Interscale Content Hub – While offering significant benefits for individual disciplines, coordinating and managing multiple BIM models across architecture, engineering, and MEP systems requires careful strategies.
As we know, large-scale projects often necessitate multiple BIM models. Misaligned data, communication bottlenecks, and version control issues can arise when multiple teams are each working within their model.
Hence, coordination is vital because each BIM model contains detailed data specific to its discipline — from the geometry of the building and the placement of beams to the types of materials used and their maintenance schedules.
Let’s face it: managing multiple BIM models is complex. That’s why, now is our time to identify and implement solutions.
Why is Managing Multiple BIM Models Critical?
Managing multiple Building Information Modeling (BIM) models is critical in modern construction projects for several compelling reasons.
First, it ensures that all the project components across different disciplines are well-coordinated, which significantly minimizes the risk of clashes and inconsistencies.
This alignment is essential not only during the construction phase but also through the planning and design stages, reducing costly reworks and delays.
Effective BIM management enhances collaboration among stakeholders. By maintaining a centralized model, or a series of interconnected models, all parties—from architects and engineers to construction managers and clients—have access to up-to-date information.
This shared access facilitates better decision-making and keeps everyone on the same page, thereby streamlining project execution and enhancing efficiency.
For example, “Lifecycle BIM for Infrastructure: A Business Case for Project Delivery and Asset Management,” published by The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, discuss a case study of Denver International Airport’s expansion.
This case study demonstrates how BIM was utilized to manage complex logistics involving multiple ongoing projects. The use of BIM facilitated effective risk management and ensured seamless collaboration among various teams, which was crucial given the project’s scale and complexity.
What’s more, the integration of 4D BIM in projects, like the CESI project in Nanterre, France, showcases how BIM’s time-management capabilities can further aid in detailed construction scheduling, tracking progress in real-time, and enhancing the overall project management process.
What does Multiple BIM Model Management Involve?
Managing multiple BIM models is a complex but critical task that encompasses several key aspects.
A project involving multiple interconnected BIM models presents a unique challenge – ensuring those models stay aligned throughout the entire design and construction process.
This process is supported by robust project management tools and techniques that ensure seamless communication and data consistency throughout all project phases.
Now, let’s break down the key aspects for successful management
Coordination and Integration
The coordination among various project teams is essential to align the different BIM models that may be developed for architectural design, structural engineering, MEP (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing), and other specialties.
Without coordination, inconsistencies and conflicts are inevitable, leading to delays and costly rework.
Centralizing information and ensuring different BIM software can ‘talk’ to each other is crucial.
This requires an integrated approach where all information is centralized to avoid conflicts and redundancies, which can lead to delays and increased costs if not managed properly.
For instance, a study in “BIM Methodology in Structural Design: A Practical Case of Collaboration, Coordination, and Integration,” by Alcinia Zita Sampaio highlighted the integration challenges in structural design, where interoperability among different BIM tools like Revit and Robot structural analysis software was critical for efficient data exchange and management.
Kindly take a look at “Beyond Tech Issue: BIM Team Communication Problems is Your Vertigo” to get a broader perspective oncommunication and the coordination hurdle.
Version Control
Picture a major project with multiple teams contributing to changes. Without rigorous version control, it quickly becomes impossible to track who changed what and when.
This can lead to teams working with outdated models, potentially causing significant errors and the need to re-do work.
Tools and techniques for tracking model versions and changes help ensure everyone has access to the latest, approved information.
For example, the Dual-Level Framework for OpenBIM-enabled design collaboration demonstrated how proper version control and collaborative frameworks can significantly reduce design errors and enhance project execution efficiency.
For detailed analysis, kindly see Ming Jin’s study in “Dual-Level Framework for OpenBIM-Enabled Design Collaboration.”
Project Management and BIM Manager’s Role
Effective project management practices are essential when dealing with multiple BIM models.
The BIM manager plays a pivotal role, coordinating efforts, resolving technical issues, and ensuring teams are always in sync.
Their role includes managing the complexities involved in integrating multiple BIM models and facilitating communication among different stakeholders.
The study by Alcinia Zita Sampaio et al. emphasized the BIM manager’s critical role in enhancing the quality of the project through coordinated efforts across various disciplines.
Challenges in Managing Multiple BIM Models
While the benefits of BIM are widely recognized, managing multiple models brings unique complexities that must be addressed for a project’s success.
Data Consistency
One of the biggest hurdles in managing multiple BIM models is making sure the information is consistent across all the models.
Each stakeholder – architects, structural engineers, MEP specialists – may use their own specialized tools and follow specific conventions within their field.
While understandable, this can easily lead to discrepancies and misalignments between the models.
Think of it like building a complex machine. If the specifications for each component don’t fit together perfectly, you’ll end up with costly problems during assembly.
Similarly, inconsistent data in BIM models will result in clashes, both in the digital design and later when construction begins.
To combat this, it’s essential to establish clear data standards and enforce consistent practices throughout the entire project.
This means agreeing on naming conventions, file formats, and even modelling techniques across all teams from the project’s outset.
Integration Issues
Integrating different BIM software applications is a major hurdle in projects with multiple models.
Compatibility issues between platforms are a constant threat – think of architects using Revit, while structural engineers rely on Tekla. These software ‘speak different languages’, particularly when it comes to file formats.
If not addressed proactively, this leads to frustrating delays, wasted effort in re-creating data, or even potential errors due to information loss.
To see more, you can read “A BIM Coordination with Subcontractor Guide: Your Benefits & Challenges” to review several integration issues among stakeholders.
Version Control
Let’s say you have a large-scale project where each team contributes ongoing updates to their own BIM models.
Without rigorous change tracking, it becomes a nightmare scenario – teams might be working with outdated designs, structural calculations, or MEP layouts.
Effective version control is your safety net. It ensures everyone always knows the latest, approved version of each model. It provides a clear history of changes – who modified what, and when.
This is especially important for complex projects involving multiple stakeholders across different disciplines.
Implementing clear version control processes, along with supporting tools, is a big must. These structured systems help maintain accurate records, making it easy to see the evolution of the BIM models over time and, if needed, roll back to previous versions.
How We Can Help You Face Those Various BIM Model Challenges?
In our recent collaboration with Ewert Leaf, you can see how we can streamline managing multiple BIM models to boost efficiency and minimise errors.
We at Interscale could be the ideal supporting system for your architectural projects. How can we do it for you?
First, with several years of experience, we are confident enough to say our team has deep expertise in managing complex IT infrastructure.
This expertise will back up and simplify your technical challenges, not on software wrangling or version conflicts.
At the end of the day, your architectural team focuses on what they do best: creativity and innovation.
Therefore, we’d love to hear from you about your needs and goals. Or, you could begin by checking out our Interscale BIM management page to learn more about how we can support you as your BIM system.
And for sure, we would be delighted to discuss any aspect of our services with you. Please do not hesitate to make an appointment.
Conclusion
It’s important to understand the challenges of managing multiple BIM models if you want to succeed in modern construction.
These include setting clear standards, investing in the right software tools, and keeping communication channels open between teams.
Partnerships with companies that specialize in BIM solutions, like Interscale, can help streamline this process.
Interscale expertise in integration and collaborative platforms can help you overcome common challenges and focus on successfully managing multiple BIM models within your project.
