Implementation of BIM

[Anonymous]

We are a fairly large multidisciplinary engineering consulting firm. We are still basically a 2d AutoCAD user group in our building services departments. We are considering the implementation of BIM through the use of Revit. I would like to have the feedback of users who already went through this experience: the methodology, the considerations, drawbacks, ... Needless to say that we are always overloaded with work and we are facing a major resistance from the users when we mention the shift.:)

[Anonymous]

Naturally, your people are resistant to change. I found the same thing in
my office as we make the transition from AutoCAD r14 to 2005 to Revit. What
I have found is an initial resistance, followed by an outpouring of support.
If you have a group or team in your office which is more willing to change,
start with them. Let them show the rest of the office just how powerful a
system like Revit can be. In my office, we started with a small focus
group. As that group has come up to spped, others in the office are
watching what they are accomplishing. Now, I've got users coming to me,
insisting they are in the next group to get Revit training!

Also, many of the things you mention, the methodology, the considerations,
drawbacks, are well covered in a book called Introducing and Implementing
Autodesk Revit by Balding and Fox. This book covers many of the factors
that will go into determining the best course of action for your firm, as no
two firms are alike.

HTH!

Scott

wrote in message news:4879179@discussion.autodesk.com...
We are a fairly large multidisciplinary engineering consulting firm. We are
still basically a 2d AutoCAD user group in our building services
departments. We are considering the implementation of BIM through the use
of Revit. I would like to have the feedback of users who already went
through this experience: the methodology, the considerations, drawbacks, ...
Needless to say that we are always overloaded with work and we are facing a
major resistance from the users when we mention the shift.:)

[JMoore]

Maria,

Several considerations we gave when choosing to go the BIM route were as follows:

1. Why did we want to use BIM and what results did we hope to achieve with its use?
2. Will the platform we choose to utilize be accepted / understood by those we work with (subs., customers, etc.)? I.E. can they quickly and efficiently work with out output?
3. Were we willing to dedicate ourselves to new training and new hardware?
4. Did we have access to a large trained user base on the platform of choice (esp. in regard to new employees)?

Resistance will always come with any new software chance. For use, it was not as much of an issue if our employees did not agree with it as they are not always looking at the larger picture. However, we did need to make sure our customer base would be able to utilize our work with little to no new education or software purchases on their part.

Regardless, we are firmly convinced BIM is the way to go (residential industry for us) and have been on this path for some time now. You are on the right track just make sure you get yoru company (especially managers) to agree on "realistic" goals and results. Nothing happens overnight and everything has peaks as well as pitfalls when it comes to new technology.

Jay

[Anonymous]

See my comments below:
wrote in message news:4879592@discussion.autodesk.com...
Maria,

Several considerations we gave when choosing to go the BIM route were as
follows:

1. Why did we want to use BIM and what results did we hope to achieve with
its use?

The book I mentioned covers this in detail. It asks the questions "What is
your firm size, what type of projects, what is you firm culture, what kind
of personnel, how is your technology in the office, etc....

2. Will the platform we choose to utilize be accepted / understood by those
we work with (subs., customers, etc.)? I.E. can they quickly and
efficiently work with out output?

In the case of Revit, the answers to all of these is yes. Revit reads and
writes DWG. you can continue to work with all of your consultants etc as
you currently do. Beyond that, new Revit products are being introduced, as
Revit Structure was just released, and Revit Systems (MEP) is due out in a
year or so. On the horizon is yet another Revit product. Additionally,
your clients/consultants/contractors will get additional value from a Revit
model, from using the BIM model for Facilities Management after the project
is complete, to having a virutal model for your consultants to run
structural and energy analysis on, to a complete model to get exact quantity
takes offs for estimating, and a model that can be phased to show
construction phasing. Will your software be able to provide these things,
or will it be just another add-on to an existing product that requires
constant management and attention to assure it works correctly?

