Brick-and-mortar is the construction industry, but that does not mean it is immune to the digital age. Some manual aspects of construction may survive—there are foundations to pour, nails to hammer, and walls to paint. But, even those activities have been modernized.
Likewise, construction projects’ life cycles are being transformed inconspicuously by Building Information Modeling (BIM). BIM tools are revolutionizing the construction industry by allowing architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) experts to generate concepts as 3D models on a computer; data is stored as these models are drafted on BIM-powered platforms, such as Revit® and Civil 3D®.
CTC Software’s Nexus Suite, BIM, and CIM (Civil Information Modeling) Suites enhance content management, Revit, and Civil 3D, respectively. The Autodesk® add-ins included in these Suites increase accuracy, coordination, and efficiency, thus decreasing expenses that have traditionally encumbered construction workflows.
From Isolation to Integration: BIM’s Influence on Construction Projects
BIM technology is widely celebrated for its ability to render precise designs and sustain full-spectrum productivity for the construction industry and other AEC sectors. In the past, AEC professionals were limited to computer-aided design (CAD) software. Although CAD enables the digital creation of two—and three-dimensional models, it fails to connect the variety of workflows involved in a construction endeavor.
AutoCAD® plus software with BIM capabilities (e.g., Revit, Civil 3D) opens communication between specialist silos. Consider the following: A client requests that an AEC firm construct a new office building. The architect must draw his model on Revit. The civil engineer, assisted by Civil 3D, must ensure that the sewage system is integrated into the architect’s plan and meets local ordinances and building codes. The construction manager must establish timelines and supervise costs for the proposed office building based on data related to the Revit and Civil 3D designs.
In that scenario, BIM facilitates interaction among the architect, civil engineer, and construction manager by promoting literal correspondence and synthesizing data across the board, so the models “speak” to each other and remain consistent. BIM records data as models are made and revised. Project managers can then use cloud technology to extract BIM data, giving them sound information on which to make decisions.
Complex commercial projects likely involve more stakeholders than architects, engineers, and construction managers, but BIM can pull and distill data from digital renderings and safely disseminate it to any vested party.
CTC Software’s Role in the BIM Revolution
Budget forecasts increase as design discrepancies or other errors are committed during a construction plan’s lifecycle. The Revit add-ins and Civil add-ins developed by CTC Software show how BIM can be applied to circumvent such problems and move projects forward.
The CTC Software Nexus Suite is a design content management system (CMS) that fosters teamwork in the organization of BIM materials. Nexus contains a centralized archive where firms can regulate and share Revit content across departments. Project contributors can probe this repository for families, details, and other Revit elements.
Along with this cyber-vault, Nexus has tools for setting and enforcing rulesets and monitoring users’ activity. The compilation of these Nexus assets gives quick access to designers and control to project supervisors, cutting out tedium and fixing uniform standards for up-to-date content.
Additionally, CTC Software’s BIM and CIM Suites comprise add-ins that have reformed construction workflows.
The BIM Project Suite™, for instance, consists of over 20 digital implements that optimize the design process. One of these tools is the Room Family Manager™, which describes and sustains the family content of defined rooms. BIM functionality is also demonstrated in the Suite’s Schedule XL™ tool, which can be used to forge Revit schedules and govern their pace and substance.
While BIM Revolutionizes Construction, CTC Software Revolutionizes BIM
With extensions actualizing BIM’s potential, CTC Software has paved the way for smoother construction assignments from start to finish. Its curated Suites improve upon programs like Revit and Civil 3D, so they are more intuitive and collaborative.
Streamlined workflows and diminished error rates equal a higher return on your investment. To see how CTC Software’s products can raise your ROI, explore our ROI calculator by entering the details of your project.
