A Comprehensive guide on BIM Construction Management Firms, Services, and Processes

A BIM construction project is based upon construction management or construction project management. Thus, a construction project manager needs to attain a plethora of competencies and skills to conduct a project and achieve robust communication and collaboration. Whilst moving through a construction project lifecycle, there are many alterations that come along the way, but the key to efficient project management is stability

What is the definition of project management? 

BIM projects can be highly complex, and thus it requires defined construction project management wherein the entire stakeholders move in the right direction, conform to building regulations, and supervise the project through enhanced collaboration – from start to finish or from – 2D, 3D modeling to onsite construction and facility management. 

The true goal of construction management lies with clients being satisfied with the entire project in terms of cost and budget. Every construction project is or can be classified into residential, commercial, industrial, hospitality, healthcare, infrastructure, and more. 

Construction Management Firms or BIM Construction Management Firms are closely connected budget, time, and execution, and it also takes a lot of communication or collaboration between project stakeholders viz. Architects, Subcontractors, Fabricators, etc. 

So, what are BIM Construction Management Services?

Construction management services or firms are responsible for budgeting, coordinating, planning, and supervision. Construction managers supervise projects from start to end viz.

§  Prepare and negotiate budgets or cost estimates

§  Prepare work schedules

§  Select the most efficient construction strategy

§  Collaborate with others in terms of technical details

§  Monitor personnel onsite

§  Communicate or collaborate with other third parties

Best construction project management companies or services use fundamental principles to execute a construction project.  The process can be quite complicated and thus requires a few steps that need to be followed viz. Construction Management Companies in the US or in general begin with the simplest process of bidding.

There are two kinds of bids viz. open and closed. An open bid is open for all companies or contractors, and is promoted openly, whilst a closed bid is a private bid, wherein the owner sends an invitation to selected parties.

The bid selection is based on 3 selection methods viz.

Lowest-bid – selecting a bid based on the cost

Best Value – selecting a bid based on quality and price

Qualifications – selecting a bid based on previous experience or qualifications

There are various kinds of contract types viz.

Lump Sum – Construction management firms consider this method as the most popular type of contract. This includes proposing cost for the entire project.

Unit Price – When a decision cannot be made on the total cost of the project, owners use this method to work with the unit price of each material or service.

The other two contract types include guaranteed maximum price and cost plus fee.

What is the Construction Project Management Process?

Initiate a Project

This is the first phase of the project that determines its feasibility in terms of its cost and budget.  If the project is feasible, a project initiation document can be created. It provides the initial groundwork for the construction process, and it is the most vital aspect of BIM construction project management services or firms.

Plan a Project

In the project planning phase, the construction management team segregates the work that needs to be done, and runs the numbers for time, cost, and resources for the project. This can be defined as the scope of the project. This can be defined by the parameter – Work Breakdown Structure or WBS. As soon as the planning is done, the team moves to the execution phase.

Execute a project

In the execution phase, the construction management manager monitors each team and its responsibility to maintain the control of the project from start to onsite construction.

Project Closing

This is the final stage of the project wherein the construction project manager creates an official completion report, and also prepare a budget of the tasks that have remained unfinished that need funding and resources.

To Summarize

There are various aspects of construction project management project scheduling, cost estimation, legal issues, etc. BIM construction management firms put together a robust project plan with various parameters that can be analyzed. BIM construction management companies in the US use software like Oracle Primavera, Trello, Gantt PRO, BIM 360, etc. to plan and execute projects based on cost and time.

The core value of Building Information Modeling for owners

The value of BIM for owners focuses on their perspective to adopt Building Information Modeling for various projects. The level of engagement and involvement owners have with BIM is increasing by the day. With various services that BIM firms have to offer in terms of BIM Modeling, BIM for design, BIM for construction, BIM Facility Management, and Scan to BIM, it is quite obvious that the adoption of BIM will deliver exceptional results for owners.

Owners have or can leverage the greatest benefits of BIM Modeling or the complete BIM process. It has huge benefits in the long-run wherein it can constantly help owners garner higher Return on Investment (ROI), on-time project delivery, higher savings, less waste, fewer RFI’s, enhanced on-site safety, and more.

