Anthony Frausto-Robledo ([email protected])

12 May 2004 [Edited: 12 May 2004]

 

Event Notes: ArchiCAD and BOA events in Boston shout advantages to Building Information Modeling (BIM) for AEC industry

Two Recent Events Point Up Advantages to BIM in Architectural CAD Industry

BOA User Training Event (BOA - Con 1)

I had the pleasure of meeting up with BOA's founder and a group of dedicated BOA users this past weekend as the small group traveled from areas of the US and abroad to attend a special user-organized training event. When I caught up with the group in a Brookline hotel conference room I had the pleasure of seeing some exceptional work done by its participants. In particular Panama-based architect and graphic designer Eduardo Perez showed some superb design work focused on exhibit design and architecture. The diverse group included architects from the United Kingdom and the US and even included a professor of chemistry who has a passionate interest in 3D architecture and BOA.

Eduardo Perez's work in particular showcased the advantages of architectural 3D model-based CAD for use in architectural competitions and highly competitive prospects in architecture. In both cases traditional types of representation such as floor plans and building cross-sections are important components of final deliverables. However, with BIM applications architects are more able to focus on the design (3D model data) as a whole for a much longer period of time since these traditional drawings are a "byproduct" of the model itself and do not have to be drawn after the design work has been completed.

Unlike any other 3D BIM application BOA has a particularly strong "workplane" technology that enables users to more easily design in 3D. BOA users actually do much of their plans in a 3D orientation of their choosing -- drawing the walls in 3D with specified height. While BOA may have the best technology for working directly in three dimensions it is not, unfortunately, in the market spotlight as a leading BIM CAD technology. Currently the spotlight for BIM is centered on Autodesk's Revit -- a technology many industry analysts consider promising while its competitors consider it immature and underwhelming.

ArchiCAD Event - The Eureka Tower Australia

BIM or Building Information Modeling is actually a new acronym for what Graphisoft calls Virtual Building™ technology in its ArchiCAD, the true world leader in parametric (intelligent object-oriented) 3D model CAD technology.

Integrated CADD Services -- a leading reseller of ArchiCAD in the United States -- and Graphisoft hosted a special VIP Breakfast Event for the presentation of the Eureka Tower project by Fender Katsalidis, an award-winning architecture firm in Australia. David Sutherland, director of planning at Fender Katsalidis, presented one of the strongest and most cogent arguments yet for the benefits of building information modeling. I've attended numerous ArchiCAD and other BIM and CAD presentations over the years and David's presentation was by far one of the most compelling -- likely because he's a practicing architect and not a software developer.

David discussed a number of interesting aspects about BIM and contemporary architectural practice, the most interesting of which was the firm's orientation in thinking about the design and production document phases of the project delivery cycle. Although counter-intuitive to the daily demands and contemporary pressures in architectural practice, David argued that BIM enables architects to keep a building's design more fluid for a longer period of time relative to the contract document (working drawings) phase of the process. This in turn allows architects to focus on their core value in society.

Today architects increasingly face shorter duration's of time in which to complete both "design" and "contract construction documents" and are often forced into "Fast Track" delivery approaches. However, traditional electronic drafting (2D CAD) cannot offer the "change-management" technology that BIM employs to allow architects more time to design, thus design phases are increasingly under time pressure. With this contracting of the design phase architects increasingly struggle with working through all the issues of a building, much of which must be dealt with during the costly contract document production phase...or even worse -- the construction phase.

David's presentation touched on numerous points that I must discuss in a later article. What I want to say now is that the Eureka Tower ArchiCAD Event is a must attend event for any architect, architectural principal or IT director trying to understand more about BIM and its advantages over traditional 2D CAD technology. Because David is a practicing architect his discussion of BIM has layers of meaning and insight that no software developer producing a BIM application can truly bring to the table. This was a great presentation and I highly recommend the event!

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