Using BIM in the pre-construction phase gives contractors and stakeholders detailed insights into their projects. And 5D BIM-based preconstruction designing helps them to create realistic estimates and schedules. With BIM modeling & pre-construction coordination they can catch and solve design errors and clashes early for hurdle-free execution.

The use of BIM in the pre-construction phase can take your construction projects to new heights with accurate planning, design, and coordination. The complete scope of project work covering materials, cost, design, schedules estimates and other resource allocations are finalized before construction begins.

Multiple stakeholders across various locations need to communicate, coordinate and edit designs to reach consensus on all issues for timely completion of projects within budgets. With traditional methods, this takes long and much of it contains guesswork and errors due to lack of 3D visualization and poor collaboration. Adding BIM to your projects, brings your teams together for a coordinated approach, and helps overcome the challenges of conventional construction project designing and estimation.

BIM modeling and pre-construction coordination help to improve cost estimation, planning, design optimization, scheduling, and operations for construction projects. It has become imperative for contractors to adopt BIM in the pre-construction stage for better project management and to build brand credibility.

What are the challenges faced by building contractors at the pre-construction stage?

Planning and coordination using traditional methods lack real-time coordination, cause inaccurate budget projections, and have clashes between designs from architecture, structure, MEP, and other divisions. Here are some of the challenges faced in planning construction with legacy systems:

• Lack of coordination between disciplines like MEP, architecture, design, structure, etc. leads to conflicts that delay the projects.
• Inadequate project visualization may lead to safety hazards during the installation.
• Inaccurate estimates lead to erroneous costs, material estimates, and project timelines.
• Communication gaps between teams working in silos often lead to rework hitting both on cost and resources.
• Legacy tools and techniques are unable to identify design flaws in the pre-construction stage leading to rework.

Businesses using legacy and traditional systems in the construction business fall behind their competitors and do not reach their full potential due to a lack of innovation. Lack of design interaction and communication across all stakeholders cause frequent project delays or failures. The increasing complexity of construction projects, multiple stakeholders and supply chains, and evolving products have added to these challenges. Completing construction projects within budget and time is now difficult without BIM.

What are the benefits of using BIM during the pre-construction stage?

BIM in the pre-construction phase is not only about design and pre-construction; it benefits the entire lifecycle of a construction project in various ways. BIM visualizes and projects every aspect of a building virtually. Even the minutest flaw can be identified and corrected before the actual physical construction begins. Here are a few of the benefits of using BIM in the pre-construction phase.

• Better coordination among stakeholders

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  BIM modeling and pre-construction coordination connects all stakeholders in a construction project like architects, engineers, contractors, and plumbing and electrical systems through a better collaborative process. All the 2D designs are converted into 3D models and stored on a cloud-based platform. Cloud-based tools such as Autodesk’s BIM 360 ensure that all stakeholders have accurate insights on the project. Any design modification or concern suggested by any stakeholder is reflected across the system and the updated data can be viewed by all for any further discussion.
  
  This keeps the contractors and other stakeholders bound to a single truth with no ambiguities. The designs can be reviewed from any location across the globe using even mobile devices. This kind of collaboration at the pre-construction stage helps with the timely detection of errors and prevents any conflicts during the construction phase.
  
  

  A clash-free 3D BIM model created for an Egyptian construction company for their healthcare facility brought all the stakeholders to the same page helping to analyse energy efficiency. The client saved 30-35% on the project budget.

  
  

• BIM modeling handles rework and design changes efficiently

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  BIM in the pre-construction phase reduces time spent on rework by avoiding clashes completely. All conflicts related to design, MEP clashes, floor plans, plumbing, and fire systems are resolved. The visualization of the final design in the preconstruction phase saves time and cost of redesigning as there are no surprises of flaw discovery during the construction phase.
  
  It helps contractors with easy fabrication and onsite installations. Contractors can do accurate fabrication based on IFC drawings from error-free BIM models. This clash-free design prevents any rework optimizing both time and cost. The annotations and mark-ups in drawings highlight MEP layouts for components. This helps contractors with efficient and quick installation. There is absolute clarity on every aspect of the construction like whether the doorways have sufficient clearance or whether the electrical fittings clash with plumbing fittings. Any change in the design automatically reveals any clash with other aspects and accordingly contractors can take corrective measures at the pre-construction stage itself.
  