BIM modeling firms can generate greater positives through enhanced visualization, enhanced visualization, client engagement, design solutions and more.      Two of the most important aspects of Building Information Modeling would be 3D BIM spatial coordination and digital fabrication or prefabrication. These two components are key to delivering excellent project outcomes within budget and time. These outcomes can be stretched or even taken to 7D and 8D BIM that relates to facility management and decommissioning as well.

The present scenario looks at owners being directly involved in the complete BIM process; this makes them understand the nuances of this technology and the requirements that are required to generate high-quality deliverables and positive outcomes. Building Information Modeling uses specific goals to achieve project results, and aligns every stakeholder on the same platform to leverage the value of BIM for every trade.

More than 80% BIM users have reported positive values from their use of Building Information Modeling. Owners from various corners of the globe are starting to visualize the full power of BIM implementation. Some are still wondering on what the actual ROI is when BIM is implemented.

The adoption of BIM improves their overall process and the project outcomes through time and cost forecasting. BIM modeling firms can better visualize the entire project behind the desk and win more bids. 2019 has seen a great upsurge in the use of Building Information Modeling for transportation projects or infrastructure. According to Dodge Data and Analytics, BIM will be adopted on more than 60% of the transportation infrastructure by countries like US, UK, France and Germany.

Top business benefits of BIM include a capacity for firms to do better and deliver better through improved collaboration, talent retention, skill upgrades, faster designing, and the ability to offer services and win more projects as well.

Top ways BIM improves project outcomes for business owners

One of the topmost benefits of using BIM as a process would be the reduction of rework, reduced conflicts, reduced coordination problems, errors, etc.

Another benefit would be high predictability of cost and understanding the project better through multi-disciplinary communication and collaboration through high-quality 3D visualizations, scheduling, and cost-estimations. Reduced rework brings down the cost of the project through better understanding and execution.

Again, design optimization plays an important role in the overall success rate of the project. This, in turn improves schedule performance for projects as they grow. 

Final Words

Few recommendations and observations that are required to help owners implement Building Information Modeling on their projects would be –

§  actively adopting BIM

§  use BIM planning regardless of any delivery method

§  stay committed as it increases BIM benefits

§  using BIM for facilities management

§  identify organizational goals, and more

BIM Engineering US.,L.L.C.- Top BIM Services in the US

BIM or Building Information Modeling stands is a process wherein building design professionals can design, construct and manage new or existing infrastructure. Building Information Modeling firms works with building design to generate a 3D model or representation of a real structure and all its elements.

Building Information Modeling or BIM Services provided by consultants or AEC firms use Modern BIM Authoring software for complex structures or projects. Large projects can leverage substantial benefits from BIM Modeling Services, wherein these tools offer a comprehensive suite of features for all civil trades.

Taking authoring to another level requires 3D design capabilities and modern software like Autodesk Revit, Navisworks, ArchiCAD, etc. provides users with enhanced visualization, accuracy and precision. BIM is used by various trades viz. Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC), MEP or Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, Fire Protection and the Structural Part as well.

Strong features of BIM

The goal of BIM is building and using an information-rich 3D model that users can access and manipulate at their convenience. BIM as a process and its software can be used at every stage of the building process, it is the most crucial element to create a strong bidding platform, as a result serves as a strong connection from planning to design and construction to maintenance. It includes building elements in the form of dimensions, right from 3D to 7D, wherein 3D represents the design phase, 4D represents the scheduling phase, 5D represents the cost estimation phase, 6D corresponds to sustainability and 7D to post-construction facility management or maintenance.

Efficient Planning

The first step in Building Construction starts with Planning, BIM Modeling Services provide users and stakeholders to plan on a federated model and work on the same design, wherein the pilot or initial design can be sent to the owner for approval.

Precision 3D Modeling   

BIM software or BIM services significantly cater to 3D modeling capabilities. Once all the elements and parameters have been integrated with the 3D model, it is very easy for owners and stakeholders to visualize the real model in 3D space. A BIM coordinated model runs various physics simulations to understand the behavior of real-life elements through software. This includes clash detection, energy calculations, etc.

On-site construction

When its time to move on-site, Building Information Modeling Firms provide valuable information on construction safety, protocols, equipment handling, element locations, time-to-completion and more.

