1/2010 magazine BIM Is Here. Are You Ready? CHALLENGES CREATE CAPABILITIES INFORMATION TAKEOFF The Latest Innovation from Solibri Model Checker Makes THE DIFFERENCE CASE STUDY 25 Front Cover Visualization by Tietoa Finland Oy 1/2010 SOLIBRI 4 BIM is Here. Are You Ready? BIM is here to stay. Ramboll Group, a leading 3D and BIM company invests in maintaining state-of-the art modeling competencies and incorporates BIM quality control in BIM quality assurance. 7 Model Checking Makes Difference Multiconsult, a leading Norwegian engineering company offers consulting, design and project management services for their clients. Success in multi disciplinary projects requires careful design coordination - successful execution is about the process and management. 10 Owner View: BIM Has Payback BIM benefits the owner. BIM benefits also engineering and architectural practices. Recent experience shows that design firm which master BIM are more productive and efficient, and receive better evaluations for quality. 14 Challenges Create Capabilities In leading companies business process development is not provoked by external requirements but is embedded in the corporate DNA. At Larkas & Laine Architects BIM development has been the result from pursuing perfection in architectural design. 17 Mining the Model. Solibri Introduces Information Takeoff (ITO) – The Latest Innovation from Solibri ITO, the latest innovation from Solibri, allows users to collect practically any information from the BIM file, organize it, visualize it, and report it – instantly. 20 Solibri Model Checker: The Leading BIM Quality Assurance and Analysis Tool Enables Superior Spatial Coordination Information rich open BIM process offers totally new possibilities to effectively manage the design process. “Spatial Coordination” reflects new thinking of how to exploit the BIM process, Solibri Model Checker supporting new collaborative practices targeting higher quality at lower cost. OpenBIM is Here – IT’S ALL ABOUT THE INFORMATION! Heikki Kulusjärvi CEO Solibri, Inc. [email protected] By now, many have seen or heard about the NIST report attributing an estimated $15.8 billion US dollars annual waste, in the US alone, based in large part on the lack of interoperability. Today, that is no longer acceptable. We have the tools and means to master information and, based on an OpenBIM* approach, information can be unlocked and widely shared using open standards. Furthermore, we have great tools to assure and verify the quality of the information, visualize it, and report it in various ways. Now is the time to start mastering that information. We have collected some projects where a number of teams have successfully utilized the OpenBIM approach. Some teams are already quite efficient in BIM but for others it is still a learning process. Although something looks good in 3D, it may not be a useful model for other designers or be able to be used for energy analysis (for example). Furthermore, having information in the BIM file is great but let’s keep in mind that this information should be useful and valid for the downstream use. This is where the Quality Assurance becomes critical. In all of the cases introduced here, the OpenBIM has been a request from the client with the emphasis on high quality. In case your design process is not utilizing the OpenBIM approach (note that this is different than the ability to use BIM tools) you may be doing the design in a traditional way either with BIM tools or 2D/drafting tools. Then, you may fulfill the BIM aspects of the project with a dedicated BIM team, but you will only double the internal cost compared to the teams that have adopted the OpenBIM approach from the outset. When you read further you will find out how building owners are already witnessing a polarization of those who can manage OpenBIM project in a competitive way and those who can’t. We have seen cases where the offer with the lowest price has achieved the highest quality score. In addition to owners, construction companies are also driving the change toward OpenBIM. These companies have adopted the collision control process quite well and are now moving beyond that to the next value adding steps. Some of the companies are now focused on Quality Control and Zero-flaw/defect strategies. OpenBIM information is considered very interesting even on work sites, as these models can contain very useful information for managing the project - provided that information is accurate and of consistently high quality. It is time for the information to work for you and not the other way around! *"OpenBIM” is used here as a term instead of “BIM” to indicate that open standards are used during the BIM process. Published by Editor-in-chief © Solibri, Inc. Jaakko Jauhiainen All rights reserved. Itälahdenkatu 21A [email protected] Contents may not be re- 00210 Helsinki, FINLAND 2010 Solibri, Inc. produced by any means, Phone: +358 10 5486800 Design Fax: +358 10 5486806 Jonna Nylander the prior written permis- Email: [email protected] [email protected] sion of Solibri, Inc. in whole or part, without Ramboll is a leading engineering design and consultancy company. Ramboll was founded in 1945 ina Denmark and today employs some 9 000 experts. Ramboll Group has significant operations in Northern Europe, UK, the Middle East and Russia, and projects in more than 100 countries. Ramboll is currently operating in several countries where openBIM is used extensively, such as Norway, Denmark and Finland. 4 Rambøll Head Office, Dissing+Weitling architecture Solibri, Inc. JAAKKO JAUHIAINEN BIM is Here: Are You Ready? CASE STUDY R amboll is one of the biggest engineering offices in the Nordic countries. Tekla Structures has been used regularly since 2005. “Our target is to ensure that all our structural design work is carried out with Tekla Structures ” says Ismo Tawast, the Director of the Building Construction Division at Ramboll Finland. One of the most interesting and recent BIM projects is the Kuokkala Church, located in Jyväskylä in Central Finland. The architectural design was awarded in an invitation competition in 2005 to Lassila Hirvilammi Architects. Kuokkala Church was designed by engineers from several design units and locations as a collaborative project. Structural analysis was carried out by using direct data transfer between Tekla and StaadPro 3D FEM software. The slatecovered roof and wall structures are supported by trussed frames made of glue laminated timber. The church hall is one storey in height. Foundations and two basement floors are constructed of in- Thanks to modeling, it was poss i b l e t o d e s i g n ever ything, even the most comp l i c a t e d s t r u ctures. Staad.Pro FEM analysis re s u l t s a r e visualized. T h e c h u r c h h a s a p i l e f o undation and basement, and its first f loor is cast-in-place concrete. Other s t r u c t u r e s a r e m a d e o f wood. Main frames are glue-laminated timber, and the upper chord has been s t i f f e n e d u s i n g p l y w o o d . The lower chord was stiffened with steel bracing. The roof and external w a l l s a r e c o v e r e d w i t h s l ate. situ cast concrete structures. Wooden frames are supported in the glazed façade areas by special steel structures. Ramboll received first prize for the Kuokkala Church project at the Tekla 3D modeling competition in Finland. “ Winning the award indicates that Ramboll's investment in 3D modeling has resulted in a leading position amongst Finnish structural engineering firms. Today Ramboll is able to produce all structural documentation needed for any kind of project, regardless of the field of application, type of structure or material ” says Ismo Tawast. The architects, Anssi Lassila and Teemu Hirvilammi were in turn awarded the 2010 Pietilä award by the Building Information Foundation. The award is granted bi-annually to a young Finnish architect for significant work with