Studio Klaschka have been working with Kier Construction and the Clearbox Team to provide a series of existing building BIMs. Having been producing these models one thing that has surprised me is that the specification of existing models seems to be ten years behind new build BIM which has a high expectation about the non-graphical information in a model. A model with high geometric detail, can be costly to build, but how valuable is that extra detail?
Can we really call 3D models that happen to be built in BIM applications BIM, if they have no information, I don’t think so. At best they are BIM Ready.
Working with a forward looking data centric client like Clearbox has meant that we haven’t had to argue that adding data is worthwhile. The models we have produced have generally been of a lower level of detail than the many you will have seen in the press, but they are data rich with elements classified and numbering and types added to key groups of objects.
These data rich models are usable by a much wider range of team members than conventionally where for example the quantity surveyor may have to use traditional estimation until the designer’s model is available.
With a data rich model, where areas of rooms, numbers and sizes of door and window types, areas of existing cladding are all available without further classification a cost estimator can use this data from the model to try out various what if scenarios while the design consultants develop the layout and strategy.
Surely this makes a good case for survey models to have this kind of information added to maximise the early uses and ultimate value.
Robert Klaschka
Founding Director
Studio Klaschka Ltd
Tel: 020 7633 9113
info@studioklaschka.com
www.twitter.com/studioklaschka