BIM Software Features

Migrate from 2D to 3D

BIM software like Revit and Navisworks make it easy for designers and modelers to import or export 2D drafts and update it to a 3D form.

Accurate 3D Models

This is one of the most important feature of BIM software wherein models can be created, rendered and produced in a 3D format. The final model is a high-quality render that can be scaled, navigated and interacted with.

Storing Documents

For complex projects, there’s a large team that contributes design ideas, thus changes are made on a regular basis on a single model. BIM platforms use cloud technology to store all their data on a single repository for all the users to access and manage.

Fabrication Detailing

BIM Services offer fabrication vendors a chance to create accurate parts or elements based on the BIM model. Integrating BIM Modeling Services can facilitate MEP fabrication detailing to create systems that integrate with Building Design.

Importance of Building Information Modeling Firms  

Capture reality in 3D space – It is imperative for designers or modelers to capture the essence of a real-world building. This means understanding how a building will interact with external elements through 3D modeling capabilities.

Track Project Progress – With BIM software at their disposal, owners and stakeholders can track project progress through improved collaboration and centralized storage.

Clash Detection -  

BIM authoring software provides designers and modelers the power to resolve clashes before on-site construction begins. Whilst learning about these mistakes at a very early stage, architects, owners, stakeholders and various teams can understand errors in the model and mitigate the risk of clashes in the system, saving on time and money for the owner.

Remote Access

With state-of-the-art remote technology and BIM software, users can access files from a remote location and make changes in the model over the cloud.

Final takeaways –

Now that you know a bit about BIM, you can easily understand its power when it comes to designing and modeling. The effectiveness of a single 3D model can bring about significant improvements in the entire modeling process saving on time and budget. The future of Building Information Modeling Firms continues to grow in the construction sector as developing and developed nations have started adapting to change through

§  Improved visualization

§  Greater productivity

§  Enhanced coordination

§  Faster turn-around times

§  Reducing costs

Building construction bridges within the AEC industry with VDC Modeling

Members of the AEC or Architecture, Engineering and Construction industry have already started with the adoption of the VDC Modeling approach for complex projects. Virtual Design and Construction Services have transformed the way projects are executed and completed. VDC Modeling completely describes the process of construction and design through a collaborative approach at every step of the construction lifecycle. All this happens before the actual construction work begins onsite.

           BIM Engineering US., L.L.C. – Top Virtual Design and Construction Services in USA

The construction industry has moved leaps and bounds from traditional CAD drawings to intelligent 3D models that deliver efficiency and quality improvements across the entire project. VDC Modeling begins with the use of BIM Services. The principal focus of Virtual Design and Construction works on data-driven project collaboration, where every member of the project collaborates and communicates with every other member to get the project done as expected on time and budget.

With VDC Modeling, project members can communicate through a common language where all the necessary information is kept transparent on a central repository. Digital innovation is made possible using strengths and solutions of various members. In an environment that works on synergies, it defines an environment that facilitates better decision making and accurate budgets.

The AEC industry faces a plethora of challenges that can lead to delayed or over-run budgets. Among these challenges are –

§  Misinterpretation or misperception of information across the entire lifecycle

§  Resistance to new technology or processes

§  Short-term project profits over long term values

§  Need to invest in new technology or retrain the workforce

What is the importance of VDC Modeling?

Virtual Design and Construction Services is all about efficiency and clarity in project stakeholder communication. VDC modeling is the direction in which the AEC industry is headed for. This digital technology helps industry leaders adopt dramatic improvements through a collaborative virtual platform.

Elements that enable Virtual Design and Construction Services include –

BIM Modeling Services

A precise BIM model incorporates vital input from various stakeholders, which is quite important from the perspective of VDC Modeling. The use of a single model is an effective tool for VDC practices, BIM level 3 provides team members and stakeholders with focused goals based on a parametric model.

Level of Development (LOD)  

An LOD or Level of Development helps construction personnel identify the exact depth 

and element of information for each model element. Building Information Modeling Firms integrate VDC Modeling at LOD levels LOD 100 and move up to LOD 350 or higher. At LOD 350, the location, shape, orientation, quantity of the elements can be decided and designed, this enables project stakeholders to analyze conflicts and challenges before on-site construction actually begins.

