Building Information Modelling could well be the equivalent of the 4th industrial revolution in the real estate sector, thanks to the networking of all processes, products and stakeholders. BIM brings together all the fundamental data of a construction project. Where architects and engineers used to have to develop their own plans and keep them updated with any changes, all information is now contained in the same digital model. There is a digital twin of the future building. This has a maximum level of detail.
Integrating all the data means a lot of extra work during the design phase, but it also saves time later on as the system is able to instantly assimilate any new calculation: how does the geometry of the building change when additional office space is added? What is the impact of a green façade on energy requirements? What is the price difference between a tiled floor and a vinyl surface?
Thanks to the BIM model, it is possible to play with these variables very early on in the design process. As all the actors in the project work from the same model, all the information is immediately available to them. If an engineer touches the foundations, for example, the number of windows and doors is systematically recalculated. If the drawings no longer match, any collisions will no longer be apparent at the time of construction, which usually leads to costly overruns. The digital model will reveal design errors and contribute to maximum design security.
Not only do our experts have a thorough knowledge of BIM, but they are also specialists in your industry and its processes. We do not simply sell software, but provide you with independent advice on the various offerings available. The only criteria for choosing BIM software are your own requirements. The BIM experts at Drees & Sommer also ensure that all data remains accessible and cost-effective, especially during operation or valuation of the property.
Ideally, the BIM model should be used throughout the entire life cycle of a building: from the design, construction and usage phase to the dismantling phase. The facility manager of a building designed in this way can then use the BIM model as the building's operating system.
Whether for maintenance, refurbishment or rehabilitation, all operational data continues to be collected in real time and facilitates communication between the owner, the operating company and the service providers. Thanks to BIM, the building develops a kind of digital memory in which not only design and construction data but also data relating to operating processes are recorded. Finally, this model allows for a perfectly timed dismantling schedule at the end of the building's life cycle.