How to Design and Build Future Sustainable Cities Using BIM

What if it was possible to take a typical city and use technology to evaluate existing and future conditions so that it can be transformed it into a truly sustainable city? Imagine a place in which all corners of the city — from hospitals, universities and businesses, to utility and transportation infrastructure and public spaces – were created, renovated and operated to be socially, environmentally and economically responsible. Is it possible today to plan, create or rebuild and manage that sustainable city of tomorrow?

It is possible, and we’re already witnessing a global push to build or transform communities into models of sustainability. Taking sustainability from a vague concept to reality requires that the correct decisions are being made at the earliest phases of planning and designing at a city-wide or even regional scope.

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Source : www.environmentalleader.com
This article is by Paul McRoberts who at Autodesk is responsible for providing technology in the infrastructure industry through the evolution to model-based workflows across the project lifecycle of the Transportation, Land & Environmental, Water, and Power industry segments.

Is LEED missing something?

The U.S. Green Building Council's LEED rating system is the most popular green building certification system in the world. In order to achieve LEED certification, a builder must focus on several key areas including Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, Indoor Environmental Quality, and Innovation and Design. However, a new report suggests that one very important area is missing - human health.

Read more: Is LEED missing something? - KansasCity.com

Source: http://www.kansascity.com/

BIM Believers

I start this blog post with a quote borrowed from Seth Godin’s book the Linchpin—

"Part of the passion is having the persistence and resilience to change both your art and the way you deliver it."

This was mentioned in a BIM survey report that I happened to chance upon. I could not help, but read it again & again, and wonder how effectively it summarizes what all BIM believers try to advocate for the AEC industry.

First, I would like to mention a few concerns and general perceptions associated with BIM Implementation, which a lot of us may have heard or had in the past,

Investment

· Financial Investment in Software

· Time Investment in Training of staff

Resources

· Revit Professionals not readily available

· Can’t afford the downtime to transition

· Revit too complicated to learn & implement within our organization

· Don’t have enough resources to dedicate.

Expect too little or too much

· Construction Documentation is not possible

· It is only a 3-D modeling software

Our Consultants don’t use Revit

· Most of the services consultants use CAD

I use the term BIM believers because I believe on the inevitability of BIM. In the present scenarios this is a,

· Business reality for some

· Approaching vision for believers, &

· Leap of faith for many others.

But, as the industry moves forward, one way or the other we realize that BIM is the future and is here to stay.

Believers like us feel we may see a delay in its acceptance and usage but it would only be a matter of time, where it deployment would be a more strategic option than adopting it just because “everyone is using it”.

Technology and Architecture

Wikipedia defines Technology as the usage and knowledge of tools, techniques, and crafts, or is systems or methods of organization, or is a material product of these things. Technologies significantly affect human as well as other animal species' ability to control and adapt to their natural environments.

There have been innumerable articles on the effects of technology and social networking on the AEC industry and it’s hard to ignore the impact that technologies like Twitter and Skype and devices like Apple’s iPad have had on the consumer world. Businesses globally are also looking into ways these technologies could improve productivity, and Architecture & Construction are among them. Contractors are still discovering how these technologies can be best utilized in the business world.

BIM itself is more a technology based platform rather than just a drafting tool. Some say the AEC industry has a hard time keeping up with some of the emerging technologies that hit both the consumer and business world fast and furiously. But this industry might be farther ahead of the curve than some truly believe. Terms like ‘tweet’, ’webex’ and ‘app store’ could have a more meaningful impact on the industry going forward.