BIM technology has advanced to be ground-breaking and is widely used in the building sector. The application and advantages of 4D BIM Dimension, often known as construction sequencing or scheduling since it includes the element of time (schedule), will be thoroughly covered in this article.
How Does 4D BIM Help Keep Your Project on Schedule?
To represent production schedules or sequences, traditional project management scheduling approaches and sequencing strategies in the construction industry used 2D bar charts or graphs like Gantt Charts. For the AEC business, these conventional procedures present more difficulties and less advantages.
They were difficult to read and visualize due to their length and disorganization. Additionally, it was poorly managed and ineffective as a channel for stakeholder dialogue. These styles only allow team members to reflect back on their individual project activities, which discourages team collaboration.
The transition from 2D drawings to 3D models in the building industry is happening quickly. Before the actual construction process ever starts, builders and contractors can virtually assess and illustrate a structure or facility using technologies like BIM. Therefore, utilizing BIM technology enables improved communication, effective decision-making, on-time project delivery, and eventually cost savings.
Importance of Scheduling in Construction Projects
4D BIM or 4D Scheduling Construction scheduling combines BIM and conventional project management scheduling methods. Plans, sections, elevations, details, schedules, and sequences can all be automatically generated using a parametric 3D model in 4D BIM. Additionally, it promotes effective and active engagement and collaboration among all project stakeholders.
4D Modeling Steps
1. Information Gathering
From the very beginning of the project, it is essential to gather data and organize data exchange. Project kick-off meetings provide a suitable forum for involving all the stakeholders and ensuring that everyone is aware of their roles and duties, the 4D model’s goal, the timeline and order of integration, and effective communication and teamwork.
2. Model Creation
Following the information collection phase, the data is put through a planning process that links 3D models with time plans for project development activities to produce a digital simulation of construction progress against time.
3. Model Analysis
The project team should examine and revise the construction schedule on a regular basis. The evaluation should make sure that the modeling accomplishes the project’s goals, includes all the schedule’s essential elements, follows the plan, incorporates reliable LOD data, and is simple to comprehend.
4. 4D Phasing & Simulation
The 3D BIM Model is combined with time in this procedure, and the schedule data is computed using various BIM model components. The project operations are then simulated stage by stage as a plan is formed.
Benefits of 4D BIM Construction Scheduling
- Improved Modeling and Planning of the Construction Process and Project Lifecycle – 4D BIM models allow for accurate modeling, planning, and visualization in big and complicated projects. Project managers can ensure consistency throughout all phases of the approaching construction timetable by comparing the scheduled plan with the original design with the aid of a 4D BIM model.
- Better Management & Planning of Construction – Making a 4D model helps in tracking the progress of the construction project and planning the next steps. Whether managing a large-scale project, 4D modeling can assist project managers in making decisions on when to reserve equipment, purchase materials, recruit specialists, coordinate between various activities, schedule events properly, and much more.
- Effective Clash & Risk Management – 4D building construction models allow for construction animation sequencing to track the status of the project and have total control over the project and the team working on it, boosting the safety of the project for the team and the client. The project team may better coordinate their efforts and avoid conflicts by using 4D BIM construction tools.
- Enhanced Coordination & Collaboration – Project managers can more easily plan collaboration among various team members and the effective distribution of project activities when team coordination is simple. The best utilization of resources and cost savings are made possible by improved coordination and collaboration.
- Better Construction Process Execution – 4D BIM models give project managers access to accurate schedules and sequences of project activities, enabling effective project life cycle execution.
- Easy Monitoring & Tracking of Progress – 4D BIM models are essential in complex projects where it can be difficult to physically keep track of every activity.
- Better bid representation – 3D and 4D BIM models that are extremely detailed to provide a realistic perspective of construction and a sequence of construction events. assisting precise bidding throughout the process.
- Cost-effective – Increases productivity and sharply lowers total budget costs with superior project insights, whether it be during the building process, renovations, or destruction. Cost Optimization is ensured using 4D BIM throughout the course of the project.