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CHAPTER 1 Beyond Basic documentation
If you look at this growth in a bit more detail (see Figure 1.2), you’ll note an increase across
the board of BIM use. Heavy users—firms that have been invested in BIM and are building on
that investment—increased 10 percent in 2009 alone. Light users—typically those firms that are
making their initial foray into BIM—have jumped 20 percent over the same time frame.
Even in economically challenging times, it seems that the industry is looking for ways to
get projects done better, faster, and greener. The same survey goes on to state that at the 2005
National American Institute of Architects (AIA) convention, out of a room of 4,000 people, there
were only about 15 percent of the attendees who could identify with BIM as a workflow and
documentation methodology. Four years later, in 2009, more than half the firms are using BIM
on a regular basis to document their designs.
Planning for BIM
As architects or designers, we have accepted the challenge of changing our methodology to adapt
to the nuances of documentation through modeling rather than drafting. We are now confronted
with identifying the next step. Some firms look to create better and better documents, whereas
others are leveraging BIM in building analysis. As we continue to be successful in visualization
and documentation, industry leaders are looking to move BIM to the next plateau. Many of these
new possibilities are, like BIM was a decade ago, new workflows and potential changes in our
culture or habits, which require you to ask yourself a very critical question:
What kind of firm do you want to be, and how do you plan to use BIM?
Figure 1.1
Impact of BIM
and use in green
projects
All Respondents
Impact of BIM Adoption
7%
49%
Most Positive
(8–10)
Neutral
Most Negative
(1–4)
44%
All Respondents
Level of Involvement in Green Projects
23%
50%
Low Involvement
(1–4)
Moderate
High Involvement
(8–10)
27%
Source: McGraw-Hill Construction, 2008
Figure 1.2
Growth in BIM
use on projects
Total % Projects 2008
Growth in BIM Use on Projects
35%
10%
17%
Projected Total % 2009
45%
18%
17%
20%
Very Heavy Users
(>60%)
Source: McGraw-Hill Construction, 2008
Heavy Users
(31–60%)
Medium Users
(16–30%)
Light Users
(1–15%)
38%
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