How EIR Documents Can Adapt Within the AECO Industry
How EIR Documents Can Adapt Within the AECO Industry What is an EIR Document? It is usually a very long document that covers a wide range of building details. Simply put, an EIR is a document that states all the necessary information needed to adhere to a specific BIM standard when working on a project. EIR documents entail three primary aspects: Management This defines the details of the standards to be used as well as the roles and responsibilities. Management of work planning and coordination, data segregation, BIM meetings, and compliance. Commercial The details of data drops (exchanges) and BIM-specific project deliverables. Technical The details of software platforms, data exchange formats, the Common Data Environment (CDE), model coordinates, asset data points, file naming schema, and classifications. How do you determine what should go inside an EIR? It is important to think about what an organization intends to accomplish by adapting BIM processes. Drafting an EIR document is a great way to define an organization’s BIM strategies and goals. It will also help determine how to utilize BIM models and what data is required to achieve specific BIM goals. Let us look at a few ways BIM Models can be utilized: Spatial Programming Clash Detection Cost Estimation Quantity Take-offs Asset Tracking/Maintenance Data Management Practices Commissioning Field BIM Visualization (Mixed Reality AR/VR) Typically, these documents are drafted by the owner or owner representative such as ENGworks; however, anyone in the AECO industry could benefit from organizing internal BIM resources in such a way. Depending on which utilization you are using a BIM model for, different goals and data collection will be required. Why are EIR Documents Important? “EIR documents has helped users to save up to 22% in construction costs in the UK. Taking this to an international level not only means more effective collaboration on global projects, but allows designers and contractors working on all kinds of buildings to have more efficient information management.” Resource: https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/ISO_19650 Even though EIR documents are not widely used in the USA, we can all benefit from creating and maintaining standards of a BIM library. It is important to define your organization’s BIM strategies and goals. This may lead to setting up internal standards for your company. Having documentation and standards, only make communications easier for internal coordination as well as external when working from project to project. How Can We Help? Here at ENGworks we have a history of proven solutions helping clients with their customized needs. This includes creating VDC standards, transitioning a team from AutoCAD to Revit, BIM Library Management Standards, Owner Asset Management, QA/QC, and building out BIM Content. Our company also helps with training, mentoring assistance and any other solution that may be developed. We understand the importance of implementing BIM in today’s AECO industry. Let us help your team collaborate more efficiently on all your future projects. Please also connect with us on our social media platforms below to stay up to date with our announcements. 1-800-356-8933 info@ENGworksGlobal.com Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube Linkedin Back to the Blog Related Posts Elevate Your Workflow – Computer Mouse Devices Elevate Your Workflow – Computer Mouse Devices • August 30, 2022 Visualizing BIM Content Quality and its Impacts Visualizing BIM Content Quality and its Impacts • May 26, 2022 Are You Losing Trust in Fabrication Content? Are You Losing Trust in Fabrication Content? • May 10, 2022
BIM 360 Ops - COVID Office Response
BIM 360 Ops - COVID Office Response There can be several strategies of what new office work may look like. For example, higher barriers in open offices, more sanitary stations in offices, perhaps even more flexible work from home arrangements. But how are we able to keep track of all of these new resources and processes? While there are certainly a multitude of solutions available, my focus for this is to leverage Autodesk BIM 360 Ops for the management of space and assets. What is BIM 360 Ops? Autodesk BIM 360 Ops is a virtual record environment (VRE), that allows the storage of assets, the management of scheduled tasks, and much more. As a completely web-based platform Ops provides the agility of a small platform with a large bang for its dollar. For more information about BIM 360 Ops please see the links at the bottom of this article. How do we meet the user’s needs? To best determine what the user’s needs and concerns are about the workplace prior to thinking about any type of solution. Below are example questions to start to understand the complexities of a new working environment. By understanding the concerns of our colleagues we are able to tailor our technology response. Employee Workplace Readiness Survey Sample Questions: How comfortable do you feel about returning to work in the office? Very Comfortable Somewhat Comfortable Neither Comfortable nor Uncomfortable Somewhat Uncomfortable Very Uncomfortable Which of the following are concerns you have about returning to work in the office? Getting exposed to the coronavirus at the office Leaving family members at home who need assistance Organizing childcare Decreased productivity Decreased flexibility to work from home Potentially spreading coronavirus to my coworkers Not being able to return to the office due to health reasons Getting exposed to the coronavirus while commuting to work Other Which of the following would make you feel more comfortable