How to prepare a BIM project, project development

For certain project conditions and complex, high-value investments, the use of BIM workflow is strongly recommended.

Complex investment,
sophisticated technology

However, if you have not had a BIM project before, our experience shows that BIM is only moderately or, in the worst case, not used at all in the preparatory phase, although it is economically rational to start using BIM tools as soon as possible:

So from the outset, designers prepare to create designs so that the building information model is fully prepared to support cost-effective and accurate construction and even the operation and maintenance period.

Why is it important to involve a BIM expert in the preparatory phase?

BIM methodology defines the operation and capabilities of the entire project. Bringing in a BIM expert after the project has started is like realizing while designing a car, that you actually want to build an amphibian vehicle. It can be done, but it will be a much more expensive project, and the end result is guaranteed to be sub-optimal.

A few examples:

• the achievability of certain BIM objectives (for sustainability, construction or e.g. safety) can determine the overall development strategy
• during the preliminary conceptual design phase, the existing conditions (buildings, landmarks, utilities, etc.) can be scanned and modelled to provide the basis for the central BIM model
• a mass model created in the appropriate software (e.g. Revit) can serve as the basis for a preliminary cost estimate so that changes to the model automatically change the costs with each query

During the preparation of a BIM project, we provide BIM consulting services to help you get off to a confident start.

What exactly happens at this time?

Engineering consultancy

Check the results of the research activities underpinning the project. We identify problems, potential errors, and factors that pose a risk to the project and the feasibility of the BIM objectives in terms of technical content.

Development strategy and financial planning

We set up a preliminary roadmap, prepare a preliminary cost estimate from the mass model, identify realistic project milestones, define tasks and responsibilities, and provide solutions for critical points of development.

Due diligence

We bring in a partner company and screen the project based on our knowledge of suppliers, manufacturers, contractors, and other market knowledge and professional experience. If necessary, we will propose an alternative so that we can create value before you buy the land.

EIR consultancy

In a BIM project, the EIR (Exchange Information Requirements) document prepared by the client contains the technical, management, and business aspects of the information to be produced in the project.

In simple terms: what the project team should do, for what goals, and with what expectations.

Setting up an EIR is complex and requires expertise that is rare in Hungary, and cannot be achieved without the involvement of a BIM specialist. We work with our BIM partners to help assess the client’s real needs, clarify the BIM objectives and information exchange requirements, and then prepare the EIR.

Preliminary cost estimation

We also use model-based cost estimation to identify the most important factors affecting the budget, so that we can make major changes to the main directions cheaper and easier, before the concept design phase (see diagram).

This will also ensure that the project is not started and coordinated from a level where the result would be unproductive with sound management, encoding the problems, but can be based on a much more secure and manageable investment cash-flow.

To do this, we use highly automated, digital tools to make change management transparent and flexible from the start.