BIM and Industry 4.0

Are you ready for the construction revolution? The new technologies of the digital era, BIM and the principles of Industry 4.0 are changing the way we work. Let’s find out together how to not feel unprepared

The development of BIM and Industry 4.0 is driving the construction industry towards the complete digitization of processes and workflows.

It is now clear that the way of designing and managing construction projects is very different as opposed to a few years ago. The work of professionals, companies and suppliers is opening up to new technologies and the use of software and tools for managing digital models is essential.

BIM and Industry 4.0

In this article, we will find out how the construction sector is changing and which BIM management systems you need to use to keep up with the fourth industrial revolution.

BIM and Industry 4.0: How the Construction Industry Is Changing

The construction sector is approaching a new era, the fourth industrial revolution.

Industry 4.0 will see the complete digitisation of the building industry and the change in the way the works are designed, built and managed, including during maintenance. The use of technology will be used to radically improve all processes and ensure the availability of information, problem solving, collaborative work, efficiency in the use of resources, etc.

Currently, in the construction sector, one of the most efficient digital practices is the creation of information models with the BIM methodology. BIM and Industry 4.0 represent an opportunity for evolution for the entire sector and the starting point for the revival of construction.

Underpinning Industry 4.0 is the digitization of all data. This leads to greater accessibility and accuracy of the information collected during all phases of an asset’s lifecycle that converts to efficiency in terms of time, costs and resources. The benefits of digital data have already been seen to some extent through the adoption of BIM, although too often not used to its full potential.

The availability of digital data is only a small step towards bridging the gap between the analogue working methods of the past and the digital future of the construction sector.

Industry 4.0 is supported by the principles of multidisciplinary collaboration.

Collaboration based on BIM information models

Engineers, architects, designers and contractors can freely exchange information, collaboratively solve problems as they occur, and take full advantage of information sharing and digitization. For example, the procedures for verifying interference between the various disciplines involved in the project are more effective already in the preliminary phase and designers, customers and contractors can make informed decisions in real-time on any changes to be made before the construction site is completed.

The benefits that BIM brings to the construction sector are contributing to its growing diffusion. However, BIM is still often thought of as a simple 3D modeling tool. This means that the true potential of BIM is not always fully exploited. To learn more, I recommend reading the article “The advantages of BIM“.

The implementation of BIM will also have a strong impact on the development of Industry 4.0.

In practice, this means that all the parties involved in a project (design, planning, construction and maintenance) work on a single BIM information model that collects all the data useful for the different disciplines. This way of working promotes collaboration and facilitates the workflow.

If you want to reach Industry 4.0, companies will have to think of BIM not only as a tool for 3D modeling but rather as a method of managing and sharing information.

Online tools to manage the digitisation of buildings

To manage a BIM information model, BIM management tools are essential to support you at all stages of the process and are useful to collaborate in real time with your colleagues, share and manage construction and infrastructure projects and work online with any device and from anywhere.

BIM management system for collaboration and digitization of workflows

The most advanced systems are configured as real online platforms, do not require the installation of applications and can be used by PCs, tablets or smartphones.

The main features allow you to:

• manage the most used file formats in the construction sector;
• federate models of any size and format;
• archive and share files regardless of the data format;
• work from anywhere and with any device;
• access data from any device;
• handle conflict issues between models.
• coordinating group work;
• edit and manage text documents and 3D models created with any BIM authoring;
• create and manage online information systems, integrating the 3D digital model with data and documents;
• navigate 3D models;
• etc.

Basically, with a single online solution, you manage all the needs connected to any BIM process.

If you want to try using a BIM model management tool yourself, I recommend using usBIM for free.

TO ACCESS THE SERVICE

• if you are already registered on the ACCA page
  • go to the usBIM page;
  • login by entering your credentials (email used for registration and password)
  • click on Sign in
• if you are not yet registered on the ACCA page
  • sign up a new account
  • go to the usBIM page;
  • login using your credentials (email used for registration and password).

usBIM is an online platform and therefore there is no need to install any application on your device and you can access the service from your PC, tablet or smartphone.