Everything you ever wanted to know...

About the Future of Building Information Modeling

http://www.larsonobrien.com/blog/index.php/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-future-of-bim/08/27/2009/

Most important bit I saw: 160% increase in the use of BIM in only 4 years. This is where the productivity improvements for the construction industry are going to come from in the next decade.

A couple of key bits from the post - read it! It's enlightening.

What’s So Great About BIM?

The benefits may be too numerous to expand upon in length, but here are ten to start with:

1. Shortened design and development phases
2. Increased interoperability for all project team members
3. Clash detection for building systems
4. Increased ability for prefabrication off of the job site
5. Shortened construction schedule
6. Measurable ROI for users
7. Reducing time spent on contract documents
8. Integration of other software for scheduling, materials, costs, energy consumption, etc.
9. Potential for easing LEED project submittals with calculations and energy estimates
10. Use of the BIM object after design and construction

BIM for Product Manufacturers

Many architectural product manufacturers are having their entire catalog “BIMed” so that they can remain competitive. Manufacturers recognize that BIM as a building process is becoming more common and that their products won’t be specified if they don’t offer a BIM object to put into the building model. BIM objects offered by manufacturers make the design and specification of products easier for architects designing in a BIM environment. I wouldn’t be surprised if Sweets-type BIM catalog is created in the future. If you’re a manufacturer and you don’t currently offer BIM objects, put it in your budget for 2010 and every year after that.

Change can be daunting, but investment in the future of your career is imperative to success in that field. Like former Chief of Staff General Eric Shinseki said, “If you don’t like change, you’re going to like irrelevance even less.”