returning to work in the office? Hand sanitizer stations Installing partitions between desks Implementing a “clean desk policy” so desks can be cleaned more easily Government guidance saying it is ok to return to work Availability of a vaccine Availability of antibody testing Limiting outside visitors to the office Requiring employees to install a contact tracing app to notify you if you have been in close contact with a colleague that is diagnosed with coronavirus Limiting the number of employees in the building Boxed lunches instead of buffet-style lunches Staggering hours/shifts Staggering lunchtimes Nightly deeps cleans/sanitation Wearing masks in the office Having secured care/support for children of other family members Closing any communal spaces (ie. gyms, game rooms) Temperature checks before entering the building Nothing would make me feel more comfortable returning to the office Other Do You Need a Model to start using BIM 360 Ops? The short answer is no, there is no need to have a Revit model of a facility to implement BIM 360 Ops. While a model certainly does assist in the visual layer of the facility, it is quite possible to simply create a facility in a portfolio by uploading spreadsheets or manually entering the data. To facilitate the aggregation of this information, I have built an Airtable base template that can be copied for collecting Location and Asset information. Please reach out if there are any questions about how to use the base. BIM 360 Ops Data Aggregation Base Template If a model of your office or facility does exist; however, it is highly recommended to utilize the geometric and data mapping that is available. The Ops team has developed a very lightweight plugin to Revit to assist with the upload of geometry and model data. Please see the Autodesk University links at the end of this article to understand more about how this process can be leveraged. The use cases below leverage the scenario of having and utilizing a model for the most part. Use Case(s) While there are many use cases for the technology provided within BIM 360 Ops, we will take a brief examination of three of these options. Scenario 1: Quick Ticketing Quick tickets can be set up to allow employees and/or managers to notify the facilities management staff that there is an issue. These quick tickets can be fully customized to meet your occupant’s and manager’s needs. As we can see from the image above, we have created a quick ticket to “send the cleaners” to a space that initiates an automated checklist for environmental services. Additionally, a quick ticket could be created to prevent the possible contraction of COVID-19 within a space by noting where a potential exposure has occurred. Another option for quick tickets could be to allow occupants to notify management of low sanitation supplies. Scenario 2: Automated Scheduling and Task Assignment One of the larger concerns with returning to an office environment is that of cleanliness. Ops provides the functionality to schedule a variety of task-based workflows. This provides an easy to use and mobile interface for environmental services departments to share and collaborate on. Scenario 3: Facility Mapping If Revit models of a facility are available leveraging the BIM 360 Ops mapping capability is an expedient way to visualize where priority or in progress tickets have been created. Final Tip To make it easier for occupants to access the application, Barcodes and/or QR codes can be leveraged around the facility to access the occupant dashboard to report or create new tickets. Additionally, barcodes and/or QR codes can be linked to the digital assets that have been created in BIM 360 Ops. The coronavirus pandemic has closed many businesses and restricted most to working from home or other secluded environments. As we are now on the verge of beginning to return to our workplaces, employers are confronted with an array of issues that will test their abilities to keep their employees, clients, and other stakeholders safe as they return. Organizations need to take a thoughtful approach to restarting at their place of work. “Place” is a deliberately broad phrase; a “place” could be
Open Data for Interoperability
Open Data for Interoperability Software interoperability is made possible by the implementation of universally acceptable standard information exchanges. There are assortments of singular file formats that people bring into play, and there are a lot of dissimilar techniques those practitioners and consultants will make use of when generating or creating a building. The main objective of Open Data is to facilitate the distributions of digital ways of working in the built asset industry. Unfortunately, it is not an easy task of getting everyone to use the same page, even within the same organization. Thus, the firms end up utilizing a bunch of tools and workflows in the design process, and, in doing so, most of the work results in spending a lot of time when they are moving between those tools and inherently stakeholders. In the case of other not-so-common firms, the main design toolkit encompasses nine to 10 software platforms, whereas the overall available tools number over 100. With numbers like these within one firm, it’s not surprising that interoperability is of such interest in the AEC industry. Interoperability also offers a way to help design and construction avoid becoming entrapped in outdated, proprietary systems. It is believed that to get the full benefits of digitization, you have to be able to work across not only vendor or package providers but also across all stages of the lifecycle of a building. It’s essential for everyone to work toward sharing data more