renewing architecture. “Without BIM, the church would have been impossible to design, not to mention build ” says Ismo Tawast, the Director responsible for the building construction design business unit. BIM Quality Assurance at Ramboll Finland In early 2010, Ramboll Finland launched a study on BIM quality assurance resulting in a Bachelor’s Thesis including hands-on practical use of Solibri Model Checker and other BIM tools on Ramboll projects. The thesis concluded that because of the increasing number of AEC firms undertaking the transition from the traditional 2D design process towards BIM, and using BIM software to create building information models, the quality of design and modeling varies. During the transition, when new methods are emerging, quality assurance is extremely important. From the business point of view the thesis concluded that higher quality delivers economic and environmental benefits, but it also contributes to customer satisfaction. The consulting firms, who master BIM today, ensure their future market share in the future. One of the main goals of the thesis was to study quality assurance using modeling software used by Ramboll, access their usability for quality assurance, and compare them with Solibri Model Checker. It was concluded for example that Navisworks focuses more on combining models and geometrical information than BIM information or quality assurance. “When analyzing IFC models, Solibri Model Checker was found to be in its own class. Also, Solibri Model Checker was found to be very valuable even if modeling tools themselves had inbuilt quality assurance functionality ” says Bachelor of Engineering, Max Levander, who wrote the thesis. Max Levander is also the main user of Solibri at Ramboll Finland. BIM Quality Assurance Process and 10,000 Stones The largest prefab concrete project ever for Ramboll Finland is The Myllypuro Shopping Center project, with almost 10,000 concrete elements, or stones as the engineers call them, and cast in situ concrete structures. Most of the elements have been modeled. With 10,000 prefab elements comes almost 10,000 drawings. “Solibri Model Checker has been used for internal engineering design quality control in the Myllypuro project, and has proved to be very valuable ” says Ismo Tawast. In addition to BIM modeling Ramboll Finland offers also BIM coordination services. Ramboll Finland's Building's Division CASE STUDY 5 has in place quality assurance system which fulfills ISO9001:2008 requirements, but it has been audited and certificates has been granted by the National RSA:s (Rakli-SKOL-ATL) quality system council. “Currently the ISO based quality assurance system is being amended by creating guidelines for BIM quality assurance and defining the use of Solibri Model Checker as a part of the openBIM process ” says Max Levander. Digital Construction Initiative Digital Construction is a Danish government initiative stating that public clients should make a number of demands to consultants and contractors related to ICT in construction projects. The policy has been in effect since January 1st, 2007. The Digital Construction initiative aims at improving the efficiency and quality of construction in Denmark. The initiative requires companies to use the same data and the same drawings in all phases of a construction process to avoid misunderstandings, defects and delays. The client demands consist of a range of specific individual demands organized in four areas: call for tender, bidding and tender via the Internet, 3D models, project web, and electronic hand-over of data from the construction project that is relevant for the operation phase. Digital Construction demands aim at ensuring increased and improved knowledge-sharing between the parties in the construction sector. Digital Construction intends to improve the efficiency of construction projects by utilizing ICT tools from the initial idea to the construction phase, and the operation and maintenance of the completed building. Solibri Model Checker screen shot from a Ramboll Finland multi-discipline BIM projec t flexibility also. IFC model based checking with Solibri Model Checker was introduced at Rambøll starting in 2008. Today it is the standard procedure on almost all major 3D projects. The new Rambøll Head Office - a 40,000 m² building will be located in Orestad South, an area of Copenhagen currently under development. The client of the Rambøll Headquarters project is SEB Rambøll being the main user occupying most of the building. Ramboll has been responsible for construction design with Dissing+Weitling architecture being responsible for the architectural design. The vision for this new building – with the focus on openness, knowledge sharing and collaboration – is to be a holistic and sustainable icon. The vision is reflected in the building’s main architectural feature, the interior street inspired by Barcelona’s world famous shopping area, La Rambla, teeming with café guests, shoppers, artists, local residents and tourists. Dissing+Weitling has integrat- ed the Rambla concept in the building’s central public space with its concentration of extrovert functions such as café, canteen, fitness center, foyer and auditorium creating a framework and contact area for users of the building – regulars as well as visitors. The working method has been based on using IFC for information exchange. Dissing+Weitling have made the architectural model with AutoCAD Architecture, and exchanged model information with Rambøll, who has used Tekla and MagiCAD for structural engineering and MEP design. Clash detection and checking for consistency has been carried out with Solibri Model Checker. Modern tools and placing the project team in the same room for improved communication and collaboration has resulted in increasing design quality, easy communications, improved project management, good IFC quality and a highly motivated team. Rambøll Head Office Project in Denmark Rambøll Denmark has explored the use of 3D tools such as AutoCAD, Tekla Structures and MagiCAD in construction design and projects for years. Rambøll Denmark has concluded that IFC is the best tool for the job allowing for an optimal work process. Use of IFC allows for 6 CASE STUDY Ramboll Ramboll is a leading engineering, design and consultancy company founded in Denmark in 1945. Today Ramboll employs close to 9,000 experts with a strong presence in Northern Europe, Russia, India and the Middle East. With almost 200 offices in 20 countries Ramboll emphasises local experience combined with a global knowledge-base. For more information on Ramboll visit http://www.ramboll.com. Edited and translated Original text THOR HESTNES JAAKKO JAUHIAINEN Model Checking Makes Difference In order to be able to coordinate multiple design disciplines we need a common denominator. For us it is the openBIM standard IFC... Based on the article by Thor Hestnes published in Norway in cadmagasinet Nr. 1/2010 published by NTI Nestor AS. B IM is a combination of technology, methods and processes. Succeeding on a complex BIM project with multiple stakeholders, multiple engineering disciplines and multiple CAD tools requires a common platform for successful digital collaboration. At Multiconsult this is accomplished using buildingSMART standards and a building information model checker, Solibri Model Checker, combined with interdisciplinary control meetings, an approach which has produced great success on the Stavanger University project – Statsbygg’s first official BIM project. “A typical project team is a large group consisting of experts from many profes- sions who are indispensable for the project , says BIM manager Thor Ørjan Holt of Multiconsult, a leading engineering company in Norway. “Not only architects, structural engineers and MEP engineers but also also project managers and other administrative project staff are needed for implementation. However, not all have the