1st construction industry meeting
Building information modelling (BIM) is the supposed magic word when it comes to the digital future of building. Digital building data modelling has a lot to offer: planning certainty, increased efficiency and cost savings. So what's missing? A BIM library which provides a standard definition of all the necessary information for 3D models. How a "common language" can be found so that BIM does not turn into the Tower of Babel was the topic of conversation at the first construction industry "Baustammtisch" meeting on 7 April 2021.
Austrian Standards invited the construction community to the first virtual construction industry meeting on 7 April – together with the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, Digital Findet Stadt and Solid Bau. The series of Baustammtisch meeting is a continuation of the "Dialogforum Bau Österreich". The aim is to discuss the latest topics from the construction sector and promote dialogue within the construction sector. The focus is on improving construction rules and framework conditions.
More than 250 construction specialists registered for the first event. With building information modelling, the properties server and BIM properties, digitalisation in construction proved to be a hot topic. Eleven experts made up the panel and contributed their own unique perspectives on BIM. The discussion was led by Thomas Pöll, Editor-in-Chief of SOLID – Wirtschaft & Technik am Bau.
Creating the basis for reducing effort when using BIM
Building information modelling is an innovative approach that links together every stakeholder in a construction project, from planning and construction through to facility management. Everyone works with or on a digital 3D building data model. In addition to the necessary technical conditions, a basis is required for this – a common BIM vocabulary and a BIM library.
The so-called "BIM properties" are a key part of the standardised interfaces and definitions. They define properties or attributes for all digital objects, such as the properties of windows, how electrical installations work or what maintenance work needs to be performed on an object are recorded.
This is a complex task – after all, there are thousands of products and product categories in the construction sector. A harmonised description of the "BIM properties" therefore requires a well coordinated approval process. Austrian Standards, together with the innovation partners AIT Austrian Institute of Technology and Digital Findet Stadt, has pursued the further development of the existing BIM definitions on the basis of the "ASI properties server", which went online in 2015 in cooperation with the University of Innsbruck.
The aim is to create an open platform which can be accessed free of charge and which defines standardised properties for products, elements and trades in the construction process. Using BIM is made easier for everyone – from large construction companies to small architecture offices – thanks to a BIM library.
Experiences, concerns and progress were shared and discussed during a virtual construction industry 'Baustammtisch' meeting on 7 April.
BIM in Austria
Architect Peter Kompolschek played a key role in developing BIM. Right at the start of the discussion, he stressed how important it was to create standards for the BIM library at an early stage, as only by doing so are the same preconditions guaranteed for everyone. "It took a long time until the ASI properties server caught on in the community. It was important to get all stakeholders on board with standardisation. BIM is now established and everything around it is has developed well. Our focus is now on a common language for everyone – a better tool for the future."
Stefan Wagmeister from Austrian Standards advocated for a close alliance between the construction sector and a commitment to the ASI properties server as well as the accompanying resources to handle this work package. The important thing here is that infrastructure needs to be created which can be used by everyone – free of charge, open and simple. "The ASI properties server is, and is to remain, an integral part of ÖNORM A 6241-2. This therefore ensures that the standard and the content of the server is secured, product-neutral and generic," stressed Wagmeister. Austrian Standards' core expertise is ensuring the quality and correctness of the data, both in quality management and in standardisation.
Digital Findet Stadt is the interface between research and industry. Thanks to close collaboration with the two parties, the company shapes the digital transformation and therefore plays a key role in boosting resource, energy and cost efficiency in the construction and property sector.
According to CEO Steffen Robbi digitalisation should represent a new type of project culture and collaboration. The aim is to successively record applications, to act proactively and to also think of the circular economy while doing so.
Gerhard Zucker from the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology added that project phases and roles should continue to be defined. In other words, who delivers products when, where and in what quality? Only by doing so could inefficiencies at handover be minimised or even prevented. The AIT is a specialist for centralised infrastructure topics of the future and ensures neutrality during the entire project process. The institute takes on responsibility for creating content for filling the properties server and creates and harmonises properties together with Digital Findet Stadt in order to make ÖNORM A 6241-2 usable in full for the Austrian construction industry.
