BIM methodology, Augmented Reality and Artificial Intelligence contribute to collaborative work in the building industry
REBUILD 2023 has gathered the testimony of administrations and companies that already use BIM, a method that allows them to save 10% in delivery times and reduce costs.
The REBUILD BIM Summit highlighted recent technologies in order to anticipate errors, act more accurately, optimize resources and improve the quality of life of buildings.
BIM methodology has been one of the main protagonists of the second day of REBUILD 2023 due to the great transformation it is causing in the building industry. Its data collection reduces communication failures in the construction process and increases collaboration between the different actors, a factor that has a positive impact in terms of sustainable criteria due to the optimization of resources involved.
In this sense, BIM has already begun to be implemented in different segments, and one of them is the public administration. Jesús M. Gómez García, Undersecretary of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda of the Ministry of Transport has stated that “this methodology allows us to save 10% in execution times, as well as reducing maintenance and operating costs. In addition, it facilitates the reduction of waste on construction sites and the optimization of energy consumption, as well as the circular economy. On the other hand, it is also an ally in the face of the lack of talent, as the form of production reduces the gender gap and offers added value for young people.”
For Juan Tejedor, Director General of State Assets of the Ministry of Finance and Public Function, “there is a bidirectionality between public procurement and BIM. The contracting bodies are already aware of the advantages of this model, which improves sustainability and property management. Therefore, within the framework of strategic procurement, administrations can require companies to use these technologies. This model will bring digitalization to the administration and make us a more powerful sector.”
From the side of private companies, José Manuel Olaizola, Head of Construction Digitalization and Automation at Tecnalia Research & Innovation, admitted that “digitalization is a key and clear need”. “By 2050, 75% of the buildings constructed will not be efficient, so digitalization is a necessary means to optimize costs and centralize activity. It is essential that we do this from the initial phase through the operation phase to the maintenance phase. We have to optimize resources and reduce consumption; we have to improve the quality of life of buildings in a global and holistic way”.
The BIM method also stands as a catalyst for collaborative work, as pointed out by Javier Sagüés, General Manager at ARPADA. “BIM means a global world of data where we will all understand each other. We come from working individually through different stages of development, and now we are forced to agree and work together. In the collaborative project, all the agents involved must be there; the key is to change the traditional work model,” said Sagüés.
Digital twins and augmented reality, allies of the construction of the future
On the agenda of today’s Congress, space has also been given to other technologies that are set to revolutionize the sector. This is the case of digital twins, which will make it possible to foresee the needs of a building and control them, even through the creation of specific metaverses thanks to information from BIM databases. In the field of Augmented Reality, there are currently active programs that collect information to project the design of a building on glasses in order to visualize it and even make modifications, for example, in the wiring or plumbing.
José Manuel Olaizola, Head of Construction Digitalization and Automation at Tecnalia Research & Innovation, also spoke about the application of these innovations, “the digital twin is necessary from the beginning of the project, from the design phase. On the other hand, augmented reality is an integrating element, as it allows us to share information between the different agents. This is essential for detecting possible incidents and acting as soon as possible”. Olaizola added that “the interoperability of the different systems is important, and this is what BIM allows. When we create a common language we can prevent and predict what will happen, and thanks to AI we will be able to better manage operations”. He also pointed out that all this technology is also applicable to cities, not only to buildings, but also to subway life, trees and streets.
For David Barco, Director of Consulting, Architect Technologist and BIM Expert of Berrilan BIM, “the digital twin gives us real-time information that helps us to communicate with the team present in the building, as well as with the tenant, and thus reduce risks”. Barco has taken advantage of REBUILD to make an appeal in this regard to the public authorities, since for him, “it is the administrations that have to lead this change, set clear objectives and rely on technology to provide a social service to citizens and that they can live better”.