effectively at all times. There are multiple challenges standing in the way of open BIM Data and interoperability. One of the biggest obstacles is a lack of understanding in the market about what Open Data really means. The biggest challenge is about engagement; people understanding the benefits of digital ways of working and engaging in this process. The challenge we have is harnessing the resources to capture best practices in an open environment. The best way to make files interoperable is to have a referee between software vendors, and that is exactly what buildingSMART International and the open BIM initiative are doing. The most important approach for adjudicating this business is the documentation of software. Qualifications are thus imperative for communicating between software because it promises a user the ability to translate data in a polygonal exchange as most of the big software vendors have the ability to read and write. For more information about the buildingSMART International Open BIM initiative visit the link here: Open BIM Please also connect with us on our social media platforms below to stay up to date with our announcements. 1-800-356-8933 info@ENGworksGlobal.com Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube Linkedin Back to the Blog Related Posts Elevate Your Workflow – Computer Mouse Devices Elevate Your Workflow – Computer Mouse Devices • August 30, 2022 Visualizing BIM Content Quality and its Impacts Visualizing BIM Content Quality and its Impacts • May 26, 2022 Are You Losing Trust in Fabrication Content? Are You Losing Trust in Fabrication Content? • May 10, 2022
ENGworks Webinar Review: BIM Content Utilization
ENGworks Webinar Review: BIM Content Utilization In the webinar held on May 27th, 2020, Jim Meseke, Vice President of Global Content Services at ENGworks, shared with us his experience and knowledge with the BIM content creation workflows, techniques, and LOD of the content. Jim emphasizes the importance of the object’s data so that they can relate to each other in the models during its lifecycle. He talks about the benefits of using Autodesk Revit for BIM content creation, because of the object-oriented platform it allows the user to basically get there design elements organized. “Content that’s going to not only look right but is also going to be able to pass data from object to object. That’s really the whole point of BIM, it’s a creation of intelligent objects which speak to each other.” Jim Meseke, VP of Global Content Services at ENGworks A useful tip we can take from Jim is when creating BIM content, it is very important to perform an investigation, asking the right questions. What am I creating? What are the functions of the piece? What components or parameters are required from an engineer versus an architect? All these questions will determine what are the goals with the content. How Can We Help? ENGworks takes great pride in the fabrication database that we have created over the past 10 years. This comprehensive database allows us to extract highly detailed spool drawings to be used in pre-fabrication. Let our experienced fabrication team help you produce accurate shop/fab drawings from our database or one of your own making. We are certain about the future of BIM, and we will remain at the forefront of that change. We will continue assisting our clients and colleagues to achieve better workflows and faster turnaround times by adopting the latest technologies and efficient workflow practices. To learn more about our BIM Content services, please visit the following links: Content Management Content Consulting Content Distribution & Syndication Content for AEC professionals built by AEC professionals Please also connect with us on our social media platforms below to stay up to date with our announcements. How Can We Help? ENGworks takes great pride in the fabrication database that we have created over the past 10 years. This comprehensive database allows us to extract highly detailed spool drawings to be used in pre-fabrication. Let our experienced fabrication team help you produce accurate shop/fab drawings from our database or one of your own making. We are certain about the future of BIM, and we will remain at the forefront of that change. We will continue assisting our clients and colleagues to achieve better workflows and faster turnaround times by adopting the latest technologies and efficient workflow practices. To learn more about our BIM Content services, please visit the following links: Content Management Content Consulting Content Distribution & Syndication Content for AEC professionals built by AEC professionals Please also connect with us on our social media platforms below to stay up to date with our announcements. 1-800-356-8933 info@ENGworksGlobal.com Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube Linkedin Back to the Blog Related Posts Elevate Your Workflow – Computer Mouse Devices Elevate Your Workflow – Computer Mouse Devices • August 30, 2022 Visualizing BIM Content Quality and its Impacts Visualizing BIM Content Quality and its Impacts • May 26, 2022 Are You Losing Trust in Fabrication Content? Are You Losing Trust in Fabrication Content? • May 10, 2022 How Can We Help? ENGworks takes great pride in the fabrication database that we have created over the past 10 years. This comprehensive database allows us to extract highly detailed spool drawings to be used in pre-fabrication. Let our experienced fabrication team help you produce accurate shop/fab drawings from our database or one of your own making. We are certain about the future of BIM, and we will remain at the forefront of that change. We will continue assisting our clients and colleagues to achieve better workflows and faster turnaround times by adopting the latest technologies and efficient workflow practices. To learn more about our BIM Content services, please visit the following links: Content Management Content Consulting Content Distribution & Syndication Content for AEC professionals built by AEC professionals Please also connect with us on our social media platforms below to stay up to date with our announcements. 