  

  A project management solutions firm from Saudi Arabia needed an accurately coordinated 3D BIM model in LOD 500 that would enable them to attain better ROIs with scheduling. A final clash-free 3D BIM model in LOD 500 helped the client achieve their goal of better ROI through appropriate scheduling.

  
  

• BIM ensures accurate cost and time estimation

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  Accurate estimation of the time and cost of any construction project is crucial for any contractor. For making an accurate bid the contractors need to account for the material needed, the quantity and cost, and the project timeline based on the logistics and coordination with other stakeholders. The BIM model helps in estimating costs and the time required during the designing and planning phase, which helps with effective financing and planning.
  
  BIM allows for accurate material assessment, on-time procurement of materials, lesser waste, and even reduced claim litigations. Contractors can present an accurate graphical representation of the project timeline keeping in line with the material, equipment, and cost. The clash-free 3D model along with the dimensions of time (4D) allows contractors to give accurate cost and time estimations.
  
  

  A clash-free 3D model with 4D sequencing and scheduling prepared for an architectural company enabled the client to complete the project on time by improving design communication with their end customers through time-sequence videos.

  
  

• Accurate 3D visualization promotes safer installation

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  BIM improves safety in construction sites by detecting hazardous or hard-to-reach spaces in the pre-construction phase so that appropriate actions can be taken before the problem is aggravated on site. Planning site logistics in the pre-construction phase, helps take appropriate measures ensuring safety across the entire project execution.
  
  BIM-ready coordinated shop drawings help contractors in safer installation. 3D visualization identifies hazardous spaces giving the installation team higher clarity and improving onsite safety. BIM specifies risks for every stage of construction and figures out strategies to manage the risks. Contractors can visualize the architecture and the MEP systems with the help of AR/VR walkthroughs. They can create better workflows and manage onsite safety protocols with the help of construction simulations.
  
  

• Seamless construction with clash detection

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  Pre-Construction and BIM modeling assist contractors with 3D visualization of every aspect of the building. This allows for precise clash detection and identification of errors and inconsistencies in the design much before the actual construction. Any kind of utility conflict between different modules like electrical, plumbing, or any other vertical is easily identified and corrected. Once the clashes are resolved, the coordinated 3D models ensure seamless construction.
  

  A 3D MEP model in Revit with LOD 400 and clash-detection reports was created for a general contracting company from Oman for an Airport project. The client saved $7 million in 6 months.

  
  

• Helps with facility management and building handover

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  BIM in the pre-construction phase helps with facility management after the building handover. The contractors can use the data on the life of the equipment and replacement costs to plan modifications for facility management. Contractors can estimate cost and project time estimation for any future improvements or changes in the building at a later stage. The information is also is required in case of any crisis or emergency. This benefit of BIM goes beyond construction. The 3D visualization of the building allows for efficient energy usage, green practices, and online safety protocols. Also, in the latest high-tech constructions, the use of Digital Twins is gaining traction for facility management, and this is not possible without BIM.
  

Conclusion

BIM has revolutionized the construction industry, especially for building contractors. It offers a holistic construction solution that goes much beyond just 3D designs. BIM brings teams together to review and edit designs and drawings connecting and representing every aspect of construction. It is the digitization of the entire physical project from pre-construction to construction and post-construction that helps with easy visualization and benefits all stakeholders in multiple ways.

Pre-construction is all about planning, designing, collaboration, scheduling, cost estimation, and building maintenance across the entire life cycle of the project. And BIM helps to make pre-construction planning stronger.

About Author:

Harika Singh is an academician and published writer. Her passion for engineering and technology reflects in the in-depth coverage she provides on technology trends. 20 years of work association with institutes of repute across India and the US positions her to provide valuable insights to business stakeholders on achieving scalability and operational efficiencies through digitalization.