technical competencies that the technical experts from different disciplines have ”. Requires a Coordination Platform “Engineers from different design disciplines model using their own BIM tools which can be from the same software supplier and therefore compatible. Often this is not the case ” says Holt. On the Stavanger University project UiS, architectural design is carried out using ArchiCAD, structural engineers use MicroStation and MEP is designed with MagiCAD. “In order to be able to coordinate mulCASE STUDY 7 tiple design disciplines we need a common denominator. For us it is the openBIM standard IFC which we require that all tools support. When it comes to BIM tools for the administrative project staff, we have chosen to use Solibri ” contin- ues Holt. Solibri is a BIM tool that can be used even if one is not able to use BIM authoring tools, and a very useful system for design coordination, quality assurance and progress control. What is Solibri? Solibri Model Checker is a program which is able to automatically analyze the quality of BIM models and the designs. Solibri uses so-called rules based analysis, and is able to analyze both individual models and combined models, which can include multiple models by different design disciplines. Solibri includes (for example) rules for validating the quality of the BIM models, accessibility analysis and interference detection to name just a few. Solibri visually presents all design issues found and gives a clear text description of the issue, as well as the physical location, making it easy to get to the bottom of the design issues. “This analysis and coordination is absolutely invaluable. This is because different models are not usually coordinated. Some design issues, or errors, will always remain, and often they are interdisciplinary. In order to ensure the highest quality and cost effectiveness it is necessary that we can find these errors and correct them as early as possible in the project. If errors or deficiencies appeared at the site the cost could be very high” says Holt. Frequent Control Meetings The Engineering Manager is responsible for the interdisciplinary coordination on Multiconsult’s UiS project. In order to facilitate cooperation and short communication lines they have chosen to locate all project staff in the same room, including both the main architect Link Signatur and Multiconsult’s engineers. The engineering group consists of approximately 20 experts and the engineering manager has implemented a management system where those responsible for different de8 CASE STUDY BIM is a great tool enabling visualization. Photograph and visualization from the sam e l o c a t i o n . T h e building is a plain IFC import to the landscape BIM model. sign disciplines attend steering meetings frequently in order to be able to manage the whole process. The frequency of the meetings varies with the progress made. Preparatory Control Important “Especially important in keeping the control meetings effective is that project management prepares the meetings in advance with Solibri ” says Holt. Even a “non specialist” with a good understanding of design disciplines and some experience is able to use Solibri and combined BIM models for identifying design issues and irregularities, and prioritize and communicate prioritized problems to those responsible. “One of the purposes of this practice is that we do not primarily use the interdisciplinary control meetings for revealing problems. Instead we discuss both who should be responsible for correcting errors, and the timing of the corrections so that the schedule will be kept. This way project staff gets to use most of their time on what they are best at, namely the project ” says Holt. Effective Coordination Tools “With the help of Solibri we actually use the multi-discipline BIM model also as S o l i b r i M o d e l C h e c k e r i s the tool of choice for BIM coordination in MULTICONSULT projects enabling effective communication and collab o r a t i o n . a communications tool ” emphasizes Holt. Traditional minutes of the technical meetings can be also replaced by action items generated with Solibri. All this represents quite a big change in the job of the engineering manager. By uploading the updated IFC models one by one to Solibri the project leader is able to address design issues in a structured manner and communicate the findings to the project participants. Thor Ørjan Holt and his project manager Randi Brekke usually begin "deep" in the building, with either the electrical or ventilation model. Structured Control “This has to do with visibility ” says Holt. “The combined models alone are too complex. By integrating and matching the models by different design disciplines, and also controlling each individual model the project leader is able to make an overall assessment of the progress and quality of each model and whether the designs have been coordinated ” Holt continues. Prioritize “It is important to make decisions and prioritize. All design issues are not equally important. It does not make any sense to require corrections if they are not important. It only creates frustration among the project team. Thus you need to spend a minute considering what is important and what is not. From experience we know that visual control will catch about 60% of errors, which is twice what we used to catch using drawings from 2D systems. But Solibri does not stop here ” continues Thor Ørjan Holt. Rule Based Model Analysis with Solibri “I can also use Solibri for making more detailed analysis of the building information model using Solibri’s predefined rule sets for interference detection and finding collisions in places where they should not exist. Or you can do the opposite and have Solibri Model Check that components join properly. And out comes a list of design issues to be resolved, sorted by components. This is something only Solibri Model Checker can do ” says Holt. Effective Communication and Collaboration Solibri includes presentation and reporting functionality which is a great tool for presenting and communicating design issues in the project. The engineering manager is able to coordinate design efforts and corrective measures by pre- senting design issues and advice in detail to designers in the form of a report. The report includes viewpoint, location information and instructions for resolving the issue and assigning responsibility. Thus, design coordination is carried out very efficiently. The history is of course also filed, should one would need to go back in time. True Results “We are succeeding on the UiS project much better than any other project we have done thanks to Solibri and the BOS-working method we use ”, says Holt. “When everyone is gathered in the same room communication is easy and direct so that we can quickly solve problems. You sit down for a short moment and find a solution to the problem ” Holt continues. “Solibri combined with professional knowledge provides great value in BIM context. However, when combined with multidisciplinary expertise you really get great benefits from the tool ” emphasizes Thor Ørjan Holt. MULTICONSULT MULTICONSULT is one of Norway's leading consulting engineering companies with more than 20 offices in Norway and abroad. The head office is located in Oslo. For more information on MULTICONSULT visit http://www.multiconsult.no. CASE STUDY 9 pictures are courtesy of PWD-CM, Solibri Oy, and Tietoa Finland Oy . Solibri, Inc. HEIKKI KULUSJÄRVI Owner View: BIM Has Payback The Public Works Department (PWD) -Construction Management (CM) manages the construction of Helsinki's public buildings and public spaces on the basis of orders placed by the City's administrative bodies and other clients. Their measure for success in their work is that the client needs to be satisfied with the cost and quality of new and renovated premises, the project is delivered within the agreed