Difficult application in practice
Azra Dudakovic from the Studio for Information Design GmbH leads workshops for surveying companies. In this, participants learn which measures have to be taken to implement BIM. She explained that she – despite numerous international standards on the topic of BIM – still does not see any complete, general recommendations for how to use BIM. Work is therefore often carried out on a project and individual basis. She is therefore putting a lot of hope in the BIM library.
Architect Agron Derella from AllesWirdGut also wants improvements and has confidence in the BIM library. The common language is the be all and end all for him. He believes that taking the entire life cycle of buildings into consideration is essential: "Buildings are expected to stand for many decades and waste as few resources as possible during and after usage. Servicing and management of these buildings therefore does not simply end when they are completed."
Thomas Hoppe from the Chamber of Civil Engineers has mixed feelings when it comes to BIM and the BIM library. Architects have always worked with the latest programs. "There is now strong external pressure to use BIM. Smaller offices are more creative and flexible in their working processes and abide less to the structural requirements and more to what they believe makes sense." He stressed how important it is to involve this group when developing BIM standardisation and the BIM library.
Stefan Graf from Leyrer + Graf Baugesellschaft mbH also believes it is just as crucial. Even though he views standardisation as important, building processes are too complex for him to be able to currently predict whether BIM is the only real solution for everyone. "Depending on the system, it is like flying blind for me because we are in the middle of the development phase. Solutions and results will only become evident in the upcoming weeks and months." The knack is in finding a distinction between standards and freedoms. Nevertheless, he welcomes the step into the digital world, insofar as individuality does not fall by the wayside.
As a software developer for the architectural and construction industries, Monika Ilg, ib-Data GmbH, advocates for more patience. BIM is already established in the digitalisation of building processes, but the situation is different if you want to obtain information from the system. „Software companies still have to optimise the interface between planning and implementation here. However, we are on a good path with open BIM." The standardised, open file format ensures an exchange of data which is software-independent.
Identifying opportunities
Wolfgang Rauth from the Bundesimmobiliengesellschaft (BIG) is aware of the effort involved in BIM, but has high hopes for it. It must be defined at an early stage which data is relevant for whom. Only by doing so can you plan your costs ahead of time. Even though that means more effort at the start, this step is vital, as it allows you to realise additional benefits afterwards.
Otto Handle from Inndata Datentechnik Innsbruck agreed and added: „Information has to be conveyed and be visible over the entire project cycle. Additional costs of 15% often result simply due to process errors in the construction phase. There should not be 100 parameters, but rather ideally only one which everyone accesses. Dialogue with Germany is also important, particularly with regard to construction materials. What I am interested in is using the technology to identify at a glance whether a construction material fits the plan.“
Conclusion of the first construction gathering
The first construction gathering showed that standards are important to be able to further develop BIM. However, the "BIM properties" are not only developed in the committees at Austrian Standards. The task is too complex for them and the work required is too great. In addition, it is important to recognise the limits of the BIM technologies.
Within the round table there was clarity about the fact that there can be no immediate solution, but rather the BIM library must be built up gradually, enabling a system which everyone can work with to be carefully created. There is therefore talk of a "common language" in construction projects in the digital world in the future.
Despite this, Stefan Wagmeister from Austrian Standards stressed during the event that this project (DFS, AIT and A.S.I.) is not the only opportunity to advance the properties server in terms of content. In this process, you have to integrate valuable results from research (TU Graz "Metha TGA") as well as company standards which are being developed. This holistic knowledge as well as practical experience should be fed into standardisation in order to make rapid progress. Ultimately, what is important to planners, implementing authorities and operators – regardless of whether they are large companies, SMEs or individual entrepreneurs – is achieving the greatest possible benefit.
The construction gathering was recorded – view the video here.
More on the topic:
En route to the BIM library: Server, properties and the future in construction
In the media:
- Der Standard: „Wie die digitale Bau-Bibliothek entstehen soll“
- Handwerk und Bau: „Die BIM-Bibliothek“
- Report: „BIM-Merkmalserver: ein neuer Anlauf“
More about Dialogforum Bau Österreich:
