Decision Makers! Please do your homework about BIM!

The image above represents the Vico Engagement Plan in the USA.

In USA, it would take a contractor  9 weeks start with 4D and 5D BIM training or pilot project. I believe this is a very reasonable period if the decision makers do their homework.

What about in the Middle East? We usually spend 9 to 12 months introducing the software and 4D&5D process.

As you see the difference is huge! In USA it is 9 weeks and in the Middle East it is 48 weeks!

Why?

Unfortunately the decision makers don't do their homework in the Middle East! They mostly wait for spoon feeding!

Why?

Are they too busy? I don't think so! It's recession time. No company is overloaded with projects these days. (Except us :)))

Dear Decision Makers,

First watch our 5D BIM for Contractors Video please!

Please do your homework! Make sure that your team evaluates the software and process properly during the "Evaluation / Trial" period!

Evaluation period is the time when one of our implementation specialists is dedicated to anwser all your questions. Feel free to keep them busy;)

I will also appreciate if you do not call us asking directly for  a "BIM Quotation" :))

BIM is a process, not a tool! :)

Enjoy your weekend!
I hope we will not have any sandstorms! Cross your fingers:)

Diyane Koseoglu
www.bimes.com

How ArchiCAD makes Hospital Projects more successful?

Hospital Projects!

Last year majority of our BIM service works were hospital projects! Especially in the GCC in all the new hospital projects, BIM is mandated by the owner due to the complexity of the projects.

Image from photostock

Most common belief is the MEP modeling and clash detection is the toughest part of the job!

True! It is quite difficult and important but not the most challenging part.

Almost every BIM service provider or company using BIM has good skills and experience with MEP Modeling. I mean it is not a big deal, it is manageable!

The most challenging part for us was the medical equipment! In many meetings with the clients, the first thing they asked us was if we can manage medical equipment! That was the differentiator!

Why?

First of all, most of the BIM software does not have library for Medical Equipment! Except ArchiCAD of course;)) These things looks unimportant for engineers who are new to BIM but actually those are the main criterias that differentiates a mature BIM tool then others.

Here comes some of the medical equipment from ArchiCAD.

Bedside Cabinets from ArchiCAD 15 Library

Dental Chair from ArchiCAD 15 Library

Examination Bed from ArchiCAD 15 Library

Hospital Bed from ArchiCAD 15 Library

Infusion Stand from ArchiCAD Library 15

Would these be enough for your project? Of course not!

Are you going to model your own equipment?

In order to say yes, you should be crazy or extremely hard working. (probably crazy! :))
Some of these medical equipments look like "aliens" with all kinds of strange geometries:)) For example this one.

If I recall correctly, it was an equipment called "finisher" located in the laundry. As you see, it is a nightmare to model this strange thing.

What to do now?

We contacted the manufacturer and asked for the 3D Model. They normally have 3D models for their production and they are willing to provide it to you since it means "Sales" for them.

They send it in 3D DWG file format!

We directly converted it to GDL and guess what happened?

The files size of the object was close to the files size of the total hospital model:)))

After a short period of depression, we decided to open it in 3DMAX and reduce the polygon numbers, convert to 3DS file format and then take into ArchiCAD.

That was pretty successful and we found many major clashes!

As a result, we were happy, our client was happy and their client was also happy:)))

Cheers,

Diyane Koseoglu
www.bimes.com

Get there faster with ArchiCAD

Get There Faster with ArchiCAD!

This is the latest whitepaper prepared by Graphisoft US team! I truly enjoy reading their blog and I find US market quite similar to Middle East in terms of the size of companies as well as the amount of multidisciplinary firms.

If you are planning to implement BIM and you are not certain about how to do it, this whitepaper is a great source for you.