3. Were we willing to dedicate ourselves to new training and new hardware?

Any firm should already have plans for future training and hardware. In the
case of hardware, all firms MUST have a plan in place to keep up with the
rapidly changing computer technology. Only 10 years ago, a 200Mhz processor
was "fast", five years ago we were getting "top of the line" 750mHz
machines, and today, 3Ghz machines are the norm. Whether its AutoCAD or
Revit, or something else, computers with horsepower are part of the business
to keep our information/graphically intense projects running smoothly. If
you make a software change, and find your computers aren't fast enough, well
it was probably time to make a change any way. Training - always have a
training plan in place for your firm, whether its to train on new software,
or to keep your people fresh on an exisitng one. Even AutoCAD is on a
yearly release cycle now, so plan on training in your yearly budget.

4. Did we have access to a large trained user base on the platform of
choice (esp. in regard to new employees)?

As you transition towards Revit, your AutoCAD trained staff can continue to
work in DWG. As more get trained, you will rely less on DWG. If it were
the case to train those on either Revit or ADT, you will get much more value
from Revit training, as those trained will actually use most of what they
learn. You will here it time and time again: most trained on ADT never use
the full toolset they have learned, as it is too complicated. Most use only
the basics.

[jorgeledezma]

Some tips:

1. A good approach for this is to begin with a prototype project with a champion team.

2. You don't have to migrate all your platform, at least in one shot. You may have a hybrid first and once your people get trained continue the migration, if you want to.

3. Remember that you may have customer (internal and external) which are more or less adaptable to the rest.

4. BIM require as far I know a strong 3D modeling vision and organization. Your deliverables may changes. In the past you may have a paper sheet for review, and in the future you sure have a screen design review with redlining.

5. There will be changes in your organizational structure that you may accomplish first: you will need a cad manager and disciplines champions. I would do a flow process with the before and after of task and deliverables, with the candidates to be in charge of.

6. From what you have now to BIM you will experiment things will be distintc inside and outside the design boundaries. So be prepare to evangelist them, and to receive sarcastic comments like "the past was better". Get consensus.

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?siteID=123112&id=3782406

[JMoore]

Maria,

And when you get to the end make a decision based on sound and personal organization judgment. Don't let any salesperson or user posting in these discussion groups make or unnecessarily influence your decision (including me).

Discussion groups are merely sites for suggestions and opinions to guide in your decision making. Everybody has their personal favorite and can justify their software / view is king for any given situation. Hype is no substitute for good judgment and only you know what is best for your organization.

Sincerely,
Jay

[Anonymous]

I thank you all for your replies,

I have the Management backing up the decision to go BIM in order to "improve" the production in Building services. Building services users are around 110 persons.
I know we should start with a pilot project.
I think the best thing will be to ask the users who would be interested to go through the pilot experiment.
Customers will always ask for DWG files as long as they do not know the culture behind a BIM. Then selling the value added item with the design would be beneficial.
I think that we also should take into consideration the training of new comers. BIM oriented and educated people are not common in this part of the world (Middle East!!)
Our current setup will have to change : architects should become the main performers in the production process (vs. CAD operators).

It is going to be a major change but as Jay puts it:BIM is the way to go! thanks a lot!

[JeffreyMcGrew]

ONe bit of advice for your pilot project: pick a project type you're very familar with, so that you don't have to focus much on solving design problems, and instead can just focus on how to delever the project using Revit instead.

One firm where I used to work picked a big, complex, and somewhat new project type for their first 'real' Revit project, and it turned out to be very painful. It worked, and now after some help and a few more projects they are doing much better, but had they picked something smaller & something more of a no-brainer design-wise it would have made the switch a lot less painful for them...

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all.
I think I have enough material to come up with the methodology of this move.
Maria

[ChemionixIT]

Hi

I would assume there would be good resistance migrating from 2D AutoCAD to Revit BIM Modeling. Obvisouly the skill level requirement would be very different and also process of working would change.

However, feel that BIM modeling futhure, and it actually takes less time for generating all the design deliverables. Errors are minimised, integrated working within various disipline is well co-ordinated. Once you get used to working on Revit then there would no looking back.

Chemionix has been providing BIM Modeling Services to international client for many years now and please dont hesitate to contact us for any assistance required for working on your projects.

[Mistress0fTheDorkness]

Dood, this post is from 2005, I'm pretty sure they're done by now. :razz: