Issue 3 | Free
Third Industrial Revolution | Events | Tech | Power of Video | Word Search
The world’s first BIM newspaper
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Welcome
Issue 3
CONTRIBUTORS
Welcome
Hello and welcome to the third
hard copy edition of The B1M Mail
Y
ou have in your hands a hardcopy
newspaper all about the digital age.
Engaging people in analogue is vital to
ensuring widespread BIM adoption across
our industry… but that simply won’t happen if we
expect them to read blogs, search social media or
download guidance. We want to make taking those
first steps that bit easier. We pride ourselves on
making The B1M Mail a simple and engaging read
that rises above the digital noise and reaches out to
people directly by landing on their front door mats.
We are incredibly proud to have Issue 3 sponsored
by Autodesk. The fantastic reaction to Issues 1 and
2 grew our global distribution base and we now
reach 3,000 professionals across six continents.
Autodesk’s support not only ensures that reach,
it demonstrates their commitment to sharing BIM
knowledge and expertise with a wider audience.
For that we say a huge Thank You!
Issue 3 also sees us move up to 16 pages enabling
great article contributions from industry thoughtleader John Eynon, Premier Interlink’s Peter Foster,
Australia’s Belinda Thompson and our very own
Co-Founder and YouTube genius Tom Payne.
We’ve also swapped the traditional BIM crossword
for a fairly tricky BIM word search! Do get in
touch if you would like to write in future issues.
Elly Payne
Designer
@ellypayne
John Eynon
@56JONTS
Pete Foster
@kantrellk
Belinda Thompson
@bel_thompson
Fred Mills
Editor
We love seeing pictures from our readers around
the world; make sure you tweet us yours @TheB1M!
The 8 Pillars of BIM Level 2
Our 8 Video Playlist
To work in a BIM Level 2
environment, you’ll need
8 things to support you.
This playlist hosted by
John Eynon looks at each
of them in detail whilst
enabling you to easily
navigate around and find
the parts most-relevant
to you.
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Tom Payne
Creative Director
@getlamp
Our newspaper supports our award-winning video
resource over at TheB1M.com, full of engaging
and easily digestible content that caters for BIM
beginners right through to the experts. So grab
a coffee, read this paper, then enter the digital
world and check out our videos!
TOPVIDEOS
PAS 1192-2 in 5 minutes
Guidance brought to life
PAS 1192-2 is the British
Standard guidance
document for collaborative
working and information
management in a BIM
Level 2 environment. The
guidance and process
map are brought to life in
this quick and engaging
animation; a great way for
beginners and busy bees to
gain an overview!
Fred Mills
Editor
@Fred_Mills
The B1M Mail is the regular BIM news publication from The B1M; a free
online video resource that is inspiring one million people to help mobilise
widespread BIM adoption. Check out these videos and more at
TheB1M.com. To add or create a video contact us at [email protected]
B1M University
Classes 1-3 Now Live!
B1M University shares
industry BIM expertise with
students around the world
through filmed classes.
These are freely available
to view online and are a
great place for any BIM
beginner to start!
Imagine
(What BIM Could Do)
In amongst all the noise and
techno speak on the famous
B.I.M. acronym, it is easy to
forget the original vision
and the value that BIM can
bring. With this video we ask
you to forget what you’ve
heard for a moment… and
just Imagine.
One World Trade Centre,
New York BIM Case Study
Where better to see BIM
applied in practice that on
New York’s tallest building?
This great video is part of
a series of BIM case studies
on the new World Trade
Center complex; search
‘World Trade Center’ on
TheB1M.com to see more.
BIM, digital life
and the third
industrial revolution
Revolution
4
John Eynon on big data, Generation
Z, and why for our industry the drivers
for adopting BIM lie more outside
than within.
The Pace of Digital Evolution
I must be getting old. I’m approaching the big
six zero in a few years time. I am perhaps your
typical Baby Boomer, born in the late 50’s. All
this technology stuff? I’ve seen it happen within
my lifetime!
Calculators, fax machines, mobile phones, and
personal computers; I’ve seen the first versions
come out and rapidly become obsolete. I got up
early to watch the first moonwalk on our black
and white TV in 1969. Do you remember the ZX
Spectrum? Commodore 64? Amstrad PC? Apple
Macintosh? Betamax and VHS? O2? Vodafone?
Well I remember Mercury 121! (An early mobile
provider in the UK, now long extinct).
‘BIM isn’t about a single building
or asset. No more than it’s about
just design and construction. It’s
about how we live in the built
environment and share and use
information about absolutely
everything’.
