There once were three little pigs that wanted to build new houses for themselves. The pigs had heard that using BIM to design, build and operate their houses would do them well - 20% lower construction cost and 30% lower operations cost was to be expected.
Before building their real houses each of the pigs built a virtual house. That way they all caught design flaws in the virtual building instead of on site. They would also use the virtual house to support their building operations.
The first little pig built a virtual house of generic BIM objects. He did not care to update his model with real life product data. The design model were neither validated nor updated during construction.
Building a house of generic BIM objects
The second little pig built a virtual house of marketing BIM objects. When designing his house he put whatever object seemed suitable and looked good into his design model. As with the first little pig, this little pig did not care to update or validate his model.
The third little pig worked harder. He too used generic objects when building his virtual house. When selecting and installing products however, he made sure to keep his model up to date reflecting what was ordered and what was really there. Some objects he updated from BIM object libraries, some he got from manufacturer's product databases and some key data he collected himself when work happened on site.
When all houses were finished the big bad wolf of Time and Use came to visit
First the wolf went to the house of first little pig and said “I'll wear and I'll tear and I'll break your house down”. The first little pig looked to his model for help.
- What should I do?
- I don't know said the generic model.
- my boiler just broke down. Is it under warranty?
- I don't know said the generic model, but I think you may find it in the basement
- I need to change my filters. What should I get?
- I don't know said the model, but there should be a fan in the attic you could check.
The first little pig then bought and paid for a new boiler, took the fan apart and never asked the model again.
Then the wolf went to the house of the second little pig. “I'll wear and I'll tear and I'll break your house down”. The second little pig looked to his marketing model for help
- What should I do?
- You have a beautiful house said the model. Look how your sprinklers look in 3D. You can spin them around and they are very geometrically accurate.
- My boiler just broke down. Is it under warranty?
- Rheem boilers have 8 years warranty said the model
- I need to change my filters. What should I get?
- Your Systemair fan filters “PFR 200-250 G3” have article number 5203 said the model.
The second little pig called up Rheem for service and Systemair for filters. When the parts and crew arrived at site however he found out that his boiler was from Heatrae Sadia, his fan was from Panasonic and the filter did not fit.
The little pig then had to return the items and the crew and he never asked the model again
Operating a house of marketing BIM objects
The house of the third little pig was also visited by the wolf. “I´ll wear and I'll tear and I'll break your house down”.
The third little pig turned to his BIM model built of lifecycle BIM objects
- What should I do said the little pig.
- Here, said the model. I made this plan for you with tasks and priorities. If you follow these steps you should be fine. If you cannot make it I will tell you the consequences. That way you can always wait but you’ll know the tradeoffs.
- By the way said the model. There has been some issues with your boiler. Better check it out and let the contractor know before warranty run out in two months. Here is how you contact them and here is the history from the start
From that day on, they all thought more about what kind of questions they would ask their models in the future.
Did you get the moral of the story? Does it make common sense? Are there any parts you do not agree with? Please let us know how we can improve it. We are constantly looking for ways to explain and share important lifecycle BIM concepts with the community, not just by telling fairy tales.
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