Collaborative attitude

An accurate collaborative ecosystem allows various stakeholders to execute the construction process for various trades. Teams can plan the actual model with precise models and data in a virtual world. VDC works best when individuals don’t work in silos rather than working in large-scale collaboration. The belief behind VDC modeling works on the principle of getting the best people on-board early based on trust, clarity and accountability at every stage of the construction project.

Final Words of Wisdom

Value engineering at a later stage can create significant issues in terms of budget and time. The value of money becomes extremely prominent towards the closing stage wherein cost becomes the primary issue, to mitigate this, smarter decisions can be leveraged with clear budget requirements. VDC modeling is one of the most important aspects for large scale projects wherein small percentage savings can create huge profits for owners and stakeholders.  

Modern construction is completely dependent on MEP i.e. Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing systems. Thus, working with a high-end MEP engineering company or firm helps owners, architects and various stakeholders design a sustainable and efficient system for large or complex projects. If there’s a project that requires a MEP engineering firm for new or existing work, then you can focus your attention on MEP engineering consultants in USA.

What is the need to hire MEP engineering firms?

Project success depends on robust communication and workforce synergy, precise project management and thorough understanding of the construction process that includes elements, variables and deliverables.

MEP Engineering Service draw better collaboration

Timing and budget are everything for owners. Before the actual construction begins, MEP engineering consultants in USA collaborate with architects, general contractors and various stakeholders to make sure the final plan is efficient, sustainable and approved. MEP engineering firms also make sure the plan stays on budget as they need to communicate and collaborate with various trades or disciplines during the construction process. This helps owners and stakeholders mitigate risks and deliver a cost-effective result.

Experience always counts    

If the project is complex, it is always better to select a company that has rich experience in executing responsibilities at all levels of the building lifecycle. High-end MEP engineering companies provide services pertaining to Mechanical Services, Electrical Services, Plumbing Services, Building Information Modeling and Specialty services that includes energy efficient and cost-effective designs to meet the energy conservations requirements.

MEP engineering individuals stay in-tune with the latest processes and technology to meet the design intent and deliver –

§  Sustainable Design

§  Building Codes

§  Building Commissioning Services

§  Complete Building Assessment

§  Lifecycle Analysis

§  Energy and Lighting Analysis

Hiring local MEP engineering firms in USA can streamline the complete project and ensure positive results as per owner requirements and expectations. Every construction project comes with its own challenges, and thus hiring a local MEP engineering firm makes it easier to find the right kind of labor for a certain project and area.

HVAC expertise

One of the most important aspects of infrastructure or building would be the comfort level. MEP engineering consultants needs to make sure that infrastructure has been built as per comfort requirements and environmental outcomes for occupants or users. All this needs to be done staying on time and budget.

Electrical Systems

Electrical power systems are essential components in terms of energy consumption and quality living. Installation of the most efficient electrical system helps owners and occupants save money whilst ensuring safety and temperature requirements that conform to industry standards.

Fire systems expertise

The onset of fire can be the most devastating factor for a building or infrastructure. Building a Fire Protection system for complex projects can be daunting task and thus requires professional expertise in the field of fire systems to understand relevant systems and connections with other systems viz. water to build an efficient FP system.

Plumbing systems

The plumbing trade requires MEP engineering consultants to understand internal and external plumbing systems to design the most efficient system Drainage, Domestic water systems, LPG piping, etc. All this is done through precision schematics, equipment deployment, load analysis, isometric diagrams, roof drains, water supply distribution and more.

Engineering Efficiency

A strong focus on energy savings needs to be adopted through sustainable LEED or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certifications. With LEED, owners can reduce operational costs, reduce building timings and mitigate the impact of building design on the environment.

Final takeaways

As owners decide their next commercial project, it is critical to find the perfect MEP Engineering partner who can be trusted and deliver on time and budget. It is also important for the engineers to be certified and licensed. MEP engineering consultants work closely with various trades viz. mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, structural engineering and more. MEP engineering firms in USA are licensed under United States and Europe and provide comprehensive engineering solutions for specific MEP disciplines to deliver solutions that are economical and timely as well.