And then there is the internet, email, Twitter,
Instagram, Google+ and the whole plethora of
media and information channels we consume daily.
Facebook at over 1.2 billion users and only founded
in 2004 is vying for largest nation in the world with
China and India. Twitter at over 500 million is still
larger than the USA.
Feel the speed of change: frightening, exciting!
And then there’s the technology. Computers once
filled a football stadium. The first Mac I bought had
4MB RAM and a 40MB hard-drive (that was 25 years
ago. Ouch!). Nowadays I carry 64 GB in my pocket on
my iPhone. The Apollo 11 command module computer
had 64KB. And then of course there’s the whole
migration to mobile from static PCs. Increased use of
tablets, smartphones and wearable/implanted tech,
the latter which in time will surely catch on. We are
no longer tied to our desks or offices, or anywhere
in particular even. The world is our oyster thanks to
4G and smartphones, and online information 24/7.
And my point is? The pace of this evolution.
It’s getting faster. Transforming our lives as
communities, nations, the whole world, not only just
as individuals or industries. Perhaps music is the most
recent example where the advent of MP3s, iTunes
and the like transformed how music was produced,
distributed, accessed and sold. Economic models
were changed as suddenly musicians were brought
much closer to their audience. The middleman could
be easily bypassed.
‘Businesses and careers are at stake here.
Individually if we don’t acquire the digital
skills appropriate for our current role the
unemployment queue beckons’.
What Does It Mean For Us?
Other industries have migrated to digital long before
architecture, engineering and construction (AEC).
We are perhaps the last major industry to make
this journey. Moore’s Law dictates the doubling of
processing power and the halving of cost about
every 18 months or so. The computing power at
our fingertips and in our pockets is way beyond
the wildest dreams of our forebears.
Our lives have been digital for many years, perhaps
we just haven’t really realised it. Take the whole world
of Electronic Point of Sale (EPOS), and the handling
of our banking, transactions and buying patterns.
Travel is another example. Using Big Data machines,
corporations have for years been analysing our
digital footprints to profile our spending patterns
and lifestyles.
‘It’s like a gripping thriller you can’t
put down’.
So here’s the thing. I believe that the reasons and
drivers for our industry to move to digital – BIM
and Common Data Environments – lie more outside
than within.
We have seen our whole lives go digital affecting
all aspects of what we do and how we live. If
you’ve come across the Internet of Things (IoT)
or Everything then you will know that all around
us machines, objects and sensors of all kinds are
communicating and sharing data, in most cases
to make our lives better. But not always.
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6
Revolution
‘I am getting old. But I don’t think I’ve experienced
a more exciting time in my career.’
Estimates differ but I have seen figures such as ‘16
billion devices’ projected to be connected on the
IoT by the end of 2014 (which was 20% up on 2013),
‘50 billion’ forecast by around 2020, and ‘one trillion’
somewhere between 2030-2050. When you bear
in mind that over the same period world population
is only projected to rise to around 9 billion people,
that’s a lot of devices and information.
‘Now we have the Gen Z’s and beyond
growing up in this digitally savvy
information soup that we call life.’
The Smart City movement around the world shows
how digital life works on an urban or national scale.
Sensors embedded in all sorts of things and objects
share data about our surroundings, from the weather,
environment, traffic queues, people movements,
energy and carbon consumption to the time we’re
coming home so that the house will fire up it’s
systems in time for our arrival.
For all of these reasons and more, migration to BIM
and the like is absolutely inevitable.
Our industry moving into digital and BIM makes all
of the above things possible; joining up buildings,
assets and infrastructure, both individually and on
an urban, national and even international scale. BIM
isn’t about a single building or asset. No more than
it’s about just design and construction. It’s about
how we live in the built environment and share
and use information about absolutely everything.
The Third Industrial Revolution
Do you hear the clock ticking? Or the distant roar
of the digital tidal wave approaching? It’s inevitable,
irresistible and in a way, totally consuming. Analogue
ways of living and working will be toast, and so will
anyone who tries to resist! For some time I have
believed and stated that this is a Darwinian moment
for our industry. Those that refuse to get on board
with this, or are too slow to adapt, will in time go
out of business or just be left behind. Businesses
and careers are at stake here. Individually if we
don’t acquire the digital skills appropriate for our
current role in the next few years, the unemployment
queue beckons.
individual to the global and informs everything in
between. We are all trading, consuming and using
information and data all the time. Interestingly, who
makes money from your information? Think about it.
