Implementing 4D BIM Construction Management Midway through The Project

4D Building information modeling, is being used increasingly across the AEC industry. The adoption rate of BIM 4D scheduling/construction sequencing is at its peak and has gained widespread acceptance across the globe. And why not will it get popular, AEC industry has experienced huge potentials working with 4D BIM; and benefits it provides in form of better management and articulating better outcomes.

Benefits that make adoption of BIM 4D so popular and a high value proposition:

• Understand Building Process and Make Work Flow Improvements
• Improve Coordination and Clash Detection Capabilities
• Enable Lean Construction

Our team at Hi-Tech has successfully completed several such projects where BIM came into picture after the construction work started.  Although it is very challenging to implement BIM at later stages, it still does offer considerable amount of benefits and returns on investment.  One project I remember we executed was developing BIM for a university hospital in Saudi Arabia.

When this project was offered to us, construction for the building had already started.  However at this stage, the project was going way behind schedule, the client wanted to gain better control over the construction process and make it streamlined.

We were briefed about the requirements, - BIM with LOD 500 and adherence to AIA standards. Information rich model with details for MEP, structural and Architectural disciplines was prepared and further interdisciplinary clashes were identified and mitigated. Changes were amended and construction schedules were set.

Clearly, introducing BIM midway through the construction was challenging, however it was fruitful. The university hospital construction project was running late, but after BIM intervention client managed to streamline the processes and complete the project on time. Further client also integrated BIM documentation and as built information with O&M for facility management. As risks reduced - liabilities also reduced, and as clashes were mitigated rework reduced - hence time and cost efficiencies increased. As a result, for the client it turned out to be a highly profitable investment.