"Project Library"
According to Wikipedia, BIM is a digital building information model of an existing and/or planned structure, consisting of objects to which information is linked.
Collaboration throughout the supply chain
Paul Heerkens, Managing Director at Zoontjens, explains the benefits. “”You might compare BIM to a ‘project library’, a virtual model of the building project. Only the parties working on the project in question can access the data. All stakeholders work with this model and all the information (e.g. construction drawings, calculations, specifications, reports, etc.) is recorded in it. The more completely the BIM model is filled, the more it will benefit everyone involved. It can be used at all stages of the project and any errors can be recognised at an early stage. This ensures that the right decisions are made and that you do not have to go back to the ‘drawing board’ during the process. The main advantage: lower failure costs, faster construction and better project quality.””
BIM offers knowledge through understanding. The entire lifecycle of a building is taken into account in the system, highlighting various future scenarios, e.g. how savings in the design phase will lead to higher maintenance costs at a later stage. As such, BIM also helps us to take more carefully considered decisions about current and future investments.
How do we work with it?
How have we integrated BIM into our way of working? Paul Heerkens: “It’s mainly the major building contractors who’re already using this extensively. We supply the information they ask for and they convert this into the desired file. These developments are still at an early stage, but we’ve gained some experience with it. It helps us to also consider things from our customers’ perspective and advise and support them.