‘For Generation Z… it’s as Natural as Breathing’
Of course as much as we talk about technology,
it’s actually all about people. As a Baby Boomer I’m
relatively digitally literate but I have my limits and I
encounter them everyday! Looking to the younger
folk around me, I can see those that have known
this stuff all of their lives, because it has always been
there for them. And now we have the Gen Z’s and
beyond growing up in this digitally savvy information
soup that we call life. They are the Makers and
Coders. They will change our ways of living and
working, and our industry as a consequence in ways
that we can’t even begin to imagine. The whole
digital information age thing is just part of their DNA.
It’s as natural as breathing. Sharing information,
trading information, collaborating online, networking,
blurring the boundaries between private and public,
work and social. It is literally all up for grabs.
Inevitably as a Baby Boomer, or even an ageing
Gen Y, you might feel past it or be feeling the heat.
Don’t give up. Keep up! Run faster! Get ahead!
Like I said I am getting old. But I can honestly say
that I don’t think I’ve experienced a more exciting
time in my career. There is so much going on, our
industry is under all sorts of pressures and influences
to change in all sorts of ways; carbon, energy,
technology, climate change, diversity, equality, skills,
training, education, institutions and much more. BIM
is an important ingredient in catalysing change. It’s
just like a gripping thriller you can’t put down, you
want to see how the story unfolds… at least I do
anyway! There is so very much more to come, we
have barely scratched the surface.
And as for me? Well I am not done yet, by a long
stretch. So watch out!
John Eynon is a writer, blogger, architect and
design manager. You can catch up with him at
www.zenanddm.com
The First and Second Industrial Revolutions were
about the moves towards manufacturing, mass
production, and the use of steam for powering
factories, and travel. The Third Industrial Revolution –
that we’re living in the middle of, right now – is about
the information economy. How digital industries and
information are changing our lives. It runs from the
Images Top: ©Vonderauvisuals, Middle: ©McSnowHammer, Bottom: ©self-made.uy
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Autodesk
7
Autodesk + BIM:
how technology
can drive better
outcomes for all
Autodesk are – undisputedly – the big boys. As the
world’s largest building design software developer
they turned over USD $2.2 billion as a group last year
and employ some 7,500 people around the world.
Millions of people use and rely on
their technology to design, construct
and maintain our built environment
every day, and billions of people live
their lives in those environments.
Reaching such a position has taken
over 30 years, incredible cutting-edge
software development, outstanding
people (and people development)
and a strategic marketing approach
that comes close to defining
perfection. It is an undeniably
impressive achievement.
So what about BIM? How is their
software being applied and how can
it support a project team’s workflow?
Here Autodesk’s very own Rob
Harrison and Mike Keane explain.
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The new dawn
The introduction of BIM and Virtual Design and
Construction (VDC) has fundamentally changed
the way the architecture, engineering and
construction (AEC) industries now approach
projects. The ability to quickly identify, quantify,
and mitigate risks to programme, cost, and
quality presents both an opportunity and a
challenge. So how can available technology
help address the challenges and opportunities
that BIM brings?
Conceptual design and detailed design
Understanding, and informing, Client
requirements and exploring conceptual design
solutions are two important steps in any project.
Autodesk® InfraWorks™ 360 is a planning
and design solution that enables engineers to
quickly and easily convey preliminary design
intent in a real-world, contextual environment.
Effective use of Infraworks 360 can speed up
planning approval and improve stakeholder
understanding of the project. Infraworks 360
harnesses the power of cloud computing to
create and explore multiple design options
and enables planners, designers, and engineers
to rapidly progress to detailed design within
Civil3d and Revit.
FormIT is a free tool available for iPad and
Android as well as a web browser, which allows
you to create conceptual massing studies and
communicate design concepts to all project
stakeholders. Once the site is geo located,
simple push/pull tools are used to develop
design studies which can be shared with
others or passed to Autodesk Revit for
further exploration.
Autodesk Revit is fast becoming the standard
for model-based design when it comes to the
development of a graphical building information
model. It is considered to be central to the
design authoring process allowing you to create
information from concept through to detailed
design covering each major discipline. The Revit
platform also integrates with solutions such as
Green Building Studio for sustainability studies
Autodesk
8
• Communicate construction to clients to demonstrate
understanding of risks and provide certainty on
programme, quality, and cost.
Design to fabrication
The design and construction process is complex, with
a multitude of stakeholders to satisfy and activities to
coordinate. An issue with one small element on site can
have severe impact on follow on activities and preliminary
costs. The concept of fabricated design is something which
is not new to the construction industry, but as resources
become more scarce and time to market increasingly
important, the move to BIM is starting to make Design-toFabrication more commonplace. Autodesk offer a number
of solutions which support these workflows. Our CADmep
software for mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP)
fabrication supports detailing and installation workflows;
whereas Advance Steel with its intelligent 3D modeling,
speeds time to fabrication and construction with tools that
automatically generate shop drawings and deliverables.