timetable, and the environmental impacts of the project in both construction and use remain within the limits that have been set. 10 CASE STUDY P WD-CM has over 100 people working for them and annual spending in design and construction services of around 100 million euros annually. PWD-CM has been quite firmly involved with BIM projects since 2005. One of their inspirations was getting acquainted with Solibri, Inc. and quality assurance solutions. The first BIM project was the Senior Citizens Care Center of Kontula, a 50 million euro hospital project. This was carried as an OpenBIM project where all disciplines produced their designs in IFC format. During 2005 this was all new to most of the designers and there was plenty of learning involved. During those days, BIM authoring tool vendors also had many challenges. However, BIM files were made and several quality issues were discovered and fixed accordingly. The first significant benefits of using BIM were delivered. S e n i o r C i t i z e n s C a r e C e nter of Kontula as a BIM file A consecutive project was a Haartman Hospital building, a 40 million euro hospital project. Similarly, all designs were made using OpenBIM by all designers. Plans were reviewed in coordination meetings with Solibri Model Checker software. In this project, the idea of using BIM was introduced quite late and therefore seen mainly as extra work. Solibri Inc. was acting as the BIM quality coordinator on this project , which gave the designers an excuse to leave all quality issues to hired quality consultants. This resulted in a "let someone else worry about the BIM files and design quality” attitude. Part of the BIM files were made alongside a traditional design, as a separate task and even with different tools. This “double work” approach clearly was not the ideal case for a BIM project to succeed. Eventually all BIM files were made and during the separate quality assurance checking many problems were discovered – from the models. A big portion of problems were ultimately resolved at the planning stage. In short this was a real learning experience. BIM files produced were also used in cost estimation. Contractors had the possibility to use the models during construction phase, but the commitment to the utilization of the models was highly dependent of the individuals involved. Aulis Toivonen, PWD-CM’s principal Project Director, has gained expertise on a few OpenBIM projects. Haartman Hospital project was his first complete OpenBIM project. His most recent project Lapinlahti Hospital, which this article focuses on, has now completed the planning phase. In addition to these projects, Haartman Hospital as a BIM file PWD-CM has started to bring the BIM process forward and in wider use within their organization. The current project, Lapinlahden Hospital, was designed by Engel and was originally completed in 1841. The building is located in a historic and scenic park area in Helsinki. The hospital's main building, Venice-building, and three separate buildings are to be restored. By PWD-CM’s request this project also was conducted as an OpenBIM project. Based on the experience collected from previous projects the target was clearly flawless design: • high emphasis for designers to per form quality assurance themselves • full design coordination and removing discrepancies during design phase • viewing project plans for the end users without technical staff • support for cost estimating, models to be used for QTO • model utilization during construc tion ---> schedule optimization, support for construction scheduling • minimizing of change orders This BIM project was carried out in accordance with Senate-Properties BIM Requirements www.senaatti.fi ( in English “Senate Properties’ BIM requirements 2007”). Requirements describe instructions for all design disciplines and how each designer shall perform quality Senate Properties BIM Guide rules in Solibri Model Checker CASE STUDY 11 assurance before delivery. Solibri Model Checker software includes these same requirements listed in the form of rules that can be checked automatically from the models. Further, all changes in designs made can be tracked. Inventory Modeling Projects of this kind require thorough study of the existing conditions, especially dimensions of the building. In BIM projects this in practice means making an Inventory Model. This is done based on measurements taken on site. There are several methods for doing this but the most accurate is based on 3D-laser scanning. This process produces a huge number of measured points with accurate coordinate information. This group of points forms a so-called Point Cloud model. Technically, it is not recommended to use this kind of model, as such. This Point Cloud information is utilized as a reference to produce an inventory model with an Architectural BIM Authoring tool. Typically, component geometry is at this phase simplified to make most walls mathematically straight and upright…unlike reality. According to Marko Rajala, with Tietoa Finland Oy, it is recommended that you do the actual inventory model after the Architect has been selected for the project. This way the inventory model can be made using the same tools that the Architect will continue using in their work. Other designers will receive the inventory model as an IFC file format because they are not intended to modify the model, rather using it as a reference. Later, other designers will then get the actual plan from the architect. In the Lapinlahti hospital case, the inventory model was also part of the Request for Proposal material delivered to designers. Request for Proposal Knowledge from past BIM projects was fully utilized during the RFP process. The emphasis was on the quality of the design. Planning requested this to be done 12 CASE STUDY Point Cloud model Inventor y model as BIM-based and utilization of other designers BIM files was requested, including the Inventory Model. When tenders were received the result was confusing: for example, the best quality score was received by a chief architect who had the lowest offer. In fact, a number of high quality score offers were found amongst the lowest Offers compared Quality/Price offers. Architect Jouni Kulmala with Lasse Kosunen Oy explains the reasons as follows: " the use of our tools has significantly improved as we have adopted the OpenBIM approach ". The architect's firm has actively used ArchiCAD software since 1991. Solibri Model Checker quality assurance solutions have been in use in the company since 2008. Aulis Toivonen interprets the results: "It seems to me that designers who have integrated BIM in their workflow are able to do better quality in less time. Appar- ently, some designer can utilize inventory models better as they don’t need to remodel this part. Now as the design phase is completed and we have not seen any (typical) change orders we need to assume that the work estimates were quite accurate .