Overview

This chapter explores BIM during the beginning phase of a construction project, outlining what BIM can mean to a construction project and defining the amount of work associated with three topics: scheduling, constructability, and multiple trade coordination. This chapter also includes step-by-step tutorials for each of these tasks to show how BIM can provide tools along the project management path to increase a project's efficiency.

Many tasks can be associated with construction and project management, and scheduling, constructability, and trade coordination represent a good cross section of how BIM may be used. I will identify how these tasks can be accomplished in concert with the architectural and engineering teams. I will begin by explaining some of the fundamental deliverables of a construction manager currently and how BIM can enable better coordination in a "typical" construction project.

To some companies, using BIM during the construction phase may mean implementing a new process and refining operational tasks. Although some companies use BIM throughout the entire course of a project, many others either stop using it in the preconstruction phase or use various bits and pieces of a BIM process to help them better coordinate a project. Although there's no right or wrong way to use BIM, the most important question is, how can you improve the way you practice construction management? As projects progress, it is easy to slip back into the same old way of doing things, and in doing this, there is very little chance for future growth, either...