Reality capture
BIM is not limited to new buildings. Clients increasingly want
to refurbish and upgrade existing assets and building stock.
In addition, many owners and operators need to capture
the state of substantial existing assets, assessing condition,
and maintenance requirements.
Above: Take your project data set to
site with an iPad and BIM 360. Link
QA, Commissioning and Progress
data for review and reporting.
Far left: Integrate Navisworks
with BIM 360 Glue to extend
model-based collaboration to all
Stakeholders.
Left: Resolve issues quickly in BIM
360 Glue with online or offline
review and collaboration.
and 3D Studio Max Design for photo realistic renderings and animations.
Construction and procurement
With continued pressure on budgets, quality and timescales, contractors are
increasingly using VDC and BIM to improve their construction processes. The
opportunity here is to identify and address issues in a virtual construction environment;
simulating and addressing challenges first to avoid experiencing costly problems once
on site where issues inevitably impact programme, quality, and budgets.
Historically, spatial coordination was performed with 2D plans, but this process was
found to only identify 60-70% of conflicts at best, with the rest typically having to be
resolved on site. Direct costs of rework often account for 5% of total construction costs,
and the impact on project delays and associated financial impacts can be significant.
A 3D camera using LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging)
Technology is a fast and accurate way to collect precise
data about site conditions and/or a building. Using
measurement technology similar to a total station, the
collected points are recorded and form a ‘point cloud’
which can then be imported into authoring software and
developed into a 3D model representing the existing
conditions (a process known as ‘scan-to-BIM’). Autodesk
Recap can be used to ‘clean up’ point cloud data or merge
multiple scans so that the data can be used in other tools
such as Revit, Navisworks and 3D Studio Max Design.
Building design software for bim and cad
Building Design Suite is a portfolio of interoperable 3D
building design software that supports BIM- and CADbased workflows. These tools empower AEC professionals
of any discipline who contribute to building projects no
matter how large or small. You can produce realistic 3D
visualisations, use integrated simulation and analysis tools,
create higher-quality construction documentation, and
make better informed design and construction decisions.
The ultimate aim is to reduce project risk and improve
outcomes for all parties.
Collaboration and the cloud
Whilst the adoption of BIM involves the development
of both people and process, there is one area where
technology advances have proven so disruptive that
new possibilities are now open to designers, contractors,
specialist trades, and building operators.
The development of cloud platforms, coupled with the
increasing power and accessibility of mobile devices has
enabled Autodesk to extend the use of model and project
data to the construction site and operation of the facility.
• Review integrated models and data with all stakeholders to identify and address issues
early in the process.
With Autodesk® BIM 360™, all project stakeholders
can easily access and interact with model and project
information via desktop or mobile devices, whether online
or offline. Designers, contractors, trades, and owners
can now communicate and collaborate at all stages of
the project, commenting and approving proposed design
changes, quantifying their impact, and easily monitoring
and accelerating progress of all site activities.
• Improve project quality with powerful clash prevention tools, allowing over 50 model
formats to be federated into a coordinated design and programme.
The Autodesk® BIM 360™ platform includes the
following tools:
• Sequence construction, coordinate activities, and quantify materials to improve
efficiency and productivity.
• BIM360 Glue: Multi-disciplinary model coordination,
federation, markup, and clash. Available anywhere with
Navisworks gives you greater control of the construction process, with the ability to
simulate, coordinate, and quantify all elements of the project. With Navisworks you can:
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Autodesk
9
desktop and mobile access to models and data available offline or online.
• BIM360 Field: Accelerate delivery and improve quality, by extending
model and project data to site. iPad access to models and all drawings,
linked to relevant checklists and inspections – offline or online. Digitise all
site data capture, automate reporting across all projects, and gain early
insight into progress, quality, and health and safety across all components
and subcontractors. Identify and address issues quickly, and at reduced
cost. Create an enterprise data set supporting easy analysis, and better
decision making.
• BIM360 Layout: Push model points to site for automated setting out using
total stations. Accelerate setting out phase, and progressively capture
as-built for variance analysis and quality assurance. Project acceleration
and early insight into issues to reduce cost of remediation.
• Navisworks Manage: Access the power of Navisworks Manage to
support construction sequencing, quantification, advanced clash, and
coordination. Navisworks Manage entitlement is now included in the
BIM360 platform.