1-800-356-8933 info@ENGworksGlobal.com Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube Linkedin Back to the Blog Related Posts Elevate Your Workflow – Computer Mouse Devices Elevate Your Workflow – Computer Mouse Devices • August 30, 2022 Visualizing BIM Content Quality and its Impacts Visualizing BIM Content Quality and its Impacts • May 26, 2022 Are You Losing Trust in Fabrication Content? Are You Losing Trust in Fabrication Content? • May 10, 2022 Content Development – Uponor A demonstration of how the Uponor building products can be configurated and visualized. Content Development – Uponor A demonstration of how the Uponor building products can be configurated and visualized. Content Development – Uponor A demonstration of how the Uponor building products can be configurated and visualized. https://youtu.be/65lKBQiPjY8 Content Development – Uponor A demonstration of how the Uponor building products can be configurated and visualized. https://youtu.be/65lKBQiPjY8 How Can We Help? ENGworks takes great pride in the fabrication database that we have created over the past 10 years. This comprehensive database allows us to extract highly detailed spool drawings to be used in pre-fabrication. Let our experienced fabrication team help you produce accurate shop/fab drawings from our database or one of your own making. We are certain about the future of BIM, and we will remain at the forefront of that change. We will continue assisting our clients and colleagues to achieve better workflows and faster turnaround times by adopting the latest technologies and efficient workflow practices. To learn more about our BIM Content services, please visit the following links: Content Management Content Consulting Content Distribution & Syndication Content for AEC professionals built by AEC professionals Please also connect with us on our social media platforms below
Unifying Design & Construction Teams With BIM
Unifying Design & Construction Teams With BIM The design team traditionally has achieved great accomplishments by meeting the owner and construction team needs. A good design outcome is the one that meets the owner’s desirability standards and also caters to the ease of constructing the building. Although, it may seem like a daunting task at first, construction professionals have constantly met these outcomes by close communication and information exchange. So, what is the problem? The panelists in the webinar discussed how the problem stems from the shift resulting in the adoption of new technologies that identify design issues effectively. In some cases, the Issued for Construction (IFC) drawing set is not the final step for the design team anymore. Once the IFC drawings are released, teams of modelers convert the 2D drawings to a 3D model and begin looking for design and constructability issues that are sent back to the design team for rectification. This is a common practice in design-build or design-assist contract methodologies. Therefore, contract types can play an important role in determining the driver of the VDC process. However, it is not limited to the contract types, the expertise of teams involved also play a vital role. Usually, the design team is technology savvy when it comes to traditional project delivery methods since they resort to the lowest responsible bidder as stated by Jenny Gillette from the NYC Department of Design and Construction. So, it would make sense for the design team to lead the process in such cases. Andrew Gamblen from Willmott Dixon summarized the problems with the current BIM workflows in his presentation as follows: Lack of understanding of the BIM process at all levels Oftentimes, there are key team members who do not possess sufficient background of the digital workflows which leads to delays and rework. As more and more companies adopt the digital workflows and realize the potential savings that come with it, this will be a problem of the past. Lack of Common Data Environment Common Data Environment simply put, is a software or a platform that holds all the latest project information for the project stakeholders. A lack of such a platform leads to the use of multiple platforms storing overlapping information which also leads to an increased cost and confusion. Lack of BIM contracts The biggest hurdle for BIM is the lack of legalization therefore, companies that have the resources and the skilled manpower will be the only ones adopting BIM workflows. It is discouraging for smaller contractors to adopt the upfront cost for BIM when they have been field coordinating all design and constructability issues in their past projects. They would be wary of adopting a new workflow when the traditional approach seems to work despite the additional cost. If these are the problems in the current environment, what does the future hold for us? The panelists shared their insight on where the construction industry is headed towards and the following sums up their points: Less on-site workers With the current COVID-19 situation, I would say that we are all working towards establishing or already have work from home teams. As this seems to be the feeling all around the world, it is driving more contractors to consider digital workflows so they can keep