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Building information modeling (BIM) is changing the face of the construction industry, making collaboration the top priority in the execution of a project. In recognition of the pivotal role BIM will play in the future of the construction industry, the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) has released an educational publication to help prepare contractors for coming industry changes.
At its midyear meeting, AGC released the Contractors’ Guide to Building Information Modeling. The publication, aimed at educating AGC member firms on the benefits, tools, and applications of BIM, outlines what the AGC Collaboration Techniques Tools and Technologies Task Force considers a basic framework of best practices for contractors transitioning to BIM.
The guide is intended to assist contractors in determining how to get started using BIM in order to respond to the demands of clients and the challenges of a rapidly evolving industry. In addition to a discussion of the collaboration in project design intrinsic to BIM, contractors are provided information on using the powerful database and three-dimensional modeling technology of BIM for the “virtual construction” of buildings. By moving beyond the mere exchange of information between designer and contractor to using computer software to create Virtual Design and Construction (VDC), planning, design, and construction of facilities will be greatly improved, and contractors will be repositioned for greater control over the entire project delivery process.
The extended use of intelligent design models can significantly transform the construction process by more accurately accounting for factors like construction time and quality and cost of materials during project design. The guide shows how the use of BIM can be a vehicle for contractors to increase their range of services and reduce the time and costs of construction. In addition to promoting the profit possibilities of VDC techniques, the guide explores how responsibilities can be clarified and risks, such as the reliance on the BIM database, can be managed.
AGC members can download an electronic copy of the guide from www.agc.org. Printed copies can be ordered by members from the AGC online bookstore for $25. Nonmembers can obtain either an electronic or printed copy of the publication for $75.
Schinnerer BIM Resource
Policyholders can access Building Information Modeling: A Great Idea in Conflict with Traditional Concepts of Insurance, Liability, and Professional Responsibility, by Howard W. Ashcraft, Jr., Esq., from the Annual Meeting of Invited Attorneys.
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