate this information digitally and for this information to flow from briefing through to the operation of the building in use.
This will fundamentally change the construction industry.
This roundtable session discusses what BIM means for specification.

Definitions

• Level-2 BIM is a managed 3D environment with data held in separate BIM tools. This is what UK government is mandating for 2016 on central government projects.
• Level-3 BIM is a single BIM model through integration of the data in all BIM tools.

Key Questions for Roundtable Debate 

• To reach level-2 BIM, how should the information in the specification and the CAD models be coordinated?
• What does level-3 BIM mean for traditional drawings, specification and bill of quantities?
• In a BIM-world, where will the technical guidance and cost (environment and financial) guidance come from?
• In a BIM-world, where will the specification workmanship information come from?
• How can manufacturers assist construction professionals in their use of BIM?
• Will construction professionals be more likely to specify manufacturers who embraced BIM?

A couple of interesting articles on this subject are below, it'll be interesting however to see what the delegates on the day think.

1. http://www.thenbs.com/topics/DesignSpecification/articles/futureOfSpecification.asp - RIBAE Exec Director Richard Watson gives his thoughts as part of the NBS specification survey 2011
2. http://www.thenbs.com/topics/bim/articles/bimforspecifications.asp - NBS Head of Specification Ian Chapman looks at how BIM will change specification practice

BIM Opportunities - video from NBS TV

Check out our latest NBS TV video about BIM online now...
- http://www.thenbs.com/topics/BIM/videos/BIM_Opportunities.asp

Speakers include:

• Claudio Benghi, member of the BIM Academy, Northumbria University
• Hannah George, Associate, Norman Disney & Young
• Karl Redmond, Chief Executive; Construction Sector Network
• David de Yarza, BIM Director, Lydig Construction, Inc. USA
• Richard Brindley, Group Director Membership & Professional Support, RIBA
• Richard Saxon, RIBA Client Design Advisor
• Me :)
• Ruth Reed, immediate past-President, RIBA
• Peter Caplehorn, Technical Director, Scott Brownrigg

RIBA and BuildOffSite - Towards Intelligent Construction Conference

Yesterday I was one of the speakers at the RIBA and Buildoffsite Towards Intelligent Construction Conference at the RIBA in London.

The conference was kicked off by talks from Richard Ogden, the chairman of BuildOffSite and Angela Brady, President of RIBA. A few quotes I tweeted...

• "Build off site is not a cottage industry anymore"
• "Stunning design is possible by building off site"
  Richard Ogden

• "Architects must make the most of the latest technologies, such as BIM"
• "BIM - we need to grasp the opportunity now"
  Angela Brady

The first part of the conference was a number of presentations from the team behind the Leadenhall Building (aka The "Cheesegrater"). On stage were representatives from British Land, Rogers Stirk Harbour, Arup and Laing O'Rourke. It was absolutely fascinating stuff. And for BIM fans there was lots and lots there. How the structural steel was modelled and also a key part of the architecture. The myth that BIM is a single software package was dismissed as presentations showed rich digital information being passed from Tekla to Rhino to ANSA to Excel to Nastran. My favourite quote from Andy Butler from Laing O'Rourke was that "the construction was engineering, the engineering was architecture and the architecture is what is making the project work".

The second case study was from Circle's hospital construction team. Representatives from Circle, Fosters and Partners and Brydon Wood took the stage and again it was an inspirational set of presentations. How costs can be brought down from £3,500 per m2 to £2,500 m2 with a view to going down to £2,000 m2 whilst maintaining architectural integrity was shown. How was this being done? By using BIM to standardise rooms and equipment within the hospitals and also from learning from the previous build and feeding this knowledge into the next one - standardising what can be standardised, but giving enough freedom for the architecture.

Those that have been on this blog before will know how much of a BIM fan I am. But one thing I especially loved today was the completely un-ashamed use of slides showing initial concept designs using felt tip pens and pencils. When it comes to designing and developing the RIBAE software we use the latest technology and push the boundaries, but it all starts with pencil sketches on the back of envelopes. So I show no pictures of hospital or cheesegrater visualisations with this blog post, but some simple early stage sketches...

