that were off by approximately 10-ft. Although the mistake was caught before the steel arrived, it nonetheless cost the government significant time and money. This same error is impossible when a BIM team models the whole building. The BIM team can literally see when one part is designed with soft metric and the other with hard metric measurements—as was the case here—and can correct the problem prior to construction documents being released. With the smart attributes of each part of the building, the team can check interferences for all the parts not readily seen, and the software highlights the interferences for correction. The contractor has a virtual map to successful construction.
A Range of Applications The Huntsville Center team improves its design decisions and the quality of its projects by using BIM. The visual model allows the team, program and customers to see results at an earlier point in time. For example, one small building on a range training project had several different users wanting either a sloped or flat roof. The initial solution was designed by committee and involved a sloped roof up to a parapet wall surrounding a sunken flat roof area in the middle of the structure—a leafcatching nightmare. When the model was complete, the illustration made it much easier to demonstrate the potential for catching debris, clogging drains and ultimately leaking water into the building. Ultimately, consensus was reached to move to a full sloping roof. Already manufacturers are incorporating BIM models to increase their productivity. For instance, ductwork companies are using models to generate ductwork parts and automatically generate shop drawings with lengths of ducts determined to improve shipping and installation. Trucks arrive onsite with longer runs predetermined to fit the chase areas. Requiring fewer connections, the larger parts reduce the field installation time. Others, such as lumber and steel companies, are incorporating information from BIM to ensure their fabricating produces less waste; builders seek out such vendors 74
because of the precision and savings in cost, labor and time in the field. Design analysis tools both integrate and use exports from BIM. These design tools allow USACE engineers and architects to complete the building analysis with the project model. Currently, the Huntsville Center is employing such tools to complete analysis on the structural design as well as HVAC and lighting systems. The team also is researching how BIM outputs might be utilized for operations and maintenance, and the future is bright for many other analysis tools to be developed. Additionally, the Tri-Service Automated Cost Engineering System (TRACES) program is working on tools to coordinate the USACE cost breakdown structure with the model’s attributes. The goal is to achieve interoperability with different BIM vendors. Although the first BIM models took more time to complete and generated construction documents slower than traditional 2D drawings, the savings in construction and reduced change orders more than made up for any extra design time. BIM teams are continuously getting faster, and each new generation of software features improved output interfaces and analysis capabilities.
For the Present and the Future Following the MILCON business process, Huntsville Center developed initial building information models for facility standard designs required by the fiscal year development plan. Models were built for six different child development centers, one fire station and an Army Community Service Center, and a Training Support Center model is currently nearing completion. Modeling these facilities required additional training for the center’s BIM and technical COS leaders and team members. Most importantly and fortuitously, the team members needed to work on real projects. The center developed a BIM pit: a separate area to temporarily house and integrate the disciplines working on a model. The training and model development is maximized by the co-location and sharing of information among the team members. The Engineering Directorate rotates designers
into the pit for a project and moves them back to their normal branches after completion. By this rotation method, the directorate has trained up at least two capable designers among each of the different disciplines: architecture, structural, mechanical, electrical and plumbing. The teambuilding process is just as vital as the software.
“At the Huntsville Center, BIM teams are busy making the BIM Roadmap a reality, and other USACE districts and labs are doing the same.” Many military engineering organizations are making BIM a necessary tool for the present and the future. The teams need to continue to work with the process on projects to maintain an expertise. At the Huntsville Center, BIM teams are busy making the BIM Roadmap a reality, and other USACE districts and labs are doing the same. Different offices throughout USACE are communicating and working to assist others learning the BIM processes. BIM was a topic for several districts at the USACE Architects’ Training Workshop this year, and a COS workshop held in August brought together BIM managers to report on their activity. Last year, Huntsville Center’s BIM leader assisted the USACE Little Rock District in setting up a BIM team, and the Little Rock District was then able to complete a model of the Youth Activity Center for the COS program. USACE has committed to BIM in the present and the efforts are already paying dividends at the working level and for USACE customers.
N. Todd DuVernay, RA, is Chief, Architectural Branch, U.S. Army Engineering and Support Center, Huntsville; 256-895-1671, or neil.t.duvernay@usace.army.mil.
The Military Engineer • November-December • 2010