Here comes a short summary:

"From the company that brought you – Construction Computing Magazine’s 2011 BIM Product of the Year ArchiCAD 15 – the “Get There Faster with ArchiCAD” whitepaper examines five critical areas to explore before making your final BIM software selection. This paper was written with the sole purpose of providing accurate, reliable information about critical issues related to BIM and what ArchiCAD with advanced technology such as the GRAPHISOFT BIM Server(tm) provide as an answer to address these issues. We want to teach and educate in an effort to help architects make informed technology decisions.
The whitepaper shares expertise and experience from six design leaders as they describe how ArchiCAD:

1. Improves profitability
2. Enables agile and competitive workflow
3. Provides fast, real-time collaboration
4. Is easy-to-learn and simplifies the 3D workflow
5. Makes great use of any computing power
6. Keeps IT costs low
7. Is a secure and proven BIM product

This document highlights what makes ArchiCAD BIM different than other BIM solutions. Find out why ArchiCAD, developed by architects for architects, is the most workable solution for today’s AEC professionals.
Download the white paper here. "

I hope you will enjoy it!

Diyane Koseoglu
www.bimes.com

Diyane's Top 10 ArchiCAD Features - # 1

# 1 - Shell Tool

Bridge between creative design minds and the construction.

First of all it is FLEXIBLE and gives the designer full FREEDOM!

However it is not feature which makes Shell Tool unique!

There are several tools in the market which allows you to model your "crazy" ideas.

But how many of them can actually link it to the real life construction? How many of them can actually generate proper documentation with including all the components of a structure?

Not many!

Amongst these few, Shell Tool has the most versatile documentation features. The ability of using composite fills is an awesome features which sets Shell Tool apart from the competition.

In my opinion, this is what construction industry needs these days!

So Shell Tool deserves to get the Gold Medal in my list!

Cheers,
Enjoy Your Weekend!

Diyane Koseoglu
www.bimes.com

Diyane's Top 10 ArchiCAD Features - # 2

# 2 - BIM Server

I hesitated  a lot about placing BIM Server to Number 2 or 1.

It ended up getting the Silver Medal:)

Why BIM Server made it's place to TOP 2?

 1- During the development of BIM Server, I had the opportunity to see the development team, the amount of work put into it's development, the cautiousness for the safety of data. I think it had the longest beta testing period ever. Users were dying to get the BIM Server as soon as possible but Graphisoft refused to release it until they are 100% sure that it works perfectly.  

2- IT IS FAST!

3- IT IS PROBLEM FREE! Believe me or not, we are providing more technical support on the Network Dongle sharing then BIM Server:))

4- IT IS USER FRIENDLY!  This is very important. You spend 6-8 hours of your time on this software and you would hate your life it wasn't user friendly. 

5- Internal Messaging System! Off this is one of my favorites. In one of our early implementations we were using it even for deciding what to eat:))

In 2009, when Graphisoft released it, I was expecting  the competition to come up with a similiar solution which utilizes Delta Server technology within 2-3 years.

It's 2012 and still no one is even close to Graphisoft's BIM Server!

Enjoy using the cutting edge technologies of Graphisoft:))

Diyane Koseoglu
www.bimes.com

Diyane's Top 10 ArchiCAD Features - # 3

# 3 - Multi Processor and 64 bit Support

270.000 m2
  42.000 m2
  82.000 m2
  85.000 m2

These are the built up areas of some of the projects that BIMES have provided BIM services within last year.

In the rest of the world, these size of projects are quite rare. Only few "big boys" get the opportunity of getting involved in them.

However in the Middle East, these are regular numbers. As an architect / engineer, you deal with these kind of projects everyday.

The fact that ArchiCAD supports both Multi Processors and 64 bit is an extremely important factor here. The video below explains how these technologies improve your productivity.

I have no idea how people are investing in BIM software which does not support Multi Processing fully. It is like buying a Lada and racing against Ferrari. (I hope this is a good example. I do not understand much about cars :)

If your BIM Software does not take advantage of the latest technology of the available hardware, how can you commit to Billion Dollar projects?

I saw many companies, doing a basic model just for design coordination and than switching to 2D CAD for shop drawings. Is this real BIM?

NOT AT ALL!

Thanks to the great development team behind ArchiCAD, we do not make such "Mickey Mouse" business!

Diyane Koseoglu
www.bimes.com