Building information modeling and the emerging field of geospatial technology are revolutionary ideas that could solve many issues plaguing construction sites and supply chains. Here are some benefits BIM and geospatial technologies can bring as they integrate into the industry.
Benefits of BIM
For decades, the construction industry has relied on outdated blueprints and design plans that don’t provide an in-depth view of your projects. BIM offers a more immersive solution, creating digital plans in multiple dimensions that you can review and edit in real time. These plans also include project simulations, recommended maintenance procedures and scheduling assessments that help project managers avoid costly delays.
Here are some of the greatest benefits of BIM integration in construction.
More Accurate Estimates
Before a construction project begins, BIM can help architects, engineers and contractors make more accurate estimates for the project’s completion. It provides a consolidated picture of all the project’s variables, including equipment damage, security threats, bad weather and human error. Everything gets taken into account with BIM.
BIM software also provides real-time data on supply costs and availability, helping you stay current on their deliveries despite material shortages and high prices. Finding reliable and affordable suppliers is more challenging than ever, so BIM can be a real game changer.
Another way that BIM improves accuracy is by making the workplace safer. The construction industry accounts for one-fifth of all workplace fatalities, many of which come from avoidable mistakes. Workers hit by objects account for 8.2% of work-related deaths. BIM’s clash detection feature helps construction teams identify these risks before disaster strikes, saving lives and keeping the project on schedule.
Eliminating Rework
Rework accounts for 30% of the work of most construction projects. BIM’s immersive production drawings and clash detection feature help contractors reduce human errors or equipment malfunctions, making their projects more efficient and cost-effective. You’re less likely to make mistakes when you see the project in greater detail before breaking ground.
Clash detection comes into play when designers update a project’s blueprint during construction. It ensures that the recent changes don’t interfere with the rest of the building’s original design, preventing rework down the road. A project can undergo multiple design changes and stay on schedule thanks to BIM.
Improved Communication
Although BIM is mainly a design tool, it also includes workflow monitoring, communication platforms and other relevant management tools. You can see when a certain part of the project falls behind and immediately relay the information to workers. Sharing updates with stakeholders and other people not on location is also easier than ever.
Better communication also improves worksite security. BIM helps workers perform constant site surveillance by keeping them up to date on every task, no matter how insignificant.
Easier Project Handover
BIM is also useful during the final stages of the project. Contractors can review their closing checklists, the project’s update history and any setbacks along the way. This kind of transparency puts property owners at ease and informs them of future repairs or upgrades that might be needed.
Benefits of Geospatial Technology
Geospatial technology isn’t a new concept, but it’s just starting to impact the construction industry. It includes three main types:
- Geographic information systems (GIS)
- Global positioning systems (GPS)
- Remote sensing (RS)
Each type shares the main goal of providing descriptive information about a person or object’s exact location, down to which direction they’re facing. This amount of detail has many benefits in the construction industry.
Geospatial Monitoring
Monitoring supply chains has never been more important as material shortages and delivery delays set projects back worldwide. Geospatial monitoring with GIS and GPS systems allows you to constantly monitor supply chains, identify disruptions and estimate negative impacts.
It’s essential to find disruptions as quickly as possible since supply chains have been chaotic and have many independent variables in the post-pandemic world. COVID-19 outbreaks can come from out of nowhere and halt material deliveries. Geospatial monitoring gives you the insights to identify these problems as they occur, instead of afterward when the damage is already done.
Scheduling Orders
Supply chain management is a balancing act between costs and time. Geospatial technology, particularly GPS, makes things easier by helping you identify the most optimal drop-off and pick-up locations. The shorter the delivery times, the lower the shipment costs. Geospatial devices can significantly reduce your turnaround time and project expenses by simplifying material deliveries.
Supply Chain Mapping
GPS also lets you map your entire supply chain, including all production units and potential routes. This information enables you to find the best suppliers with the things you need and can access the fastest methods. Supply chain mapping with geospatial technology also helps you identify traffic patterns and other route vulnerabilities that might cause delays.
Inventory Management
Remote sensing comes into play with inventory management. It helps contractors and warehouse managers evaluate their inventories with greater accuracy. They can see which units are ready for delivery and which channels they should use. Remote geospatial sensors can also predict important things like buying surges, order types and the number of order returns.
BIM and Geospatial Technology Show Great Promise
It’s easy to discuss the advantages of BIM and geospatial technology integration, but the construction industry needs to see these technologies in action to appreciate their benefits. They have shown great promise, so it’s only a matter of time before they become mainstays at construction sites, warehouses and every other step on the supply chain.