“ “Further I think the group of more expensive offers were based on traditional document based design methods for the actual planning and then, as BIM modeling was requested, a second team made the BIM file separately. This obviously doubles the work and furthermore it’s highly unlikely that this will actually improve the design quality. “ Toivonen con- tinues. Architectural Design Jouni Kulmala tells about the project: "The architectural design is quite challenging in the case of renovation of a historical building. “ "In my mind OpenBIM-based planning extends the opportunities an architect B I M f i l e v i s u a l i z e d s h o w i ng the plan has to observe and visualize the design. On the other hand there is no room for shortcuts as, for example, spatial coordination like ducts collisions will be revealed early on. It is possible to deal even with big design challenges during the design phase. There will be plenty of work to do on the work site without surprises coming from the design,” he continues. Historical buildings set challenges also to the current BIM Authoring tools and computers. Well balanced quality assurance is recommended to be started from the beginning of the design process. Having good and flawless material to share with fellow designers will keep the cooperation healthy and efficient. It is paramount that you indicate very clearly if some parts of the design still have problems or are unfinished. MEP Design “MEP design is very challenging in a renovation project like Lapinlahden hospital where current structures and limited space dictate the rules ”, says project manager Aulis Toivonen. MEP modeling begins exceptionally early during conceptual phase based on inventory models. The reasoning here is that the new building services technology requires more space than before and spatial coordination on this side requires even more than changes in spaces. Spatial coordination was done based on the inventory model and it showed po- tential problems early on and seemed efficient as more work could be done at the office vs. work site, he continues. MEP design was more complete than typically at this phase. This enabled the project team to get more acquainted with the required construction sequences. After this the BIM based design process was carried forward by all designers. Olli Rintamäki the project manager of Hepacon Oy,: "OpenBIM is a new way of thinking and planning. This process will enable us to communicate efficiently with the client and help their decision making. Furthermore, making quality assurance with Solibri Model Checker for e.g spatial coordination along the design phase will result less problems on site .” Quality Assurance Tietoa Finland Oy was assigned to the project as Quality assurance consultants. “ We have used Solibri Model Checker for this purpose since 2008 and furthermore Solibri’s personnel trained our staff to perform commercial level Quality Assurance with a dedicated training program..” says Marko Rajala from Tietoa Finland Oy. In the case of Lapinlahti Hospital the Chief Architect is in charge of the design in whole and Tietoa Finland is subcontracted by them. The practical quality assurance is a continuous process that collects BIM files from designers before each designers meeting and then in the Quality Assurance process meeting the progress is introduced with the models.The status of design is shown with the models and analysis reports. This enables a clear and transparent view of how complete the design is at this phase. This also serves very well for decision support if changes are needed for the design. This very straightforward procedure improves constructability and helps to avoid typical change orders and scheduling problems on the site. This also helps the future users of the building to see what is planned and influence early on to have good results. “In short continuous quality assurance is a practice that really works ” says Marko Rajala. Summary Aulis Toivonen states: “OpenBIM enables high quality and (close to) flawless design outcome and with these efficient tools cost savings during both design and construction phase. The OpenBIM projects that Public Works Department -Construction Management have done have learned a lot and during each project has been significantly improved. By doing things right the first time it is possible to do better quality with even lower price and effort. CASE STUDY 13 Skanska Finland Head Quarters, Helsinki, Finland Solibri, Inc. JAAKKO JAUHIAINEN Challenges Create Capabilities Solibri Model Checker and ArchiCAD Enhance Building Information Modeling and Quality Assurance at Larkas & Laine Architects L arkas & Laine Architects Ltd is one of the largest architectural offices in Finland. Currently, Larkas & Laine employ more than 60 people. In addition to being one of the biggest architectural practices in Finland, Larkas & Laine is a leading BIM office. The company has invested heavily in building information modeling on demanding design projects and places great emphasis on modeling capabilities and internal quality control. Business process development has not been driven by external requirements but has been a result of pursuing perfection in architectural design. Larkas & Laine Ar14 CASE STUDY chitects Ltd also owns 45% of AMFI Architects Ltd, which specializes in sports buildings and ice rinks in Russia. Demanding Projects Create Capabilities One of the current design projects Larkas & Laine is working on is the future headquarters of Skanska Finland. The project is architecturally demanding because the headquarters will be located at the beginning on Mannerheimintie where buildings create an entry point from the north, or a gate, to Helsinki. The location is important from the point of view of the cityscape, as requirements of the building authorities play an important role. In addition, Skanska has demanding requirements for both the design and BIM quality. Skanska in turn is using the project for developing their own capabilities. Skanska has a very strong and resolute commitment to contribute to a more sustainable world. In this project Skanska is targeting LEED platinum level and fulfilling the EU Green Building requirements. Skanska, one of the leading BIM companies in Finland, has experimented with BIM extensively and is applying modeling at an ever increasing scale in business. In Skanska’s experience, modeling increases the quality of design, making it easier to reach a 0 design error target. Skanska has concluded that BIM represents a competitive advantage for their own business. “From the architects point of view high quality requirements for both architecture and BIM is an advantage ” says Mr. Harri Salminen who is both an architect and a partner in the company. “High quality requirements for architecture and building information models create challenges but enable us to continuously improve our Harri Salminen. BIM in the Architect's Practice The Larkas & Laine view is that building information modeling is the only solution for high quality and error free design. Compared with traditional 2D and 3D design, BIM enables better architecture, quality and creativity. BIM also makes the management of design information and document production easier. For architectural design, Larkas & Laine use ArchiCAD and modeling is the natural and most efficient way to use that application. Larkas & Laine decided in 2003 that all new projects would be modeled. At the same time, the competencies of the staff are being systematically developed. For example, in 2009 the company used over 700 training days for sharpening modeling skills - a strong indication of the commitment to BIM for a company employing approximately 60 professionals. Larkas & Laine have developed company specific project and modeling methodologies. The method is part of the company’s quality control system and describes the company procedures and practices that are to be observed. BIM projects differ from traditional 2D and 3D projects significantly. One significant aspect is interoperability, the possibility to share design information in the form of models, made possible by BIM and adopting the IFC standard. Interoperability has one direct consequence model quality and quality control are of the utmost importance. assurance is then carried out within the Solibri Model Checker. Model checking is automated by Solibri Model Checker and studying the design issues pinpointed in the architectural model is very efficient. Components and issues found by Solibri Model Checker can be directly selected in ArchiCAD for redesign. Today it is customary that models are released in IFC format. Larkas & Laine will export the model in IFC format and check the IFC file using Solibri Model Checker in order to guarantee that the quality meets the appropriate quality standards. Quality assurance has been integrated seamlessly in the modeling