WASHINGTON, D.C. — WPL Publishing is hosting a series of webinars that are designed to help professionals in the construction industry learn about the emerging technology of building information modeling (BIM). In a four-part series — BIM Roadmap 2010: The Authors' Series, BIM Evolution 2010 & Beyond — authors of four industry-recognized BIM books will describe how the technology has evolved since those books were written, explain what they intend to do differently this time around, and advise webinar attendees on how they should direct their businesses to take maximum advantage of BIM going forward.
Following are details about each session:
Session 1: BIM Evolution: From Drafting Aid to Preferred Design Tool (Wednesday, March 10, 2010, 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. EST). The instructor is Finith Jernigan, author of the first published BIM book, Big BIM, Little BIM. Jernigan will recap the value proposition of BIM and how it has evolved since the book was first published in 2007 and published as a second edition in 2008. BIM's early promise as a 3D design tool to enhance productivity for architects and engineers has transformed itself into an indispensible tool for contractors and an asset management tool for owners. BIM is also transforming the way business is being conducted, enabling more fluid design-build delivery, and opening the way to integrated project delivery. Jernigan will build on the information of his first book (which all series attendees will receive), providing a four-phase framework for integrating BIM into existing practice, offering a seven-step approach for guiding a business in this area, examining the day-to-day process and expectations, and advising on future direction.
Session 2: Planning and Managing Design and Construction Projects (March 17, 2010, 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. EST). The instructor is Willem Kymmell, author of Building Information Modeling — Planning and Managing Construction. Projects with 4D CAD and Simulations will provide highlights from his book, published in 2008, including why BIM works, the concepts, and challenges. Attendees also will learn how to make BIM work for projects, from planning BIM to implementing BIM. Kymmell's new book, to be published by McGraw Hill in 2011 and entitled BIM by Example, is entirely based on case studies from the design and construction industries. He will give attendees a sneak peak at what to expect in the new book, through case studies he will present, including how to assess a project and how to learn from a project. From his research for the books and his many years of experience in the industry, he will explain why BIM should be used and what works, what attendees should be aware of to bring all the elements together for BIM, and how to set goals for BIM.
Session 3: Guide to Building Information Modeling — Tools, Technologies, and Methods (March 31, 2010, 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. EST). Instructors are Paul Teicholz, co-author of the BIM Handbook; and John Jurewicz, noted construction technology lecturer and columnist for Construction Project Controls and BIM Report. BIM is for owners, facility managers, architects/engineers, contractors, subcontractors, and fabricators. Discover technology and methods to best apply BIM. Only two years old, the BIM Handbook is already undergoing a comprehensive update, and attendees can get a jump start on how they should implement BIM now. Attendees also will benefit from insight on Jurewicz’s upcoming book addressing BIM methods. Teicholz and Jurewicz will provide up-to-the-minute BIM technology analysis designed to save attendees money and time on their BIM solutions research.
Session 4: The Business Development and Management Process (April 7, 2010, 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. EST). Instructors are Deke Smith and Michael Tardif, co-authors of Wiley’s Building Information Modeling: A Strategic Implementation Guide. The organizational strategy approach to BIM is just as critical as implementing design and engineering. Long-range goals, company policies and procedures, return-on-investment analysis, cost-benefit studies, and the “people” approach to training and implementation all have significant impact on the degree of BIM usage and success. Smith, executive director of the BuildingSmart Alliance, and Tardif, design-construction analyst, architect, and BIM implementation director for a major construction company, provide guidelines for attendees' use on planning or updating their organizations' BIM strategy with insight and practical tips on integrating BIM with minimum risk and maximum benefits.
A 20-minute period has been reserved at the end of each webinar session for the speakers to field questions from attendees so that they can discuss specific issues or gain additional knowledge about topics discussed. Webinar tuition is based on location, not the number of participants, so each registration site can have multiple participants for one price. To register, visit http://tinyurl.com/ygbzb75.
