BIM Checklist

Hi All,

I know it has been very long time since my last post and I am sorry about it. I was in Turkey for my sister's wedding and then a lot of business travels within GCC. I hardly found time to sleep during last month.

However I am back and ready with a new post.

The following is one of the most common questions I have encountered.

"Which BIM Software is the best?"

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Well the answer changes from person to person because all the BIM Softwares developed significantly during the last few years. They are all good but some of them are better. What makes some of them better is your requirements.

For instance you can do concrete modeling in ArchiCAD but if you want rebar then you have to send the model to Tekla. Or Graphisoft MEP Modeler is good for coordination however for Fabrication I would recommend CADmep+.

But really, I don't find it very analytic and scientific to ask this question to the vendors. I understand they are the ones who knows the products best but they don't know you.

 Image courtesy of Rawich / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

If I were you, I would create a "BIM Checklist" containing the items that your company needs and give it to the vendors and let them fill. Then you just need to compare.

None of them will fulfill all the requirements but then you can assign priority to certain items.

A Contractor recently did this in the UAE and I think it was very smart of them.

I can hear you asking which software they selected:) Well, first of all  they are still evaluating. Secondly, even after evaluation that may not mean anything for your company since these evaluations can differ from project to project.

Himm! I talked so much and gave lots of advise. If I were you, I would say "Enough of talk, give us something useful."

And yes, I think this is what I should do:)

Here comes a draft checklist to help you creating yours:)

BIM CHECKLIST

1. Repository for all project related documents and models
2. Drawing version comparison
3. Model version comparison
4. Change management report for 2D drawings and 3D models
5. Integrated communication system
6. Ability to assign different access rights
7. Integrated RFI Management
8. Create Models from LOD 100 to LOD 500
9. Physical work area location breakdown structure and location systems. This should be done without effecting documentation.
10. Costs and quantities per location
11. Schedule comparison of baseline to actual to forecast
12. and more....

Good luck!
Diyane Koseoglu
www.bimes.com