process. The target for quality control at Larkas & Laine is that all models go through the quality control process whether they are released outside the office or not. For example, in the above mentioned Skanska Finland headquarters project, quality assurance has been continuous: quality is controlled continuously at intermediate design phases. All design releases have been scheduled and before releasing the design Larkas & Laine perform a detailed quality control in order to guarantee high quality. Technopolis Plc, Helsinki, Finland skills and stay on the leading edge ” says Quality Control in BIM Projects For BIM quality assurance Larkas & Laine uses Solibri Model Checker. The basic principle in quality assurance is that all models leaving the office go through the model checking process. In case the design is released as an ArchiCAD model, the model is transferred directly to ArchiCAD using the ArchiCAD Link for the Solibri Model Checker, an ArchiCAD add-on produced by Solibri. The quality CASE STUDY 15 “ mated quality control and analysis, and The advantage computer based quality assurance gives us is more efficient quality control, more productive modeling and design... All Stakeholders Benefit from BIM and Quality Control “Without BIM the world would be very much two dimensional ” says architect Harri Salminen. Without building information models and state-of-the-art design and quality assurance software the architectural quality of architectural design could not be guaranteed. Modern tools make things possible that would have been extremely difficult when design was done in 2D or 3D. “2D and 3D design has also included many tedious and laborious tasks. The possibility of human error has also been ever present. Modern technology also makes design work more efficient by removing routine, tedious work. By automating routine tasks it is possible to increase work motivation and interest in the work. Having modern tools at our disposal also makes it easier to produce required quality at different design stages. And, quality control tools also decrease work based stress ” says Mr. Salminen. Because Larkas & Laine has acquired extensive skills in using ArchiCAD for a number of years the company is able to produce good quality models by following internal project and quality practices. Solibri Model Checker in turn makes it possible to find those design issues which would be impossible to find otherwise and produce continuously consistent and high quality models. Because of interoperability, exchange of design information in model format and the ability to combine models with consistently high quality is by far more important in BIM projects than traditional design projects. 16 CASE STUDY BIM, interoperability and IFC enable the exchange of design information and merging of models. It is extremely useful to be able to compare the architectural model with say, the structural model. Designers should exchange models frequently during the design phase. Easy and Efficient Workflow Modeling with ArchiCAD and quality control with Solibri Model Checker saves time and makes the design process more productive. “Transferring the architectural model to Solibri Model Checker, using Solibri for fast, reliable and auto- the direct selection of design issues in ArchiCAD makes the work flow extremely efficient and easy ” says Harri Salminen. “The advantage computer based quality assurance gives us is more efficient quality control, more productive modeling and design, and leaving out the possibility for human error ” Harri Salminen continues. Leading edge BIM competencies and high quality also affect customer satisfaction and retention. “Quality is equally important in every project because all of our customers are repeat customers. Ensuring high quality internally enables us to build confidence between our office and our customers ” architect Harri Salminen says. Long customer relationships are also important to Larkas & Laine because they lower the number of projects acquired through bidding. Larkas & Laine Architects Ltd is a leading edge BIM company. State-of-theArt modeling and quality control tools and continuous investment in both project and modeling guidelines and practices, and internal training produce results. Larkas & Laine Architects Ltd Larkas & Laine is one of the leading Finnish architectural practices targeting high level architecture and high quality built environment. Larkas & Laine emphasize a customer oriented approach in architectural design and developing a deep understanding of their customer needs. The target is to create unique and customer specific design alternatives resulting in a design fulfilling customer needs. Larkas & Laine apply their long experience and creativity which, combined with their strong customer orientation, results in design solutions that are both unique and architecturally successful, while exceeding customer expectations. The company uses building information modeling extensively. Modeling benefits BIM quality control and enables use of BIM information during the construction process. Larkas & Laine employs a quality control system which is continuously improving. The system also includes a design and modeling methodology description which enables Larkas & Laine to maintain continuously high quality. BIM, visualization and CAD based design are core competencies at Larkas & Laine. The office is a member in the Finnish Green Building Council (FiGBC), currently being created. FiGBC targets participating in the development of sustainable practices and tools, and presents Finnish actors in the international Green Building Council. Larkas & Laine is the first Finnish architectural company that has applied for the WWF Green Office Certificate for their internal practices. Larkas & Laine was established in 1993 and employs more than 60 people today. For more information on Larkas & Laine visit http://www.larkaslaine.com. HEIKKI KULUSJÄRVI Solibri, Inc. JONATHAN WIDNEY Solibri LLC JAAKKO JAUHIAINEN Solibri, Inc. Mining the Model. Solibri Introduces Information Takeoff (ITO) – THE LATEST INNOVATION FROM SOLIBRI For the first time, ITO makes the information in BIM available for wide use and analysis. ITO will allow “data mining” from the BIM by making it possible to instantly capture practically any information available and then generate customized reports. W e all have seen how 3D geometric information is visualized and Quantity takeoffs are generated from BIM files. We asked ourselves “why should we be limited to just the quantity of geometric components, when there is so much more information available? ” We came up with an answer: Information takeoff. Whatever information you are interested in, you can collect, filter, visualize, and report – instantly! Solibri’s main focus is quality assurance and control. To be more precise, Solibri wants to make sure the required information is available, can be trusted, and follows set criteria and guidelines (e.g. building code or internal BIM guidelines). To achieve this, Solibri Model Checker uses rules to analyze infor- mation in, and various aspects of, the model. Additionally, Solibri has discovered innovative ways to verify that information. Typically, BIM information is fragmented on the component level into many thousand elements. “You can’t see the forest for the trees” - is a saying that applies here. Some things are easier to see than others. For example, we visualize geometrical information and by looking at it we can discover some potential problems. Through this process we have elevated detailed geometrical information to a more understandable and usable level, for all. A similar result is achieved when we generate quantity takeoffs from the BIM file, as the “total numbers” give us more understanding about the building or structure. INFORMATION TAKEOFF 17 Space and volume summar y rep o r t a n d v i s u a l ization produced with