Effective use of the BIM360 platform can help to address the
following issues;
‘Cloud platforms and
mobile devices have
enabled us to extend
model and project
data onto construction
sites and into the asset
management phase.’
• Failure to Deliver on Time and Budget: previously the contractor who
manages the process has not had access to the tools to collect and
analyse the required information. BIM360 Glue can be used to monitor
design and pre-construction quality and progress while BIM360 Field
can be used to capture and report on site progress, subcontractor
and component activities, and quality across all projects – creating
an enterprise dataset and business intelligence.
• Material Wastage: at a time of rising material pricing and increased
demand the impact of wasted materials is now far greater. Address
with effective quantification and aggregation of demand to centralise
procurement. Effective use of Glue and Navisworks to optimise design
and programme, alongside Layout and Field to support quality and
reduce waste of time and materials.
• BIM Mandates: In the UK, intelligent models and handover data will be
required on centrally-funded Public Sector projects by 2016. Exposure
levels vary, but this is a risk area for many UK organisations. BIM360
Glue and Field offer the most complete solution to leveraging this data
and supporting the BIM process from concept through to operation.
Integration with tools such as Infraworks 360, Revit, Civil 3d, and
Navisworks can give the entire project team the ability to deliver a
quality facility on time and on budget.
• Supply Chain Enablement: both the cost and perceived complexity of
implementing BIM processes are significant barriers to entry for many
small and medium sized organisations who are integral to the delivery
of the vast majority of construction projects in the UK. The simplicity of
the BIM360 interface and enterprise license model provides access for all
project stakeholders and a simple way of viewing and contributing to the
project information model – recording activities and linking site-captured
data to model components for handover and operation. Recording and
evidencing completion of scheduled activities and linking to milestone
payments will help alleviate supply chain cash flow issues and reward
effective collaboration.
• Skills Shortages: Following a period of deep recession, we are now seeing
an upturn in activity in the infrastructure, commercial, and housebuilding
sectors. Unfortunately, construction has not been an attractive option for
many young people, and we are now facing a shortage of skilled people
willing to work in our industry. Autodesk is engaging with young people
globally, providing our software to all students and educational institutions
without charge. However, construction needs to adopt the level of
technology and modern working practices that are prevalent in other
industries to better attract young people. BIM 360 Field, Glue, Layout are
all examples of democratising technologies that will help engage young
people and attract them to AEC.
Rob Harrison is an Autodesk Territory Account Manager and Mike Keane
is Autodesk’s Construction Industry Manager for the UK and Ireland. For
more on Autodesk + BIM check out: www.autodesk.co.uk/bimone
Have you used any of the Autodesk tools mentioned? Let us know your
feedback on TheB1M.com or on our social media accounts.
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Software
10
©Cubagallery
If you don’t know how it goes
together, how can you model it?
Belinda Thompson on how software authoring tools, far
from replacing people, need to be driven by expertise.
The types of technical employees I want seem to be missing from the
AEC industry these days. When did terms like ‘Revit Technician’ and ‘Revit
Modeller’ become the norm? I want a draftee; a good old fashioned draftee,
who can also use my software tool. I look for skills like communication
(and I mean actual human interaction at project meetings, not just over
email); compliance with protocols; an up-to-date knowledge of the latest
classification codes and regulations; an ability to adapt to different working
methods; working to deadlines; developing construction issue information…
and the big one: an ability to develop and resolve construction details.
Within the BIM workflow, we are building a virtual building;
not just modelling because it looks good and feels like fun.
It seems that in focusing on up-skilling for the software, the
most important part has been left behind.
When did all of this go out the window only to be replaced by
unprofessional terms like ‘killer Revit driver’ or ‘knows Revit inside and
out’? Software authoring tools come and go. It’s the core skills of a trained
draftee I am looking for. I don’t want someone who can ‘model the heck’
out of a building. I want someone who is thinking and resolving the
construction every step of the way. Someone who is pro-actively ‘arguing’
with the Architect because what they’re asking for doesn’t work.
I can teach people any software package in a matter of months, even whilst
working on a live project. But I can’t teach how a building goes together in
the same time frame, nor could I teach you to use your brain and your voice
to convey concerns about design! Sure, the passion for the software is
great, but the underlying principle of construction knowledge, what works
well and what doesn’t work at all, is key.
I am shocked to find the gap in knowledge that I have come across recently
and the skills above are in high demand. If you have people like this… make
sure you hang onto them!