working amidst all the current lockdown regulations. This is a strong indicator of similar future workflows; however, it would still depend on a multitude of factors for it to actually become a reality. Modular, supply chain, prefabrication With more knowledgeable teams and the power of 3D visualization plus data aggregation, we will be able to effectively build affordable modular units, set universal prefab standards, and establish bigger supply chain systems. Technologies like 3D printing have pushed construction minds to chase ideas like assembly line production for disaster relief homes. Higher LOD modeling With higher LOD, teams can achieve higher levels of clash detection. It will lead to lessor error variance across the board and achieve improved cost estimates, schedules, and design. The 100% CD set would be closer to the As-Built Drawings. PDF legal document move to BIM legal documentation With the growth of BIM adoption in construction workflows, it will soon become imminent to pass laws that require certain modeling standards. As the panelists stated, PDF drawings will replace the Construction Drawings as final deliverables. ENGworks has been pushing the needle forward with BIM workflows for 30 years now. As more awareness is created in the industry and the need for faster workflows grows, it puts us in the spotlight for the change. ENGworks typically serves as a third-party hired to oversee the complete VDC process from the design, preconstruction, construction, and operations phases. Having a third-party puts the responsibilities on our shoulders to establish clear communication channels, a common data environment, and set up BIM contracts. ENGworks then becomes a single point of contact for any stakeholder’s BIM-related queries. We also tackle the lack of BIM process understanding by providing tutorials and following up with the team. In our experience, knowledge sharing goes a long way in establishing stronger bonds with clients and industry professionals. We are certain about the future of BIM, and we will remain at the forefront of that change. We will continue assisting our clients and colleagues to achieve better workflows and faster turnaround times by adopting the latest technologies and efficient workflow practices. Please also connect with us on our social media platforms below to stay up to date with our announcements. 1-800-356-8933 info@ENGworksGlobal.com Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube Linkedin Back to the Blog Related Posts Elevate Your Workflow – Computer Mouse Devices Elevate Your Workflow – Computer Mouse Devices • August 30, 2022 Visualizing BIM Content Quality and its Impacts Visualizing BIM Content Quality and its Impacts • May 26, 2022 Are You Losing Trust in Fabrication Content? Are You Losing Trust in Fabrication Content? • May 10, 2022
Revizto for Continuity
Revizto for Continuity With the #DigitalTransformation of our design and construction processes, ENGworks has implemented Revizto to promote collaboration on projects. Want to know some of our tips and tricks? Please fill out the form to read about how ENGworks implements Revizto to promote collaboration on projects. 1-800-356-8933 info@ENGworksGlobal.com Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube Linkedin
Mercy Hospital Jefferson Case Study
Mercy Hospital Jefferson Case Study ENGworks believes in a whole building perspective to combine sustainable design, data, and technology. Owners are realizing the value of accurate as-built models and information as a project deliverable, not only for a 3D visualization tool but as a means of organizing and connecting the BIM database of information to address any issue over a facility’s lifecycle. The Enhanced Integration process takes technology, sharpens it, and facilitates collaboration that transforms vision into reality. Please fill out the form to read about Why Enhanced Integration Matters to Owners. 1-800-356-8933 info@ENGworksGlobal.com Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube Linkedin
ENGworks Value Addition
ENGworks Value Addition Please fill out the form to read about our Value Additions to your company, team, and/or project. 1-800-356-8933 info@ENGworksGlobal.com Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube Linkedin
Autodesk University 2018
ENGworks and YouBIM will be attending, speaking, exhibiting, and networking! Read more below for how and where to meet up with us. https://mailchi.mp/engworks.com/engworks-at-trimble-dimensions-autodesk-university-1458241
Conference Season is Upon Us!
ENGworks will be attending, speaking, exhibiting, and networking at several great conferences this fall! Contact Us! If you’re planning to be at Trimble Dimensions and/or Autodesk University please contact us at info.chicago@engworks.com for an opportunity to meet the team, share ideas, and network. Trimble Dimensions Chris Diiorio and Ian McGaw are already on the ground in Las Vegas for the Trimble Dimensions Conference. Ian will also be speaking Tuesday Morning about Asset Management challenges for Owners (BLDG-1187) in room Veronese 2402. #Dimensions2018 Autodesk University ENGworks will be exhibiting at AU, we will be located in booth #B509. Ian McGaw will also be co-speaking with Mark Mergenschroer about Data Complexities for Owners (BLD196186). #AU2018 Autodesk University Happy Hour! ENGworks will be hosting a happy hour on Tuesday, November 13 from 4:00 – 6:00 pm! Please email us at info.chicago@engworks.com to find out more! Xtwin Initiative Ask us about our new initiative about connecting our #digitaltwins to real-time predictive analytics. https://mailchi.mp/engworks.com/engworks-at-trimble-dimensions-autodesk-university