ITO in real t i m e , w i t h o u t any programming. What-You-Se e - I s - W h a t - Yo u Get ITO Combining the three ideas of being able to automatically check models for quality, visualize complex model information and the rich information content of BIM files, Solibri has developed an innovative capability called Information Takeoff (ITO). In brief, ITO allows users to collect information from the BIM file, organize it, visualize it, and report it - instantly. This information can include spatial areas for area calculations, envelope of the building for energy calculations, volumes, quantity takeoff and much more. Solibri has always been focused on the “I” (information) in BIM. Solibri Model Checker now brings the capability, and power, to ‘mine the model’ for extensive types of information to your desktop. This will fundamentally change the way models are used. Once the data is in the model, the user will be able to capture it in whatever structure best suits the project requirements. The ability to collect, filter and instantly access all the information at your fingertips will significantly increase the value of BIM for many stakeholders. How to Use ITO? Solibri has built ITO functionality to be easy to use at the design office, the worksite, or wherever you have needs to rapidly get information out of the building information model. You can make pre-defined calculations to coordinate design process or ad-hoc queries to identify material to be sent to the second floor at 18 INFORMATION TAKEOFF “ Comprehensive project quantity takeoff - information at your fingertips the worksite. Following are some of the key concepts to get the most out of ITO. ITO Description ITO Description is the starting point. First, you select the discipline(s) you want to work with, as there may be several models from different disciplines loaded in the Solibri Model Checker. Then you define what components you want to get information from and what properties are of interest. You can also define what rule sets should be checked to generate accurate results. Next, you define how this information should be organized (e.g. by floor, space or system). It is also possible to enable information grouping and reflect total sums. Different colors can be assigned Creating an information takeoff d e f i n i t i o n i s the first step in mining informatio n f r o m B I M models. It is also possible to se l e c t r u l e s e t s that should be used for model c h e c k i n g . I T O will warn the user if expected ru l e s e t s h a v e n o t been loaded or fully checked. to indicate different wall types (in this example). Once you have finished the ITO description, you can takeoff the information of the whole model or make a partial takeoff (selection) using Model Tree, Classification, Sectioning, Filtering, or even individually picking the components that are of interest. ITO Templates ITO descriptions can be saved for sharing with other members of the project team or for further use with other projects. These are saved as ITO templates which can be effectively used to ensure consistency when extracting information from the model. If, for example you have created an ITO description for creating a bill of quantities of all doors and windows in your current project, the same ITO template can be used on other projects. Thus, ITO automates data extraction from models. ITO templates can also be shared between users. Wall types are automatically color coded for easy identification and cost analysis. ITO Reports and Report Templates All the information that has been collected can be exported to spreadsheets for further reporting and analysis. These are called ITO Reports, and can be easily customized by the user. Once it is determined which information from the associated ITO description will be used, it is possible to create formulas, etc. as necessary to further utilize that BIM information. ITO Samples Delivered with Solibri Model Checker A number of sample ITO templates and reports are delivered with the Solibri Model Checker. Included are: • Building Components by Blocks • Building Element Quantities • Component Status • Detailed Building Component Quantities • Flow Terminals and Valves • Pipes and Ducts • Spaces Information from building information models can be reported using customized standard templates. Templates can include additional information such as cost information. • Walls by Height • ITO and Carbon Footprint Calculations • Building Project Hollow Core Slab Structure Cost Estimate • Space Based Target Price Calculation There are numerous ways to utilize BIM information by combining the information produced by Solibri Model Checker with information from other sources such as cost engineering information. With ITO it is possible for example to very easily produce a carbon footprint and energy calculations reflecting the total levels of the GHG emissions and energy consumption caused by manufacturing the materials of the building. It is also relatively straightforward to expand the calculation to include the GHG emissions during the construction phase. ● Visit http://www.solibri.com and download Introduction to Information Takeoff. INFORMATION TAKEOFF 19 Courtecy of Senate Properties HEIKKI KULUSJÄRVI Solibri, Inc. JONATHAN WIDNEY Solibri LLC JAAKKO JAUHIAINEN Solibri, Inc. Solibri Model Checker THE LEADING BIM QUALITY ASSURANCE AND ANALYSIS TOOL ENABLES SUPERIOR SPATIAL COORDINATION The modern and open Building Information Modeling (BIM) process and information rich BIM files offer totally new possibilities to effectively and efficiently manage the design process from the early design stages through the end of construction. As buildings become more complex and architecture more ambitious, Spatial Coordination will enhance productivity and dramatically reduce field changes. 20 SPATIAL COORDINATION T he traditional (non-collaborative) design and construction process brings additional unpredicted costs, is inefficient, affects the schedules and in many cases delivers suboptimal solutions. This has been verified by several studies including Rethinking Construction, The report of the Construction Task Force to the Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, on the scope for improving the quality and efficiency of UK construction, and the NIST report showing $15.8 billion USD annual waste in the US alone based on the lack of interoperability. At the same time, it is illogical to expect that as we now focus more on energy efficiency and environmental impact, and as building technology is becoming increasingly complex and architecture ever more ambitious, that the design I n t e r n a l M E P d e s i g n i s s u es would be less challenging and we would have fewer design coordination and quality issues. When design problems are fixed on site the cost is typically high. Many software tools currently support and promote "collision detection", which has been introduced as a solution to the above problem. In most cases this is done when all design is done as a final check before the construction phase is started. However subcontractors have said that collision detection itself is an inefficient process because it is encouraging people to make mistakes with the assumption they will just be caught downstream. The result is normally an exhaustive listing of identified ‘collisions’ between geometric objects in the models. This approach is not ideal as it still requires significant effort to go through the collision report multiple times just to determine which identified collisions are severe, or important enough to discuss in an upcoming coordination meeting. This practice is both time consuming and labor intensive. The next generation, information rich, open Building Information Modeling (BIM) process offers totally new possibilities to effectively and efficiently man- age the design process early on. “Spatial Coordination” reflects new