Belinda is Western Australia BIM Coordinator at GHD and author of the
BIMbo blog (bimbub.wordpress.com). This article was edited by Matt
Rumbelow (@revitall)
AutoCAD and Revit –
working closely together
Download the BIM Interoperability Guide
The Autodesk® Interoperability Guide
shows you how to use AutoCAD® and
Revit® together. Learn step by step how
you can export data to AutoCAD and
relink to Revit.
www.autodesk.co.uk/intguide
BURSTING
THE BIM
BUBBLE
Feel like you’re on the outside looking in?
Here Premier Interlink (WACO UK
Limited’s) Peter Foster introduces the
drawing pins available for BIM beginners
looking to burst that bubble.
BIM Bubble
12
Those who know me will not be
surprised to learn that I talk about BIM.
A lot. My views are often frank and
no-nonsense, the essence of what is
increasingly known as #YorkshireBIM!
The real issue for me is how can we reach those
in the UK, or indeed internationally, who don’t
attend the BIM4 meetings, or the numerous
seminars and shows? It can be hard to break
into the BIM Bubble if you are still on the outside
wondering what the hell is going on.
Having been involved in process improvements
and 3D data methodology within manufacturing
for several years – admittedly in a ‘Lonely BIM’
format (meaning solely within one organisation)
– BIM is almost sweet music to my ears (my
personal music tastes happen to be more of
the heavy metal variety).
Some organisations are driving adoption through
pro-active up-skilling of their supply chains,
directly supporting their own BIM needs and
desired outcomes. This is a particularly effective
way for reaching SMEs at the lower tiers and
up-skilling is one of my own goals for Premier
Interlink and our supply chain this year.
Whilst I often state that ‘Lonely BIM is better
than no BIM’ – and I stand by this as it’s an
important message to get across – it is just as
important to note that my own BIM development,
and thus the development within my workplace,
was assisted by a vast number of groups and
people. The aim of this article is to outline what
I mean by the term ‘BIM Bubble’ and some
specifics regarding those who have helped
me and others on the BIM journey.
Articles in magazine publications intended for
a wider audience, rather than just those in the
BIM bubble, also have an impact; but when first
starting-out I always remember how many of
these drifted towards the ‘BIM is great and
we do it’ tone, without actually answering the
crucial ‘how’ or ‘who to ask’ questions.
What is a BIM Bubble?
I’m certainly not the first person to use the
phrase. There are a number of articles and
blogs that a quick Google search will pull-up
referencing the term, but there are differences
in ‘BIM Bubble’ definition. Where have we
heard that before Mr LOD acronym?
For me ‘BIM Bubble’ refers to those who are
involved in BIM on a regular basis, and/or
contribute to discussion and articles on the
subject. They’ll be at differing levels of fluency,
but can all communicate to greater or lesser
degrees. Beyond the bubble, exist a large
number of people either wondering what all the
fuss is about, or wondering what the heck BIM
is and more importantly how will it affect them.
As a reader of this paper you’ll fall into one of
these two categories; you’ll either be in or
outside of the bubble. Those who think they’re
in, might wonder how far in they actually are.
Beyond the bubble, exist a large
number of people either wondering
what all the fuss is about, or
wondering what the heck BIM
is and more importantly how will it
affect them.
Now depending on who you talk to, the industry
ratio of those within the BIM bubble vs. those
outside of it can vary wildly. Whilst solely based
on personal interactions and discussions, my
opinion is that there are still far more businesses
and construction professionals outside of the
bubble, than in it. However, an increasing number
of people are beginning to turn their heads
and peer in, often in a state of bewilderment.
Finding a drawing pin
There are a number of great groups in the
UK such as the Government BIM4’s and BIM
Regional Hubs who are trying their hardest to
assist people on their BIM journeys, often with
volunteers filling their ranks. Joining them are
innovative teams such as thinkBIM in Leeds
who are also doing fantastic work.
The B1M are all about reaching out an engaging
those outside the bubble so this is a perfect place
to give people some pointers! I hope that the
quick overviews or ‘drawing pins’ provided below
will help steer you in the right direction.
Useful drawing pins
Pin 1: The B1M
A pretty awesome social enterprise business and
the only global BIM initiative actively trying to
reach the masses yet to get up to speed! They’re
doing this through engaging and explanatory
videos; there is a vast wealth of free information
on their site, often in short, snappy and to the
point format.
I’m excited to be working with them as one of
their ‘B1M Inspirers’ this year, creating my own
video channel within their own; an excellent
way to burst the bubble. Don’t worry I am sure
they will provide subtitles so that everyone can
understand my accent.
They’re also the publishers of The B1M Mail (which
you have in your very hands), directly reaching
the analogue world with hard copy print. Clever
stuff!