At the end of each case study was a RIBA presentation to summarise. This was a presentation from myself and one from Paul Fletcher. My job for the day was "BIM - the future". Whenever I think of "presenting the future" it takes me back to childhood and BBC's Tomorrow's World. So here are some slides, hopefully the narrative is self-explanatory...

Construction Computing Awards 2011

NBS sponsored the recent Construction Computing Awards. Richard Waterhouse from RIBA Enterprises presented the awards. It was really nice to see so many faces from the various construction computing companies that we have been collaborating with this year in the lead up to the launch of NBS Create and the National BIM Library. A selection of some of the pictures from the website ConstructionComputingAwards.co.uk are below. Also, great to have some fantastic company for the night on our table Eric, David, Robert, Nick, John and Alistair.

"One to Watch" - Vectorworks

"Collaboration Product of the Year" - 4Projects Solutions

"BIM Product of the Year" - Graphisoft - ArchiCAD 15

"Project Planning Product of the Year" - Asite Key Professional

"Structural Design Product of the Year" - Tekla Structures

"Building Services Product of the Year" - Autodesk Building Design Suite

"Structural Analysis Product of the Year" - Bentley Systems STAAD.Pro V8i

"Company of the Year" - Causeway Technologies

A great evening - let's hope NBS Create is on the winners' list next year.

NBS Domestic Specification - One year on

It's now one year since we launched our digital version of NBS Domestic Specification.
- theNBS.com/Domestic

In this last year, it's been used by well over 500 practices. Many of who have used it on multiple projects. A few screenshots below to demonstrate why it has been such a success:

Figure 1 above shows that the specification system is entirely "cloud-based". It is accessed through your preferred web browser on any platform. This means that there is no need for you to install or purchase any software - it's pay-per-project - and very reasonably priced at £40. In terms of scope of content, NBS Domestic Specification is ideal for domestic clients, professional designers and domestic builders, including home owners/occupiers who may or may not have engaged a consultant to oversee the work.

Figure 2 above shows that after you have taken the specification template and made it project specific then you can publish and issue a professional looking specification document.

Many core NBS benefits such as technical guidance, template clauses and suggested drop down values are included in the web application. The technical content is updated throughout the year, so at the point of specification creation you can be confident in the currency of the content.

So one year on, it is great to see that our first step into a 100% software-as-a-service (SAAS) offering is going from strength to strength.

- theNBS.com/Domestic

NBS Create

NBS Create was installed and used by the first customers on Friday. A lot has changed since 1973. Exciting times.

RICS BIM Conference 2012

It's now possible to book slots at the RICS BIM Conference 2012 on their website:
- http://www.rics.org/site/scripts/events_info.aspx?eventID=4528

An opportunity to learn about BIM, how it will impact you and how it can benefit your business. The speakers include Paul Morrell and Mark Bew who have been instrumental in terms of developing the UK Government's construction strategy. Also speakers from URS Scott Wilson, EC Harris, CIC Task Force, Pinsent Masons, Rider Levett Bucknall, Balfour Beatty, John Lewis and RIBA Enterprises (me :)).

NBS Create Roadshow

I attended the NBS Create Roadshow in Newcastle yesterday and it was fantastic. Some pictures below:

David Grainger outlines the key benefits

Head of Specification Ian Chapman - live product demonstration

Still some places for Bristol, Manchester, Leeds and Birmingham next week - book a place below:
- http://www.thenbs.com/createroadshow/

Essential reading - Ian's Chapman's article introducing the product:
- http://www.thenbs.com/topics/DesignSpecification/articles/nbsCreate.asp

Essential reading #2 - John Gelder's article introducing the CPI Committee's new work section table classification structure:
- http://www.thenbs.com/topics/PracticeManagement/articles/newUniclassWorkectionsTable.asp