thinking of how to utilize cumulative information throughout the BIM process. The general idea is that problems are identified early and proper quality measures are implemented from the beginning. In the ideal situation, when design of all disciplines is done there are few, if any collisions to be found. Spatial Coordination: Collision Detection is Only The Starting Point Instead of waiting for complete BIM models to be handed over for pre‐construction planning and checking, quality assurance tasks need to be conducted as relevant information becomes available. Model checking can be conducted throughout the project, but ideally it should be done before a design is handed over to other engineering disciplines. Continuous quality control, when properly established, will find potential problems before passing false or misleading information forward. Solibri has adopted a more comprehensive approach, which we call Spatial Coordination, where collision detection is just one of the components, but that is performed only after other measures for Quality Assurance are applied. We are focused on how to identify real quality issues based upon compliance with existing rules, requirements and/or codes; then how to effectively manage those findings, well in advance of any meetings and design handover deadlines. Catching issues early will help us avoid redesign and make the design process more productive. Spatial coordination requires analyzing the design disciplines that affect space usage in buildings. This includes: • Architectural design (Spaces, walls, slabs, columns, beams, doors, windows, etc.) • Structural design (load bearing walls, slabs, columns, beams etc.) • MEP design (ducts pipes, cable carri ers etc.) The methodology that Solibri Model Checker uses is one of rules and rulesets. Many software applications use rules, but they are internal algorithms, most often hard coded, and unable to be customized or even edited by the end user. Solibri Model Checker provides a SPATIAL COORDINATION 21 myriad of rule templates, where the only missing information is the customers’ parameters to be applied. It is also possible, with some assistance, to create entirely new rules, essentially allowing a customer to have their own ‘custom flavor’ of Solibri Model Checker supporting their business needs, or the needs of their clients. Once new rules are created, they are combined with other related rules into a ruleset. Solibri Model Checker also performs the analysis fast and reliably, dramatically lowering the cost of quality assurance. Severity classification is done automatically for all design issues located. This area does not contain any space. Consequently space calculations and BIM inf o r m a t i o n m i g h t be incorrect leading in unreliable space program verification, incorrect quantities, or e v e n e x c e e d i n g the allowed area once the building is completed. “Space Validation” Ruleset The starting point is to check that the architectural design has spaces defined according to surrounding walls. If not, either spaces or walls need to be adjusted. "Structural versus Architectural Models" Ruleset Architectural and structural design should be checked to verify that load bearing walls, columns, beams, slabs, etc. are equally located in the two disciplines. Similarly it should be checked that openings like doors are similar in size and location. "Intersections Between Domains" Ruleset The next step is to check the structural design and MEP design and find "interferences" with structural elements. Solibri reports these by categorizing according to the severity and by structural component even if it has several interferences. This makes it easier to coordinate the real issues. Internal MEP system interferences are also coordinated. In most collision detection systems you are expected to know what systems interfere and you select only those for your test. As the list of problems is exhaustive “unwanted” results are filtered away. 22 SPATIAL COORDINATION Architectural and structural models with horizontal and vertical differences in location s a n d d i m e nsions. S a m e c o l l i s i o n w i t h a n A rchitectural wall is LOW but with a Structural wall it is CRITICAL Change Management - Model Version Comparison During the design and construction process it is extremely important to track what has been changed in the design. The "model comparison" rulesets are built specifically for this. You import the previous version of the design and then the later version and run the comparison rules. The results will visualize by color coded categories (and objects) what has been added, removed or modified in the model. With Solibri Model Checker you know exactly what has been changed, and by whom. There is no need to guess. Change management at its best. Changes in properties, such as space or volumes, are tracked, as well as the geometry. It is then possible to generate a summary report on quantities changed serving the owner, contractor and future users in cost engineering, investment decisions, etc. Communication, Collaboration and Reporting Historically, there was an extraordinary amount of time required before each coordination meeting, just to review the magnitude of identified collisions. Communication is one of the key benefits of the BIM process. The use of model visualization has resulted in a much more efficient and collegial environment. Whether the goal is to identify interferences, share the results of model comparison or just to bring attention to a particular area of the model, it is infinitely easier to accomplish this and reach consensus in a model-based environment. Samples of CRITICAL, MODERATE and LOW severity issues. Note: Interference with s m a l l p i p e s i s considered low priority since this is easier to fix on site. Rule-based reasoning helps s i g n i f i c a n t l y, focusing on the most relevant issues first and when required, even low severity issue s c a n b e addressed. Door type and size is changed between two versions of design. Attached table show s c h a n g e s i n quantities. Once the model checking results have been generated, they can be quickly viewed and saved as viewpoints in a presentation folder unique to this particular checking exercise. This serves two purposes, firstly, it makes it possible to share the views as a presentation, and secondly, it allows the reviewer to add information to the viewpoints, such as the checking decision (accepted, rejected, undefined, or don’t change). With Solibri Model Checker it is possible to edit the viewpoints and effectively manage the issues by indicating their status (open, assigned, resolved, closed) and assigning the parties responsible for resolving them. The findings are communicated to designers and/or other team members by generating presentations and coor- dination reports. The team can proceed through the presentation with decisions made during that process. This has been an activity that previously was very fragmented. Now, it is possible to check, review the results, view the issues, assign the responsible party and track the progress through resolution, in one consistent environment. The powerful connection between issues and reporting helps expedite actual problem solving. This capability could literally save hours in the areas of preprocessing, meeting preparation and issue tracking and resolution, at the same time raising the quality of the BIM file and the design. ● Visit http://www.solibri.com and download Spatial Coordination White Paper. SPATIAL COORDINATION 23 Solibri, Inc. Itälahdenkatu 21A 00210 Helsinki, FINLAND Email: [email protected] Phone: +358 10 5486 800 Fax: +358 10 5486806 http://www.solibri.com 24 CASE STUDY NTI CADcenter A/S NTI Nestor AS Email: [email protected] Phone: +45 70 10 14 00 www.nti.dk Email: [email protected] Phone: +47 48 20 33 00 www.ntinestor.no
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