TheB1M.com | @TheB1M
Pin 2: A BIM Business Case
It is worth recognising that initial investment and
return-on-investment (ROI) projections can be
significant start-up issues for businesses looking
to adopt BIM, making bursting the bubble hard.
I was fortunate in that Premier Interlink, the UKbased manufacturing business I work for, saw
BIM not simply as something they ‘had’ to do
because of the UK Government’s 2016 mandate,
but primarily as something that was needed to
improve and benefit their business overall. They
also sponsored my MSc in BIM Management,
testament to their commitment.
in the business as a direct result of our BIM
implementation plan.
Pin 3: BIM4M2 (For Manufacturers
and Manufacturing)
As one of the ‘BIM4’ groups, BIM4M2 focus on
manufacturing and manufacturers and have three
internal strands concentrating on Education, Data
Templates and Promotion. With a wide range of
members from manufacturers, consultants and
content providers, they make an excellent point
of contact for the manufacturing sector.
Of particular interest is their work on Product
Data Templates (originated by CIBSE), assisting
the availability and use of consistently structured
data. They have also developed a BIM4M2 ToolKit titled ‘Is BIM right for me?’ and issued a useful
survey document with interesting data analysis
sections.
BIM4M2.co.uk | @BIM4M2
Pin 4: thinkBIM
thinkBIM are a knowledge exchange network run
by Leeds Beckett University raising awareness
of BIM as a catalyst for collaborative working
within construction. They guided me in the early
days and I worked with them after winning an
innovation voucher for driving my workplace
towards BIM Level 2. They reviewed our progress
and developed an action plan for progression.
They also hold regular evening seminars and half
day conferences showcasing BIM best practice
and lessons learnt.
ckegroup.org/bim | @thinkBIM
Pin 5: BIM4SME (For Small-Medium
sized Enterprises)
Formed of individuals from different industry
sectors, BIM4SME’s goal is to assist small to
medium sized businesses adopt BIM. They hold
regular ‘BIM Clinics’ around the UK and anyone
can pop along to discuss general queries or ask
specific questions.
BIM4SME.org | @BIM4SME
Pin 6: Social Media
Social media is an absolute treasure trove of
information, but unfortunately it can also be very
confusing for beginners. I personally obtained
a lot of benefit from Twitter in particular and
the #UKBIMCrew hashtag – they are a friendly
bunch! They have the same thing across
Australasia with #BIMANZ.
Peter Foster is Head of Digital Manufacturing
Implementation at Premier Interlink (part of
WACO International) and a member of the UK
Government’s BIM4M2 and BIM4SME special
interest steering groups. Follow him on Twitter
@Kantrellk.
Fortunately our business model and operational
approach enable us to easily lay our hands
on clear measurement data; the efficiency of
our manufacturing plant; cost certainty of our
estimates vs. actual costs. In 2014 we saw an
average reduction in delivered project costs of
2.5%, of which we attributed 1.25% to changes
The B1M Mail // TheB1M.com // @TheB1M
Wordsearch
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UPCOMING BIM EVENTS
B1M University
Various Class events, UK and Australia
Full details: TheB1M.com
thinkBIM: Green BIM Conference
01 April 2015, Leeds, UK
Full details: ckegroup.org/thinkbimblog
BIM Show Live 2015
08-09 April 2015, Manchester, UK
Full details: BIMShowLive.co.uk
BIM Forum: California 2015
29-30 April 2015, San Diego, USA
Full details: meetings.bimforum.org/annual
RTC Australasia 2015
14-16 May 2015, Queensland, Australia
Full details: rtcevents.com
GEO Business Show 2015
27-28 May 2015, London, UK
Full details: geobusinessshow.com
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Power of YouTube
15
TOM PAYNE
The power of
video YouTube
O
n 23 April 2005,
a video was
posted online
featuring a 26 yearold man discussing
elephants at San Diego
zoo. Who would have
guessed that this simple,
19 second clip, would
be the beginning of the
world’s largest video
sharing platform?
Tom Payne
10 years on, YouTube is not only the
video viewing platform of choice
for billions, but the second largest
search engine in the world (behind
its parent company Google)
10 years on, YouTube
is not only the video
viewing platform of
choice for billions, but
the second largest
search engine in the
world (behind its parent
company Google)
and the largest social
network, having overtaken Facebook in 2014.
We’ve all seen the crazy statistics – more video
content is uploaded to YouTube in one month than
the three major US television networks have created
in the past 60 years, and one hour of video is
uploaded to YouTube every second – but what does
that actually mean for us as video consumers in
2015? What might that look like in another 10 years
and why on earth are you reading about it in a BIM
newspaper?
