Drawing-centric design has traditionally been a self-contained process by which each project team completes its mission in isolation, only to tie systems and roadways together at project completion. Throughout the design process, however, there are so many points where total team coordination is not only critical, but can mean the difference between disconnected data and a united design.

One of the greatest advantages of building information modeling (BIM) technology is its abil-ity to bring all project team members and their data to the table simultaneously—from pre-liminary site design through final construction and operation—drafting in a single, multi-dimensional project model. With data-centric design, true collaboration becomes a reality.

"The value of BIM software [is that it] allows us to collaborate on design ideas that you would normally not explore until after concept design," said Stacey Miyamoto, Director of Knowl-edge-based Systems at SSFM International, Honolulu. "Project-wide collaboration forces a new mindset of knowing what impacts your work and what your work impacts. When every-one is looking at the same model and the same information, the value is unbelievable."

When bidding on a recent highway widening project, SSFM joined with a contractor to model the cut, fill, and pavement quantities through a BIM interface, resulting in an innovative design at a more competitive price for their client.

Houston-based civil and structural engineering firm Walter P Moore finds that BIM technology also helps them identify, communicate, and resolve conflicts across disciplines earlier in the design process as well.

"This technology creates a higher order of collaboration between disciplines. Each discipline model can be very robust in terms of the data it carries, helping to further streamline the proc-ess," said Jim Jacobi, CIO for Walter P Moore. "Traditionally, problems with interfering com-ponents are found at the most expensive point of remediation. BIM technology lets you find those problems earlier in the design, yielding a much better result—more cost effective, better design."

Schedule and workflow improvements can also be realized within the collaborative data-centric process. Because all team members have access to the project’s documents, design work within each discipline can be authored concurrently with simultaneous updates by BIM’s dynamic features. From concept through construction, each step in the modeling process is ac-celerated.

"Collaboration to me is a huge part of what makes BIM successful," said Miyamoto. "You need every player adding and reviewing the design to be a part of the process from day one."

Firms like SSFM and Walter P Moore who have already transitioned to data-centric design say that collaborating in BIM software not only results in a stronger product, but it also heightens their firm’s visibility.

"What it does is makes you a stronger partner in improving the project delivery process and that can’t help but have some advantages," said Jacobi. "It makes you a more attractive partner on a project team."

STAY TUNED: Next month’s feature will discuss the 3-D visualization and dynamic abilities of BIM technology with more testimonials from current civil BIM users.

Mindi Zissman is a freelance writer based in Chicago.