
What is BIM Execution Plan?
BIM is a 3d model-based process which has provided the AEC industry professionals all the tools that are necessary to effectively plan, design, construct and manage buildings. However, before incorporating BIM it is important to put together a BEP – BIM Execution Plan. A BEP is a document written with the aim of effectively managing the information in BIM. It states how the information will be handled, aids the team identify their roles and augments their workflow.
A BEP is very central to any organization providing BIM Support. It describes the key decisions and work methods that must be adopted by the BIM team to meet the client’s requirements. It also states who the operators of the task will be and clearly defines the roles and responsibilities of the BIM Team.
Many times during a construction project, plan execution becomes buried under unnecessary micro-details. A BEP ensures that all the necessary information is streamlined and that the project keeps moving on schedule to provide timely deliverables. Simply put, when the BIM team knows what they are working on they can solely focus on it.
What should the BEP include?
There are a few things a good BIM plan must include. In this article we point out the four things that must be included in a BEP and its benefits:
1. Define the BIM goals: At the very beginning of the project the clients and the BIM team should together decide on why BIM is being adapted. It can be for enhanced collaboration, Facility management, to get quantity takeoffs etc. By setting up BIM goals right from the start the team explicitly knows what they are working for.
2. Deciding LOD: BEP must clearly define the LOD. The LOD allows to communicate the level of clarity and reliability of BIM through different phases. The foundation of any building in BIM can be based on LOD 100 to 200. The LOD 300 to LOD 500 are used by architects for giving in detail parameters or information about the model. Generally, Structural Engineers for fabrication purposes uses LOD 400 to LOD 450 and in MEP BIM Services the MEP engineers use LOD 300 to LOD 500 to define parameters and provide information about MEP components.
3. State the Standards and procedures that will be employed: After the LOD has been determined the next step is to describe in detail the standards and processes the teams must follow to achieve the client’s desired result. The BIM guidelines and BIM practices which are fixed will determine how the project will be completed. It must also provide timeframes of when each phase of the project will be completed. This must be put together in a way that the whole team is able to understand and stay on the same page.
4. Responsibility Matrix: After the list of information and documents which are to be delivered are finalized the next part of the plan is to determine who is responsible for what. By clearly defining the roles everyone there is no rework. Also it facilitates an ease in collaboration as everyone knows whom to contact for a particular task.
Advantages of BIM Execution Plan:
There are certain advantages of BEP:
1. It enables a timely delivery of the project: When general execution plan for BIM is clear it can be easily implemented. That means everyone knows their role and they only work on that. It also solves the problem of rework that arises out of miscommunication. This results in reducing uncertainty and creates a stress-free working environment where every team member can work to the best of their ability. It also ensures that nobody is bogged down with unnecessary details,
2. It enhances communication and collaboration: BEP ensures that there is a clear communication internally between the team members as well as between the clients and the BIM Team. BIM execution plans help manage responsibilities and expectations. Moreover, each project has unique needs, regulations and internal standards which is defined and every member of the team is made aware of. It thus prevents miscommunication as each individual knows what his own task is and whom to contact for what. It also allows to know in case of any errors who is the responsible, making it simple to solve it.
3. Stronger execution: When all the information regarding the BIM Project like its methodology, timeline, roles and responsibilities of the BIM team are all lead down in a systematic manner it simplifies the whole project. Moreover, ensures that relevant information is considered and that the final deliverables come on time.
About Us:
Tesla CAD AU is an Architectural and Engineering company which provides CAD and BIM Support. Established in the year 2010, we have worked with more than 1000 clients from Australia. Our team of architects, engineers and BIM modeler can work on effectively on Scan to BIM, Construction Drawings, Structural, Architectural and MEP BIM, As-Built etc.