The project in five facts.
Challenge, approach and results.
As part of the diploma thesis, he created a BIM model of the building, with which he tested previously assumed hypotheses. Based on the created model and the obtained results, we can verify whether the assumed hypotheses hold or not: H1: The use of a BIM model brings improvements in the preparation of bills of quantities.
Solution and Method
As part of the diploma thesis, he created a BIM model of the building, with which he tested previously assumed hypotheses. The purpose of the model was to upgrade the existing project documentation, prepare a bill of quantities and a schedule. Through the preparation of these components of the diploma thesis, he also came into contact with the tools and working methods for creating the model. In doing so, he acquired the basics of Autodesk Revit 2018 and gained knowledge that he can use in his work in the future. ** The existing project documentation of the building progressed from a two-dimensional to a four-dimensional model,** to which a schedule was additionally added.
The set purposes and objectives of the diploma thesis were therefore achieved.
Results
Based on the created model and the obtained results, we can verify whether the assumed hypotheses hold or not: H1: The use of a BIM model brings improvements in the preparation of bills of quantities. He tested the validity of the hypothesis by comparing the designer's estimate with extracts from Autodesk Revit 2018. ** Due to the peculiarities and limitations within the programme, he had to recalculate some quantities** in order to arrive at comparable results at all. For some elements, however, he found that they were not comparable at all. Nevertheless, it was possible to compare the majority of the project costs.
There were minor deviations in these, which are the result of different calculations of the required quantities of materials for installation. When comparing the results, he noticed that the bill of quantities is more precisely structured than the extracts from the BIM model. In addition, the bill of quantities is also more transparent and easier to manage, because everything is contained within one file. ** The extracts from the BIM model, however, are all presented separately and cannot be edited** as is possible in Microsoft Excel, in which the bill of quantities was prepared.
The greatest advantage that the BIM model presents in this case is the speed of calculating the quantity of materials required for installation. These quantities, according to his results, match the quantities he calculated for the bill of quantities, with minor deviations. Each method therefore has its advantages and disadvantages. ** Due to the speed of calculations within the BIM model,** it makes sense to use these results in the preparation of the bill of quantities, by importing the extracts from the model into Microsoft Excel. ** In this programme, we continue with the preparation of the bill of quantities by entering all the works** that the BIM model has not yet captured.
In this way, we significantly reduce the time required to prepare the bill of quantities. Hypothesis 1 can be confirmed. Based on user experience, he found that the BIM model, in combination with the use of Microsoft Excel, brings improvements in the preparation of bills of quantities. H2: The use of a BIM model brings improvements in the preparation of a work schedule. He wanted to verify the validity of hypothesis 2 by comparing a work schedule in the form of a Gantt chart, created in GanttProject, with a schedule created within the BIM model.
He found that Autodesk Revit 2018 does not allow the direct creation of a schedule within the BIM model. This can only be created using Autodesk Navisworks, into which a previously created BIM model must be imported. Due to the licensing conditions of Autodesk, the use of Navisworks was prevented for the author, as it does not support a student licence. In practice, therefore, one would have to purchase a licence for two programmes from the manufacturer Autodesk to create a schedule within the BIM model. ** In the classical execution of the Gantt chart, he used items from the previously prepared bill of quantities,** placed them chronologically in the programme and determined their duration.
He prepared the Gantt chart in a few hours. Hypothesis 2 is rejected. Due to the ease of use of existing programmes for preparing a work schedule and the unfavourable licensing conditions of the manufacturer of software tools for BIM modelling, he assesses that these do not bring significant improvements in the preparation of a work schedule. ** H3: Building information modelling improves the building design process.** He tested the validity of the hypothesis based on a comparison of user experience when using Autodesk Revit and AutoCAD software tools.
When creating the BIM model, he noticed significant differences compared to using CAD tools. In practice, the use of AutoCAD is very widespread, which, compared to Revit, is not as adapted to the needs of civil engineers and architects. The main difference is that in CAD tools we design only with the help of lines, whose geometric characteristics we change. ** In the case of Revit, however, we insert elements into the model** that carry not only geometric information but also non-geometric information. Newer versions of AutoCAD do allow the creation of 3D models, ** but in practice it is mainly used for creating 2D plans.** In contrast, the very basis of the BIM model is a 3D representation of the building.
In addition, all views within the programme are linked, so that any change to the model is updated at all levels. From the model, we can export any sections, floor plans, elevations, etc. In the case of AutoCAD, each individual view needs to be drawn separately. In the event that a change to the project occurs during the design process, each one needs to be entered separately into all the views it concerns. Design using Autodesk Revit 2018 is significantly more efficient compared to the AutoCAD software tool. ** Hypothesis 3 is confirmed.** When using Autodesk Revit and AutoCAD software tools, based on user experience, he found that building information modelling brings improvements to the design process. ** H4: The purchase of a BIM software tool licence for use in a small company is sensible.** He tested the sensibility of purchasing a licence to use a BIM software tool using the example of Autodesk Revit 2018, which he used to create a BIM model of commercial production premises.
The programme is most comparable to AutoCAD, which is already used in the company and has also proven useful within the profession. The main factor in purchasing a licence to use the programme is certainly the price. An annual licence to use AutoCAD amounts to, according to the currently published price list on the manufacturer Autodesk's website, €1,354.78. An annual licence to use Autodesk Revit 2018 amounts to – according to the current price list – €1,935.40. ** Therefore, the price difference for purchasing an annual licence between the programmes amounts to €580.62.** The price difference is not so great if the company operates in the field or for clients who require the creation of BIM models.
In the case of smaller companies that operate in the field of high-rise construction and do not deal with larger clients, the need for such services is rarer. In addition, such a software tool does not represent a replacement for AutoCAD, which the company still needs due to its wide applicability within the profession, but rather its upgrade. Recently, a trend of using BIM models has been established, which, however, has not yet gained much traction within the profession. ** Hypothesis 4 is rejected.** Due to the insufficient prevalence of the use of BIM models within the profession and low demand from clients, the purchase of a BIM software tool licence for use in the company does not seem advisable.
Through the process of creating the BIM model and writing the diploma thesis on this topic, he gained a lot of new knowledge, which will certainly benefit the author in the future. BIM technology represents an answer to many problems we face, so he hopes that it will be used to a much greater extent in the future than it is now.
Module, programme and stories.
Your diploma project for a real company.
A diploma thesis at Academia solves a challenge from a company – often the one where you do your 800 hours of placement. Read about the Gradbeništvo module or book a consultation.