More video content is uploaded to
YouTube in a month than the three
major US television networks have
created in the past 60 years.
First off, creating digital video content is something
that I feel deeply passionate about and I am
incredibly lucky to be able to do this for a living.
The B1M Mail is the regular BIM news publication from The B1M.
We’re an online video resource for BIM, focused on inspiring one million people
through the easy and engaging medium of film. Our website is targeting one million
members and video views to help bring BIM to a wider audience. Since launching,
we have grown to over 900 members, 8,000 social media followers and 12 hours of
content. We reach students, professionals and project teams across six continents.
In addition to our website we offer The B1M Mail, a specialist BIM video production
service and B1M University; a forum for sharing industry expertise with higher
education students through video.
We’re passionate about what we do and hope you enjoy our work!
Talk to us: [email protected]
I predict that the three key areas of growth on
YouTube and potentially the keys to its future
development are: major growth in the power of
‘influencers’ and their networks of pagans; the way
global and emerging brands harness this power;
and the platforms that use the discoverability and
global presence of YouTube to build an ecosystem
beyond its walls.
Who would have guessed that this
simple, 19 second clip, would be the
beginning of the world’s largest video
sharing platform?
Let’s start with the influencers. Currently when we
use this term we’re referring to beauty vloggers
such as Zoella and Michelle Phan or video gamers
like Pewdiepie and Sky Does Minecraft. These
self-made content creators now command larger
viewing numbers than major national broadcasters
from their bedrooms, with little/no budget. This has
spawned an entire generation used to watching and
creating the content they want, when they want
it. However, questions remain over whether these
models are sustainable in the long term. Viewers
will grow up and their tastes for content will change.
Will the channels be able to change with them? Will
their current viewers want them to?
These self-made content creators now
command larger viewing numbers than
major national broadcasters from their
bedrooms, with little/no budget.
As the top tier of YouTuber’s continues to grow –
with very few new channels managing to push into
their bubble – the only option I really see for new
influencers to shine through is by finding more niche
areas to occupy; like The B1M is doing with BIM,
through original video content and our extended
network of creators and contributors.
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Reproduction in part or in full is forbidden without permission of the Editor. The opinions expressed by
writers of signed articles (even with pseudonyms) and/or comments appearing in the publication are
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copyright, content and design are owned by The B1M Limited.
Power of YouTube
16
For a long time, brands understood the route to market when it came to
advertising: come up with a good looking campaign, maybe throw an A-list
celebrity at it, add a funny slogan and pay for it to hit our TV’s, magazines,
cinemas and computer screens as much as possible in the hope that
their target audience would a) see it and b) engage with it. Now as data
becomes cheaper, faster and on more devices, our ways of consuming
media are rapidly changing. We no longer willingly sit through TV ads
and very rarely do we click on the promotions that roll before a YouTube
video. This forces brands to be smarter in the way they advertise their
products. On YouTube especially, you have to create content that is right for
the platform; you can’t just stick a TV ad on a branded channel and hope
someone stumbles across it.
help share knowledge in an inspiring way, the next 10 years will be a very
exciting journey for millions of people across the AEC industries.
Tom Payne is a YouTube-certified video producer and Creative Director
of The B1M. Follow him on Twitter @getlamp.
Creating a YouTube channel is great; it’s an amazing route to market and
a strong platform. But I believe real long-term value comes from creating
platforms beyond YouTube and building a brand that exists and engages
people across all major social platforms.
The YouTube generation are used to watching what they
want, when they want it.
So what does this mean for BIM and more specifically The B1M? Well the
AEC industries need to get BIM taken-up by a vast number of people. To
do that it needs to be brought to life and put into terms that are not only
understandable to the uninitiated, but compelling enough to inspire action.
Building a brand and multi-platform strategy around our YouTube channel
leverages contemporary mediums and enables us to reach out from the
core group of BIM experts to influence a much larger audience. If we can
AutoCAD and Revit – working closely together
The Autodesk® Interoperability Guide
shows you how to use AutoCAD® and
Revit® together. Learn step by step how
you can export data to AutoCAD and
relink to Revit.
www.autodesk.co.uk/intguide
Download the BIM Interoperability Guide
Start your
BIM pilot today
Download the BIM Getting Started Guide
Autodesk® Building Information Modeling
(BIM) solutions deliver business value at every
step in the process. Experience what BIM can
do for your projects. The BIM Getting Started
Guide will help you start your first BIM pilot.
www.autodesk.co.uk/bimone